JOIN OHIO FREEMASONRY
Why Join?
By joining Freemasonry, you’ll be making a commitment to yourself and to your Brother Masons to be the best man you can be. And by taking the obligations of this ancient Fraternity, you will be joining millions of Freemasons across the globe who are also committed to helping each other develop their potential and improve the quality of life for themselves, their families, and communities.
By joining, you will become the latest in a long line of men from all walks of life – world leaders and everyday men – who have found inspiration in Freemasonry, and who strive to live by the values of honor, integrity, equality and brotherhood.
When you become a Mason, you join a lodge, which can be thought of as the local chapter or club of the larger organization, the Grand Lodge. The name goes back hundreds of years, to when all Masons were taught, “A Lodge is a place where members assemble and work.” That idea still holds true today, and we talk about joining “the Lodge.”
HOW TO JOIN
When you click on the link below, you will be asked to provide contact information so that someone from the Grand Lodge or a local lodge in your area can contact you. The form asks for basic contact information as well as how you heard about us and your reason for interest. If you know of a particular lodge you want to join, please include that in the box asking your reason for interest.
Your inquiry will be reviewed, and you can expect a response within a few days. The person calling you will be a member of Western Sun who volunteers his time to work with prospective members.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
Not everyone can or should be an Ohio Mason. You must live in Ohio and meet all of our membership qualifications.
If you already live in Ohio and want to become a Mason and member of The Grand Lodge of Ohio, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a male at least 19 years old
- Be an Ohio resident for at least six months
- Be able to read and write English
- Be prepared to profess a belief in Deity
- Be of good reputation as a man of honor and integrity
- Be recommended by two members of the Lodge they wish to join.
If you do not live in Ohio, please see the following page
When a potential member does not know anyone in the local Lodge, the Lodge will arrange a casual meeting with several members who will be glad to share information about their Lodge and its activities. This kind of meet and greet provides an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other, to ask and answer questions, and to discover if it looks like there is a good fit between the man and the Lodge. Each lodge decides who may become a member consistent with our customs, rules, and regulations; however, a felony or criminal record usually disqualifies a prospective candidate from membership unless the lodge finds that there are mitigating factors. Some lodges will invite the potential member to several activities or social functions before two members will agree to make the recommendation. On occasion, after meeting with members of the Lodge, the potential candidate will discover that he already knows somebody in a Lodge who will be willing to make that recommendation.
