About Freemasonry

Freemasonry is a system of moral and ethical behavior, taught by the use of symbols, allegory, and ritual. It is a system intended to help good men become better ones, in a world where many of the forces that act upon us attempt to do just the opposite. It is also a true fraternity - a brotherhood with a real strength and caring. Freemasonry is the oldest and the largest fraternal order in the world. It is an order dedicated to the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God. Modern Freemasonry is derived from the organized guilds of stone masons who travelled extensively throughout Europe during the middle ages building beautiful cathedrals and other large and complex structures. Unlike other classes of people, they were allowed to travel freely from country to country because of the specialized skills that enabled them to build the sweeping and powerful structures that are impressive still today. During this period, the word "Free" was prefixed to the word mason to denote the freedom of movement these skilled craftsmen enjoyed, which is where we get the term Freemason. Until about the sixteenth century, masons were predominantly operative stone masons and architects building cathedrals and palaces, many of which still stand throughout Europe. Early in the seventeenth century, they began to admit certain men of prominence in society who were not craftsmen or stone masons. This class of members were undoubtedly initially patrons of the Fraternity, and over the years became known as "accepted masons". Near the end of the seventeenth century these accepted masons had become predominant, and the older lodges of Freemasons began to emphasize and teach the moral philosophy which had long been taught as a part of the stonemason's craft rather than the technical and operative part of stonemasonry. Tools of the stone mason are still central to the teachings of the Fraternity today, but as symbols of moral and ethical virtues, not for physical construction. Although the moral philosophy of Freemasonry is founded upon religious principles, it is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. Candidates for membership are, however, expected to profess a belief in God and be of good moral character.