Lodges of Freemasons
From About Freemasons
A Masonic Lodge is also known as a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge. A lodge is the basic organizational unit of Masonry and it is essential to understand the lodge in order to understand Freemasonry. Freemasons gather together as a Lodge and the Lodge can also sometimes be used to refer to the structure in which Freemasons meet. Therefore, a Lodge is a gathering or group of Masons that belong to the same group. It can also mean the location where Masons meet, although this second meaning is usually used by non-Masons. Masons usually say they meet “as a Lodge” while non-Masons often mistakenly say Masons meet “in a Lodge”. The physical building where Masons meet can be called a Temple, Masonic Hall, Masonic Center, or a Lodge. A Lodge can only be considered a Lodge if it is warranted and guaranteed by a Grand Lodge.
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Types of Lodges
Blue Lodges
Also known as Craft Lodges or Ancient Craft Lodges. These Lodges allow Masons to work the first three degrees of Masonry, and in this they differ from appendant orders such as the York Rite.
Research Lodges
These Lodges do not confer degrees and meet rarely. Their purpose is to further scholarship of Freemasonry, and Masonic tenets. Membership in these Lodges tends to be limited although most receive documents, materials and visitors from almost any Lodge.
Lodges of Instruction
This Lodge is not quite separate from a Blue Lodge. Masons who meet as a Lodge of Instruction are generally Officers or Masons who wish to become Officers. The purpose of the Lodge is to help these Masons practice rituals and to help them understand rituals and their symbolism.
Mother Lodges
This term is generally used only in Great Britain, and is used to denote the Lodge where a Mason received his first, or Entered Apprentice, degree. In some cases, the term is used to refer to the Lodge which has sponsored a new Lodge. The new Lodge is called the Daughter Lodge.
Grand Lodges
Symbolic Lodges are governed by Grand Lodges or Grand Orients, which are the authorities of all the same Lodges in a specific geographical area – such as a state or country. Grand Lodges create constitutions that define their area’s Freemasonry and appoint Grand Officers.
Membership in Lodges
In order to join a Lodge, a candidate must submit an application that is approved by two Masons who have known the candidate well. A Lodge then votes on the candidate, keeping the requirements of their jurisdiction’s Grand Lodge in mind. Once a Mason has joined a Lodge, he must try for and petition to receive each of the three degrees. Once a Mason becomes a Master Mason, he has a full lifetime membership in the Lodge where he received his degrees. This only changes if the Mason resigns or commits some violation of Freemason rules that ends in his expulsion. If a Mason decides to join another regular Lodge, he does not need to go through the process of earning degrees again, although he may need to earn progressive offices. Some Grand Lodges allow a Master Mason to have "plural affiliates," which means that the Mason can be part of multiple Lodges.
