Are You Qualified?
Freemasonry asks little of a man on paper and a great deal of him in practice. Under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, a petitioner must:
- Be a man of at least eighteen years of age.
- Believe in a Supreme Being. Masonry is not a religion and never asks the particulars of a man’s faith, but it does require that he have one.
- Be of good moral character and good repute in his community.
- Come of his own free will and accord, unbiased by friends and uninfluenced by mercenary motives.
- Reside in Illinois, or otherwise satisfy the residence requirements of the Grand Lodge.
How It Works
Ask
Write to the lodge, or come to dinner before a stated meeting and meet the brethren. There is no obligation on either side.
Petition
Complete the Petition for the Degrees, have it signed by two Master Masons, and return it to the Secretary with the petition fee.
Investigate
A committee of brethren will visit you and your family at home, answer your questions, and report to the lodge. The lodge then ballots.
Degrees
On election you proceed through the three degrees, supported throughout by an Intender assigned to guide your study.
What Masonry Is Not
Masonry is not a religion, and it is not a substitute for one. It is not a secret society: its buildings are known, its meeting times are published, and its members wear its emblems openly. Its only secrets are its modes of recognition and its symbolic instruction. It is not a business network, and it makes no promise of advantage to any man who joins it. What it offers is the company of good men and a lifetime of work on your own character.