Questions and Answers about Freemasonry
First and foremost, the interested individual should meet the conditions mentioned in the WLNP Constitution (hyperlink). Each candidate should have two supporters of his application, i.e., Brothers who, after getting to know the applicant, are willing to vouch for them. If you don’t know any active Freemasons, you can send your resume along with a letter of motivation explaining the reasons why you want to join Freemasonry. Based on this, two Brothers will contact you first and then vouch for you in the Lodge. Ultimately, whether the applicant will be accepted is decided by the Lodge assembly.
A person can become a Freemason only after reaching the age of 25. An exception is made for the sons of Master Masons, who can be initiated after reaching the age of 21.
No. Freemasonry requires its members to respect the beliefs and faith of others. It does not impose any religious beliefs on its Brothers nor does it prohibit any. It only requires that they be sincere and not contradict its fundamental principles.
No, it is not necessary to be wealthy to join Freemasonry. However, being a member of Freemasonry involves paying membership dues. The amount of these dues is generally in line with fees found in other membership-based organizations.
In the Lodge, nothing happens ‘here and now.’ The introducing Brothers also need some time to get to know the candidate properly. That’s why the candidacy process is relatively long. From the moment of application to initiation, it typically takes an average of 6 to 12 months.
No, Freemasonry is a non-denominational community and within its ranks, it prohibits any discussions or debates on religious topics. However, it does expect candidates to believe in a higher power and respects all religious beliefs.
The term ‘Lodge’ can refer to both the meeting place of Freemasons and the basic organizational unit of Freemasonry. Lodges are established in specific cities and are assigned a unique number by their governing body (in our case, it is The National Grand Lodge of Poland). The list of Lodges affiliated with the GNLP can be found here.
Yes, it is possible to belong to more than one Lodge. However, candidates are allowed to apply for membership in only one Lodge.
The exact proceedings of a lodge meeting are confidential. During the meeting, there is a kind of enactment of a secular ritual with assigned roles, and presentations are given on various topics, including history and symbolism of the movement, philosophical matters, and literature.
Freemasons are absolutely forbidden from disclosing the proceedings of meetings and the identities of other Brothers unless they have obtained explicit permission to do so.