The history of Freemasonry Good Character started from the days when they were men (stone masons) who built churches or cathedrals around the time of King Solomon. Guilds or associations were started as what we would call unions today to barter for payments. And to maintain standards of building in their profession. Being operative masons, they used words and signs to identify themselves when travelling from building to building to guard against misrepresentation. These words or signs were later known to be the “secrets” of Freemasonry.
Today, Freemasonry is no longer a society for operative masons but rather it is symbolic in nature as the members share an interest in the old craft. It is a society that accepts members from all races, creeds, religions and social status. The teachings are fundamentally based on the principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. Which supports the rule that you do onto others as you would wish them to do onto you.
All members are taught to act and live in a way that he will always be a better man. Not better than someone else, but better than himself – “Freemasonry – making a good man better”. The tools of a mason and principles of architecture are used symbolically to teach the basic moral truths and to emphasise the virtues of faith, hope, charity, prudence, fortitude, temperance and justice.
All discussions of politics and/or religion are not permitted in any Wilmette Lodge meetings address: 1450 N. Lehigh Glenview, IL 60026-2027. Members are encouraged to perform their civic duties according to the laws of the country in which they reside. Newly initiated Masons are told, “[In Freemasonry] there is nothing incompatible with your civil, moral or religious duties”.
Freemasonry is not a religion, and is not a substitute for religion. And it does not solicit members as the desire to be a member is a personal choice. A basic qualification for people seeking membership is the acknowledgment in a Supreme Being according to their own system of faith, doctrine and worship.
