How do I become a Freemason ?
Becoming a Freemason is a simple task, but you must take the first step, To be a Freemason you must ask to join, We do not solicit for membership
We hear far to often ‘I’ve never been invited’.
Too often good men who would make exceptional Freemasons spend their life waiting for an invite to join the Brotherhood. You will unfortunately wait a Long time, Freemasons do not solicit for membership, this may seem counter-productive but it’s a long standing tradition and condition of membership.
You may have thought about it and there could me several reasons you haven’t taken the step, such as;
You may be nervous asking to join, many are
You don’t know any Freemasons
You’ve been given false information
You’ve heard the Myths and Rumours
In a digital age, we’ve simplified the process and hopefully the pages in this website have given you a good idea of what we do and what to expect. If you’re ready to take the step and want to ask to join, simply hit the ‘2B1ASK1’ button below, complete the form and you’ve taken the first step & we’ll be in touch to discuss with you.
Likewise if you have any general queries about the Lodge or Freemasonry hit the ‘Contact Us’ Button.
The road to membership
Joining the lodge is a journey of enlightenment and education and we believe in giving you as much information to allow you to make an informed decision, The process of joining and the fee’s involved are all detailed below, if you require any other information then please contact us.
The first step is asking to join, we will then arrange to speak to you, get aquatinted, provide you with any information and answer any questions you may have, You will then be provided with an application form for joining, your application must be sponsored by two existing members of the Lodge hence the reason for getting to know you first.
Once an application is completed you will be formally requested to meet us for an interview, This is known as a Committee of Enquiry within the Lodge and will normally be with the Master of the Lodge along with two other members. Those that sponsored you will guide you through the process and be present with you at the interview.
This may sound very formal but it is simply an opportunity for us to ask you a few questions, inform you of the process and any relevant information and likewise for you to ask us anything.
The enquiry committee reports to the members at the next lodge meeting, following which your application is immediately voted on. The election of you as a candidate in a Masonic lodge is conducted by a ballot.
Once the ballot is passed you will then be invited to attend the Lodge to take your first step in Freemasonry. There is a one off joining fee for joining the Lodge which is circa £250, this covers the joining process and your three degree’s in Freemasonry and your membership Diploma from the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Once you have completed your three degree’s there is annual fee payable by all members for the Lodge which is circa £50 , equating to around £1 per week.
These fee’s enable the Grand Lodge of Scotland & Lodge St. Columban to operate and contribute to Local and National charities throughout the year.
Becoming a member of the lodge consists of going through the three degree’s in Freemasonry. Normally the degrees are conducted on consecutive meetings but there are other considerations and breaks which, may mean the degrees are not conferred consecutively. After you have taken your first degree you are eligible to visit other lodges in your area and throughout Scotland, your sponsors or members of the lodge will encourage you to do this and accompany you on these visits. It gives you an opportunity to meet Freemason’s, observe the proceedings and see the varying temples, every one is slightly different and It is an enjoyable and educational experience.
As St. Columban meets over the summer months, where as most Lodges in the province meet during the Winter, we will use the time in between your degree’s to teach, coach and educate you in the Craft, our commitment to you as a candidate is by the time you have completed your degree’s in the Craft you will be a skilled Brother proficient and well versed in the practices of Freemasonry.
In a digital age, we’ve simplified the process of asking to join and hopefully the pages in this website have given you a good idea of what we do and what to expect. If you’re ready to take the step and want to ask to join, simply hit the ‘2B1ASK1’ button below, complete the form and you’ve taken the first step, we’ll then be in touch to discuss with you.
Likewise if you have any general queries about the Lodge or Freemasonry hit the ‘Contact Us’ Button.
As St. Columban is a new Lodge currently in the process of being ‘Founded’ by members of existing Lodges throughout Scotland, There is an exiting opportunity for applicants to be the first full members of Lodge St. Columban unassociated with any other Lodge, you will have the opportunity to shape and mould the future of both the Lodge and Freemasonry for future generations.
We expect Lodge St. Columban to be operational mid-late 2024 and are accepting expressions interest for joining from the above forms.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Affiliation :
the state of being closely associated with or connected to an organization, company, etc
Already a Freemason, we welcome affiliate’s from other lodges and jurisdictions and can assist you and guide you with the process.
Maybe you are an existing Freemason who has moved away and can no longer attend his Mother Lodge, are you looking for a new band of Brothers?
Do you find the summer meeting schedule attractive? or the extra-curricular activities of the Lodge is appealing, whatever the case we look forward to welcoming any Brother who wishes to affiliate to Lodge St. Columban.
Affiliation is a relatively easy process, you need a clearance certificate from your existing Mother Lodge, once you have this you can simply fill out an Application for Affiliation and we’ll then be in touch to progress the affiliation. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Been absent from the Craft for a while, it’s never to late to come back – Your Lodge & Freemasonry needs you
Many Freemason’s at some point in there Masonic Career drift away from their Lodge, Family & Work commitments always take priority and in todays modern world it seems every man leads a very busy lifestyle, the thought of walking back into your Lodge or any Lodge after being absent for weeks, years or even decades may sound daunting, but be assured within a few minutes of walking through the door and experiencing that feeling of Brotherhood that only the craft can impart, it will feel like you never left.
You will always be welcomed back with open arms.
Lodge St. Columban is more than happy to assist you with returning to Freemasonry, we can explain the Process and through our extensive contacts throughout Scotland we can most likely put you in contact with someone locally to assist.