How to Join

There is only one way to become a Freemason and that is to join a masonic lodge. In England and Wales regular masonic lodges operate under the authority of The United Grand Lodge of England and are grouped into 47 county organisations. There are over 90 lodges in Berkshire which accept new members. Before you proceed further, make sure that you meet our entry requirements.

If you don't already know a Mason

If you do not already know a Freemason, check to see if you live near one of the locations in the county where lodges meet. You may find that a lodge or several lodges meet nearby. The lodges can be contacted via this web site or they may have more details on their own sites. The secretary will always be pleased to talk to you and tell you more about his lodge. You are advised also to contact our headquarters to discuss how best to proceed. Some lodges were founded to serve a town or district and others have special interests or qualifications for membership such as a connection with scouting, country sports or with a particular educational establishment. If you are at university, there is a special scheme to allow you to join a lodge in Berkshire that welcomes students and staff.

Also, see 'How should I decide which Lodge to join?' on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you already know a Mason

If you already know a Freemason, please talk to him about his membership. He is encouraged to be open about Freemasonry and his membership as long as he is not seeking advantage by so doing. Most Freemasons will be delighted to explain about their lodge and its pattern of meetings, the financial implications of membership and, more importantly, the commitment of time necessary to participate meaningfully in the life of the lodge. He will also be able to explain why he enjoys Freemasonry and why it is an important part of his life.  He may, however, be reluctant to talk about our ceremonies in detail because, if you do join, we want you to experience them without any preconceptions.

There are also certain ancient elements of our ceremonies that we promise not to reveal as a symbolic test of our integrity. No true Freemason will reveal these things to you until you have been admitted to membership of a lodge. It must be stressed, however, that while they have symbolic value in our ceremonies, they have no intrinsic value in any other context.

You should expect your contact to suggest some informal social meetings with other members of the lodge in your home, at masonic social events or at other convenient locations. Eventually, if the members you meet believe that you will fit into the lodge, you will be asked to complete an application form and to attend a formal interview with the lodge committee. To complete this stage two members must be prepared to propose and second your application for membership.

To a candidate approaching membership of a lodge this process can seem to take a long time to complete. However, each lodge decides on who it allows to become a member and harmonious relationships between its members are essential for it to meet its purpose. You may have to wait up to a year to gain admission even after your application has been successful.