Masonic Frequently Asked Questions 11-15

This next installment of the 32 questions about Freemasonry covering questions 11-15. The answers to these questions are in response to past questions that I have received at FreemasonInformation.com from non-masons.

Look for past FAQ posts
Questions 1 & 2, Questions 3 & 4, Question 5 & 6, Question 5, 6, & 7 ,Questions 8, 9, & 10

Why do so many Masonic Lodge buildings look old?
The issue of the older Masonic buildings is a paradox from the 1950's when Freemasonry was in a boom era of incredible growth. At its height, Freemasonry had upwards of 4 million members and consequently lots of member money. With its growth of membership so to did its infrastructure expand. One of the consequences of having these expensive buildings that were built in the 1950's and 60's is that they eventually ultimately fell under needed to be updated to modern building codes which became very expensive. The consequence of this is that the buildings became less and less available for public and commercial use as they fell out of code. This with a declination in membership led to fewer and fewer funds to refurbish them. Today, there is an abundance of inventory of lodges, with a decreasing volume of membership.

What are the first steps to petitioning?
The process begins first by getting to know the lodge you wish to join. This is really the first step in becoming a member, and starts with introducing yourself to a lodge at a dinner and getting to know the membership before the lodge opens.

How do I find the most suitable lodge?
In most major cities heir may be several lodges near you. The local White Pages or Yellow Pages will have a listing for those in your community. With several lodges near you (relatively speaking) the best thing to do is contact all of the ones close to you for your comfort, and set up a time to go down and meet with them. Lodges "typically" meet on the first Thursday of the month and serve a dinner prior to the regular meeting. This would probably be the best time to go in and meet the membership, even if informally. The way to go about this would be to contact the lodges (via email or phone) and let them know you are interested and would like to come in and meet them. Additionally, check the state Grand Lodge Website for a complete listing of lodges in your state.

Is every Lodge different?
Lodges do have personalities and should be evaluated as such. The dynamic, however, can change so what may seem one way may be something else another time, but you can often get a general feel for the lodge on a visit. The best things to look for are a vibrant membership with diverse age groups, and members.

What are Masonic Lodge Hours?
Most "should" have their hours posted for visitors on the outside of the building for when someone will be there. Also, check their website.

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