Why I Joined the Freemasons

The social, historical, and spiritual appeal of the world's oldest fraternity....

Illustration by the author, Matthew Streeter, gouache paint on paper, 2018

So, I joined the Freemasons! (awkward pause…) I know, it’s a bit unexpected. I’m not a likely candidate for Freemasonry: I have no family members that are Freemasons, and I wasn’t introduced to it by a friend. In fact, the first time that I met a member of the fraternity was when I knocked on the door of a lodge eight moths ago. Since then, I’ve been asked countless times why I decided to join. I like being asked this question because there are so many reasons why I love Freemasonry. On the other hand, it can be a hard question to answer because there is so much that I want to say. I finally decided to write my answer down so that I can give as complete and honest a response as possible. Although I have many reasons for becoming a Freemason, they all fall into three categories: social, historical, and spiritual. 

How does Freemasonry help me socially? Well, first, let me tell you a bit about my social life… As a busy father of four, I find that my circle of friends has really dwindled. There seems to be an isolation inherent in adulthood; I’ve drifted apart from all my childhood friends, and there aren’t many opportunities to make new friends to fill the void. Thankfully, I have my wonderful family. My wife and my kids are the most important people in my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Still, I feel a need for some “guy time” in my life. As a man, I find it rejuvenating to hang out with other men now and then. I can’t explain it; it’s just an inherent part of human nature. The same principle applies to women—they need their “girl time.” But how does a guy like me spend time with other guys? Occasionally I take a lunch break with a co-worker or have a quick conversation in the hall at church, but that’s about the extent of my social life. I could organize activities, but that would take more initiative than I can typically muster. You can probably see at this point why a fraternity is a good option for me. Freemasonry, the oldest and largest organization for men, exists for the purpose of friendship. One of their stated purposes is “brotherly love,” and that’s not just an empty saying. There’s a great feeling of camaraderie and acceptance at a Masonic lodge. That acceptance extends to those of all religions faiths, political parties, and economic backgrounds. To me, that’s the miracle of a Masonic lodge—men from all facets of society can come together as “brothers.” At the lodge, I can meet guys that are completely different from me, and after some friendly banter, I realize that we really aren’t so different after all. All of the societal divisions loose their significance. So, in addition to giving me the opportunity to socialize with other men, Freemasonry also allows me the great benefit having friends outside of my little sector of society. Finding common ground with those that I once saw as “others” has helped me to be more accepting and less judge-mental.

In addition to the social benefits of the lodge, I was initially drawn to Freemasonry by the impact that it has had on history. Many Freemasons are historians, and for good reason—the fraternity has a mysterious and inspiring past. First of all, no one knows for sure how it even got started. Many theories abound…. Did it evolve from medieval guilds of stone masons? Could it have been passed down from King Solomon as stated in Masonic legends? Is it a modern incarnation of the ancient mystery schools of Greece and Egypt? Was it a mutual-aid society for fugitive Knights Templars in the 14th century? Could it have been a club where 17th century scientists and reformers discussed their ideas in secret? Although none of these theories can be historically proven, they are all pretty cool! 

What impresses me most about Masonic history is not its mysterious origin, but how it influenced western culture in the 18th century. Masonry has always stood for ideals that were way ahead of it’s time. Their acceptance of men of all faiths was one of the earliest examples of religious tolerance. The fact that they elected their leaders by a popular vote made them a bastion of democracy. And, because all men in the lodge were “brothers” regardless of social class, Freemasonry helped to foster the idea of human equality. These ideas may seem commonplace now, but they were considered radical in the early 18th century. In fact, early critics of Freemasonry took issue with its democratic leanings. One of the best examples comes from Pope Leo XIII in the year 1884. His Papal encyclical, titled “Humanum Genus,” says the following against Freemasonry: 

“Then come their [the Freemasons] doctrines of politics, in which the naturalists lay down that all men have the same right, and are in every respect of equal and like condition; that each one is naturally free; that no one has the right to command another; that it is an act of violence to require men to obey any authority other than that which is obtained from themselves. According to this, therefore, all things belong to the free people; power is held by the command or permission of the people, so that, when the popular will changes, rulers may lawfully be deposed and the source of all rights and civil duties is either in the multitude or in the governing authority when this is constituted according to the latest doctrines. It is held also that the State should be without God; that in the various forms of religion there is no reason why one should have precedence of another; and that they are all to occupy the same place.”

What blows my mind about this statement is that it was meant to be a criticism of Freemasonry, but to our modern ears, it sounds like an endorsement! In fact, it sounds a lot like a description of American ideals. That may not be a coincidence; as Pope Leo admits in his encyclical, Freemasonry has had an enormous impact on the United States. Many of the founding fathers were Freemasons including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin. In fact, 21 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of independence belonged to the fraternity! Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke get a lot of credit for inspiring the American form of government, but it stands to reason that Freemasonry played a role as well. Although the founders could have learned political theories from philosophers, they would have actually experienced democracy in their Masonic Lodges. The same applies to religious tolerance and a belief that “all men are created equal.” I’m not saying that Freemasonry was the primary source of American ideals, but it certainly had an influence. The bottom line is that liberty and Freemasonry just seem to go together. Because I love liberty, I feel that Freemasonry is compatible with my values.

In addition to the social benefits of Freemasonry and it’s profound history, I have found that the fraternity enhances my spiritual life as well. Although Freemasonry is non-sectarian, it is deeply religious. In fact, Masonic ritual opens with prayer, quotes the Bible, and gives moral instruction. It’s nothing like church, however; it has a very different approach. Instead of using sermons or classes, Freemasonry teaches through symbolism. That is why it is often described as “a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.” Because I am a visual learner, symbolic teaching works well for me. That is why all of my favorite books have been allegorical: The Bible, Pilgrim’s Progress, The Divine Comedy…. (Note: I also take the Bible literally; a story can be true and allegorical at the same time.) Basically, I understand things by seeing them, and for an abstract concept that I can’t physically observe, it helps to relate it to something visible. For example, for me to understand hope, it helps to find an object I can compare it to (a symbol). That is why my favorite scripture on hope describes it as an anchor for the soul; the scripture gives me an image to associate with hope, which, in turn deepens my comprehension. Now let me give you an example from Freemasonry. The way Freemasons should treat their fellow men is illustrated by three symbols: the square, the level, and the plumb. The square represents acting with honesty and integrity, the level represents being on “equal ground,” and the plumb represents uprightness and rectitude before God. When I’m in a masonic lodge, I am surrounded by these symbols: the square to the east, the level to the west, and the plumb to the south. Also, the highest three officers in the lodge each wear one of these symbols on a necklace (referred to as the “jewel” of their office). So if I need a reminder on proper conduct, all I have to do is look around the room. Amazingly, those three symbols have more of an impact on me than paragraphs of text would.

The story of my first encounter with these Masonic symbols is worth retelling; it was an important factor in my decision to join the lodge. I first learned about the square, level, and plumb at the lodge's annual installation ceremony. This is a meeting where the elected officers of the loge formally begin their one-year terms. The installation meetings are open to the public, so I was able to attend even though I was not a member of the lodge. Prior to this point, I had only been able to attend the lodge's social hour, but I had never witnessed a formal meeting. I liked the social aspect of Freemasonry, but something was still missing for me. At the installation ceremony, I got my first taste of how meaningful Masonic traditions could be. Each officer was presented with the jewel of his office, and it's symbolism was explained. The officers were then led to their respective seats. Not surprisingly, the locations of these seats also had symbolic significance; each one was oriented in a way that reflected the duties of the office. Everything felt very ancient and solemn, and I was intrigued by all the layers of symbolism. After seeing what Masonic ritual was like, I was hooked!

In addition to the symbolism, there is another spiritual aspect of Freemasonry that is a little harder to explain. I feel a spiritual pull toward the organization, whether that be intuition, fate, or Providence. That’s the only way that I can explain my decision to show up at a lodge without knowing anyone there. I’m not really sure what made me so bold; it just felt like the right thing to do. I don’t think I’m the only one who has felt spiritually drawn to Freemasonry. The fraternity does not advertise or recruit in any way, so all of its members join of their own volition. Somehow, there have always been enough "seekers" to keep the fraternity going for 300 years! Looking back on my own life, I've had countless experiences that have gradually led me to seek membership. The way that everything has come together suggests that my journey was part of a divine plan. I don’t know all the reasons why God has led me to Freemasonry... It could be that He sees all that the organization can do for me. It could be that He sees what I can do for the organization. I am certain that there are lives that I am meant to influence at my lodge, and I, in turn, will be influenced. 

A few disclaimers are due: In writing this article I’m not trying to convince anyone to join Freemasonry. It’s not right for everyone, and I encourage you to do whatever you believe is right for you. If you have any questions or concerns about Freemasonry, I’d love to chat with you. It’s not as secret as you might think. As you can see, it’s something that I don’t mind discussing!




Acknowledgement:
I learned about the papal encyclical "Humanum Genus" from Chris Hodapp in his book "Freemasons for Dummies." Chris's book points out the link between Masonic values as described in "Humanum Genus" and American values. I highly recommend the book "Freemasons for Dummies"--it's a great resource for non-dummies too, so don't be offended by the title!