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I know this question has appeared a lot but I still have questions

Beckman

Registered User
Gentlemen, after my grandfathers death I found out that he was an Freemason. Before he passed he told me better men make a better world and at first I thought he was saying that as a military term. But it wasn't until his funeral I found out the meaning of the term. I am interested in becoming a mason, how do I go about becoming one? What's the difference between brotherhoods? I know this question comes up a lot and I am sorry for re posting


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Daniel Mosmeyer

Premium Member
Howdy from Texas,

First, what state are you in? Go online and find the Grand Lodge of your state...it should have a search engine for locating the lodge nearest you. Go to that lodge either on a stated meeting night, or (in the case of most lodges down here) on a practice night. Be sure to arrive before their meeting begins...most lodges have a meal or some other sort of refreshment. Visit with the brothers and ask them you questions. I am sure they will be your biggest help.

I am not sure how to answer your question about "brotherhoods". Can you give me a few examples?
 

Beckman

Registered User
Thank you for answering sir, as of now I am in Hawaii, but I am moving to Georgia in July. The other question is 3 letter or 4 letter masons and Prince Hall F&AM? I am unsure about that


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crono782

Premium Member
Don't worry so much about the 3-4 letter designations. Those are largely historical holdovers. Only figure out Prince Hall and non-Prince Hall Masonry and make sure the lodges you visit are chartered either by the Grand Lodge of State or Prince Hall Grand Lodge of State. If they are not chartered by the OFFICIAL Grand Lodge(s), then they are considered irregular and clandestine. Bluntly, Prince Hall Masonry is predominately African American. Both are Masonry with their own history and traditions.

http://www.masonsoftexas.com/blog.php/entry.php?341-I-want-to-become-a-Freemason!-Where-do-I-start
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Thank you for answering sir, as of now I am in Hawaii, but I am moving to Georgia in July. The other question is 3 letter or 4 letter masons and Prince Hall F&AM? I am unsure about that

One of the aspects of Masonry is that we're world wide. All regular and recognized lodges are descended from the founding meeting in London in 1717 when the Grand Lodge of England was founded. Now it's the United Grand Lodge of England UGLE. One of the simplest ways to figure out if a local lodge is regular and recognized is to go to the UGLE's web site and see if it's listed. Nearly all grand lodges recognized by England are recognized everywhere and vice versa. Join one and you're able to attend them all with a letter of introduction.

http://www.ugle.org.uk/about-ugle/recognised-foreign-grand-lodges/grand-lodges-in-north-america/

You will note that Hawaii lists two but Georgia lists one. Historically there was a time in the US when race meant something other than Daytona 500. As a result there tend to be two GL in each state each having heritage dating back from those historical days. Unfortunately the old cause for the difference is not completely dead and you will be moving to a state where one branch does not yet recognize the other. Disgraceful but that's the status today.

You could join a PHA lodge in Hawaii then transfer to one in Georgia or move then join one in Georgia. Until enough old guys die to change the voting balance you would have troubles attending lodges in much of the world. You could join a lodge in the other jurisdiction in Hawaii then transfer to one in Georgia or move then join one in Georgia. You could then get active enough that you start attending the annual state convention and help swing the vote into the modern world and be a part of the solution.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
One of the aspects of Masonry is that we're world wide. All regular and recognized lodges are descended from the founding meeting in London in 1717 when the Grand Lodge of England was founded.
Not so. Many mainstream American Lodges got their original charters from the Grand Lodge of Scotland (the Lodge in Fredericksburg VA where Washington was raised is one) or the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Regularity is accepted if Lodges can directly trace their lineage to any of those three.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Many mainstream American Lodges got their original charters from the Grand Lodge of Scotland (the Lodge in Fredericksburg VA where Washington was raised is one) or the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

It was my understanding that the GL of Scotland and the GL of Ireland were both chartered by the GL of England - With the distinction that like the GL of England some of their founding lodges met by immemorial right. Did they emerge and form their own charters instead? It was also my understanding the the Antients formed of some lodges that left the original GL of England and they took in some lodges that met by immemorial right.

So depending on definitions couldn't it be a single starting point or up to 4 starting points?
 

Michael Neumann

Premium Member
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