Masonry is a way of life. A society of friends and brother banded together into a Fraternity—a Fraternity open to all good men who desire to become better men. It is a voluntary organization. It does not solicit membership. It is not a secret society. But like all Fraternities has some secret ritualistic work. It has no secret aims or objectives and its members do not hide the fact that they are members, nor do they flaunt the fact that they are members of an exclusive social group. It is not a church, nor a religion—and is not intended to be a substitute for a religion—Masonry does require that a man believe in God and the immorality of the Soul. All meetings open and close with prayer, and the Book of the Sacred Law—The Holy Bible—is open on the alter during all meetings, for the very foundation of Masonry is the precept of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.
Furthermore, Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its precepts (moral lessons and self-knowledge) by a series of ritual dramas - a progression of allegorical two-part plays which are learnt by heart and performed within each Lodge - which follow ancient forms, and use stonemasons’ customs and tools as allegorical guides.
