FREEMASONRY

A Way of Life

Introduction

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest fraternal societies. It is made up of men who are concerned with moral and spiritual values and who pursue a way of life that complements their religious, family and community affiliations. They seek a better way of life and treat all men as equal regardless of race, religion or social standing.

Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. It is a school of instruction and a system of moral and spiritual philosophy that strives to make good men better.

Freemasons share a common belief in a Supreme Being, but if anything, Freemasonry goes beyond religious boundaries, bringing together men of every country, sect and opinion in peace and harmony. Because religion and politics are issues that have divided men in the past, neither issue is discussed within the Lodge, but that does not mean that religion plays no part in Freemasonry.

Masonic meetings open and close with a prayer, although no Mason is told how he should pray or what he should pray for. He must find the answers to these questions in his own faith, in his own church, synagogue or other place of worship.

Freemasons cover the broad spectrum of religious and political beliefs and are encouraged to be: 
• religious without advocating a particular religion;  
• active in the community without advocating a particular political point of view.

  Every true Freemason:
• shows tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behaves with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures;
• practices charity and care for the community as well as his own family, through charitable giving and by voluntary work;
• strives for the truth, requiring high moral standards and aiming to achieve them in his own life. 
Freemasons believe these three principles represent a way of achieving higher standards in life.

The Essential Qualification for Membership 
The essential qualification for admission and continuing membership of Freemasonry is a belief in a Supreme Being and a desire to strive for: 
• high moral standards; 
• kindness in the home; 
• courtesy in society;
• honesty in business; and
• fairness in all dealings.

What do Freemasons do?
Freemasons are deeply involved in helping other people.
They hold Lodge meetings once a month to share each other’s company and follow their pursuit of a better way of life.

The Origins of Freemasonry.
Freemasonry was active as a ‘trade organisation’ for stonemasons in medieval times.
Back then, Freemasonry was secretive about some of its operations and rituals – for example the handshake with which we greeted each other – and that gave rise to all sorts of bizarre rumours and misunderstandings. Today we are much more open about our role in the community and we share information to show we have nothing to hide.
Many famous men throughout history have been Freemasons – from Mozart to Winston Churchill, from Benjamin Franklin to Peter Sellers, from Isaac Newton to Oscar Wilde, from Joseph Banks to Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple). In Australia, Robert Menzies, Donald Bradman, Charles Kingsford Smith and Weary Dunlop are just a few names from a long list of notable Freemasons.

Our Meetings
Whilst many aspects of the Freemasons will always remain private, members develop through structured rituals and lessons presented to them by other members of their lodge. These rituals and lessons are designed to help Freemasons with their personal growth as men. We use a lot of symbols and narratives to help members step through the three levels of Freemasonry, which we call ‘The Degrees’. These take approximately one year to complete.
There is also a significant social element to our meetings too, and that social element often extends beyond meetings to events at weekends that include families and friends.

What’s in it for You?”
Different men join the Freemasons for different reasons. But at the heart of what we do is fellowship, personal development and support for the people and community around us. Some see the Freemasons as an opportunity for mentorship, some as an escape from stresses of work life. Often it is a chance for men to just do something completely different.  The time commitment is usually from only four hours a month.
Naturally when building a close-knit network of likeminded mates, many Freemasons have enjoyed business benefits as a result, but this is not the goal of the organisation.
Lodge Rosslyn obviously has a Scottish connection being named after (you guessed it) Rosslyn Chapel and has been operating continuously since 1896. Originally under the auspicious of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. However since the formation of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland in 1921 we now regard that as our parent body.

So, How do I join?
Some men have never become Freemasons in the mistaken assumption that, if nobody asked them, they could not join. It is up to you to take the initiative and ask to become a Freemason.
If you are interested in Lodge Rosslyn then please take the time to contact us HERE.
We will arrange a meeting with you to discuss Freemasonry in general with you and answer your queries.