Freemasonry is a system of morality and ethics that transcends political, racial, financial and secular boundaries. It is a belief that all men are created equal, and all deserve respect, love, relief and charity. It is a voluntary association of men who have adopted its teachings as a way of life, and seek to improve themselves in their daily existence.

It is a pursuit of excellence in a world where excellence seems unattainable. Teaching morality through symbolism and allegory, its rites and ceremonies instruct its members to cherish the tenets of the ‘Brotherhood of Man, under the Fatherhood of God’.

It is sometimes easier to tell non-Masons what Freemasonry is not. It is not an organization which solicits membership, all men must come to Freemasonry of their own free will and accord. It is not an insurance organization or a benefit society. It is not a religion, a creed, or a religious order. It is not a charity, but recognizes that the tenet of Charity as a foundation of love for humanity is a duty for all Masons.

It is not organized for profit, and no member may profit from his association with the Fraternity, upon penalty of expulsion. It does not dictate to any man as to his religious or secular beliefs and is not a substitute for the connection any man has to his God. It is never a forum for discussion of religion, politics, or other partisan affairs. Finally, it is not a secret society as it does not conceal its existence, or its purpose.

Freemasonry seeks to improve all men who would believe that there is a fundamental good in everyone who is not unwilling to live to its precepts.

Freemasonry is the oldest, largest, best known, and most widespread Fraternity in the world. Its origins have been the subject of much research and discussion among scholars, who generally agree that it predates any written records which are available today. Most Masonic scholars also agree that it has its origins in the operative stonemason lodges which existed in Europe during the middle Ages.

These lodges were created to ensure that people who claimed to be stonemasons were in fact qualified through a deep practical understanding of the craft. They enforced codes of conduct on their members, established means of recognition, and dictated training and testing of apprentices. A lodge had jurisdiction over any stone work in its locale, and therefore also ensured that its stonemasons would have a means to perform their work and earn a livelihood. During the 1600’s, as the number of great cathedrals under construction began to decline, lodges adopted the practice of admitting men who were not stonemasons into their membership. These members were termed ‘Speculative’ or ‘Accepted’ Masons.

It was from these groups that modern day Freemasonry had its beginning, and from which the earliest recorded historical artifacts can be identified. In 1717, a famous meeting was held in London, England, where the four Lodges present agreed to work under a common constitution, and by this act, the first Grand Lodge was created. From this Grand Lodge, many Symbolic and Provincial Grand Lodges were chartered, and today there are hundreds of Grand Lodges with millions of members.

There are very few places in the world where you cannot find a Masonic Lodge, or locate a Brother.

A common expression used to describe Freemasonry is that it exists to “make good men better.” To this end, the purpose of Freemasonry is to teach those universal ethical principles that guide all good men.

It teaches kindness in the home, honesty in business, courtesy in society, fairness in work, pity and concern for the unfortunate, resistance toward evil, help for the weak, forgiveness for the penitent, love for one another, and above all, reverence and love for God.

These principles are so universal to the basis of a working society that they are an essential way of life for each of its members.

Freemasonry accepts applications from men who are of good character, recommended by those within the fraternity, and who express a belief in God.

Freemasonry makes no distinction among the various religions when considering a man for membership, nor does it care about his political beliefs, wealth, or station in life. Religion and politics are never discussed in Lodge, and to violate this ancient custom would mean expulsion from the Lodge.

In all things, it is the interior character of the man and not the external trappings and wealth which would recommend him to become a Mason.

Brotherly Love, Relief & Truth!

Masonry, the world’s oldest and most respected Fraternity, encourages good men to become better men by promoting a life devoted to high ideals, community service and benevolence.

Men of every race and religion become Freemasons. Each has a personal belief in a Supreme Being and a determination to conduct himself in a manner that will earn the respect and trust of others.

You must:

• Be a man at least 21 years of age
• Be of good moral character
• Have a personal belief in a Supreme Being (the definition of a Supreme Being is up to you)
• Decide to become a Mason of “your own free will and accord”
• Be loyal to your country
• Dedicated to providing for your own family
• Have a sincere determination to conduct yourself in a manner that will earn respect and trust of others
• Possess a desire to help others through community service and universal benevolence

Follow these steps to become a member:

• Talk with someone you know who is a member of the Fraternity.
• If you do not know anyone who is a Mason, just contact a lodge in your neighborhood.
• Masons do not solicit for members. You’ll need to express your personal interest in joining the Fraternity, complete a petition for membership and return it to your local lodge.
• Three members will meet with you to answer your questions.
• Your petition will be presented for secret ballot. If accepted, you will be notified when to appear to receive the first of three Degrees of Masonry.

Charity is a cornerstone of the Freemason’s way of Life and is often seen as the public face of Freemasonry. Freemasons’ charity in Nova Scotia is best known through benevolence, care for the aged, hospitals, learning centres for dyslexic children, and financial support for students pursuing higher education; but there is much more being done than is generally recognized.

It is a little known fact that Freemasons’ work is widely applied to the general public and most often directed at non-Masonic causes. While all Freemasons’ Lodges throughout the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge Of Nova Scotia practice charity in their own right, the Masonic Foundation Of Nova Scotia is the body mainly responsible for the management and distribution of money for charitable purposes; including benevolent assistance given through the Assisted Home Program and shared funding with Lodges pursuing local community and bursary programs. The Foundation’s Fund used for these endeavors is the result of the donations of Freemasons by direct giving and income from investments.

The work of the Foundation is of great significance to all Freemasons in Nova Scotia and charitable giving is a privilege taken very seriously. As a purely private organization Freemasons are proud to be working quietly within their communities for the benefit of those less fortunate. However, this gives us no right to be complacent with our results. We all strive to be just a little more involved in our community quietly providing help where we can and providing financial support to worthy charitable causes.

Modified from the Grand Lodge Of Nova Scotia