Freemason Salary (Full Guide)

There is a popular myth that if you’re in financial trouble, you should join the Freemasons to get rich quickly! News flash, that’s a bluff. On the contrary, a Freemason does not have a bestowed income. Instead, they work for the betterment of society.

Key points

• Freemasonry is a brotherhood that brings men from all over the world together.
• It is a strict organization that expects its members to live by its principles.
• There are many benefits of joining Freemasonry, including but not limited to financial help.
• Joining the brotherhood is straightforward, but you must meet the minimum requirements.
  

If you are looking for more information about Freemasonry, you are in the right place. This article provides sufficient details about Freemasons. Keep reading for more information.  

What does it mean to be a Freemason?

One in two people has the wrong impression about Freemasonry. As a result, millions of people don’t understand the primary purpose of Freemasons.

Have you ever heard of sororities? Well, Freemasonry is one of the earliest fraternities in the world. It is a club whose membership is by invitation and does not discriminate against people based on their language, region, or color.

All Freemasons usually gather under the same roof and create propaganda to achieve their benevolent duty. The primary purpose of Freemasonry is to make its members more confident, giving them the hope they need to move forward in their lives.

How to be a Freemason

Unlike what you might have heard, it will cost you to be a Freemason. Freemason operations are run from lodges, and each club is at liberty to set its membership dues autonomously.

“The Freemasons are clubs of givers, not takers! The Freemasons pay an initiation fee plus dues each year to belong- this money goes to support the Lodge & expenses of each Masonic Chapter or Group.” – said Jane Gunnell, Law Degree – JD from George Mason University School of Law.

Interested members must pay specific dues before joining. The dues include the following:

• Initiation Fee
• Lodge Subscription Fee
• UGLE & PGLEL Subscription Fee
• An Apron To Buy
• Masonic Hall Fee

The annual subscription fee varies according to the status of the lodge you subscribe to. Moreover, it does not force its members to donate a fixed amount to charity. Instead, members donate a pocket-friendly amount to charity to improve other people’s lives.

The collections are taken during the following times:

• Collections at Lodge meetings
• Regular payments through the Gift Aid Scheme
• Donations to special appeals.

Requirements for being a Freemason

You must meet specific minimum requirements to join Freemasonry. They include:

• You must be 18 years and over.
• You should believe in supreme beings.
• You must get a sponsorship letter from a trustworthy member of the fraternity.
• You must be willing to participate in charity duties.
• You must be ready to help those in need and improve their lives.

How to join Freemason

If you meet the minimum requirements stated above, follow these steps to join the Freemasonry brotherhood:

Step 1: Contact the Lodge closest to you

Not all of us have friends and relatives working as Freemasons. If you are one of them, find a lodge near you to get started with the registration process.

Step 2: Register your interest

At the lodge, a Freemason will help you with the steps. You must select a location where you will work as a Freemason member. Once you choose a site, the Freemason member will request you to register your interest.

Step 3: Locate the joining area

After choosing your area of interest, you must locate the country and region to inform Freemasonry management where you want to operate. If you cannot find your country, you’ll have to choose your preferred place from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Send your details

The Freemasonry representative will give you a form in which you will provide accurate details. Ensure the details you provide are genuine because the state will be sent to your district to sign you up as a member of Freemason.

Step 5: Maintain communication with a Freemason

If you are a new member, don’t worry! A Freemason will maintain contact with you. If you don’t understand anything or experience any challenges, a representative will help you.

Can women join Freemasonry?

No, women cannot be appointed as Freemasons. The organization has been around for a while, and no one has ever seen a woman working there. Moreover, the company has not shed light on the matter. Some lodges can appoint women, but the genuine organization is for men only.

What are the values of a mason?

As a member of Freemason, you are required to operate under strict rules and regulations. Moreover, all Freemasons must remember that their work should encircle these three primary principles of Freemasonry:

• Relief: All Freemasons must learn relief. The fraternity teaches its members to try to do good things for others through charity continually. They can help needy people individually or as a team.
• Truth: You must be a trustworthy person to join Freemasonry. They work hard to make a miserable person more self-assured. Therefore, they believe that only truth can create such a pure soul that can help others without any objective.
• Brotherly love: When people from diverse backgrounds work together, there are different perspectives on different problems. In this sense, a freemason must appreciate another person’s opinion. They should also respect the feelings of others instead of imposing their views on others.

Why do people join Freemasonry?

So, why do people join Freemasonry? As you already know, Freemasonry is such a controversial subject that you cannot tell someone whether they should join or not. Many members claim they joined after having a single conversation with the Freemason team.

Nonetheless, here are the reasons one joins Freemasonry:

Curiosity

This is the first thing that could inspire you to join Freemasonry. Since it keeps its terms and meetings secrets, it becomes attractive to curious people. Everyone wants to be part of the fraternity to understand more about its symbolic secrets. One member stated that:

“….In my case, there were intellectual challenges, and I decided to meet them. As a result, I learned much about the history of Freemasonry, and also about the governance of Freemasonry.” – Said, Peter. Renzland, Toronto Society of Masonic Research.

Family influence

Some people join Freemasonry because of family reasons. For instance, if any of your family members has been working as a Freemason, you might be inspired to join them. Moreover, relatives and colleagues can recommend you if they see you are interested in helping others. Look at what this member said:

“My father, uncle, and grandfather are Masons, and they are men that I respect. I would like to know what it is all about.” – Said Robert Crooks, Former Canadian Army Officer, and HR Manager.

Charity

If you love participating in activities that make the lives of others better, Freemasonry might be an ideal platform for you. It is the biggest charity organization that helps people fulfil their dreams.

Hobby

Some people join Freemasonry as an exciting hobby. This is particularly true for people who love to spend time with Freemasons to relax their minds. Talking with positive people fills your mind with positive thoughts and helps you relax in this harrowing world.  

Social Interaction

Social interaction is another key reason people join Freemasonry. It is an open secret that human beings are social creatures and love to spend time with kind-hearted people. Freemasonry offers a massive social circle to interact with. Moreover, it allows you to meet new people every day.  

One member noted that:

“When you become a Freemason, you become a Brother to the thousands of other Freemasons around the world.” – said John Kelly, IPM of Royal Alfred Lodge under UGLE.

What are the benefits of joining Freemasonry?

One member summed it up well when he said:

“I have gained nothing from Freemasonry but have lost a lot. I have lost anger, ego, selfishness, and mendacity.” – said Dogo Thakkar, Former Book Keeper.

Therefore, Freemasons speak of how the fraternity has helped them at an individual level. There are no economic benefits to being a Freemason, but it enables you to become a better person and more helpful to society.

Here are some notable benefits of joining Freemason:

• You form lasting friendships
• It gives you opportunities to serve your community
• Members get the chance to improve themselves
• You access mentorship opportunities from other members
• You get the chance to learn history and mythology.
• Your brothers will help you if you have financial or health challenges.

What are the challenges of being a Freemason?

You must be aware of the downsides of being a Freemason. They include

• You will spend a lot. However, that’s not so bad, as the money goes towards helping those in need.
• The people around you think you are trying to control the world.
• Some people believe you engage in weird practices and might even ask you to teach them Black Magic!

What are the signs of freemasons?

Symbols are a critical part of the Masonic experience. They allow members to communicate quickly and rise above the language barrier. Moreover, they use geometry and architecture of stonemasonry to communicate their pursuit of ethics, knowledge, and leadership skills.

Here are the common symbols and what they mean:

Symbol	Meaning
Apron (Unique badge of a Mason)	It is the most recognizable attire for Freemasons. They wear it while at the lodge or during special public events.
Square and Compass	It is used to represent Freemasons and Masonic lodges globally. The square is a morality emblem in speculative Masonry. Furthermore, the compass is a representation of the relationship between the individual and society.
Letter G	It is usually at the centre of the square and compass. It signifies geometry, the basis for stonemasonry and a symbol for modern Freemasonry.
Plumb and Level	This symbol signify justice, rectitude and the importance of living uprightly.
Trowel	It is used to spread the cement brotherly love in Freemasonry uniting the society of friends.
Rough and Perfect Ashlars	The rough ashlar is a representation of a man in his crude form. On the other hand, the perfect ashlar represents man after sitting under Masonry teachings.
Columns	Pillars represent strength and establishment inspired by Solomon’s Temple.
Winding Staircases	It signifies the progress members make from entered apprentice to Fellow Craft.

What is the master salary?

The ancient Masonic brothers’ wages were in the form of corn, wine, and oil. The Master of the Work got the highest wages while Fellowcraft and Entered Apprentice earned less.

In speculative Freemasonry, the Master’s wages are in the coin of the realm. The wages are grouped into two heads:

• Inalienable rights that each Freemason enjoys from payment fees, annual dues, and initiation fees.
• Precious privileges that belong to him if he stretches his hand to take them.

In this regard, only those who have occupied this prestigious seat know the “Master’s Wages. However, as Bro. W. Sinclair MacTavish stated Master’s Wages’ value is untranslatable into money.

Final thoughts

Freemasonry is one of the most misunderstood fraternities in the world. However, if you have read this piece to the end, you understand what it is all about. To find out more about Freemasonry, feel free to contact a Lodge near you!