FAQ

Freemasonry is a brotherhood of men committed to lives of honor, integrity and character. The men of Freemasonry are on a journey of self-discovery. For hundreds of years, Freemasons, with deep brotherly support, have worked to become the best version of themselves while working to better their communities and our world.

For over 200 years, Freemasons have shared the bonds of brotherhood while serving the communities of Illinois. Today, Illinois Freemasonry is a fraternity under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. comprised of more than 420 Lodges and some 45,000 Freemasons, making it the 4th largest Masonic jurisdiction in the United States (based on membership size). Illinois Freemasonry unites men from every walk of life who are invested in self-improvement and helping others. Also, our several Illinois Masonic Charity programs make a positive impact on our members, their families, and our communities across the state.

We embrace men across the state who believe in honor, integrity, truth, and service to humanity. We are men of respect, kindness, and tolerance who fully accept our brothers’ religion, race, age, status, or culture. Illinois Freemasonry is a fraternity committed to imbuing the virtues of equality, charity, fellowship, and brotherly love in its members while proudly supporting life-changing efforts for the most vulnerable in our communities.

The exact origins of Freemasonry were muddled over time. The order is thought to have arisen from the English and Scottish guilds of practicing stonemasons and cathedral builders in the Middle Ages. Certain Masonic documents actually trace the sciences of geometry and masonry to the time of ancient Egypt and the building of King Solomon's Temple.

The formation of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717 marks the beginning of the Modern (or “Speculative”) era of Freemasonry, when members were no longer limited to actual working stonemasons. These “Accepted” Masons adopted more enlightened philosophies and turned a tradesmen’s organization into a fraternity for moral edification, intellectual recitation, benevolent service, and gentlemanly socialization.

Part of the mystique of Freemasonry can be attributed to speculation about its roots. Over the years, historians have never been able to conclusively determine exactly when, where, how, and why Freemasonry was formed.

Freemasonry is a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Symbols allow people to communicate quickly, and to transcend language barriers. When you see a green traffic light or a circle with a line through it on a sign, for example, you know what it means. Likewise, Freemasons use metaphors from geometry and the architecture of stonemasonry to inform their continuing pursuit of knowledge, ethics and leadership skills.

To reflect their heritage, Freemasons wear aprons while in Lodge meetings, at certain public events, and at funerals to demonstrate their pride in the fraternity, and their lineage from stonemasons, who historically carried their tools in leather aprons. The square and compasses are the most widely known symbol of Freemasonry. When you see the symbol on a building, you know that Freemasons meet there.

The Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. is led by the Grand Master, who serves as the chief executive of Freemasonry in the state.

As of 2026, the Grand Master is MWB Joseph B. Ferrell, who works alongside elected officers to support more than 400 local lodges across Illinois.

Together, these leaders:

• Set the statewide vision for Illinois Freemasonry

• Organize events, programs, and charitable efforts

• Support the work of local lodge Masters and members

By becoming an Illinois Freemason under the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M., you join a fraternity committed to finding and uniting men eager to improve themselves and do good in the world. Through our timeless Masonic experiences, our members receive significant value from joining our ancient and honorable fraternity, including the following benefits:

Brotherhood - A feeling of belonging and social attachment with faithful friends and Brothers who care about you and champion your well-being and success on life’s journey. As a Freemason, you will connect to the more than 45,000 Master Masons in Illinois Freemasonry and the millions of Brothers worldwide bound together by a common tie of knowledge, experience, and brotherly love.

Wisdom - Access the “Wisdom of the Ages” through our unique Masonic degrees and other periodic Lodge and District education, training, workshops, and individual conversations. Receive guidance and advice by networking with experienced and successful men willing to “pay it forward” to coach, mentor and assist worthy Brothers with their Masonic career and life endeavors.

Personal and Professional Growth - Acquire new skills and improve current ones, such as public speaking, project management, coaching, leading men to deliver results, written and verbal communication, managing business meetings, inspiring people, and more.

Knowledge – Asking for and receiving counsel from friends and Brothers about life’s challenges, whether it be fixing a broken faucet, buying and financing a home, or learning about leadership and service.

Respect – Being recognized as a man of honor and upright reputation in the community by men you care about, because your deportment and behavior warrant that recognition.

Friendship and Enjoyment – Freemasons always make ample time for fun. Enjoy the company of other men and develop mutual understanding and respect through the shared activities that are the foundation of the Masonic experience. Through the decades of navigating life together, Freemasons build long-lasting friendships forged by acceptance, respect, trust, and support.

Accomplishment – A genuine feeling of “making a difference” by pooling our financial resources to positively impact our Illinois Masonic Charity programs and local communities throughout the state.

Courage and Confidence – Through our unique Masonic learning experience, each Brother embraces the courage needed to test what he learns, makes purposeful progress on his individual journey of self-improvement, and gathers the confidence to tackle new challenges and attain new milestones, not only in Freemasonry but in life.

Relevance and Pride – Enjoy the pride of helping our worthy Brothers and their families in times of need and making a profound difference in Illinois. Whether with a kind word, an attentive ear, manual labor, or financial support directly through our charities, Illinois Freemasons build strong connections with our communities.

For more information on becoming a member, visit our join page.

To become a Freemason under the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. and remain a member, you are expected to demonstrate good character and reputation. You must also meet the following criteria to join Illinois Freemasonry:

● Be a male
● Be at least 18 years old
● Be an Illinois resident for at least six months
● Profess a belief in God or a Supreme Being
● Be of good reputation as a man of honor and integrity

First, you must meet the membership requirements to join Illinois Freemasonry. If you meet that criteria, then you can fill out our Member Interest Form. Once receipt of your membership interest form is confirmed, you will receive an email with the next steps in becoming an Illinois Freemason.

Based upon the information provided on your Member Interest Form, a Masonic leader from your local Lodge will reach out to discuss your interest. This conversation is to determine your motivations to join Illinois Freemasonry and whether a mutual fit exists for you to continue in our membership evaluation and selection process.

If you ultimately receive a favorable vote from the local Lodge regarding your membership request, then you will be required to complete the three Masonic degrees to attain full membership status in the fraternity as a Master Mason. Becoming a Master Mason takes time, study, and dedication. That milestone can typically be attained in three to six months after receiving your first degree.

The specific timeframe to attain full membership status in Freemasonry as a Master Mason is partially up to you. The local Lodge leaders will coordinate the major steps in the membership process with you including submitting the formal membership petition along with an associated fee, receiving a favorable vote on your membership request, getting each degree completed, and your time investment, study, and dedication made in completing the learning requirements to advance through the degrees.

After receiving the first degree, a new Brother is encouraged to regularly attend Lodge meetings, events and activities. At that same point, you will have access to and receive communications from Masonic leaders at the state and local levels. Also, members of your local Lodge will encourage you to get together casually to make new friends, assist with your studies, and answer questions.

Yes. Each Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. determines its own fees for new members. After becoming a full member of Freemasonry, as a Master Mason, payment of annual dues which are used to support the operations of the fraternity locally and across the state are required. Additionally, participation in local Lodge and statewide Masonic activities and events have their own costs. These financial investments help to unlock the personal value received from our unique fraternal experience.

Initiation Fee: The fees for submitting the formal membership petition and to receive the three Masonic degrees to attain full membership as a Master Mason comprises the total initiation fee. This initiation fee is due along with the submission of the formal membership petition. Each Lodge sets the amount of the initiation fee which the local Lodge leaders can provide in your discussions. If payment of the initiation fee would present a financial hardship, then share those insights with the local Lodge leaders. When your financial situation improves, you can contact them to continue with the membership evaluation and selection process.

Annual Lodge Dues: To continue unlocking the value of being an active Freemason, each Master Mason is required to pay annual Lodge dues. Each Lodge sets the amount for their annual Lodge dues. The dues payment is made before the beginning of each calendar year. The local Lodge leaders can provide that information during your discussions.

A Masonic Lodge is a local group of Freemasons joined together with a charter granting permission for them to conduct the work and business of Illinois Freemasonry under the authority granted by the Grand Lodge of Illinos A. F. & A. M. It has two primary functions:

(1) Provide an opportunity for members to make friends, learn from one another, combine their talents and skills to advance the work of Illinois Freemasonry, and enjoy quality time together during Masonic meetings, events, and activities.

(2) Facilitate the timeless learning and development experience achieved by new and experienced members that are centered around our degree ritual ceremonies, ultimately connecting each Brother to the storied legacy and heritage of Freemasons around the world and throughout the centuries.

There are generally two types of meetings:

(1) Those in which men are initiated or advanced to a higher degree through a ceremonial ritual

(2) Those in which the Lodge conducts routine business, elects new members, or provides membership learning and development programs covering a variety of interesting Masonic topics including having guest speakers.

In addition, many Lodges have dinner before the meeting or refreshments afterward. Much of the conviviality and fellowship of Masonic members happens before and after the meetings. These informal gatherings on Lodge meeting days provide an opportunity for men interested in learning about Freemasonry to attend, speak with the members, ask questions, and build relationships.

There are three degrees of Freemasonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason. These degrees are the three ceremonial stages that a man must complete to become a full member of the Masonic fraternity. Collectively, these degrees are known as the Ancient Craft Lodge (often called Blue Lodge).

The Masonic degrees are loosely based upon the journeyman system, which was used to educate Medieval craftsmen. At each educational stage, a craftsman was required to achieve proficiency before moving to the next stage. Symbolically, the degrees represent the three stages of human development: youth, manhood, and old age. By advancing through the degrees, a Freemason learns the moral and ethical lessons of how to build a better version of himself consistent with the teachings of the ancient fraternity.

To become a Master Mason, you must complete the three-degree ritual conferral ceremonies provided in a local Lodge. Once you have completed the third degree, you become a full member of Freemasonry, enjoying both the rights and responsibilities of a Master Mason.

To begin your journey to becoming a Master Mason, visit our Join page to take the first step, or contact a Freemason that you know personally to express your interest in learning more about Illinois Freemasonry.

Although Freemasonry is not a religion or a substitute for religion, all members profess a belief in a Supreme Being, and our ceremonies include spiritual or religious elements. Freemasons focus on the spiritual and moral building of individual character through a shared trust in God, welcoming each member to pursue the individual religious practices of his choosing. This approach facilitates the ability of Freemasons to harmoniously meet and develop friendships with men from various cultural backgrounds around the globe. There are no discussions about religion in Lodge meetings.

Charity is a core part of our duty as Freemasons. The Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. and the Freemasons of our state are proud to support life-changing efforts to assist our members, their families, and the most vulnerable in our communities. Our Illinois Freemasonry charitable initiatives include:

Illinois Masonic Outreach Services (IMOS): IMOS allows Illinois Freemasons to fulfill their Masonic oath of coming to the aid of a Brother, their spouse, widow, and orphans in times of necessity.

Illinois Masonic Children’s Assistance Program (IMCAP): IMCAP partners with Illinois Masonic Lodges to provide assistance to children and young adults in our communities.

Illinois Masonic Student Assistance Program (IMSAP): IMSAP is a school-based early intervention approach designed to enhance educators’ skills in identifying and assisting at-risk students.

Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl: This annual scholastic tournament, sponsored by the Freemasons of Illinois, aims to provide positive recognition for academic excellence.

Illinois Masonic Family Identification Program: Every year in the U.S., thousands of children and elderly adults become lost. A few are victims of abduction. The Freemasons of Illinois hold and fund identification workshops all around the state to equip families with personal identification materials to help them find missing loved ones. The Freemasons do not retain copies of personal identification materials.

Coins For Children: The Coins for Children Program provides matching funds to Illinois Masonic Lodges with the goal of supporting children in our local communities across the state. In partnership with this Illinois Masonic Charity, Lodges expand and extend their charitable giving impact to advance community projects and activities focused on assisting children.

Scholarships: Each year, Illinois Freemasons award Masons and non-Masons alike scholarships to support higher education.

If you would like to support the positive impact that our charities have on the lives of people in communities across Illinois, then you can donate to our charities fund here.