One of the ancient landmarks of the Fraternity is that it does not actively solicit new members. Many good men over the years have had their feelings hurt because close friends whom they knew to be Masons never invited them to join Freemasonry. The problem with this is that these close friends were prohibited by Masonic law from issuing such invitations. A man must seek Masonic membership of his own free will and accord. For decades, Masons were often under the misconception that they were not even supposed to talk about Masonry at all except within the confines of a Lodge or when directly asked, and even then they were hesitant. Today, the Grand Lodge of California is attempting to dispel that misconception, but the one thing remains true is that no Mason may ever solicit membership. Masons may offer information, they may even take the initiative and give someone a card with information on what the Masons are what they do, but they may not say, “I think you should join the Masons.” They can say, “I think you make a good Mason,” or, “Have you ever considered joining the Masons?”, but they may not cross the line into outright solicitation.
That said, the first step towards actually becoming a Mason is to ask a Mason about joining. If you are interested, Click Here to contact the Lodge and get started. In addition, it is recommended that you have a general idea of what is expected and required. The most basic requirements for membership in a California Masonic Lodge are only four in number:
1. Be a man:
There are Masonic women’s organizations, such as The Order of the Eastern Star and the Order of Amaranth, but women are not allowed to join the Freemasons. It’s not about being misogynistic – the reasons are historical.
2. Be at least 18 years old:
Only adults under the law are eligible to become Masons. For boys aged 12-21, the Order of DeMolay is an option.
3. Believe in a Supreme Being:
God by whatever name(s). Note that adherence to any organized religion in particular is not a requirement. You will be asked if there is a particular Holy Writing that holds particular meaning to you, but as long as you believe in some form of Higher Power, that is sufficient
4. Be of Good Moral Character:
Part of the application process involves a criminal background check, along with investigations into a man’s moral character. Anyone with a history of convictions for crimes of Moral Turpitude (generally, those involving fraud, intentional harm to people, or intentional and serious harm to property) are excluded from joining. Those with criminal records for most types of minor offenses are not necessarily barred from entry, but decisions are made on a case by case basis.
So I Meet the Requirements – Now What?
If you meet those basic requirements, you can begin the process. Start by Contacting the Lodge and coming to some events. Get to know the Brethren at the Lodge. Not every Lodge is a perfect fit for every prospect. Different Lodges have different vibes, different focuses, and different priorities. Look and ask around until you find the Lodge that you think is right for you. Ask yourself the following question: “Would I be willing to spend one night a week with these people every week for years on end?” If the answer to that question is “Yes” then you’re in the right place. If not, keep looking! There are plenty of Lodges in most major cities. Sometimes multiple Lodges will meet in the same building on different nights.
After you find the right Lodge, ask them about their application process. For Ionic Composite, we generally ask that you commit to getting to know us and letting us get to know you over the course of a few months before we give you an application. When the Brethren agree that you are a good fit, we will inform you of the next steps.
Below are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions.
California Masonic Membership
California Masonic membership is open to men age 18 or older who meet the basic qualifications and standards of character and reputation, and who believe in a Supreme Being.
Men of all ethnic and religious backgrounds are welcome. One of Masonry’s traditions is that we do not actively solicit or invite members. Men must seek membership on their own initiative.
To become a member, a man must ask for and receive the recommendation of two members of a given Masonic lodge and file an application to that Lodge. After submitting the application, the applicant then meets a number of individuals who inquire into the applicant's history, character, reasons for desiring to join, family and financial situation. These individuals are tasked with determining if the applicant is a reputable, stable, and secure individual whose family ties and relationships will not be adversely effected by joining the Fraternity (we don't like to break up families). They also serve to answer any questions the applicant or his family may have about the process both for application and moving forward. If the interviews are favorable, the application is presented to the Lodge for a vote by Secret Ballot. If the vote is unanimously affirmative, the individual is considered elected and becomes a candidate, and a date is arranged for him to be Initiated. On that date, the man receives the Entered Apprentice degree – the first degree of Freemasonry. While Entered Apprentices are considered Masons, they are not granted the rights and benefits of full Membership in the Lodge or Fraternity. That is only afforded to them after they advance to the 3rd Degree and become Master Masons.
What’s up with the Secret Ballot?
After a man has applied for Masonic membership, and after his background has been thoroughly investigated, the Lodge Members (aka: Master Masons in good standing who belong to the Lodge) vote by secret ballot to accept or to reject the applicant for membership at the next Stated Meeting (Lodge's periodic business meeting - monthly in our case). Masonry's secret ballot is one of its Ancient Landmarks. It has been rather aptly said that when a petitioner is voted upon for Masonic membership he undergoes the ''Ordeal of the Secret Ballot.'' To be elected to receive the Degrees of Masonry, a man must receive an affirmative vote from each and every Member present at that Stated Meeting. Just one member out of all present—there could be twenty, or fifty, or a hundred members in attendance—can drop the black cube (often misrepresented as a black ball) and deny him membership. Every Master Mason of the Lodge has an absolute veto on the membership of any new prospective Brother.
When you consider the moral yardstick by which Masons measure membership applicants, and consider that it only takes a single negative vote to deny that membership, it would seem reasonable to assume that a large proportion of petitioners would be rejected for membership. Such, however, is not the case. The fact is that rejections at the Ballot stage are fairly uncommon; most of the time, unsuitable candidates are weeded out prior to that ordeal. That fact is testimony to the generally good judgment of those who agree to recommend applicants for membership, as well as the processes in place to weed out the undeserving early on.
Much has been said and written, pro and con, concerning the requirement of a unanimously favorable Secret Ballot. Some argue that it is not fair for just one member out of all those who may be present for a meeting to be able to deny a petitioner membership. Others argue that if even one member knows something about a petitioner that convinces him the man's election would not be in the best interest of Freemasonry in general or of their Lodge in particular, then that one member should have the right and the opportunity to prevent that man's entrance into Freemasonry - or at least into that Lodge.
Unfortunately, it should go without saying that the Secret Ballot is occasionally abused by a member who rejects a petitioner for mere petty reasons having nothing to do with moral fitness, but such instances are rare, and our Lodge in particular is quite serious about discouraging the use of that power for anything other than relevant, serious, and honest issues.
It should also be mentioned that at the end of the day, we're all still human; we're fallible. Sometimes, we make mistakes. Sometimes, someone slips through and gains Membership who is other than he seems, and only later does it come to light that his true character was not what it was thought to be. That said, when such revelations are brought to light, be it in public or even to other Masons, said individuals are subject to being reprimanded or even expelled from the Fraternity should their conduct cease to be in line with our values and requirements. Sometimes, bad apples get in - other times, a formerly good man changes and does something unforgivable. In either case, when we find out about it, we don't take it lightly.
In summary, it can be said the secret ballot has served the fraternity well over the centuries and liberalization of this requirement is not probable. The man who has been rejected for Masonic membership is not thereby forever barred. He can repetition after the passage of a stipulated waiting period which varies from state to state (one year in California). Some of the most prominent Masons in the history of the fraternity were rejected one or more times before finally gaining acceptance.
What Can a New Member Expect?
A quick note here about terminology: According to the California Masonic Code (CMC), which is the Constitution of the Grand Lodge under which the Lodge is chartered, only Master Masons are considered full Members of any Lodge. While Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts are on the Lodge rolls, they do not obtain full Membership benefits or status until they are raised to the 3rd Degree of Masonry.
New Masons (Entered Apprentices), can expect to be shown how to sign up on the Grand Lodge's platform, iMember 2.0. They can expect to be assigned a candidate's coach with whom they can work on their proficiency (required learning that must be demonstrably completed before being allowed to advance to the next Degree), and they can expect to be asked to attend all Stated Meetings and all 1st Degree Conferrals. Likewise, they may be asked to attend any educational programs at the Lodge open to Entered Apprentices. They will be responsible for paying their dues in a timely manner (dues are due by December 31st for the next year - ex: Dues for 2025 will be due on December 31st, 2024), coming to all Lodge meetings with appropriate attire (Suit and Tie for any formal meetings such as Stated Meetings and Degrees unless otherwise specified in advance), and maintaining both proper decorum in Lodge and when abroad. They are expected to live by Masonic values and principles, and to maintain a reputation as having a good character.
Upon being Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft, a man may expect much the same as before, with the difference that 2nd Degree meetings would now be opened to him as well. He would still be expected to show up regularly, work on further advancement in his proficiency, and continue to act with honor.
Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts may also be called on from time to time at the discretion of the Master to assist in setting up for and cleaning up after Lodge events, be they Fraternal, Social, or Educational. They would not be expected to do this on their own; merely to assist in the work.
Upon being Raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason, a Member (now considered as such) may expect a number of things. Master Masons are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Lodge or Lodges of which they are members. The distinction between those two terms is best illustrated by the following example: a Master Mason in good standing has the right to state his opinions on, make motions towards or against, and cast votes and ballots for or against any affairs of his Lodge. That same man has the privilege of being allowed to attend other Lodges, both in this and other Jurisdictions. So long as his good standing is maintained and his conduct is neither unMasonic or sufficiently disruptive to cause disharmony in his Lodge, the former cannot be denied him, while the latter can (though seldom is, and almost never without good cause).
Master Masons may expect the following, among other things:
- A Member of the Lodge may attend all Lodge functions without exception, save in cases where the sitting Master of the Lodge has, for whatever reason, specifically excluded him either for that event or for the duration of that Master's term. (This is generally only done in cases where one Brother is continually causing disharmony in the Lodge, which it is the Master's job to deal with).
- A Member may expect to have his record updated in a timely manner reflecting his payment of annual dues. In previous years, he would have been issued a physical dues receipt card, proving his good standing. Today, he would be able to log into iMember and print out his own card, which would show his payment as having been properly verified. A new card must be printed each year, even for Life Members. These dues cards are requirements for visiting other Lodges, both in and out of California.
- A Master Mason is entitled to receive assistance in preparing for and taking his final proficiency examination, should he choose to take it. This final exam would entitle him to a card attesting to his proficiency and making travel to Lodges in other Jurisdictions much easier.
- A Master Mason is entitled to travel unaccompanied to other Lodges, both in our Jurisdiction and abroad in the world, so long as he restricts himself to Lodges under the authority of Grand Lodges with which the Grand Lodge of California has mutual Masonic Recognition. A list of all such Grand Jurisdictions and their constituent Lodges is available on the iMember app and the Grand Lodge website. *Note: some Jurisdictions require that visitors either have previously informed the host's Grand Lodge of their intent to visit, obtained permission, and/or passed their 3rd Degree proficiency prior to being admitted to closed meetings. When planning a trip abroad, it is considered wise to speak with Grand Lodge in advance and plan out any visitations one plans on making unaccompanied by a local Mason.
- Master Masons are expected to live according to Masonic principles, and are expected to exemplify these for newer Masons.
- Master Masons are free to join any of the Appendant or Concordant bodies in Masonry that do not have additional requirements (such as being by invitation only, or requiring simultaneous membership in one or more other bodies beyond the blue Lodge). Being a Master Mason is the base requirement for membership in all such bodies (save the Order of DeMolay for those who joined that organization as boys prior to becoming Masons)
- Master Masons can reasonable expect to be welcomed in any regular Lodge in any country or place where they find such (again, subject to conditions of that Jurisdiction), and in the event of emergencies, ask for and receive such aid and assistance as is required from the Masons of that place. By the same token, Master Masons are expected to render similar aid to visiting Master Masons in need.
- A Master Mason who has maintained his good standing in a regular Lodge for a number of years may, in the case of need, ask for varying degrees of aid, either from the Lodge, Grand Lodge, or one or more of its programs. This benefit includes eventual eligibility for the Mason and/or his partner/widow to enter the Masonic Homes of California, should such be requested. Similarly, eligibility to apply for assistance from the Masonic Outreach Service is dependent on maintaining good standing as a Master Mason for a number of consecutive years.
- A Master Mason may seek to become an Officer of any Lodge in which he is a Member, pursuant to the proficiency requirements, regulations, and limitations set forth in the California Masonic Code. (Limitations include things like not being able to be Installed as the Worshipful Master in multiple Lodges simultaneously)
- Master Masons are entitled to wear and display the Square and Compass of Masonry on articles of clothing, accessories, jewelry, and/or vehicle decals. They may sport any additional emblems to which they are entitled by their attainments in the Fraternity, such as Past Master's emblems for those who have honorably served at least one full term as the Worshipful Master in a regular Lodge, etc.
In all, a Master Mason may expect to be given the full rights and benefits of Membership in the Masons, as well as duties of such, including the financial dues burden of membership and the social and moral obligations pursuant to Masonry in general.
What is Expected of a New Mason?
On becoming an Entered Apprentice Mason, a man is expected to adhere to the basic tenets of Freemasonry (Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth), as well to exemplify the four cardinal virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice. A new Mason is expected to work with his candidate's coach to work on gaining important new knowledge, both about how to progress in Masonry, as well as on our customs, history, and values, both of Masonry in general and our Lodge in particular. He is expected to abide by any promises he has made, and to honor those commitments to which he has set himself save in such cases as emergent and unforeseen circumstances may prevent him from doing so. Finally, he is expected to work diligently on his studies and to attend all Lodge meetings to which he is entitled to be present (1st Degrees and Stated Meetings, as well as any applicable educational or special Lodge functions).
In other words, on becoming a Mason, a new member is expected to show up when he is able, study hard to better himself and learn more, and keep his promises, both social, moral, and financial, wherever he has made such promises (to us or otherwise). This includes acting as an upright citizen, being honest in business practices, and being true to his word in every aspect of life.
As with many things in life, only those who put in the time and effort into Masonry get much out of it in return. Those who do not put in the time or the work can expect to reap meager benefits. Those, on the other hand, who put their efforts diligently into the Craft will find that the rewards are greater than they could have ever predicted, and in way they would likely never have expected.