Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Masonry is the world’s first and largest fraternal organization. It is based on the belief that each man has a responsibility to help make the world a better place. The Grand Lodge of Texas has over 90,000 Masons and over 900 Lodges throughout the State. Hidalgo Masonic Lodge in Edinburg, Texas is a long thriving member of the Grand Lodge of Texas and is made up of Freemasons who believe Freemasonry enhances and strengthens the character of the individual man by providing opportunities for fellowship, charity, and personal growth towards truth.

The mission of masonry, and Masonic Lodges in Texas, is to promote personal growth, self-improvement, and an understanding of truth. As Masons, we lead by example, give back to our communities, and support the numerous Masonic initiatives. We invest in children, our communities, our families, ourselves, and humanity’s evolving future.

No. Masonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. The fraternity requires its members to have a belief in a Supreme Being, but the fraternity itself is not affiliated with any religion, and men of all faiths are represented in the fraternity. Religion is not discussed at lodge meetings. There are many lodges where Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus all come together in fraternity.

Membership in Masonry is not a secret; all members are free to acknowledge their membership. There is no secret about any of Masonry’s aims or principles. Masonry’s constitutions and rules are available to the public, and meeting locations are clearly identifiable. Like many similar organizations, some of Masonry’s internal affairs, such as ceremonies, grips, and passwords, are regarded as private matters for members only.

As long as a man is 18 or older and believes in a Supreme Being. There is no discrimination for ethnicity, religion, social status, etc. Yes, Catholics can join a Masonic lodge, there is not nor never been an anti-Catholic policy, however, the Catholic church has forbidden men from joining Masonry since the early 1800’s. This policy was reiterated by the Papacy in the 1980s, however, there have been many Masonic Catholics throughout history here in the US and in Europe.

Because Masons are bound by strict rules to not solicit for new members. A man must petition a lodge of Masons by his own free will and accord. You may have good friends or family members who are Masons and wonder why they have never asked you to be a part of their lodge. This can cause hurt feelings, which is unfortunate, but if a man freely inquires about Masonry to their friends or family member then they are most welcome to discuss Masonry with them and bring them around to visit other members at a lodge event. Men become Masons when their hearts and minds are ready.

There are four steps to becoming a Master Mason. The first is acceptance into the fraternity; the second, third, and fourth correspond to the three degrees of Masonry.

A man who meets the basic qualifications can submit a petition for membership to a lodge. This petition must be sponsored by two lodge members. If he does not know anyone in the lodge, he can still submit a petition, pay the lodge a visit and the lodge will introduce him to several members who will get to know him, and then if they are comfortable, agree to be his sponsors.

These three ceremonial stages are loosely based on the apprenticeship system, which was used to educate Medieval craftsmen. The 3rd Degree is Master Mason, making the candidate a full member of his lodge, enjoying both the rights and the responsibilities of membership.

The amount of time it takes to attain all three degrees depends on the lodge, the candidate, and the form of initiation. Generally, in Texas, it can take anywhere between six weeks and six months to become a Master Mason.

There are three main stages of Masonic membership: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. These stages are referred to as “degrees,” and correspond with members’ self-development and increased knowledge of Freemasonry. As a man completes each phase of learning, the lodge holds a ceremony to confer his degree.

Degree names are taken from craft guilds: In the Middle Ages, to become a stonemason, a man would first be apprenticed. As an apprentice, he learned the tools and skills of the trade. When he had proved his skills, he became a “fellow of the craft,” and when he gained exceptional ability, he was known as a “master of the craft.”

Freemasonry began when stonemasons formed local organizations, called lodges, to take care of sick and injured members, as well as the families of those who were killed on the job. The masons also used the lodges as places to meet, receive their pay, plan their work, train new apprentices, and socialize. Today, this term refers both to a unit of Masons and the room or building in which they meet. There are more than 900 lodges in Texas composed of over 90,000 members and there are approximately 13,000 in the United States.

There are generally three types of meetings:

1. Those in which men are initiated or advanced to a higher degree through a ceremonial ritual.

2. Those in which the lodge conducts routine business, elects new members, and participates in a Masonic education program.

3) Ceremonial occasions where our families, friends, and the community are invited, such as the annual installation of officers, holiday celebrations, open houses, or presentation of awards.

In addition, many lodges have a dinner before the meeting or refreshments afterward. Much of the conviviality and fellowship of Masonic members happens before and after the meetings.

Yes. There are about five million Masons worldwide, including almost two million in the U.S. and more than 90,000 in the state of Texas. All lodges follow the same principles of Freemasonry, but their activities may vary. Each grand lodge is sovereign and independent; there is no U.S. or international governing body for Freemasonry.

Masonry is a fraternity, a brotherhood. The essence of a fraternity is that it is for men, just as the essence of a sorority is that it is for women. There are several affiliated Masonic organizations for women only, as well as organizations for both men and women, such as Eastern Star.

There is an application fee for membership, which includes a charitable contribution to help fulfill our philanthropic mission and our obligation to aid brothers and their families in times of need. Continued giving supports important charitable programs, which rely on member contributions. Annual dues begin when the Entered Apprentice degree is received; each lodge determines the dues amount.

A grand lodge is an administrative body that oversees Freemasonry in a specific geographic area, called a jurisdiction. The United States has grand lodges in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Symbols allow people to communicate quickly, and to transcend language barriers. When you see a green light or a circle with a line through it, you know what it means. Likewise, Masons use metaphors from geometry and the architecture of stonemasonry to inform their continuing pursuit of knowledge, ethics, and leadership skills.

To reflect their heritage, Masons wear aprons while in lodge, at certain public events, and at funerals to demonstrate their pride in the fraternity, and their lineage from stonemasons, who historically carried their tools in leather aprons. The square and compass is the most widely known symbol of Masonry: When you see the symbol on a building, you know that Masons meet there.

A man first becomes a Mason at his local lodge. After he has been awarded the three degrees of Masonry, he may join any of the other allied Masonic organizations, each of which has a special social, educational, or philanthropic focus. The best known in the United States are the Shrine, Scottish Rite, and York Rite.

In the years following World War I, Masons in the United States helped establish a trio of youth orders dedicated to teaching young men and women the principles and values of Masonry. Today, DeMolay International for Boys; and Job’s Daughters International and the International Order of Rainbow for Girls offer young men and women ages 11 to 21 (depending on the group) opportunities for personal growth and community service. More information is available at masons4youth.org.

Masonry came to America from England and many of the original English titles are still in use. These titles may sound archaic in today’s society, but their meanings are simple. The master is the leader of the lodge, similar to the term president in other organizations. He is called “master” for the same reason that the leader of first violins in an orchestra is called the concertmaster. It’s simply an older term for leader. The senior and junior wardens represent the first and second vice presidents.

Degrees are initiation ceremonies that represent progressive steps to membership in the organization. There are three degrees conferred in the Masonic Lodge: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. They are loosely based upon the journeymen system, which was used to educate Medieval stonemasons and craftsmen. In today’s society, the word degree is used by colleges and universities to indicate completion of a course of study. In the lodge, the candidate must demonstrate his knowledge or proficiency of each degree before he can proceed to the next.

It is through these degrees that Masonry passes its teachings and principles from generation to generation. The degree ceremonies are intended to be sources of knowledge, inspiration, and pride for the candidate and the lodge members. Those ceremonies also serve as a shared experience that binds men to a closer brotherhood. A candidate receives the utmost respect during all three ceremonies, and he is never made to feel uncomfortable.

Yes. Texas allows for plural memberships both within the state and with lodges in other states.

Yes. Over the last few years, recognition between both grand lodges in each state has grown rapidly. This includes those in the state of Texas and we would celebrate any opportunity where we can spread the cement of fellowship and brotherly love with our Prince Hall brothers.

Masons’ name comes from the occupation of their original members – stonemasons who built castles and cathedrals in England and Scotland. The word “free” was added during the Middle Ages. Because stonemasons possessed knowledge and skills not found everywhere, these men had the privilege of traveling between countries.

Over time, many men who were not builders were drawn to the practices of Freemasonry. To encourage intellectual diversity, stonemasons began accepting men from other professions into the fraternity. These men were known as “accepted Masons.” This trend continued, and accepted members eventually outnumbered operative members. Today, the names “Freemasonry,” “Masonry,” and “Free and Accepted Masons” are used interchangeably to refer to the fraternity. The first Grand Lodge was dedicated in England in 1717. The Craft, however, is documented to the 1500’s in Scotland, and possibly earlier.

If there is a dress code, it is set by the lodge. Although it is traditional for members to wear a coat and tie to meetings, several lodges have moved to a business casual model. Also, officers in many lodges are asked to dress more formally than the members, and some lodges require officers to be in a tuxedo for ceremonial occasions.

Masonry does not endorse political candidates or legislation, and the discussion of politics at Masonic meetings is not allowed.

Yes, if you are already a member in good standing in your lodge, you can transfer your membership to a different lodge at any time. There is an application to complete and possible transfer fees depending on the jurisdiction. Remember that annual dues amounts vary between lodges. Discuss any requirements with the secretary of each lodge. Remember also that a Master Mason can visit any lodge as often as he chooses without paying any fee. Some Masons are happy to become permanent visitors while providing financial support to their original (or home) lodge.

Yes. Membership restoration takes place in your original lodge. There is a petition process to follow if it has been more than a year since you were a member. The lodge secretary will be glad to help you.