A favourable opinion

A man will want to be made a Mason because he has:-

If he has been influenced to seek membership by mercenary or other unworthy motive he will be sadly disappointed.

Freemasonry is not a vehicle for promoting business or for gaining career preferences.

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Stability

Masons find that Freemasonry provides them with a great stabilising influence in their lives, particularly during times of personal crisis such as redundancy or when suffering the bereavement of a loved one. At such times they find great comfort from sitting in their Lodges, with their friends, listening to the familiar, unchanging words and phrases of Masonic rituals.

Probably for this reason, Freemasonry is perceived by the outside world as a religion.

A belief in the God of his religion is essential in every candidate but it is not a religion.

It has no theology and it offers no path to salvation. Furthermore, the discussion of religion is prohibited at Lodge meetings.

It should also be noted that Freemasonry is non-political and the discussion of politics is also forbidden at Lodge meetings.

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Making good men better

Freemasonry seeks to make good men better. It does not seek to reform the defective characters of society.

Freemasonry teaches morality through its rituals.

This does not mean that Masons consider themselves morally superior to everyone else in society; it means that they are encouraged by Masonic ritual to try to live by the principles of morality it teaches: -

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Friendship

Probably the reason that most men become Freemasons is to enjoy the company of like-minded people. As members of their families, .... as friends ..... or as work colleagues they will have enjoyed the company of men who are Freemasons.

They may not have been aware that their friend or relative is a Mason, but they will have recognised that they are law-abiding, decent men with sound moral values and principles; men whose company they enjoyed and whose integrity they admired and respected.

It naturally follows that what gives one pleasure will probably give the other pleasure too .... and another Mason is made.

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Fulfilment

Every man can find something in Freemasonry from which he can gain pleasure and satisfaction.

Masonic ritual takes the form of two-part plays and can be likened to, and are possibly and are possibly derived from, Medieval Mystery Plays. Each of these 'plays' teach moral lessons and taking part in them can be both rewarding and character building.

Active participation will eventually lead to a member to the Mastership or 'Chair' of his Lodge and by so doing he will visibly grow in confidence and stature.

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Useful in the community

Within local communities in East Kent, Lodges have been meeting, without interruption, month on month, year on year for over 200 years! No other fraternal organisations have shown such resilience or such an attraction to mankind.

From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been involved in charitable activities providing support for many widows and orphans of Freemasons as well as others within the community.

Every town and many villages in the Province of East Kent have Masonic Lodges and of the 300,000 members in England & Wales, some 8500 are members in East Kent.

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