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What Are Freemasons?

This email hopes to share with you information on what Freemasonry is and isn't. There is a lot of misinformation out about our fraternity, and the below video, along with our approved Declaration of Principles, hopes to bring some light to the matter.

What Is Freemasonry?

A brief video from our friends at Maryland Freemasons featuring an actor's interpretation of Ben Franklin discussing the Fraternity.

The Declaration of Principles

of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana
Adopted May 24, 1939, Revised 5/18/1949, 5/18/2005

Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious fraternity. Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in its methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction.
It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of its income inures to the benefit of any individual, but all is devoted to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of mankind.
It is benevolent in that it teaches and exemplifies altruism as a duty.
It is educational in that it teaches by prescribed ceremonials a system of morality and brotherhood based upon the Sacred Law.

It is religious in that it teaches monotheism, the Volume of the Sacred Law is open upon its Altars whenever a Lodge is in session, reverence for God is ever present in its ceremonial, and to its Brethren are constantly addressed lessons of morality; yet it is not sectarian or theological.
It is a social organization in that it brings good men together in numbers to teach and practice the art of Freemasonry.

Through the art of Freemasonry, the improvement and strengthening of the character of the individual man, Freemasonry seeks to improve the community. Thus it impresses upon its members the principles of personal righteousness and personal responsibility, enlightens them as to those things which make for human welfare, and inspires them with that feeling of charity, or good will, toward all mankind which will move them to translate principle and conviction into action.

To that end, it teaches and stands for the reverence of God; truth and justice; fraternity and philanthropy; and enlightenment and orderly liberty, civil, religious and intellectual. It charges each of its members to be true and loyal to the government of the country to which he owes allegiance and to be obedient to the law of any State in which he may be.

Masonry abhors Tyranny as being repugnant to its concept of the dignity of the individual personality, destructive of the basic human rights which are the Divine heritage of all men, and contrary to the fundamental Masonic tenets of faith in God and the free exercise of religion.

It believes that the attainment of these objectives is best accomplished by laying a broad basis of principle upon which men of every race, country, sect and opinion may unite.
Believing these things, this Grand Lodge affirms its continued adherence to that ancient and approved rule of Freemasonry which forbids the discussion in Masonic meetings of creeds, politics or other topics likely to excite personal animosities.

It further affirms its conviction that it is contrary to the fundamental principles of Freemasonry and dangerous to its unity, strength, usefulness and welfare, for Masonic bodies to take action or attempt to exercise pressure or influence for or against any legislation, or in any way to attempt to procure the election or appointment of government officials, or to influence them, whether or not members of the Fraternity, in the performance of their official duties. The true Freemason acts in civil life according to his individual judgment and the dictates of his conscience.

Ready to Join

Reminder - The strongest way to become a member is to attend the social hour, usually occurring the hour before a lodge's stated business meeting. These meetings usually occur once per month. To find a lodge near you and to learn when their stated meetings are, please visit the Lodge Finder. You don't need to make contact first, just show up!