Frequently asked questions about joining Freemasonry

Not in most jurisdictions. English, Scottish, Irish, Canadian and Australian grand lodges regularly receive enquiries from men with no masonic connections, and will introduce them to a local lodge. Some US grand lodges prefer a proposer, and the secretary will explain how that is arranged where you live.

It is 18 in most jurisdictions outside the United States and 21 in some US states and a few others. The exact figure is shown on each jurisdiction page and is checked when you submit an enquiry.

A belief in a Supreme Being is required by almost every regular constitution. It is not a test of any particular religion: the craft asks for a belief in a Supreme Being, not a creed, and members of many faiths sit in the same lodge. Some constitutions, notably those working the Swedish Rite, additionally require a Christian profession of faith.

No. Its aims are published, its meeting places are known and its members are free to say they belong. What members do not disclose is the detail of the ceremonies, which are private to those who have taken the obligations.

Your details are stored on servers in the European Union, encrypted in transit, and shared only with the jurisdiction you select. They are never sold, never used for advertising, and are deleted on request. The full position is set out in the privacy notice.

Typically three to twelve months from first enquiry to initiation. The lodge has to meet you, make its enquiries and ballot its members; some jurisdictions also require a minimum period between the petition and the ballot.

Annual subscriptions vary widely: roughly £150–£400 in England depending on the lodge, $100–$300 in most US states, and comparable figures elsewhere. There is usually a one-off initiation fee. Freemasonry does not promise financial benefit, and any lodge that does should be treated with suspicion.

Regular grand lodges, which are those listed in this directory, admit men only. There are separate masonic bodies that admit women; they are not in amity with the jurisdictions listed here and are outside the scope of this directory.

Usually you petition where you live or have your principal connection. Visiting lodges abroad is common and encouraged once you are a member, subject to recognition between the two grand lodges.

Declare it. Lodges decide case by case, and a disclosed matter is treated very differently from a concealed one. Concealment discovered later is grounds for rejection or expulsion.

The secretary will tell you, usually without reasons, because the ballot is secret. You may be invited to apply again after six or twelve months, or advised that another lodge might be a better fit.

No. The West Gate is independent of every grand lodge. We publish a directory of recognised jurisdictions and carry introductions to them; we do not initiate anyone, sell membership or speak for the craft.