How to Join
Requirements
...Could you please tell me what the requirements are? How could I join?...
The absolute requirements for becoming a Mason in the State of Georgia are:
- Be a man. (It's a fraternity)
- Be at least 21 years old.
- Have belief in a Supreme Being of any faith.
(No particular religion or faith is required or excluded.)
To join, all you have to do is ... Ask a Mason:
- Masons do not solicit for membership.
- To join, all you have to do is Ask a Mason for a
Petition for Membership.
Preferably from a Mason you know who is a member of the lodge you wish to join or get a petition
from the Secretary of the lodge you wish to join.
As per the rules and regulations established by the Grand Lodge of Georgia,
you must fill out the Petition in your own hand and have two Masons that have
known you for at least one year sign your Petition. One of the Masons signing your Petition must
be a member of the Lodge you wish to join. The second Mason signing the Petition may
be from another Lodge in another City or State that is recognized by the Grand Lodge of Georgia.
- Return the completed Petition plus the initiation fee to the Lodge or have the Mason that provided
the Petition to you return it to the Lodge for you.
If you do not know any Masons, check the place you work, clubs, church and
other organizations you may belong to. Some men do not let it be known that
they are masons unless you ask around.
If you still can not find any Masons you know:
- Periodically visit the Lodge you wish to join before the meetings begin and get aquatinted with the
members and officers of the Lodge. Also come to any of the fund raisers, open events and open
meetings to get aquatinted with the Lodge members.
- In just one year, you can request a Petition for membership. Many good men have become Masons
and officers of the Lodge by following this simple advice.
Finding a Lodge in Georgia:
- To find a Lodge near you in the State of Georgia, go to the
Grand Lodge of Georgia web site and look at the list of Georgia Lodges.
- Visit, e-mail or write the lodge a letter and tell them of your interest.
...What happens when a completed Petition is returned to the Lodge?...
When a completed Petition is returned to the Lodge, it is read to the brothers of the lodge by
the lodge secretary. The Master of the lodge will assign a three man investigating committee
to meet with the potential candidate and hopefully his family too. The investigating committee
will meet with the potential candidate at his home, the lodge building or elsewhere. The
investigating committee will report back to the lodge at the next meeting and give their report
to the lodge brethren. The Master of the lodge will ask all the brothers in the lodge to vote
on the candidates petition. One negative vote will deny the candidate from joining the lodge and
his initiation fee will be returned.
Although it is rare for a candidate to receive a negative vote, he can re-petition the lodge in one year.
The lodge secretary will contact the candidate to inform him of the date and time when he should
come to the lodge and receive the Entered Apprentice Degree.
...What happens after receiving the Entered Apprentice Degree?...
The Entered Apprentice Degree is a ceremony whereby the candidate receives a number of lessons
and lectures. After the candidate receives the Entered Apprentice Degree, he will be assigned a
coach to teach him of the journey, lessons and lectures he just experienced. The candidate will
stand examination before the lodge brothers while being examined by his coach. Your coach will know
when your ready to stand examination. The Master of the lodge will ask all the brothers in the lodge
to vote on the candidates examination and petition to advance to the next degree. It is very
unlikely that a candidate will fail the examination. It is best if a candidate can meet with his coach at
least twice a week or more often to prepare himself for the examination he is about to take. Your
coach will also prepare you for the examinations in the Fellowcraft and Master Mason degrees as you
progress through the degrees.
I hope this helps.....
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