STEPS TO MEMBERSHIP
Our Membership Process
Your involvement in Freemasonry starts with simply asking to be considered for membership, and choosing a local lodge you would like to petition. Our fraternity is open to responsible adult men (18 and above), of good character, with a belief in a Supreme Being, and without regard to religion, race, income, education, or political opinion.
Use our lodge locator to discover a lodge near you or to your workplace. You may contact any lodge and set up a time to meet with some of the Masons of that lodge to get a feel for the experience at that location. There may be several lodges near you, and it is your choice which lodge to petition. You are encouraged to find the one you feel most comfortable with, which may not necessarily be the closest.
Next, you need to complete a membership petition and submit it to the lodge you have chosen. An initiation fee, generally $75 to $200 (this amount is determined by the local lodge), accompanies the petition. Within approximately 45 days, someone from the lodge will contact you for an interview. Use this opportunity to ask any questions you might have. Your spouse, friend, or parent is also encouraged to attend this interview, and even to tour the lodge itself. Your references will be also contacted and asked to answer some general questions about you.
This process is just so we can get a better understanding of the candidate and ensure they meet our requirements. The lodge at its next meeting will then vote on your petition.
If your petition is approved, you are on your way to becoming an Indiana Freemason.
You may make direct contact with a lodge yourself, or we will be happy to facilitate a meeting. To find your nearest lodge, use this Lodge Locator or contact us using the Membership Inquiry
Basic Membership Requirements
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Be a man at least 18 years of age
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Be of good moral character
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A Belief in God
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Ask to join
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Resident of Indiana (Minimum 6 months)
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INITIATION PROCESS
The Work of Initiation
Your lodge will perform three degrees (initiation ceremonies) for your education and enjoyment. These ceremonies are very dignified and inspirational. At no time will horseplay or indignities enter into the program. These degrees are very solemn and Masons take the task of making Masons very seriously. After becoming a Master Mason (the third degree of the lodge) you will be entitled to all of the rights and benefits of full membership in the fraternity. You will be able to participate in all of our ceremonies and activities, serve as an officer, and you may seek membership in the many other Masonic related groups, as well. These are often referred to as appendant bodies.
This process of going through the degrees can be done traditionally in your own lodge with smaller groups that include other candidates entering your lodge just like you. This process would start with the Entered Apprentice degree and then move to the Fellow Craft degree and conclude with the Master Mason degree. This traditional process could take 3-6 months based on the system of the lodge you choose. This process is very rewarding and will help you get to know the brothers at your lodge.
In the last several years we have begun another process called the One Day Class. This optional process was developed to help compensate for the very busy schedules of modern life. In this situation, the Entered Apprentice Degree, Fellow Craft Degree, and Master Mason Degree are all taught in one day. You will be watching the process as an exemplar is used to represent all in the room rather than in the traditional format where you are a participant in your own degrees.
Whichever path you and your lodge choose for conferring your degrees, when it is complete, you will be a Master Mason and may proudly consider yourself a member of the world’s oldest fraternal organization.
There are many more degrees you can take and several different groups you may choose to get involved with as you grow in the fraternity. These are only available to you after becoming a Master Mason click the link below to find out more.