{"id":798,"date":"2017-02-26T12:54:33","date_gmt":"2017-02-26T18:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saintjohns51.com\/?page_id=798"},"modified":"2023-11-22T10:20:50","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T16:20:50","slug":"become-a-mason","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saintjohns51.com\/saintjohns\/become-a-mason\/","title":{"rendered":"Become A Mason"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOW TO BECOME A MASON<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>What is Masonry? Or Freemasonry?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/b>Freemasonry is one of the world\u2019s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organizations. It teaches self-knowledge through participation in a progression of degrees  The Masonic Degrees are based upon common morals and values that veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. <\/i> Masonic Lodges date back to the Grand Lodge of England in 1717, the Stone Masons in the Middle Ages, the Crusades and even to early Old Testament Bible times.  Saint John\u2019s Lodge No. 51, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons dates back to the beginnings of Collin County and McKinney in 1849-1850. It is the oldest masonic lodge in Collin County. It is the second oldest organization in McKinney following the First Christian Church in the community.  Throughout the history of our country, good men in every walk of life have been Masons.  Since the beginning days of the Republic of Texas and the State of Texas, Masonry has had strong ties to the development of Public Education.  Many Lodge buildings in our state began with a school on the first floor and a Masonic Lodge upstairs.  Excellent history of these events can be found by searches on \u201cMasonry and Education in Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Masonic Organizations are visible in the Charity Work they perform. Examples are the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, the Shrine Burn Hospitals, the York Rite Medical Research work, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation and the Grotto dentistry program for children.  These are examples of a very long list of Masonic Organizations and associated charities.  Other appendant  bodies include the Eastern Star and youth organizations such as Rainbow for Girls and the DeMolay for Boys.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is it a religion?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

NO.  Freemasonry is not a religion, however we do expect that a mason believes in a Supreme Being.   We do not require a belief in a specific religion or a specific supreme being.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the purpose of Masonry?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/b>To make GOOD MEN BETTER MEN<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i>What is required to become a Mason   <\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n