Membership Principles
Whilst the exact nature of Freemasonry may be unknown to you it is important that you satisfy the following basic requirements for membership.
- Your decision to join is made without inducement by others, nor for personal gain or reasons of idle curiosity.
- You believe in the Supreme Being.
- You are a law-abiding person.
- You fully appreciate that, although Freemasonry requires of every member that he firmly believe in a Supreme Being, Freemasonry is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion; that it teaches no doctrine of salvation; and that it is only a philosophy, expounded through its rituals, based upon self-improvement and self-discipline, the universal virtues of temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice, and further, the practice of tolerance and charity.
The Mission Statement of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is:
“To be recognised as an organisation of excellence for worthy men, regardless of race, creed or political persuasion – promoting tolerance, fellowship, personal development and community development.”
Our objectives are achieved by careful selection of members in the first instance followed by progressive encouragement for them to conduct all their activities honourably and harmoniously. Their duties to their families and the community are emphasised and through symbolic teachings the merits of virtue, integrity and mutual respect are demonstrated. Freemasonry intrudes on neither politics nor religion and these topics are not discussed in Lodges
Freemasonry is not a benefit society. No person should join unless he is reasonably certain that we will never need help from its funds. Masonic Charity is intended only for those members who unexpectedly or unintentionally encounter misfortune and for members of the community who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Your membership of a Lodge will involve you in financial obligations which you should be able to afford without adverse effect to yourself or those dependent on you. In addition to costs associated with joining, there will be an annual membership fee to your Lodge and further voluntary donations from time to time to MasoniCare or for other purposes. The Lodge Secretary can give you details of these costs and fees, which are not uniform in all Lodges.
We are confident that you will derive great satisfaction from your membership of one of the longest established and most honourable institutions in existence.
Concerning Freemasonry
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is the oldest and most widely known of the world’s important fraternal organisations. Its high ethical and moral standards and values support its claim to be an organisation of excellence which counts for something in today’s society. Freemasonry is a way of life; it is more than just another friendly society or social club.
What are its aims?
Freemasonry is an organisation formed to join together in friendship men of integrity and good will from all walks of life. It sets high standards of behaviour to be maintained in daily life, so providing an example to the community. The sustained practice of Freemasonry provides significant and rewarding opportunities for self-development and community service.
Who are Freemasons?
Freemasons are men of character and substance with high ideals and worthwhile values who can make a difference in the community. In short they are citizens of quality and good reputation who have taken up Freemasonry because they believe that what they do in their Lodges improves their character and enhances their value to their fellows.
What is a ‘Lodge’?
The basic membership group of Masons is called a Lodge. Whilst some Lodges attract members with specific social, professional or work-related backgrounds there are, in general, no hard and fast rules limiting admission to any Lodge. Commonly new members join Lodges to which their nominators belong, usually on the basis of established acquaintance.
Lodges are presided over by the Master who is usually elected to serve for a 12-month term. Most Lodge meetings are held monthly. At these meetings new members may be admitted or advanced to a higher rank or such other business conducted as the Master shall determine.
In NSW and the ACT, Lodges operate under a warrant of constitution from the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, in accordance with the regulations for the Government of the Craft contained in the constitutions of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and the Lodge’s own by-laws.