freemasons, freemasons South Africa, freemasons history, join freemasons, masonic, lodge masonic, masonic ring, masonic temple, masonic symbol, jewelry masonic, jewelry masonic regalia, masonic secret, masonic ritual, freemasonry, freemasonry secret, history of freemasonry, freemasonry watch, freemasonry ritual, freemasonry symbol, degree of freemasonry, origin of freemasonry, secret life of the freemasons, famous freemasons, freemasons secret, freemasons watchin, Africa, South Africa, JohannesburgWhat Freemasonry is and what better way than to take the accepted definition of ‘a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols’. Freemasons are a movement whose members are joined together in an association based on brotherly love, relief and truth.
Freemasons in South Africa in the District of South Africa
North - Exsequi Lodge Number 8994
Interested in joining? Here is some basic information which
should address the question: "Where do I go from
here?"
Freemasonry has its lodges throughout the free
world. You'll find Masons meeting in almost every
town and village and - except where repressive
governments make their existence difficult - they're
readily found. None of these lodges was ever
organized as a result of any type of 'missionary'
work: they came into existence because a group of
Masons wanted to share the friendship and fraternity
with others in the area.
What is SO often misunderstood is a simple fact:
there are few but important requirements to become a
Freemason!
While they are stated in slightly different words in
various jurisdictions (and a few jurisdictions may
have one or two requirements beyond these), they
basically are as follows:
Being a man, freeborn, of good repute and
well-recommended;
A belief in a Supreme Being;
Ability to support one's self and family;
Of lawful age; and
Come to Freemasonry of their "own free will and
accord".
Let's examine these individually:
Being a man, freeborn, of good repute
and well-recommended
Masonry began as a male organisation. There
are women's groups and groups of mixed
male-female membership who use rituals
similar to that of the major body of
Freemasons throughout the world. Some of
these groups receive acknowledgement (but
not 'recognition') due to their adherence to
high moral principles etc. while others are
frowned upon. It is, after all, quite easy
for anyone to claim that they are the head
of a Masonic group and begin to obtain
members.
The requirement of being "freeborn" is one
which harkens back to the earliest days of
Freemasonry. It became a requirement since
only those free from indentured service as
an apprentice or bondsman (as many were in
17th century England, for example), could
truly make decisions for themselves.
Being of good repute is another essential
requirement. Masons do not wish to encourage
membership by those whose actions would
stain the reputation of the fraternity. In
some jurisdictions this is specifically
stated but in all, it is practiced!
A well-recommended person is one for whom
another is willing to vouch. Those who
become Freemasons have been recommended by a
proposer and then examined by lodge members
to ensure that the candidate will benefit
from his membership.
Belief in a Supreme Being
The major 'bone of contention' for some
detractors, Masonry does not attempt to
define or delineate how a person should pray
or to whom worship should be addressed.
The term "Great Architect of the Universe"
(or "Grand Architect of the Universe") is
used to permit a more generic worship to the
Supreme Being of all present. All Masons
understand this concept and when prayers are
offered in their lodge, they understand that
regardless of the person speaking the words
or the manner of prayer of others present,
the prayer is addressed to their Supreme
Being.
Once a candidate professes such belief, no
further investigation or interrogation is
made. This fact too stymies Freemasonry's
detractors who seem to be constantly engaged
in wars of 'religious correctness' and who
often wind up in contradiction with each
other as a result.
Ability to support one's self and family
Although not specifically stated by all
jurisdictions, this 'requirement' comes from
a time when many would join fraternal
organizations in the hope there would be
financial and other benefits available for
them in their old age. Masonry did want to
become a benevolent association and thus the
requirement appeared. Now, this is important
to ensure that those who seek membership
understand the priority of Freemasonry is
secondary to religious and family
obligations!
Of Lawful Age
It's a simply understood concept: if you are
not old enough to make legal commitments,
then the concepts and precepts of
Freemasonry might be a bit too much for you
to comprehend. Although this isn't always
true, there is a conceptual basis for
separating 'adults' from 'children'.
"Own Free Will and Accord"
You won't find recruiting posters or
'membership bars' on a medal although one
jurisdiction has put 'advertisements' on
various web locations including search
engines like Google. Masons simply don't get
awards for bringing in new members. It's a
voluntary organization, sought out by those
with a positive impression of the
organization.
Masonic membership has always been an
intensely personal experience and in times
when "feelings" weren't discussed publicly
by men, the need for a person to ask for
membership was often not communicated to
those who might otherwise be interested in
the fraternity. Accordingly, there are many
who became Masons much later in life than
necessary: they had thought the proper thing
to do was to wait to be asked to join!
Some grand jurisdictions, recognizing the
problem arising from false perceptions ("I
must be asked to join such a good
organization."), have begun to loosen prior
strict prohibitions. They may now have a
provision for Masons to let those who they
may feel would be appropriate candidates
know that they are 'welcomed' to join. This
does not, however, in any way mitigate or
diminish the requirement that a man make the
choice to join under his 'own free will and
accord' not actuated by unworthy motives!
These basic principles have been the
means of attracting the most highly
respected persons to Masonry for over three
centuries. Their simplicity confounds and
confuses those who see a conspiracy lurking
behind every bush; those who want 'religious
purity' and those whose own motives are
constantly self-oriented. As a result, this
quiet fraternity continues - as do its
detractors.
South African Freemasons take pride in acknowledging our extensive
Masonic charities whether it is the thousands of
scholarships and educational programs sponsored by
Grand Lodges and local Lodges, or community support
programs.
All members of the South African Freemasons fraternity are just as
proud of the Donations over the past ten years from
the District of South Africa North charities like:
The Neslon Mandela Childrens Fund R750,000,
The Avril Elizabeth Home R350,000,
SA Guide Dogs for the
Blind R300,000,
St. Vincent's School for the Deaf
R300,000,
SA Cancer Research R250,000,
SA Red Cross
for Flood Disaster Relief R100,000,
Red Cross
Children's Hospital R200,000,
Childline R1, 000,000,
Reach for a Dream R1,000,000,
Reach for Recovery
R1,000,000
donations to other non-masonic
charities R2,000,000 and donations to
Masonic charities R2,000,000.
Any man seeking to join Masonry will
become a part of this charity network
helping people everywhere, fulfilling the
Masonic lesson of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
If you would like to tell us a bit about yourself (work, hobbies, family etc) then please fill-in the form below:
Exsequi Lodge meets at Park Lane in Johannesburg, South Africa on the fourth
Monday of February (Election Meeting), April (Installation Meeting), June,
August, October and November. Exsequi is a Freemasons Dining Lodge and masonic
guests are most welcome.
Freemasons a web site for and about Freemasonry - South African
Lodges
Interested in joining? Here is some basic information which
should address the question: "Where do I go from
here?"
EXSEQUI LODGE NUMBER 8994 IN THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ANTIENT FREEMASONS OF ENGLAND
