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Freemasonry in Portsmouth New Hampshire |
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Freemasonry in Portsmouth New Hampshire |
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Masonry in Portsmouth
Members' Area
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Becoming A Mason
The basic requirements to become a Mason in a New Hampshire Lodge are that one must be:
Masonry is open to men of all races and religions. There are no requirements regarding occupation, education, religious affiliation, marital status, ethnic background, etc.
Most men apply to a Lodge near where they live, making it is easier to attend Lodge meetings and other activities, but a man may also apply to a Lodge where he knows members or where he has a family connection. A man residing outside the State of New Hampshire may apply to a New Hampshire Lodge.
Traditionally, Masons do not actively recruit members, although in recent years more information has been provided to the public. The first step for a man thinking about becoming a Mason is to talk with a Mason. If he does not know a Mason and wishes to inquire about one of the Lodges in Portsmouth, he should contact one of the Lodges:
St. John's Lodge No. 1
St. Andrew's Lodge No. 56
Either Lodge is a great place to begin a Masonic journey. He may also contact the webmaster.
Once a man makes contact with a Mason, usually he will be introduced to members of the Lodge and get to know them at a few social events. Those will also give him the opportunity to ask any questions. If he knows Masons in the Lodge, of course, that step is not necessary. Once he has decided to apply to that particular Lodge, he will fill out a simple application, called a petition for degrees, pay a small fee and meet with a membership committee that will talk with him and his family. The committee will make a recommendation, positive or negative, to the Lodge, but a vote of the Lodge members decides whether he will be accepted. Each Lodge controls its own membership. The process takes approximately two months. He will be notified of the result of the election and, in most cases, will be invited to join and scheduled to receive his first degree. He will receive the three degrees of Craft Masonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, then as a Master Mason will become a member of his Lodge. Each degree is an ancient, solemn and instructive ceremony that lays out the moral teachings of Masonry in a very memorable and unique way. There is no hazing, embarrassment or danger in any Masonic degree.
A petition (application) for membership is not provided on this web site. If you are interested, we recommend that you contact a Mason you know or one of the Lodges first with any inquiries. If you and the Mason you have asked agree that you might be a suitable candidate for membership, you will be given the petition.
You may also read the Information for the Petitioner, which sometimes accompanies the petition for degrees. This repeats this information in a slightly different way.
The webmaster recommends that, although much information about Masonic ritual is available in books and on-line, an applicant should not look at that information before applying or receiving the degrees. First, much of the available information is inaccurate, sometimes wildly so. Secondly, becoming a Mason is a once-in-a-lifetime event that is best experienced without exposure to that information. Adequate information about the nature and purposes of Masonry is available that does not contain details, correct or not, about the ritual.
The Masons of Portsmouth also welcome Masons who move into the Portsmouth area, and are happy to receive them as visitors and discuss affiliation with them if they so desire.
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