Freemasonry is open
to all men of good character who believe in God
Freemasonry does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or
social class
The Masonic family of organizations is open to all
Freemasonry admits only men, but many Masonic-related
organizations, such as the Eastern Star, Amaranth, Job's Daughters,
Rainbow for Girls and DeMolay for Boys, offer ample opportunities for
women and youth.
Freemasonry does not require improper oaths
The solemn promises taken in Freemasonry are no different than the
oaths taken in court or on entering the armed services. The much-discussed
"penalties," judicial remnants from an earlier age, are symbolic,
not literal. They refer only to the pain any honest man should feel
at the thought of violating his word.
Freemasonry teaches individual improvement through study.
Freemasonry encourages study, including literature by the great writers
of ancient times. Freemasonry does not sanction the views of these authors
but offers them for each individual's reflection and evaluation.
Freemasonry is a fraternity, not a religion
As a fraternal association dedicated to making good men better, Freemasonry
respects the religious beliefs of all its members. Freemasonry has no
theology and does not teach any method of salvation. In particular it
does not claim that good works gain or guarantee salvation.
Freemasons are united in their desire to be of service to mankind
While Freemasonry supports homes for members and their spouses, most
Masonic services, including Shrine medical and burn centers, are available
to all citizens. In 1995, major North American Masonic philanthropies
totaled more than $750 millon or over $2 million per day of which 70%
went to the general public.
Freemasonry is an open, not secretive, society
Masonic meetings are announced publicly, Masonic buildings are marked
clearly and are listed in phone directories, and Masons proudly wear
jewelry identifying their membership. Freemasonry inherited a tradition
of trade secrets from the cathedral-building guilds of medieval Europe.
The only "secrets" still belonging to modern Masonry are traditional
passwords, signs of recognition, and dramatic presentations of moral
lessons.
Freemasonry teaches in steps
Masons learn through a series of lessons. These "degrees"
of insight move from basic to more complex concepts. This no more hides
the nature of Freemasonry from novice members than does having a student
understand fractions before calculus.
Masonry is practiced worldwide
There are over 2 million Masons in North America and nearly 5 million
throughout the world.
Freemasonry has no single spokesman
Freemasonry is made up of many individuals in numerous organizations,
all subordinate to the Grand Lodge within their jurisdiction (i.e. state).
None of these members or organizations can speak for Freemasonry; that
is the responsibility of each Grand Lodge within its jurisdiction. No
Masonic body nor author, however respected, can usurp the authority
of a Grand Lodge.
Freemasonry is made up of many organizations
Masonry has many groups, each with a special social, educational, or
philanthropic focus. A man becomes a Mason in his local Lodge. Then
he joins any of the following "Appendant Bodies": the Scottish
Rite, York Rite (which includes the Royal Arch and Knights Templar),
Shriners, Grottoes, Tall Cedars, etc.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Masonry is the cornerstone of
America." Dave Thomas Founder of Wendy's International
"To me, Freemasonry is one form of dedication to God and service
to humanity." Norman Vincent Peale Minister and Author
"Freemasonry embraces the highest moral laws and will bear the
test of any system of ethics or philosophy ever promulgated for the
uplift of man." Douglas MacArthur General of the Army
"The Masonic Fraternity is one of the most helpful mediating and
conserving organizations among men, and I have never wavered from that
childhood impression, but it has stood steadfastly with me through the
busy, vast hurrying years." George W. Truett
Southern Baptist Leader
"We represent a fraternity which believes in justice and truth
and honorable action in your community...men who are endeavoring to
be better citizens...[and] to make a great country greater. This is
the only institution in the world where we can meet on the level all
sorts of people who want to live rightly." Harry S. Truman President
of the United States
* * *
Many of the world's most respected men-including business,
miliary, intellectual, political, and religious leaders-have been or
are Masons.
Eddy Arnold - Roy Acuff - Edwin E. "Buzz"
Aldrin - Gene Autry - Daniel C. Beard - Francis J. Bellamy - Irving
Berlin - Simon Bol¡var - Walter Boomer - Gutzon Borglum - Ernest
Borgnine - Omar Bradley - James Buchanan - Arleigh Burke - Richard E.
Byrd B. H. Carroll - Mark Clark - William Clark Dewitt Clinton - Ty
Cobb - W. T. Connor - Jack Dempsey - James Doolittle - Arthur Conan
Doyle - "Duke" Ellington - Henry Ford - Gerald Ford - Benjamin
Franklin - Clark Gable - James Garfield - Arthur Godfrey - Wolfgang
von Goethe - Barry Goldwater - Samuel Gompers - John Hancock - Warren
Harding - Jesse Helms - Sam Houston - Burl Ives - Andrew Jackson - Andrew
Johnson - John Paul Jones - Benito Ju rez - Rudyard Kipling - Marquis
de Lafayette - J. B. Lawrence - John Lejeune - Charles Lindbergh - John
Marshall - George Marshall - Thurgood Marshall - Jos‚ Mart¡
- Charles Mayo - Douglas MacArthur - Abner McCall - William McKinley
- James Monroe - Wolfgang Mozart - Louis D. Newton - Norman Vincent
Peale - J. C. Penney - John Pershing - James Polk - Paul Revere - Herbert
Reynolds - Roy Rogers - Will Rogers - Franklin D. Roosevelt - Theodore
Roosevelt - Thomas S. Roy - L. R. Scarborough - Jean Sibelius - "Red"
Skelton - John Phillip Sousa - William Howard Taft - Danny Thomas -
Lowell Thomas - Strom Thurmond - George W. Truett - Harry S. Truman
- Joseph Warren - John Wanamaker - George Washington - John Wayne