How to Become a Freemason: A Practical Guide

Becoming a Freemason is a structured process that has changed remarkably little over the last three hundred years. The basic steps—a man or woman of good character petitions a lodge, is investigated, is elected, and proceeds through three initiatory degrees—have been the standard path into regular Freemasonry since the early eighteenth century. This page walks through the practical steps of the process, the requirements a candidate must meet, what to expect at a first lodge visit, and how the modern Masonic landscape differs from its historical antecedents. For Masonic ritual, see Freemason degree rituals explained; for the symbolism of the apron, see why Freemasons wear aprons; and for the secret signs that link Masons across jurisdictions, see the origin of Freemason handshakes.

Who Is Eligible to Become a Mason

The standard requirements for regular Freemasonry are remarkably consistent across jurisdictions. The major Grand Lodges—the United Grand Lodge of England, the Grand Lodge of Ireland, the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the Grand Lodge of New York, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and most other regular bodies—require the following:

Age. The candidate must be a legal adult, typically at least eighteen years of age. Many Grand Lodges set a higher minimum, often twenty-one.
Sex. Regular Freemasonry historically admits men only. The vast majority of Grand Lodges in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the British Commonwealth continue to admit only men. Co-Masonry, a parallel tradition that admits both men and women, is recognized by the Le Droit Humain and the Grand Lodge of Women in England.
Belief in a higher power. Regular Freemasonry requires belief in a “Supreme Being” or “Grand Architect of the Universe.” Specific religious doctrines are not required, and Masonry is explicitly non-denominational. Atheists are excluded.
Good character. The candidate must be of good moral character and reputation, with no felony convictions.
Free will. The candidate must come to Freemasonry of their own volition, with no coercion, no recruitment pressure, and no incentive. Solicitation of candidates is forbidden in most Grand Lodges.

In the United States, Prince Hall Freemasonry maintains a parallel jurisdiction for African American Masons; mainstream regular Grand Lodges now admit African American candidates as a matter of course.

The Petition

A candidate who wishes to join a regular lodge must submit a formal petition. In most jurisdictions this is a one- or two-page document that includes the candidate’s full name, address, age, occupation, religious affiliation, and the names of two references. The references are usually Masons who are known to the candidate and who can vouch for his or her character. A candidate who knows no Masons is, in some jurisdictions, at a disadvantage, since the personal reference is an important part of the process.

The petition is read aloud at a regular lodge meeting. Most Grand Lodges require that the petition lie over for a defined period (usually four to six weeks) so that members may consider it, and that a formal ballot be taken at a subsequent meeting. The ballot is conducted with white and black cubes; a single black cube constitutes a blackball, and in most jurisdictions a single blackball will reject the petition without explanation.

The Investigation Committee

Once the petition has been read, the Master of the lodge appoints an investigation committee, usually of three Masons, who interview the candidate and report back to the lodge. The committee will typically ask about the candidate’s religious faith, family situation, occupation, and motives for joining. A candidate who is well-prepared and straightforward will pass the investigation easily; a candidate who is evasive or unprepared will not.

The Three Degrees

Once elected, the candidate proceeds through the three degrees of regular Freemasonry. The full ritual is described in Freemason degree rituals explained. A brief overview:

Entered Apprentice. The first degree dramatizes the candidate’s introduction to Masonry. The candidate is “prepared” in a darkened room, conducted into the lodge blindfolded, and put through a series of trials. The principal lessons are the moral duties of a Mason.
Fellowcraft. The second degree builds on the first. The principal lessons are the liberal arts and sciences.
Master Mason. The third degree is the central drama of regular Freemasonry. The degree dramatizes the legend of Hiram Abiff, the architect of King Solomon’s Temple, murdered by three unworthy apprentices. The lessons are the immortality of the soul and the moral duty of fidelity. The Master Mason degree is the highest degree of the basic Masonic system; higher degrees (such as the Scottish Rite’s 33 degrees) are additional, not prerequisites for full membership in most jurisdictions.

The Cost

Masonic dues are modest. Most American lodges charge annual dues of between $50 and $300, with substantial variation by jurisdiction. A candidate’s initiation fee is typically a few hundred dollars, and is sometimes waived for new members in jurisdictions that are seeking to grow. The total cost is comparable to a moderate social club. In the contemporary period, the cost is a recreational and discretionary expense.

Time Commitment

A Mason’s time commitment is a function of the lodge to which he or she belongs. The minimum commitment in most jurisdictions is one or two meetings per month, plus an annual Grand Lodge communication. Many lodges meet weekly for business and degree work. A candidate for the degrees should be prepared to attend at least three of the lodge’s regular meetings to receive the three degrees.

What to Expect at a First Visit

A candidate who is considering petitioning should visit a lodge before petitioning. Most lodges welcome visitors, and the candidate is typically introduced by a Mason who knows the candidate and is willing to sponsor the petition. The visitor will be formally introduced to the Master, will be seated, and will be invited to observe the meeting. A visit is the best way to determine whether a particular lodge is a good fit.

Regular and Continental Masonry

The contemporary Masonic landscape is divided into several broad categories. Regular Masonry is the tradition recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Scotland; it is male-only, theistic, and adheres to the “Landmarks” that have been traditional since the eighteenth century. Continental Masonry is the tradition dominant in most of Europe outside the British Isles; it tends to be less dogmatic on the requirement of belief in a higher power. The African-American Masonic tradition is the Prince Hall Grand Lodges. The Co-Masonic tradition admits both men and women. The Masonic appendant orders are additional bodies that meet under Masonic recognition: the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, the Shriners, the Order of the Eastern Star (which admits women), and many others. The relationship between these bodies is described in the Freemasonry explained entry.

Finding a Lodge

A candidate can find a lodge through the Grand Lodge of the relevant state, province, or country. In the United States, every state has a Grand Lodge, and each maintains a public directory of its subordinate lodges. In the United Kingdom, the United Grand Lodge of England maintains a similar directory. Most Grand Lodge websites include a petition form or a link to a printable petition.

The Broader Fraternal Context

Masonry is one of several fraternal orders that exist in the contemporary world. The Odd Fellows, the Elks, the Moose, the Knights of Columbus, and the Knights Templar body are all currently active. The fraternal tradition is surveyed in the fraternal orders and lodges pillar. A candidate who is uncertain about whether Freemasonry is the right fit may find that another fraternal order is more suited to his or her interests.

Sources and Further Reading

The standard reference is the published Book of Constitutions of the United Grand Lodge of England (current edition 2018), which sets the rules for English-speaking regular Freemasonry globally. For the American jurisdictions, each state Grand Lodge publishes its own Monitor and Code. For the historical background to the membership rules, the relevant scholarly source is David Stevenson, The Origins of Freemasonry (1988), and the more practical reference is John Hamill, The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World (2019). For Prince Hall Freemasonry specifically, the standard source is Charles H. Wesley, The History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, 1865–2000 (2000, revised ed.). For co-Masonry, the relevant reference is Margaret Jacob’s chapter in The Mason’s Words (2003), ed. Robert G. Davis.

The Freemasonry explained cluster, Freemason degree rituals explained, why do Freemasons wear aprons, origin of Freemason handshakes, most famous Freemasons, and fraternal orders and lodges cover the surrounding context.