The Freemason
Membership in the brotherhood of Masons means many things. It means being part of an unbroken tradition that stretches back over 500 years to a time when guilds of freemasons traveled throughout Europe laying the stones of the great Gothic cathedrals.
It means sharing the values of our nation's founding fathers; the ideals of men who believed in the brotherhood of man are firmly rooted in the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
It means becoming a better person while helping to improve the quality of life for others. It means forming deep and lasting friendships that transcend the boundaries of race, religion and culture, as well as those of geography.
But most of all, being a Mason means the kind of deep satisfaction that comes only from selfless giving; from doing for others without asking, or expecting anything in return.
Masonic History
Masonry (or Freemasonry) is the oldest fraternity in the world. No one knows just how old it is because the actual origins have been lost in time. Probably, it arose from the guilds of stonemasons who built the castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Possibly, they were influenced by the Knights Templar, a group of Christian warrior monks formed in 1118 to help protect pilgrims making trips to the Holy Land.
In 1717, Masonry created a formal organization in England when the first Grand Lodge was formed. A Grand Lodge is the administrative body in charge of Masonry in some geographical area. In the United States, there is a Grand Lodge in each state. In Canada, there is a Grand Lodge in each province. Local organizations of Masons are called lodges. There are lodges in most towns, and large cities usually have several. There are about 13,200 lodges in the United States
George Washington was one of this country's most famous early Mason. At the right is a picture of the Worshipful Master's Jewel worn by Brother Washington while he presided over Lodge No. 22 in Alexandria Va.
The Steps of Masonry
One of the most predominant core principal of Freemasonry is the constant pursuit of enlightenment and knowledge. It is therefore no surprise that there are many steps and directions a Mason can take once he takes his initial oath in a Blue or "G" Lodge.
You may have heard of the Scottish Rite, the York Right, or perhaps the Shrine. All these organizations are branches of the great tree of Masonry. In a regular lodge or "Blue Lodge" the mason can advance 3 degrees to the point of Master Mason. From that point he may progress through the 32 regular degrees of the Scottish Rite or he may pursue the York Rite. The image on the left is a splendid illustration of the various steps of Masonry. If you click on it, it will open up a much larger version. Be patient though as it's very large and will take some time to download to your computer.
Becoming a Mason couldn't be easier. Simply ask and ye shall receive. Simply knock and the door shall be opened. If you are a resident of the Northern Kentucky area and would like to join the Boone-Union Lodge #304, contact us now. There is a saying in Freemasonry.."2B1ASK1". It's that simple. Drop us a line today to get more information.
