There's actually a good reason for this non-approach. And,
it's not that Masons are being exclusive. Becoming a Mason is a
matter for each man, with the assistance of his family, to decide. Joining
Masonry is making a commitment to live your life in certain ways: to live
an honest life; to maintain respect for all; to see the integrity in all
mankind; to share with and care about all others; to build a common trust;
and to place ultimate trust in both the creation and the Creator (Men of
all faiths are accepted). No one should be forced into making this
kind of decision. This decision comes first from
within each man and not from without.
So, if and when the time ever arrives
for a good man to become a Mason, he just asks a Mason for a petition or
application. Many Masons joined when they were over 40 years of age.
The aspiring candidate fills out the application and gives it back to the
Mason who presented it to him, and that Mason carries it to lodge. The
Master of the lodge will then appoint an investigation committee to visit
with the man and his family, find out a little about him and why he wants
to be a Mason, tell him and his family about Masonry, and answer
their questions. Providing the man is neither too young,
too old, a madman, an athiest>,
or a fool, the committee reports favorably to the
lodge, and the lodge votes on the petition. Remember, Masonry makes good
men better. If the vote is affirmative, and it usually is, the lodge
will contact the man to set the date for the Entered Apprentice Degree.
As an Entered Apprentice, the man will learn to use some of the tools of
the Craft. Later, the man is passed to Fellowcraft (a Fellow in the
Craft) where he learns about more working tools. When the person
has completed the Master Mason Degree, he is a full member of the fraternity
and is expected to use the working tools for the benefit of all mankind,
not just other Masons. If the petition happens to be denied, it is
strictly forbidden for any Mason to ever discuss the matter outside of
lodge, so the man is never denigrated by the incidental rejection of his
petition.
Many Master Masons are invited to pass through the officers' line,
which takes seven years or more, and become Master of his lodge.
In Masonry, every man is expected to be a leader so that leadership training
has consistently been a significant part of Masonic life. After being
Master of a lodge, men are surprised by the changes they have passed through.
Both diplomatic skills and the ability to work effectively on teams is
obtained, refined, and mastered. Some Master Masons even become Masters
of their lodge twice!
