# I want to join the Freemasons - how do I do it? What should I expect? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 8, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-join-the-freemasons-how-do-i-do-it-what-should-i-expect/436809 "2008-02-08T16:19:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-join-the-freemasons-how-do-i-do-it-what-should-i-expect/436809/21 "2008-02-10T03:46:59Z")
What exactly is Scottish Rite? My grandfather was a member, but none of us knew anything about it, because back then, it was like, secret. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-join-the-freemasons-how-do-i-do-it-what-should-i-expect/436809/22 "2008-02-10T05:00:57Z")
The Scottish Rite is an appendant body, kind of like expanded freemasonry. The degrees build on the lessons and symbolism of the Blue Lodge (the first 3 degrees of Masonry). Also, since in the US it’s a national organization instead of a state one, it has more money for its charities - help for children with language and learning disorders (kind of like the Shriners with their hospitals). 32 or 33 degree masons are all Scottish Rite as far as I know (York Rite is approximately equal, but I don’t know their degree system since they require a vow to defend Christianity) Some guys that join the Freemasons are the type that like belonging to clubs, so Scottish and York Rites give them (us) an opportunity to join something else while still remaining within the philosophy that attracted many of us. Shriners, also masons, are fundamentally different. They’re what one might call the “fun” part of the club. While I greatly respect the charitable works they do, I joined the _Elks_ to have fun and get cheap drinks and Masonry to improve myself. eta – Check out [this](http://scottishrite.org/who/faqs.html), Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction FAQ. “Southern Jurisdiction” is misleading, it’s not just the South. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-join-the-freemasons-how-do-i-do-it-what-should-i-expect/436809/23 "2008-02-10T12:57:48Z")
Meh, The Freemasons are old hat matey. It’s The Stonecutters you really want in ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-join-the-freemasons-how-do-i-do-it-what-should-i-expect/436809/24 "2008-02-10T16:31:30Z")
To expand a little on the Shriners, their childrens’ hospitals are an amazing charity just to give to, even if you have no intention of joining their organization. They’re seriously top hospitals which were founded to deal with polio, but now they deal with all pediatric issues with a special emphasis on burns and orthopedic stuff. They don’t even _have_ a billing desk at those hospitals - there is quite literally never any fee whatsoever. When you think about what that must cost, you realize the Shrine is a fundraising _powerhouse_. I mean, the rest of Freemasonry does some great work for charities, but those hospitals are really an amazing accomplishment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-join-the-freemasons-how-do-i-do-it-what-should-i-expect/436809.md?page=1)