Enquire About Membership
Information
Dear Enquirer,
To be a Freemason is to be recognised as a pillar of society and therefore requires that each potential candidate fulfils the following:
- To have a belief in a God or Supreme Being;
- To be of good character without any criminal convictions, terms of imprisonment or current/pending court cases. (Minor summary offences are declarable and in certain cases may be relevant. Spent convictions under the Rehabilitations of Offenders Act and those persons showing a reformed character may be considered);
- To have attained the age of 21. (Those having attained the age of 18 years and being a university student may apply under the Universities Scheme and in exceptional circumstances, consideration may be given to those between the ages of 18 and 21 years who are not university students).
Freemasonry is open to all, regardless of status but in all organisations or societies, certain fees are required for joining, yearly subscriptions and dining, with charitable giving being at the heart of our principles. These can vary between Lodges and locations and these costs should not be underestimated. Your time and financial commitment will require careful consideration of your work and domestic circumstances.
Freemasonry is primarily a male preserve but there are 'Ladies Lodges' within the "Order of Women Freemasons" and whilst unaffiliated to the United Grand Lodge of England, Nottinghamshire has one that meets at West Bridgford Masonic Hall. Enquiries can be made by visiting their website https://www.owf.org.uk or on completion of the attached form it will be forwarded to the secretary.
Having given due consideration to the above, we invite you to complete the Initial Enquiry Form (on the orange tab above) as a first step in the process.
On receipt of the completed enquiry form, we will pass your details to a senior mason who will, normally within 48 hours, get in touch to invite you to meet him at a Masonic Hall convenient to you.
When you meet he will show you the room (Temple) where we hold our meetings and explain what we do and the basic principles of Freemasonry. He will also ask you about yourself and answer any question you may have about our organisation. We take great care in selecting new members and for this reason, the whole process does take a number of months. It is also important to us that you fully appreciate what a life-enhancing experience becoming a Freemason can be and the level of personal commitment expected.
Following your initial meeting, and if both parties are happy, you will be invited to complete an application form. On receipt of the completed form we will match you to a Lodge that appears to be the best fit for you and you will then be invited to meet with a senior representative of this Lodge.
From this point on your progress to full membership will depend on the Lodge accepting you as a candidate and the Lodge calendar for the year. In the intervening period you will be invited to attend social events and to meet informally with masons so that you get to know us and hopefully enjoy our company.
Freemasonry offers the opportunity to grow as an individual and become a better member of society. It also brings a special bond of friendship that is unique.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
A. C. Rainbow
Deputy Provincial Grand Master
Please do not complete the enquiry form (on the orange tab above) unless your interest in Freemasonry is within the Province of Nottinghamshire
If you reside in a country outside of the UK and wish to join Freemasonry, then please visit the United Grand Lodge of England's website.