# How do I become a freemason? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 13, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218 "2024-11-13T21:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/101 "2024-11-16T12:43:14Z")
From your suggestion I hit the Google app store on my Android and entered “masonic” in the search box. Yep, there’s an app for that. Seven of them in fact. 😉 Somebody with an apple-thingy ought to try the same search and report back. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/102 "2024-11-16T12:45:48Z")
I meant the baby-throwing-out-with-the-bath app (the link should have made it clear), but this is a nice misunderstanding. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/103 "2024-11-16T12:52:05Z")
I never saw your inline link. Those really need to be bolded and/or underlined to be noticeable on many of our common themes. I for one very rarely use an inline link hidden behind words that are part of the natural flow of a sentence for just that reason. IMO that’s clever that becomes too clever to be useful to the reader. I’d write something more like this: > We need a better app for that. Like this one: **[SCHUMANCHU](https://schumanchu.eu/html/r1/r1_00128globish.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/104 "2024-11-16T12:55:26Z")
That is a useful advice, thanks. Will do so in future. And you have to click on the picture to see al the little details. Probably won’t work too well on a small screen. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/105 "2024-11-16T13:09:06Z")
Yeah, that is a very busy picture. I’m on an ~A4-sized tablet and I needed some zoom & pan to read it all. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/106 "2024-11-16T16:03:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Somebody with an apple-thingy ought to try the same search and report back. Nine. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/107 "2024-11-16T19:28:23Z")
Moderating: > [@TXRebel](#): > > No, you probably shouldn’t expand on it. I have no idea who pissed in your Cheerios but you can kick it down the road. This is attacking the poster. Don’t do that outside the pit. ---
**Author:** ![TXRebel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@TXRebel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TXRebel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/108 "2024-11-16T21:01:10Z")
Are you kidding? You don’t think “Could you be any more tedious” is not? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/109 "2024-11-16T22:30:36Z")
Warning to @TXRebel for arguing moderation outside of ATMB (about this message board.) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/110 "2024-11-17T00:10:32Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I’ve known of people who were interested, and also had children who were interested in Rainbow Girls or DeMolay, but it’s expensive and requires certain clothing purchases. I was in DeMolay and don’t remember it being that expensive (nor did my parent’s complain about it). Rainbow Girls do tend to buy fancy dresses, but for boys, a pair of slacks, dress shirt or two, and a sport coat about covered any special clothing. If you already have those, no need to buy more. With our Chapter, there were a couple of wealthier older Masons that would quietly make sure the boys had what was needed if their family couldn’t provide. Couple of things that I haven’t seen brought up about the youth affiliates: Order of DeMolay - For boys aged 12-21. No need for family Masonic affiliation and your parents can be involved whether or not they are Masonic-affiliated themselves. Rainbow Girls - For girls aged 11-20. Same as the boys regarding Masonic affiliation. Job’s Daughters - For girls 10-20. They used to require a family relationship to a Master Mason (father, grandfather, etc), but apparently that has now changed and they will accept sponsorship from an adult member of Job’s plus a Master Mason. That’s a new one to me, but again, I got out a LONG time ago. Job’s always struck me as being more religiously-oriented that Rainbows, but that may just have been our local chapters. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/111 "2024-11-17T03:00:39Z")
I started this thread about a Rainbow Girl chapter, which these women are still involved with as adult mentors, a while back. They still look like ads for Ozempic, unfortunately. > [@Saw a disturbing picture on Facebook today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-disturbing-picture-on-facebook-today/753039): > > A former co-worker whose two teenage daughters are in the Rainbow Girls (a Masonic organization for teenage girls, if you didn’t know) posted a photo of the group today. ALL of the girls, a dozen or so, were morbidly obese; her daughters were probably the least hefty of the bunch. frowning These were not girls who were a bit chubby; most of them probably weighed twice as much as they should have. I sure hope this kind of thing is not the new normal. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/112 "2024-11-17T12:40:19Z")
My grandfather was a 32nd degree Mason, which means he was also involved in Scottish Rite. Grandma was in Eastern Star. My mom was in Rainbow girls and both of her brothers were in DeMolay. As they lived in a rural area, the lodge gave them another social outlet, in addition to the church. I don’t know about other lodges, but the one that my grandparents belonged to enabled them to surround themselves with others who had the same beliefs, which was not restricted to religion. Those grandparents were definitely racists and anti-LGBTQ. My parents agreed before I was born that any child of theirs could be involved in Scouting (both parents were members) but they didn’t want any involvement with Freemasonry. I had a few schoolmates who were members of Job’s Daughters, but many more were involved in scouting. Not sure how much my parents encouraged that, but the lodge was quite small, so I don’t think there were so many members. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/113 "2024-11-17T14:36:55Z")
Where do the Shriners fit in? Wikipedia says " Historically, a Mason had to complete either the [Scottish Rite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Rite) or [York Rite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Rite) systems to be eligible for membership in the Shrine.", but no mention of the present day. Do the Masons get any of the Shriners’ fund-raising money? I’ve never heard of a Masonic children’s hospital or a Masonic circus. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/114 "2024-11-17T15:04:48Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > Do the Masons get any of the Shriners’ fund-raising money? I’ve never heard of a Masonic children’s hospital or a Masonic circus. No, they don’t receive Shrine money (although the Shrine may donate to Masonic charities if they wish). As I understand it, most Masonic charities are focused on helping Mason who need assistance. Inward rather than outward looking. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/115 "2024-11-17T15:21:24Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > I’ve never heard of a Masonic children’s hospital or a Masonic circus. There are (were) a lot of Masonic hospitals, especially in the upper Midwest. Minnesota has a big Masonic Children’s hospital for instance. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/116 "2024-11-17T15:24:35Z")
I am 67 and went to the Shriners’ Circus when I was 6. Shriners are the highest order of Masons. There is a Shriners’ Children’s Hospital in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/117 "2024-11-17T16:32:33Z")
Montreal has a large, relatively new, Shriner’s Hospital (opened in 2015) - replacing a classic (but smaller) mountainside building that had opened in 1925. It’s adjacent to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, with which it’s associated, but not fully affiliated. The Shriners are regulars in parades, with their fezes and tiny motorized vehicles - but no more circus (we would get the afternoon off school and (I think) free tickets to the circus in the late 1950s). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/118 "2024-11-17T18:09:36Z")
One of the people I see when we get together out of town for a go-live (when we bring a new system online) is a Shriner and he always puts out a jar to collect the stay tabs from soda cans, telling us that they’re recycled for the benefit of the Shriners’ hospitals. I’m skeptical but never challenged him on this. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/119 "2024-11-17T18:30:34Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > Shriners are the highest order of Masons. This is, frankly, a widely-held and incorrect belief. The highest order of Freemason is a 3rd Degree Master Mason. Period. These are the Craft or Blue Lodge degrees. And they are all it takes to call oneself a Mason. Most of the below is true throughout the US, but may or may not be true in other countries. I do know that in some jurisdictions, the Scottish/York rite chapters can give the 1st 3 degrees as well as their own, but even they maintain the Blue Lodge separation for those degrees. Scottish and or York rite members give themselves degrees higher than that, and they are Masonic orders but are not critical to freemasonry nor are they “higher” orders than Blue Lodge. They are subsequent to Blue Lodge. Particularly note the final paragraph in this section. > **[Scottish Rite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Rite#General_organization_and_degree_structure)** > > The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a rite within the broader context of Freemasonry. It is the most widely practiced Rite in the world. In some parts of the world, and in the Droit Humain, it is a concordant body and oversees all degrees from the 1st to 33rd degrees, while in other areas, a Supreme Council oversees the 4th to 33rd degrees. > It is most commonly referred to as the Scottish Rite. Sometimes, as in England and Australia, it is called the Rose Croix, though this ... Shriners award no degrees of masonry or otherwise - only membership. Shriners International says it is a fraternity “based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth”. Shrine can be quite expensive as they, despite the general goofiness and fun-loving events, take their fund-raising operations VERY seriously and you are expected/required to participate both in your time and your money to maintain active membership. At least 'round these parts. Disclosure, I was a Master Mason (still am, technically), past Master of my Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite 33rd Degree, York Rite either Royal or Select Master (can’t remember if I finished Select), but I never joined Shrine since I couldn’t afford it back in those days. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/120 "2024-11-18T05:14:41Z")
There was a Masonic Home in my city, a senior living facility, although it has been renamed. AFAIK, it was actually open to anyone but Masons and their family members got priority. I’d post a link but it doesn’t work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218.md?page=5)