Mason what is

Learn More About mason. Time Traveler for mason The first known use of mason was in the 13th century See more words from the same century. Style: MLA. More Definitions for mason. English Language Learners Definition of mason. Kids Definition of mason. Get Word of the Day daily email! Test Your Vocabulary. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? Love words? Need even more definitions? Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms The same, but different.

Ask the Editors 'Everyday' vs. But there are some things P. They don't teach. They don't tell people which school to attend. They don't try to tell people what they should study or what their major should be.

In much the same way, Masons believe in the importance of religion. Masonry encourages every Mason to be active in the religion and church of his own choice.

Masonry teaches that without religion a man is alone and lost, and that without religion, he can never reach his full potential. But Freemasonry does not tell a person which religion he should practice or how he should practice it. That is between the individual and God. That is the function of his house of worship, not his fraternity. And Masonry is a fraternity, not a religion. What's a Masonic Bible?

Bibles are popular gifts among Masons, frequently given to a man when he joins the lodge or at other special events. A Masonic Bible is the same book anyone thinks of as a Bible it's usually the King James translation with a special page in the front on which to write the name of the person who is receiving it and the occasion on which it is given.

Sometimes there is a special index or information section which shows the person where in the Bible to find the passages which are quoted in the Masonic ritual.

If Masonry isn't a religion, why does it use ritual? Many of us may think of religion when we think of ritual, but ritual is used in every aspect of life. It's so much a part of us that we just don't notice it.

Ritual simply means that some things are done more or less the same way each time. Almost all school assemblies, for example, start with the principal or some other official calling for the attention of the group. Then the group is led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

A school choir or the entire group may sing the school song. That's a ritual. Almost all business meetings of every sort call the group to order, have a reading of the minutes of the last meeting, deal with old business, then with new business.

Most groups use Robert's Rules of Order to conduct a meeting. That's probably the best-known book of ritual in the world. There are social rituals which tell us how to meet people we shake hands , how to join a conversation we wait for a pause, and then speak , how to buy tickets to a concert we wait in line and don't push in ahead of those who were there first.

There are literally hundreds of examples, and they are all rituals. Masonry uses a ritual because it's an effective way to teach important ideas--the values we've talked about earlier. And it reminds us where we are, just as the ritual of a business meeting reminds people where they are and what they are supposed to be doing. Masonry's ritual is very rich because it is so old.

It has developed over centuries to contain some beautiful language and ideas expressed in symbols. But there's nothing unusual in using ritual. All of us do it every day. Why does Masonry use symbols? Everyone uses symbols every day, just as we do ritual. We use them because they communicate quickly. When you see a stop sign--you know what it means, even if you can't read the word "stop. Masonry uses symbols for the same reason.

Some form of the "Square and Compasses" is the most widely used and known symbol of Masonry. In one way, this symbol is a kind of trademark for the fraternity, as the "golden arches" are for McDonald's. When you see the Square and Compasses on a building, you know that Masons meet there. The Square symbolizes things of the earth, and it also symbolizes honor, integrity, truthfulness, and the other ways we should relate to this world and the people in it.

The Compasses symbolize things of the spirit, and the importance of a well-developed spiritual life, and also the importance of self-control--of keeping ourselves within bounds. The G stands for Geometry, the science which the ancients believed most revealed the glory of God and His works in the heavens, and it also stands for God, Who must be at the center of all our thoughts and of all our efforts.

The meanings of most of the other Masonic symbols are obvious. For example, the gavel teaches the importance of self control and self-discipline. The hour-glass teaches us that time is always passing, and we should not put off important decisions. So, is Masonry education? In a very real sense, education is at the center of Masonry. We have stressed its importance for a very long time.

Back in the Middle Ages, schools were held in the lodges of stonemasons. You have to know a lot to build a cathedral-geometry, and structural engineering and mathematics, just for a start. And that education was not very widely available. All the formal schools and colleges trained people for careers in the church, or in law or medicine.

And you had to be a member of the social upper classes to go to those schools. Stonemasons did not come from the aristocracy. And so the lodges had to teach the necessary skills and information. Freemasonry's dedication to education started there. It has continued. Masons started some of the first public schools in both Europe and America. We supported legislation to make education universal. In the s Masons as a group lobbied for the establishment of state supported education and federal land-grant colleges.

Today we give millions of dollars in scholarships each year. We encourage our members to give volunteer time to their local schools, buy classroom supplies for teachers, help with literacy programs, and do everything they can to help assure that each person, adult or child, has the best educational opportunities possible. And Masonry supports continuing education and intellectual growth for its members, insisting that learning more about many things is important for anyone who wants to keep mentally alert and young.

What does Masonry teach? Masonry teaches some important principles. There's nothing very surprising in the list. Masonry teaches that: Since God is the Creator, all men and women are the children of God. Because of that, all men and women are brothers and sisters, entitled to dignity, respect for their opinions and consideration of their feelings.

Neither wealth nor poverty, education nor ignorance, health nor sickness excuses any person from doing the best he or she can do or being the best person possible under the circumstances.

No one has the right to tell another person what he or she must think or believe. Each man and woman has an absolute right to intellectual, spiritual, economic and political freedom. This is a right given by God, not by man. All tyranny, in every form, is illegitimate. Each person must learn and practice self-control.

Each person must make sure his spiritual nature triumphs over his animal nature. Another way to say the same thing is that even when we are tempted to anger, we must not be violent. Even when we are tempted to selfishness, we must be charitable. Even when we want to "write someone off," we must remember that he or she is a human and entitled to our respect. Even when we want to give up, we must go on.

Even when we are hated, we must return love, or, at a minimum, we must not hate back. It isn't easy! Faith must be in the center of our lives. We find that faith in our houses of worship, not in Freemasonry, but Masonry constantly teaches that a person's faith, whatever it may be, is central to a good life. Each person has a responsibly to be a good Citizen, obeying the law. That doesn't mean we can't try to change things, but change must take place in legal ways.

It is important to work to make this world better for all who live in it. Masons also enjoy the fellowship of each other and their families in social and recreational activities. Masonic Lodges usually meet once or twice a month to conduct regular business, vote upon petitions for membership, and bring new Masons into the Fraternity through three ceremonies called degrees.

In the Lodge room, Masons share in a variety of programs. Here the bonds of friendship and fellowship are formed and strengthened. Applicants must be men of good character who believe in a Supreme Being. To become a Mason, one must petition a particular Lodge. The Master of the Lodge appoints a committee to visit the applicant prior to the Lodge balloting upon his petition. Masons are men of good character who strive to improve themselves and make the world a better place.

They belong to the oldest and most honorable Fraternity known to man. If you think you may be interested in becoming a member, you can begin by contacting a Lodge in your area or speaking to a Mason. Most are men who go about their jobs and professions with no hint they are Freemasons except for the way they lead their lives.

Many are readily recognizable by name, face, or accomplishment. If you are interested in learning more, you can contact the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and he will make arrangements to have a Masonic Brother contact you to answer your questions. Who Are The Masons. Where Did Freemasonry Begin? Several Masonic Principles Are: Faith must be the center of our lives. All men and women are the children of God. No one has the right to tell another person what he or she must think or believe.