Editing Freemasonry (section)

===Joining a lodge===
[[File:Washington Masonic print.jpg|thumb|alt=Worshipful Master George Washington|Print from 1870 portraying [[George Washington]] as Master of his Lodge]]

The process of joining a Masonic lodge follows similar general patterns worldwide while preserving regional and local variations between individual Lodges, Jurisdictions, Conservative and Liberal traditions. Historically, candidates "were not to be admitted but by unanimous consent," a principle that continues in many lodges today, while some other jurisdictions have developed different systems to counter a potential problematic situation with a single [[Blackballing|black ball system]]. Additionally, some Lodges use black cubes instead of black balls to avoid confusion.<ref>Mackey, Albert G. ''The Principles of Masonic Law: A Treatise on the Constitutional Laws, Usages And Landmarks of Freemasonry'', 1856.</ref>

==== Initial approach ====
In the early days of Freemasonry, one had to be approached and "co-opted" to the Fraternity by an existing member but had to do it of his "own free-will and accord".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thelaudablepursuit.com/articles/2015/8/17/of-my-own-freewill-and-accord#:~:text=That%20a%20person%20enters%20of,moral%20judgment%20and%20to%20defend | title=Of My Own Freewill and Accord | date=18 August 2015 }}</ref> This tradition continues in many jurisdictions mainly in Europe, Africa and South America. However, many obediences have adapted their approach methods, now allowing those without prior Masonic connections to express interest through online forms or during public events such as Masonic exhibitions and open conferences.<ref>[http://www.godf.org/index.php/pages/details/slug/foire-aux-questions "FAQ"], ''Grand Orient de France'', Retrieved 23 November 2013</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://freemason.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Opening-the-Door-Guide-to-Masonry.pdf |title=Opening the Door: A Simple Guide to Understanding--and Talking About--Freemasonry |publisher=Masons of Californio |access-date=May 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mackey |first=Albert G. |url=https://www.scgrandlodgeafm.org/uploads/1/9/0/8/19088243/textbookofmasonicjurisprudence-mackey-1865-7thed.pdf |title=A Text Book of Masonic Jurisprudence; Illustrating the Written Laws of Freemasonry |publisher=Macoy & Sickels, Publishers |year=1865 |edition=7th |location=New York |access-date=May 20, 2025}}</ref>

A consistent rule throughout most Jurisdictions worldwide is that Freemasonry is not allowed to blindly recruit members. The prospective candidate must be qualified and either contacted by a member or reach out on his own. 

In some Lodges the candidate is allowed to meet the members of the lodge they wish to join before being proposed for initiation; this allows all of the members to meet and get an idea of the candidate. While in other Lodges it is strictly prohibited for a non-mason (profane) to meet the members of the Lodge (besides the Master and proposer) before initiation in order to protect the identity of the members.

An old masonic term for the brother that proposes a candidate to a Lodge is that he becomes his 'Godfather' after invitation. This term is found in one of the earliest Masonic exposures "Reception of a Frey-Macon, 1737": 
::"the recipient is led by the Proposer, who becomes his Godfather, into one of the Lodge's rooms, where there is no light, & where he is asked if he has the vocation to be received."
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/expose.html | title=Masonic exposés }}</ref>

==== Sponsorship and investigation ====
Once initial contact is established, the candidate is typically introduced to the lodge through sponsorship, typically by finding two members to sign the petition, the top-line signer becoming the godfather. The sponsor assumes significant responsibility toward the lodge by presenting a non-Mason, evaluating the alignment between the candidate's aspirations and Masonic values. This preliminary phase can last from a few months to several years depending on the Lodge and jurisdiction and generally includes several informal meetings to establish mutual trust and clarify expectations.<ref>Pozarnik, Alain. ''Devenir Franc-maçon au XXIème siècle'', Dervy, 2009.</ref>

Following this introduction, an investigation is generally started. Candidates can be invited to a series of interviews with various lodge officers or designated members. These meetings, often three in number, examine the candidate's profile, motivations, and compatibility with the lodge's philosophical orientation. The interviews also allow the candidate to ask questions and develop a clearer understanding of the commitment they are considering.<ref name="auto1">Noël, Pierre. ''Guide pratique du Franc-maçon'', Editions Maçonniques de France, 2012.</ref>

==== Formal application and balloting ====
[[File:Sqaure-and-compass.png|thumb|right|Variant of the Sqaure and Compasses with the Masonic [[Three dots (Freemasonry)|tripunctual abbreviation]] in it's center]]
If both the candidate and the lodge wish to proceed after these preliminary steps, a formal application may be proposed and seconded or announced in open Lodge and a more or less formal interview usually follows. If the candidate wishes to proceed, references are taken up during a period of notice so that members may enquire into the candidate's suitability and discuss it.<ref name="MLoE">[http://www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/become-a-free-mason.html "How to become a Freemason"], ''Masonic Lodge of Education'', retrieved 20 November 2013</ref>

In many Jurisdictions a structured investigation is conducted by three members who do not personally know the candidate. These investigators meet individually with the applicant in different contexts with predetermined questions (or field of questions), examining their moral qualities, philosophical views, and ability to integrate into collective work or their Past, Present/future and Motivations. Each investigator then reports back to the lodge with their impressions, often expressing a favourable or unfavourable opinion. These preliminary interviews help both the lodge members and the candidate better understand each other before proceeding to the next stage.<ref>Pétillot, Sylvain. ''L'Enquête dans les Loges'', Dervy, 2018.</ref>

Following these investigations, some individual Lodges, Rites or Jurisdictions can or must implement a significant procedural step known as passing under the blindfold or sometimes the Low Door.<ref>[https://www.en06.fr/info/wa_files/les%20demarches%20pour%20devenir%20franc.pdf Les Démarches pour devenir Franc-maçon  au Grand Orient de France à Cannes]  </ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/zeldis26.html | title=The Initiation in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite }}</ref> This is not part of the initiation ceremony itself but rather a formal presentation of the candidate to the assembled lodge prior to any vote on admission. The candidate, blindfolded, is introduced to the lodge and must answer questions posed by the members. While previous investigators have reported the candidate's views, this direct questioning allows members to hear directly from the candidate and clarifies any uncertainties that may have arisen during the investigation process. Being blindfolded serves two purposes: it maintains the candidate's inability to identify lodge members if not admitted, and it allows the candidate to focus on the questions without being distracted by unfamiliar surroundings. It is only after this procedure that the lodge votes on the candidate's admission.<ref>Langlet, Philippe. ''Les Sources chrétiennes de la légende d'Hiram'', Dervy, 2009.</ref><ref name="auto1"/>

Finally, the Lodge takes an officially secret ballot on each application before a candidate is either initiated or rejected.<ref name="MLoE"/> This ballot, traditionally using white balls (favourable) and black balls (unfavourable), gave rise to the expression "blackballed" to describe rejection. The exact number of adverse ballots ("blackballs") required to reject a candidate varies between Masonic jurisdictions.<ref>Morris, S. Brent. ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry'', Alpha Books, 2006.</ref>

==== Eligibility requirements ====
Masonic jurisdictions maintain various eligibility requirements, which differ significantly between Anglo-American tradition and Liberal traditions:

In '''Anglo-American Freemasonry''', exemplified by the [[United Grand Lodge of England]] and its recognised jurisdictions, candidates must typically:

* Be a man<ref>{{cite web | url=https://skirret.com/papers/rituals_of_freemasonry.html | title=The Rituals of Freemasonry as performed together by Men and Women }}</ref>
* Be free-born men of mature age (usually 21 years, though some jurisdictions permit 18)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://glquebec.org/how-to-join/ | title=How to join? – Grand Lodge of Quebec }}</ref>
* Believe in a supreme being (though interpretation is left to the individual)
* Be of good reputation and character<ref>A minimum requirement of every body of Freemasons is that each candidate must be "free and of good reputation".[http://grande-loge.lu/?id=20&a=52 "Comment devenir franc-maçon?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825171704/http://grande-loge.lu/?id=20&a=52 |date=25 August 2020 }}, Grande Loge de Luxembourg, retrieved 23 November 2013</ref>
* Unmutilated (not followed in most jurisdictions anymore)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stichtingargus.nl/vrijmetselarij/metsel_en.html | title=Freemasonry }}</ref>

The question of freedom, a standard feudal requirement of mediaeval guilds, is nowadays one of independence: the object is that every Mason should be a proper and responsible person.<ref name="MLoE"/> Thus, each Grand Lodge has a standard minimum age, varying greatly and often subject to dispensation in particular cases.
 
Additionally, Grand Lodges in this tradition require a candidate to declare a belief in a [[God|supreme being]] (although every candidate must interpret this condition in his own way, as all religious discussion is commonly prohibited). 

In a few cases, the candidate may be required to be of a specific religion. The form of Freemasonry most common in [[Scandinavia]] (known as the [[Swedish Rite]]), and the [[Rectified Scottish Rite]] for example, only accepts Christians.<ref>[http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/swedish_faq.html "Swedish Rite FAQ"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913114958/http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/swedish_faq.html |date=13 September 2020 }}, ''Grand Lodge of British Columbia & Yukon'', Accessed 19 November 2013</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://beyondthecraft.net.au/rectified-scottish-rite-rer/ | title=Rectified Scottish Rite (RER) }}</ref>

In '''Liberal Freemasonry''', exemplified by the [[Grand Orient de France]], requirements have evolved to emphasize freedom of conscience, they include:<ref>Dioux, Christophe (14 January 2024). [https://www.ventsetjardins.fr/pdf/20240114_01.pdf ''Lausanne 1875, Tradition et modernité''] </ref>

* Be free-born of mature age
* Be of irreproachable conduct<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ledroithumain.international/devenir-franc-macon/#:~:text=Comment%20devient%2Don%20Franc%2DMa%C3%A7on,travailler%20%C3%A0%20son%20propre%20perfectionnement. | title=Devenir Franc-Maçon - ORDRE MAÇONNIQUE MIXTE INTERNATIONAL LE DROIT HUMAIN | work=ORDRE MAÇONNIQUE MIXTE INTERNATIONAL LE DROIT HUMAIN }}</ref>
* Be of good reputation and character
* No abdication of liberty<ref name="gob.be">{{cite web | url=https://gob.be/devenir-franc-macon/qui-pourquoi-comment/ | title=Qui ? Pourquoi ? Comment ? – GOB }}</ref>
* No commitment incompatible with reason, honour, free conscience, or the laws of the country.<ref name="gob.be"/>

Some obediences have removed the requirement for belief in a supreme being, accepting atheists and agnostics. Many Liberal bodies now accept women, either in mixed-gender lodges or women-only lodges. The emphasis is placed on moral character, philosophical inquiry, and commitment to human progress.<ref name=":1">[http://www.godf.org/index.php/pages/details/slug/foire-aux-questions "Faut-il croire en Dieu?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928021420/http://www.godf.org/index.php/pages/details/slug/foire-aux-questions |date=28 September 2013 }}, Foire aux Questions, ''Grand Orient de France'', Retrieved 23 November 2013</ref><ref name="Buta">[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/masonic_foreign_recognitions.html Jack Buta, "The God Conspiracy, The Politics of Grand Lodge Foreign Relations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711032237/http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/masonic_foreign_recognitions.html |date=11 July 2011 }}, ''Pietre-Stones'', retrieved 23 November 2013</ref>

The diverse approaches to these fundamental requirements reflect the philosophical evolution within Freemasonry over time, with bodies following the Anglo-American style maintaining traditional rules (although still evolving) while Liberal traditions have adapted to changing social contexts.<ref>Révauger, Cécile. ''Freemasonry and the Enlightenment in France: The Liberal Moment, 1725–1789'', Bloomsbury, 2020.</ref>

After successful passage through the investigation process and favourable vote, the initiation ceremony marks the candidate's official entry into Freemasonry.

==== Progression through degrees ====

The time between degrees varies considerably across jurisdictions and individual Lodges. Depending on the specific lodge and jurisdictions, progression can be relatively quick—sometimes within a year to multiple years, while it is difficult to establish an average due to the wide ranges of style. Many Grand Lodges or Grand Orients have a minimum of one year in-between degrees. Being passed to the next degree depends on the requirements established by the individual Lodge and jurisdictions. These can include demonstrating proficiency through presentations of masonic research papers, active participation in the Lodge, memorisation of the ritual or other masonic documents, reading books or even concrete self-improvement.<ref>Weil, Eric. ''La Franc-maçonnerie en France jusqu'en 1940'', SEDEP, 1989.</ref>