Becoming a Freemason can be one of the most significant events of your life. From the moment you become a Brother, you will feel immediate acceptance and Brotherly love. So where do you begin?
 

qualifications
Freemasonry accepts members from almost any religion, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and so forth. In Lodges following in the Continental (European) tradition, atheists and agnostics are also accepted, without qualification. North American and English Lodges currently require a belief in a Supreme Being. But even there, one finds a high degree of non-dogmatism, and the phrase Supreme Being is often given a very broad interpretation, usually allowing Deism and naturalistic views of "God/Nature" in the tradition of Spinoza and Goethe (himself a Freemason), or views of The Ultimate or Cosmic Oneness, such as found in some Eastern religions and in Western idealism (or for that matter, in modern cosmology).

To become a Freemason in Georgia, one must:

• Be a man at least 21 years age or older — regardless of race or background
• Believe in a Supreme Being – regardless of religion
• Be of sound mind and body
• Be of good character and reputation.

The "sound body" requirement is today generally taken to mean physically capable of taking part in Lodge rituals, and most Lodges today are quite flexible in accommodating disabled candidates.

the first steps
Masonic lodges do no recruit. You must ask to become a Freemason. Unfortunately, many men who would like to become Masons never do because they are unaware of this requirement (that it be of your own free will and accord, and you must ask to join the Fraternity). If you desire to learn more about Masonic membership, contact your local lodge to satisfy yourself concerning Freemasonry. As Freemasons, we believe that membership in an organization as worthy as ours must come from a "sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow creatures" and not because of coaxing, coercement, or of any promise of material gain of any kind.

Start the process by completing a petition (application) for membership, which you can get from a Mason you know or your local Lodge. If you don’t know a Mason, use Grand lodge of Georgia’s Lodge Locator to find a lodge near you — the Brothers will be happy to meet with you for an informational session.

The next step is to submit your petition to the Lodge you want to join. The petition is read in a Lodge meeting and referred to a committee (usually composed of three members). This committee then interviews you — usually right in your home, so that your family can ask any questions that they may have.

After the interview, the committee reports its findings to the Lodge, and a secret ballot is taken. If the vote is favorable, you’ll be notified and you’ll be given a date to start the degree program.

the degree process
An applicant, whose petition has been accepted by the lodge, is advised of the date his Entered Apprentice Degree has been scheduled. On that date, following a brief Ritualistic opening, the petitioner is properly prepared and introduced to the lodge. The solemn process is an enlightening experience and the candidate need never worry that embarrassing or compromising situations will arise during this (or any other degree).

Our Fraternity’s private nature sometimes creates misconceptions about our “initiation ceremonies.” Rest assured that we are a moral institution whose tenets are Friendship, Morality, and Brotherly Love. Masonry teaches us to practice charity and benevolence, and to revere ordinances of — but not replace — any man’s religion. Quite simply, our Fraternity exists to make good men better.

After receiving the Entered Apprentice Degree, you will be expected to memorize several key passages of the Ritual and help will be extended in the teaching/learning process. Having learned the required Ritualistic work and satisfying the lodge of that proficiency, you will be asked to return for the conferral of your Fellow Craft Degree. Following a proficiency examination on that Degree, you will advance to the "last and highest grade of Ancient Craft Masonry-the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason."

Upon the completion of the third degree, you’ll become a Master Mason, and be eligible for all that Masonry has to offer you, which includes:

• Worldwide Brotherhood
• Fellowship
• Male bonding
• Meaningful community service
• Camaraderie with other moral men
• Much more

It’s our sincere hope that you’ll consider becoming a Free and Accepted Mason, and sharing the feeling of friendship and Brotherly love that Freemasons have enjoyed from time immemorial.