The Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.

 

 

 

 

The Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M. appreciates your interest in Freemasonry. By seeking this information you have taken the first step to becoming a member. It's really that simple. To become a Mason you need only "ask", meet the qualifications, and be accepted by a Lodge.

For further information email the Grand Lodge of Iowa or call 319-365-1438 or fax at 319-365-1439. You can also send mail to:

Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M
Box 279
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406-0279

When you email, be sure to include your name, address and phone number so that we may have someone from a Lodge near you contact you.

It is our hope and desire that the following information will tell you more about our fraternity, "The Gentle Craft," and assist you in becoming a member of the oldest and largest fraternity in the world.

There are two new books, out of the thousands written on the Fraternity, that you can purchase locally, or on the internet from places such as Amazon.com.  They are both well written, factual, easy to read and contain a wealth of information.  The newest one out is "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry (don't let the title throw you - it is a great book, and written by a prominent Mason, S. Brent Morris, PHD. 33°.  "Freemasons for Dummies", by Christopher Hodapp, a Mason, is another well written, easy to read, and factual book giving you the real truth of what our Fraternity is all about.  Don't get caught up in the garbage you read on "Hate Sites" - they are a small group with more imagination than insight.  Read either of the two books above for the real facts on Freemasonry - the world's oldest and largest fraternal organization.

In addition to the books there is a video produced by the Grand Lodge of Indiana that talks about membership in the Fraternity.  It can be downloaded or viewed as streaming video.  At the bottom of this page there is a link to the Web Page for this video that allows it to be seen by different video players as well as links to download a player if needed.  At the end it talks about contacting the Grand Lodge of Indiana, but if you are a resident of Iowa you should contact the Grand Lodge of Iowa for further information.

 

Ten  Reasons  to  Become  a  Mason

Some of the members in Iowa were asked why a man should be a Mason and here are 10 Reasons that were given:

1.  A place where you can confidently trust every person and trust your family with them also.

2.  A place where, within moral and civil guidelines; free thought, free speaking and the spiritual growth of man, can grow into its fullest potential.

3.  A place to meet outstanding individuals from all walks of life, that a person would not otherwise have had the opportunity to know and call brother.

4.  A place to be part of an organization which has for its principal tenets – Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

5.  A place that provides self-development opportunities, leadership training and experience, and to improve public speaking skills.

6.  A place you can go to seek support as well as give it.

7.  A place where moral virtues are taught and through these teachings a regular reinforcement of the moral virtues is experienced.

8.  A place to spend time with a group of brothers, who by acting as good men, make me want to become a better man.  Not better than others, but better than I would have otherwise been.

9.  A place to become better equipped to serve Church and community.

10.  A place to meet with established members of the community and to become a part of the community.

 

The history and traditions of Freemasonry date back to antiquity, with the singular purpose of making good men better.  The tenets of our fraternity; Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth,  have stood the test of time, and survived some of the most brutal religious and political conflicts history has to offer, including our own Civil War.  Freemasonry, while neither a political forum, nor formal place of worship, does require of its members two things: The belief in the Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man, regardless of political or religious persuasion.

 

Who are Freemasons?

    Many of our founding fathers were Freemasons. George Washington was the first of 14 Presidents of the United States to be a member of the fraternity, as well as 13 signers of the Constitution.  In more recent history members of the fraternity include President Truman, General Douglas McArthur, numerous astronauts, entertainers, and sports figures. More importantly, millions of men such as yourself.

    Freemasonry enjoys over three million members world wide and draws to its ranks men from every profession and occupation, all meeting on the "Level."  While each man may have his own religious and political views and opinions, they all share one common bond, the belief in one God, and the need to treat each man with brotherly love and affection.

What are the qualifications?

    It is the internal and not the external qualifications that should recommend a man to be a Mason. It does not consider any man for his worldly wealth or honor as a qualification for membership. Nor does it place any requirements on a man’s political or religious affiliations.  Masonry seeks to "make good men better." It therefore looks to those men who have already demonstrated strong moral background, and exemplary character. In Iowa a candidate for Masonry must also be at least 18 years of age, and must profess his belief in a Supreme Being as no atheist can be made a Mason.

 

Seeking Membership

    Anyone seeking membership into Freemasonry should first seek out a Masonic friend to recommend him. He must first sign a petition on which he states his name, age, occupation, and place of residence, as well as his belief in a Supreme Being.  This petition will be investigated and brought before the members of the Lodge who will vote by secret ballot.   To be accepted, the results of this ballot must be unanimous.  In the event that you do not have a member of the fraternity in your circle of friends and acquaintances, it is recommended that you contact the email address above, or the Grand Lodge for further assistance at: 319-365-1438.

 

Is Freemasonry a Religion

Absolutely not, it is the oldest and largest Fraternity in the world - Freemasonry requires a belief in a Supreme Being to become a member, and accepts men of any faith, it is in no way a religion, and it does not try to compete with religion.  Instead, the fraternity strongly encourages you to be active in the church of your choice, and pursue your own religious beliefs.

 What About the Derogatory Comments Found On The Internet

You may have noticed that these sites never include a way of contacting them, unless that is, when they wish to sell you books or tapes - many make a living out of defaming the fraternity. To get factual information regarding their ridiculous allegations, take a look at the following sites: http://www.masonicinfo.com/  and   http://www.indianafreemasons.com/imoanti/detract.html - the first does a great job of dispelling myths and outright lies - the second gives a good perspective on our feelings on religion in the Lodge room.

Learning about the Fraternity

If you are interested in learning more about Freemasonry there are over 50,000 books published on the subject, some of which may be found in your local libraries. The Iowa Masonic Library has one of the largest collections of Masonic materials that can be used at the library for research as well as some of the volumes may be checked out.  For more information click on the Library link below or contact the Grand Lodge of Iowa at the above contact numbers.  Feel free to contact the Masonic Lodge in your area, or the Grand Lodge of Iowa at Cedar Rapids at 319-365-1438.

Two excellent books that you may wish to read are The Pilgrim's Path, written by John J. Robinson, who, after several years of researching the Fraternity, became so impressed with it that he petitioned a Lodge and became a member; the other is very new on the market, and is one of the "Dummy" series - Freemasons for Dummies is the title, and is easy reading and very informative. It also explores and explodes the falsehoods about the fraternity.