How to be a Freemason: If you are wondering: “How can I be a Mason?” then you have have come to a good place to find out. Joining the Masons and our Lodge in Birmingham is more straight forward than most people think. To become a Freemason you will need to be a man aged 18 or over, be of good character and believe in a Supreme Being. The Order is open to men of all faiths. Candidates are supported at every stage of their entry into Masonry. By joining our Lodge you can be assured of a very warm welcome.

Interested in joining Freemasonry? Please contact us, we welcome any and all enquiries.

For a personal take on how some of our members became Freemasons you can read: How I became a Freemason. This page also give an insight in what it means to be a Freemason, but we are considering adding a seperate page on this.

Our website also has a sample edition of Freemasonry Today – official magazine of the The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). This magazine illustrates the breadth of the good work Freemasons do for charity, in the community & the various activities Freemasons join in as part of their Masonry. Freemasonry Today is freely accessible to the public.

The UGLE has produced a guide for people who are considering becoming a Mason. It provides a good initial snap shot of Freemasonry for potential candidates.

To join the Freemasons: in the first instance, please consider the answers to the following questions and membership requirements, including the need to live within convenient travelling distance of Birmingham. If after that, you still want to be a Freemason, then contact our Lodge Secretary who will be happy to assist you further.

These two documents may also be of use:

Candidate ProfileChecklist Lodge Profile
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Question: What is Freemasonry?

As well as being one of the World’s oldest secular fraternal societies, Freemasonry is an enjoyable association of like-minded men. Men who work towards a common goal of being happy and communicating happiness to others. This is achieved by work in the Lodge and through our work in society. The work in the Lodge is largely based on a series of ritual ceremonies. These have much in common with the old Passion Plays, follow ancient forms, and use stonemason’s customs and tools as allegorical symbols. The purpose of the ceremonies is to seek to instill morality in all men by teaching and practising high standards of conduct in society. This aim is furthered at dinners held after Lodge meetings and at other social occasions involving wives and families. Freemasons strive to be good citizens, to practice the highest moral and social standards, and to be men of friendship, charitable disposition, and integrity. It is often said that Freemasonry… ‘Makes good men better.’

Question: Why 18 Years Of Age?

When the United Grand Lodge of England was formed the age of majority was 21 years. It is now possible to join a Lodge at the younger age of 18.

No person shall on any pretence whatsoever be made a Mason while under the age of eighteen years nor at the age of eighteen before he shall have finally ceased to be in full time secondary education or training. Every candidate must be a free man and in reputable circumstances.

Question: What Is Meant By 'A Supreme Being'?

Men of all religious persuasions are welcome to become Freemasons. Whilst Freemasonry is certainly not a religion in itself, it is, however, an institution based on teaching, learning, and the practice of high moral standards. A belief in God, however known, is regarded as an essential requirement. However, the manner in which you practice your religion is regarded as a strictly personal matter. Members of different faiths happily co-exist in our Lodges because all share the common bond of fellowship, which allows them to meet together without religious differences coming between them.

Question: Why Can Only Men Join?

In this enlightened age of sexual equality, the United Grand Lodge Of England may be thought to be out of step in insisting on a men-only status for its members. However, the traditions of Freemasonry are held in high regard by all our members and are not regarded as sexist in its widest sense.

The Lodge of Happiness, in common with other Lodges, places a high degree of importance on involving wives and partners in social events.

Freemasonry itself is not exclusively confined to men, even though the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), to which the Lodge of Happiness subscribes does not admit women.

Informal relations between UGLE and The Order of Women Freemasons remain cordial and cooperative and the regularity and sincerity of the movement is acknowledged.

Further information about women in freemasonry may be obtained from:

The Secretariat (Enquiries)

The Order of Women Freemasons

27 Pembridge Gardens
London
W2 4EF

Question: How Do I Apply to Join the Freemasons?

Send our Secretary an e-mail with the Contact Us form, providing him with your contact details. A Member of our Lodge will then contact you to explain in more detail what is involved.

Question: What Happens When I Apply?

We find that a good way to introduce prospective Members to the Lodge is to extend an invitation to one of our social functions and you will also have an opportunity to visit our Lodge rooms.
Should you express an interest in joining Freemasonry, we will arrange for a couple of our more experienced Brethren to visit your home. The purpose of this visit is to enable you and your family to ask questions and be sure of the commitment involved.

Question: Are there any additional requirements?

In addition to the requirements described above:

• You should not have any criminal convictions.
• You should enjoy the company of other men from a wide range of social and working environments
• If you are a family man, it is very important that your family obligations come first, and your partner is supportive of your membership.
• You should be able to afford the joining fees and continuing membership fees without hardship to your family.
• Your time commitment will initially be to attend six meetings per year, but progressively, committee meetings and rehearsals will take up additional evenings.
• You should be willing to take part in our rituals.
• You should understand and accept that Freemasonry does not exist to assist its Members in their business or employment. Therefore, you should not expect any pecuniary gain from your membership.
• Our Lodge is firmly committed to supporting both Masonic and non Masonic charities and we are proud of the significant sums of money which we raise for these purposes. However, Members of the Lodge are not expected to contribute beyond their means and an individual’s contribution is very much a personal matter.

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If you have any other questions about how to be a Freemason we will only be too happy to offer you further assistance. To be a Freemason is both a privileges and an honour. To begin your journey and become a Mason contact us for more information about joining. You can be assured that we will do all we can to help you in your quest to be a Freemason.