What is Masonry
(a brief synopsis)
Who are the Masons
Masons,
(also
known
as
Freemasons)
belong
to
the
oldest
and
largest
fraternal
organization
in
the
world.
Today
there
are
more
than
two
million
Freemasons
in
North
America.
Masons
represent
virtually
every
occupation
and
profession,
yet
meet
as
friends.
Masons
come
from
diverse
political
ideologies
yet
meet
as
equals.
Masons,
come
from
very
religious
belief
and
creed,
yet
all
believe
in
one
God.
Many
of
North
America's
early
Patriots
were
free
Masons.
Thirteen
signers
of
the
Constitution
and
14
presidents
of
the
United
States
including
George
Washington,
were
Masons.
In
Canada
the
father
of
the
Confederation,
John
A.
MacDonald,
was
a
Mason,
as
were
other
early
Canadian
and
American
leaders.
One
of
the
most
fascinating
aspects
of
Freemasonry
is
that
so
many
men
from
so
many
different
walks
of
life
can
meet
together
in
peace,
always
conducting
their
affairs
in
harmony
and
friendship,
calling
each
other
"Brother."
What
is
Freemasonry
Masonry
is
dedicated
to
the
brotherhood
of
man
under
the
Fatherhood
of
God.
It
uses
the
tools
and
implements
of
ancient
architectural
craftsmen
symbolically
in
a
system
of
instruction
designed
to
build
character
and
moral
values
in
its
members.
Its
singular
purpose
is
to
make
good
men
better.
Its
bond
of
friendship,
compassion,
and
brotherly
love
have
survived
even
the
most
divisive,
political,
military
and
religious
conflicts
throughout
the
centuries.
Freemasonry
is
a
fraternity
which
encourages
its
members
to
practice
the
faith
of
their
personal
acceptance.
Masonry
teaches
that
each
person
through
self
improvement
and
helping
others
has
an
obligation
to
make
a
difference
for
the
good
of
the
world.
Where
did
Freemasonry
begin?
No
one
knows
just
how
old
Freemasonry
is
because
the
actual
origins
have
been
lost
in
time.
Most
scholars
believe
Masonry
rose
from
the
guilds
of
stone
masons
who
built
the
majestic
castles
and
cathedrals
of
the
early
Middle
Ages.
In
1717
masonry
created
a
formal
organization
when
four
Lodges
in
London
joined
to
form
England's
first
Grand
Lodge.
By
1731
there
were
already
several
Lodges
in
the
American
colonies.
In
Canada
the
first
Lodge
was
established
in
1738.
Today,
Masonic
Lodges
are
found
in
almost
every
community
throughout
North
America,
and
in
large
cities
you
can
usually
find
several
Lodges.
A
Mason
can
travel
to
almost
any
country
in
the
world
and
find
a
Masonic
Lodge
where
he
will
be
welcomed
as
a
brother.
Who
can
qualify
to
join?
Applicants
must
be
men
of
good
character
who
believe
in
a
Supreme
Being.
To
become
a
Mason
one
must
petition
a
particular
Lodge.
The
Master
of
the
Lodge
will
then
appoint
a
committee
to
visit
the
applicant
prior
to
the
Lodge
balloting
upon
his
petition.
So
who
are
the
Masons?
Masons
are
men
of
good
character
who
strive
to
improve
themselves
and
make
the
world
better
place.
They
belong
to
the
oldest
and
most
honorable
fraternity
known
to
man.
If
you
think
you
may
be
interested
in
becoming
a
member,
you
can
begin
by
contacting
a
Lodge
in
your
area
or
speaking
to
a
Mason.