Just what is Freemasonry, anyway?
Freemasonry is the world's oldest secular fraternal order of initiation. Honoring the fullness of man's nature, it is an esoteric contemplative discipline dedicated to the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional development of its members. By advancing through a series of progressive symbolic stages, called Degrees, its members strive to achieve deeper levels of understanding and acceptance of their obligations to Deity, their fellow human beings and themselves.

Freemasonry encourages its members to commit random acts of kindness and to contribute to relief of those less fortunate than themselves as liberally as their resources allow. Masons are active members of their communities - organizing blood drives, volunteering in local schools, and helping local charities raise the funds they need to keep their doors open. State- and national-level Masonic organizations contribute to the operation of Child ID programs, medical research facilities, children's hospitals, burn centers, scholarship programs, libraries, organ donor awareness programs, and orphanages – just to name a few.

Freemasonry promotes camaraderie and lifelong friendship. Through working together to achieve common goals, participating in fraternal social events, engaging in meaningful discussions, or by simply lending a helping hand, Masons establish deep and long lasting bonds with their Lodge Brothers. Masons can be found everywhere throughout the free world. Consequently, no matter where his travels may take him, no Mason is ever without a friend.
Isn't Freemasonry some kind of religious cult?
Freemasonry addresses the really big questions: questions about Life and questions about Death, questions about the natures of God and Man and their relationship to each other; questions about Good and Evil and the pursuit of Virtue for its own sake. Recognizing that the spoken word often fails to adequately convey meaning, it uses ritual and symbolism to communicate important life lessons to its members. Although Freemasonry draws upon the shared wisdom of all cultures and all ages, Masons are encouraged to come to their own conclusions.

If, in your mind, these things collectively constitute a “religious cult”, then there’s really very little that we can say that will change your opinion. However, we would ask you to take the following facts into consideration:

• Freemasonry seeks no converts. It does not have a theology or dogma, it does not offer sacraments, and it does not offer the promise of salvation.

• Freemasonry neither competes with nor supplants any member’s religious beliefs. In fact, most Masons are active members in their church, synagogue, or mosque and see no conflict at all between their Faith and their Lodge.

• The Lodge Room is one of those very rare places where men of every religious tradition may freely join together as equals and celebrate their common kinship as sons of the God who created us all.

• Membership in a Masonic Lodge and participation in Masonic events are completely voluntary. Masons are free to cancel their membership at any time.

• Beyond the payment of their annual dues ($100.00 at Naurashank Lodge), Masons have no monetary obligation to the fraternity; nor are they required to take part in any fund raising activities.

If you are unsure of where your religious denomination stands in respect to Freemasonry or of its rulings pertaining to membership, we strongly encourage you to seek the counsel of your spiritual advisor BEFORE you apply for membership in a Masonic Lodge.