# What's a Free Mason? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445 "2017-07-03T16:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/1 "2017-07-03T16:25:11Z")
I know it’s a fraternal based organization, but much of its meaning is kept private, and only revealed later as you " level up " I have noticed many of the founding fathers of the United States were free Masons, and their symbolism is weaved into our monetary and structural building systems. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/2 "2017-07-03T16:27:54Z")
> [@](#): > > What’s a Free Mason? It’s basically just a mason you get for no charge. Kind of a bargain if you can get one that way, as usually, they are pretty expensive. It’s really a GQ question, but here is the [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry) on them. > [@](#): > > Freemasonry or Masonry consists of fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons, which from the end of the fourteenth century regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. The degrees of freemasonry retain the three grades of medieval craft guilds, those of Apprentice, Journeyman or fellow (now called Fellowcraft), and Master Mason. These are the degrees offered by Craft (or Blue Lodge) Freemasonry. Members of these organisations are known as Freemasons or Masons. There are additional degrees, which vary with locality and jurisdiction, and are usually administered by different bodies than the craft degrees. > > The basic, local organisational unit of Freemasonry is the Lodge. The Lodges are usually supervised and governed at the regional level (usually coterminous with either a state, province, or national border) by a Grand Lodge or Grand Orient. There is no international, worldwide Grand Lodge that supervises all of Freemasonry; each Grand Lodge is independent, and they do not necessarily recognise each other as being legitimate. > > Modern Freemasonry broadly consists of two main recognition groups. Regular Freemasonry insists that a volume of scripture is open in a working lodge, that every member profess belief in a supreme being, that no women are admitted, and that the discussion of religion and politics is banned. Continental Freemasonry is now the general term for the “liberal” jurisdictions who have removed some, or all, of these restrictions. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/3 "2017-07-03T16:43:45Z")
> [@XT](#): > > It’s basically just a mason you get for no charge. Kind of a bargain if you can get one that way, as usually, they are pretty expensive. > > It’s really a GQ question, but here is the [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry) on them. I hear there are reasons to join. More questions. Does it get a tax exempt status as other religions do? Why did the Catholic Church ban it? I hear there is an initial part where a man must strip down, sometimes blindfolded, and get invitations with the sharp point of the compass on his back, without pricing the skin, but against it. The top level secrets are not known, so those joining or who have been in for a while might be shocked to learn more as they level up, possibly with some is information given to the newer members. I do know there is a handshake for greeting ( I know one of them ) , and people in the fraternity can get special privilege from others in various areas of life. There seems to be some sort of connection with the belief in Aliens, and a narrative that humans were not originated as the Bible might tell you. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/4 "2017-07-03T16:51:33Z")
Just so you know, all of this stuff is easily Googled. [QUOTE=Silver lining] Does it get a tax exempt status as other religions do? [/QUOTE] No, it’s not a religion. I think some of the large lodges can file together (collectively), but there aren’t any federal exemptions that I’m aware of. A quick Google search and scan seems to indicate that there are some local state exemptions for some lodges, but no idea what that falls under or how widespread it is. > [@](#): > > Why did the Catholic Church ban it? Papal ban [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_ban_of_Freemasonry). > [@](#): > > The Catholic Church first prohibited Catholics from membership in Masonic organizations and other secret societies in 1738. Since then, at least eleven popes have made pronouncements about the incompatibility of Catholic doctrines and Freemasonry.[1] From 1738 until 1983, Catholics who publicly associated with, or publicly supported, Masonic organizations were censured with automatic excommunication.[2] Since 1983, the prohibition on membership exists in a different form.[3][2][4] Although there was some confusion about membership following the 1965 Second Vatican Council (Vatican II), the Church continues to prohibit membership in Freemasonry because it concluded that Masonic principles and rituals are irreconcilable with Catholic doctrines. The current norm, the 1983 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s (CDF) Declaration on Masonic associations, states that “faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion” and membership in Masonic associations is prohibited.[6] The most recent CDF document about the “incompatibility of Freemasonry with the Catholic faith” was issued in 1985.[7] ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/5 "2017-07-03T16:53:15Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Does it get a tax exempt status as other religions do? Their tax exemption, if any, is not because they are a religion, but because they are 501(c)8 or 501(c)10 organizations. [Cite](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/fraternal-societies). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/6 "2017-07-03T16:56:05Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Their tax exemption, if any, is not because they are a religion, but because they are 501(c)8 or 501(c)10 organizations. [Cite](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/fraternal-societies). > > Regards, > Shodan [This](http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2010/05/irs-tax-form-990-due-may-17th.html) was the link I saw. Mine is more colorful though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/7 "2017-07-03T16:58:00Z")
Catholics can’t be Masons? Good thing I joined the Loyal Order of Moose (Lodge 2188) then. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/8 "2017-07-03T16:59:48Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Catholics can’t be Masons? > Good thing I joined the Loyal Order of Moose (Lodge 2188) then. Are the words on Wiki true? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/9 "2017-07-03T17:11:19Z")
Which words on Wiki? I admit to rarely reading anything on Wikipedia expect for a quick 30,000 ft overview. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/10 "2017-07-03T17:13:07Z")
The first rule of… ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/11 "2017-07-03T17:13:20Z")
This is more GQ than GD. Moved. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/12 "2017-07-03T17:15:17Z")
I apologize for the double post but I cannot figure out how to edit on my tablet. The Catholic Church has banned or denounced a great number of things over the years. Most people in US Catholic congregations seem to happily ignore most of this and still consider themselves to be good Church members. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/13 "2017-07-03T17:24:19Z")
There’s also a similar order just for Catholics, the Knights of Columbus. Presumably, they don’t do whatever it is that Masons do that make them unacceptable to the Church. But for the most part, they’re the same thing: A bunch of old men who hang out together and get involved in various charities, and sometimes dress up in silly costumes. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/14 "2017-07-03T17:29:57Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Their tax exemption, if any, is not because they are a religion, but because they are 501(c)8 or 501(c)10 organizations. [Cite](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/fraternal-societies). > > Regards, > Shodan Yes, my lodge has those exemptions and is also exempt from state taxes. We still pay local property taxes. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/15 "2017-07-03T17:40:11Z")
Masons allow _Protestants_ in … I can see why the 18th Century Catholic Church considered the Masons to be heretics … and why maybe Masons kept their business a bit secretive … ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/16 "2017-07-03T17:52:39Z")
What would be the point of a secret society that let just anybody in on their secrets? I know my Moose application had to be sponsored by a current member (the bartender was kind enough to use her number) and I had to pay $60 cash! Now that’s a rigorous vetting process. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/17 "2017-07-03T18:03:03Z")
Fun fact: George Washington presided over the ceremonial laying of the U.S. Capitol’s cornerstone in Masonic garb: [https://ajmacdonaldjr.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/wahington4.jpg](https://ajmacdonaldjr.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/wahington4.jpg). Dan Brown made much of this, and other Masonic stuff in Washington, D.C., in _The Lost Symbol_, but just remember he writes fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/18 "2017-07-03T18:08:39Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Masons allow _Protestants_ in … I can see why the 18th Century Catholic Church considered the Masons to be heretics … and why maybe Masons kept their business a bit secretive … They also allowed by brother-in-law in, which was reason enough for me to avoid them. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/19 "2017-07-03T18:47:27Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Are the words on Wiki true? I’m sure some of them are. Somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445/20 "2017-07-03T19:07:45Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > What would be the point of a secret society that let just anybody in on their secrets? Freemasons are not a secret society, though [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-free-mason/790445.md?page=2)