Freemasonry is a rewarding experience and membership is open to all men aged 18 years or over.
It need not be time intensive and most new members attend one meeting per month. This equates to about 4 hours of your time once a month.
Like many membership organisations, there are certain prerequisites that potential members must satisfy when applying to be a Freemason. To become a Freemason a person needs to:
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Be a Law abiding person;
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Have a belief in a Supreme Being; and
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Have made his decision to join Freemasonry by his own free will and not for any personal gain or reasons of idle curiosity.
As Freemasonry offers many unique benefits, these prerequisites ensure that those who join get the most out of becoming a Freemason. If you satisfy these requirements and are interested in joining Freemasonry, there are a number of ways in which you can apply to become a Freemason.
Approach a Freemason you know
If you know a Freemason, approach him and inform him of your desire to join. After discussing your intentions, he would probably become your ‘nominator’ and make arrangements for you to become a member of his Lodge (Masonic meeting group).
Approach the United Grand Lodge of Queensland
If you do not know any Freemasons you are welcome to approach the United Grand Lodge of Queensland which is the governing body of Freemasonry in Queensland. If you are interested in joining you should contact the Deputy Grand Secretary on (07) 3229 3533 or [email protected] You will be provided with great general information plus put in contact with a Lodge in your vicinity which may suit you.
Contact Lodge St George
I'll be very happy to talk to you directly and provide you as much information as I'm able to do. I'll also provide you with an application form if St George seems to be the right Lodge for you. We can set up a face to face meeting or we can communicate via email or Skype. I'll make it my priority to be in touch with you as much as you require.
The Application Process
You are provided with a four page Application Form. I can email this to you as a PDF file if you prefer. You fill out the first three pages and the Lodge completes page 4. In filling out the form you will need to make a number of declarations concerning your background and intentions (although nothing more intrusive that most forms we fill out in day to day life). You'll need to supply the names and contact details of 4 referees. These people need not be Masons. They can be friends, family or business acquaintences and will provide short character references for you. These can be emailed or posted to the relevant Lodge Secretary. You will also be required to sign a privacy statement.
Once your form has been received the Lodge will make a time to pay you a visit, ideally at your home, to do a few things. Firstly to ensure your wife/partner/family are in favour of you joining Freemasonry - particularly the time and financial commitments. Also this visit gives your family a chance to ask questions about Freemasonry. Normally a couple of experienced Lodge members will visit and will not keep you any longer than an hour or so. It is arranged at your convenience. If for some reason the visit can't take place at your home, or if you are a single man, we can make make other arrangements.
The paperwork application process generally takes three months or so. You will be ballotted for by the lodge in the month before you are Initiated.
Expectations of Members
Having joined Freemasonry there are several criteria that are to be respected by members. As Freemasons come from all walks of life, members are expected to interact with each other free from religious or racial prejudice.-
Freemasonry is neither a religion, nor is it intended to be a substitute for religion.
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Its philosophy is designed to encourage its members toward self improvement.
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Members are encouraged to support Masonic Charities which perform valuable services throughout Queensland.
Fees
A Freemason is required to pay annual membership fees to his Lodge and to the United Grand Lodge of Queensland (these are usually combined into one annual payment). A joining fee is also charged by most Lodges. The average yearly cost to members varies between Lodges however the fees are explained to potential members before joining. Currently in Lodge St George the one-off joining fee is $125 and the annual membership fee (Lodge and UGLQ fee combined) is $290 for regular memebers.
Please don't hesitiate to contact me if you have any queries about the information above or have any other questions.
Paul Holland
Secretary, Lodge St George
0409 632118
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