04Dec What is Masonry?

I am regularly asked what Masonry is all about. I always try to be clear that it isn’t a Religion, but it is religious (you must believe in God), it isn’t a cult, and you aren’t asked to do anything bad – in fact the opposite is true.

There are plenty of classic answers to the question “What is Masonry”, but I wont give any here. I think it is different to each person. I bet there are some out there that got nothing out of Masonry – but I would trust them with a dinar tomorrow. In either case Masonry is a group of good guys. We are out there trying to improve ourselves and the world around us.

If you know me, you know that I am not a perfect man. In fact I am far from it. I am have been know to be a little goofy, get a little mad, poke too much fun at someone and otherwise do things that I would later regret. The point isn’t to suggest that I have found the way to live and I am living it purely. The point is Masons are good and trying to do their best. I am a better man for becoming a Mason and then becoming active in Masonry. Could you benefit from Masonry? I am not sure – that is something only you would know.

I am going to consider Masonry here in three (incomplete) ways:
1. Social Club
2. Self Improvement Method
3. Learning Adventure

1. As a social club Masonry serves its members with regular outings with Brothers of a like mind in many ways. They have dinners, breakfast’s clay shoots and general many outings that a Brother can enjoy. I will include some forms of charity work here since there is usually a social side to any charity event you might help out on.

2. Self Improvement Method. If you are a man looking to improve yourself in mind, spirit, intelligence, morals or a variety of other ways Masonry might be for you. I personally enjoy the work within the lodge from a memorization and learning standpoint to be proficient in the operations of the lodge. Masonry is a progressive moral science as well and as its degrees are taught the effect on the individual is usually very profound. It is intended that the teachings of the degrees (both for the candidate and the Brothers involved) have a deep impact on the individual.

There are many ways within the lodge that you will find reward in this area, be it as an officer or as a lecturer or even on a committee. There are various ways to express yourself here.

3. Learning Adventure. If you aren’t into public speaking or serving as an officer, or perhaps you are and still need more, you can certainly find it by exploring books about Masonry. I have a Brother who is archiving all of the old publications of the lodge and another who has read nearly every book on the subject of Masonry. There are constitutions of your jurisdiction you can become very familiar with and many, many years of history even in the newest of states.

To be clear, these aren’t paths you must choose as a Mason, but rather different areas you can dip into as a Mason. What is Masonry? I think the answer is different to every Mason that you ask.