Masonry is very old; no one knows how old it is. It may very well have begun when men first began to build with stone in Egypt or with brick in Babylonia, or even earlier. There were builders’ guilds in ancient Greece and Rome, and, Western Europe during the middle ages. In later times in England, these seem to have changed from the guilds of operative builders into social clubs or lodges of men who called themselves Masons and who used the builders tools symbolically; that is to teach moral lessons and to build spiritual houses rather than to erect temporal buildings of stone.

In 1717 several of these lodges met in London, organized a Grand Lodge and erected the first Grand Master. In the following years they drew up a constitution and composed a uniform ritual for the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. The ritual, which we still use, followed an older tradition that the Masonic organization was founded at the building of King Solomon’s Temple.

Soon the new Grand Lodge began to issue charters to new lodges and Grand Lodges. So from this beginning have come all modern lodges. The oldest American Lodge with authentic historical records was “The First Lodge of Boston” in 1733. Provincial Grand Lodges were organized. After the Revolution, in which many Masons played an important part, Grand Lodges were organized in several states and expanded with the nation.

A new mason is thus entering a fraternity with a very rich tradition. As he enters the door and proceeds with the ceremonies of the degrees, he will be following a path well worn by the great and the lowly, the rich and poor of countless generations. Kings, princes, and potentates, presidents, governors and other civic leaders of the past and present have passed this way before him, along with countless others whose humble names find no place in the pages of history. Yet in the lodge they have all met as brothers and equals on the same level.

Briefly stated, these are its basic principles. Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, and educational society. Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. It’s only secrets are in it’s method of recognition and of symbolic instruction.

It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of its income inures to the benefit of any individual, but it is devoted to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of mankind. It has no insurance features or programs. Its charitable acts are based on freewill prompted by brotherly love of our fellowmen.

It is benevolent in that it teaches and exemplifies altruism as a duty. It is educational in that it teaches by prescribed ceremonials a system of morality and brotherhood, based upon the Sacred Law.

It is religious in that it teaches monotheism; the volume of Sacred Law is open upon its altars whenever a Lodge is in session; reverence for God is ever present in its ceremonials, and to its brethren are constantly addressed lessons of morality; yet it is not sectarian or theological. Men of all faiths are members of the fraternity.

It is a social organization only so far as it furnishes additional inducement that men may foregather in numbers, thereby providing more material for its primary work of education, of worship, and of charity.

Through the improvement and strengthening of the character of the individual man, Freemasonry seeks to improve the community. Thus it impresses upon its members the principles of personal righteousness and personal responsibility, enlightens them as to those things which make for human welfare, and inspires them with the feeling of charity or good will toward all mankind, which will move them to translate principle and conviction into action.

To that end it teaches and stands for the worship of God; truth and justice; fraternity and philanthropy; enlightenment and orderly liberty, civil, religious and intellectual. It charges each of its members to be true and loyal to the government of the country to which one owes allegiance and to be obedient to the law of any state in which he may be.

It believes that the attainment of these objectives is best accomplished by laying a broad basis of principle upon which men of various opinions may unite, rather than by setting up a restricted platform upon which only those of certain creeds and opinions can assemble.

Believing these things, our Grand Lodge affirms it’s continued adherence to that ancient and approved rule of Freemasonry which forbids the discussion in Masonic meetings, of creeds, politics, religion, or other topics likely to excite personal animosities.

It further affirms it’s conviction that is not only contrary to the fundamental principles of Freemasonry, but dangerous to it’s unity, strength, usefulness and welfare, for Masonic bodies to take action or attempt to exercise pressure or influence for or against any legislation, or in any way to attempt to procure the election or appointment of governmental officials, or to influence them, whether or not members of the fraternity, in the performance of their official duties. The true Freemason will act in civil life according to his judgment and the dictates of his conscience. There is nothing in Masonry that will conflict with a man’s duty to God, his country, his neighbor, or himself.