“A Mason is a man free-born, of good report, and well-recommended.”And so it is said of a Mason in the tenets of Freemasonry. But what exactly does this mean? Men from all walks of life have been a part of our ancient fraternity through the many years of our illustrious, and sometimes controversial, history. Such explanantions ring of truths often much older and more shrouded in history and tradition than many men typically consider when walking through their daily lives. Mankind believes that he sees the world around him in its entirety, and he contents himself by believing that the answers are simplistic.

Yet in their silent hours of contemplation, a man begins to realize that there is more to life than what is outwardly visible. Such men begin to long for a truth and a way of life that is above and beyond the politicking, argumentation and often disappointing realities of the mundane world.

A man knows there is something greater than himself.

This is where Freemasonry enters a man’s life. It is certainly no substitute for the world’s religious institutions – in fact, many men have found that it greatly complements them. One quickly realizes however the importance of relationships, and that the best determining factor toward the success of a relationship is how a man conducts his own daily life. Freemasonry offers many things that help a man toward his goals of self-improvement. It has been characterized as “a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols”. Through our ancient tenets and history, a man is enabled to apply new-found techniques and worldviews toward his ultimate goal of happiness among his fellow man. Still, the raw materials must be there, and a man must be willing to learn in a way that may be completely different from what he’s experienced throughout his lifetime.

In short, Freemasonry makes good men better.

A man that is “free-born” has free will, and is able to be entrusted with the secrets and tenets of our order. A man of “good report” has led a life worthy of our fraternity and the reputation we have built through the centuries. A man who is “well recommended” has established a reputation among their peers as a man of good character.

Contrary to the nonsensical ramblings of those who wrongly claim to be in the know concerning Freemasonry, a man will never be invited to become a part of our ancient institution. Part of a man’s free will is that he is not convinced to join our Craft, but rather must approach it under his own volition after conceiving a favorable opinion toward our institution. This is the origin behind the oft-seen bumper sticker stating “2B1 ASK1″ – “to be one, ask one”.  The best approach to joining us is to ask a Mason with whom you might be acquainted. Prospective members are often surprised to realize that they’ve known a Mason for years without realizing it! If you find that you don’t know a Mason (or more likely simply aren’t yet aware of one) you can certainly feel free to contact us on the “Contact Us” page of our site.

As of the year 2021, there were over 70,000 Master Masons just in the State of Ohio. Our State has the second largest population of Master Masons resident throughout the entire United States.

If you’re not from Ohio, click here for a listing of Grand Lodges throughout the United States.

To all who seek to enter our institution, we welcome you to the portal of our gentle Craft. To those who have long walked our halls, fraternal greetings!