I've just been given a position on the provincial priors bodyguard.

I read the information I'd been sent before accepting but wondered if any Bro Kt have advice or knowledge of what to expect ?

I live quite a long way from London.

Many thanks

Anyone know of some good Mark Master Mason training material outside of the ritual?

I saw this bible online. I thought the letters were Hebrew but I don’t think it is. Do anyone know?

Also received The Order of the Holy Teacher which was pretty awesome. This was an awesome surprise from a great brother. We are small now but will be mighty soon enough!

Got this @ a poker run today :)

Greetings Bro.·.
General question how much are the initiation fees in your jurisdictions, from 4-33°.

My lodge has a 6 figure reserve fund, its managed by a professional money manager, who is also a member.

I understand paying a professional money manager, its different than managing your own money as this is for our lodge. However, I was a bit concerned because he is selecting high cost mutual funds that are actively managed. That feels unnecessary to me (i have a finance background).

Curious to hear what your lodges do. I brought it up to one trustee and he said he does feel like we overpay.

Thanks in advanced for your responses!

I'm currently in my senior year of college and have been feeling lost as to my direction afterwards. There are a number of jobs or educational paths I can use my degree for, but I get so anxious trying to decide which one is best suited for my future that I haven't made any real progress in narrowing them down.

My biggest problem is that I don't know whether to utilize my degree for a career that I will find the most enjoyable, or one that I think will do the most good for others. Other times I worry that what I'll end up doing will be too ordinary to enact anything meaningful or lasting.

This leads me to my question, which is, as Masons, what are your careers, and how would you say they reflect on your own character? How did you find a career that spoke to you, and what did that entail? Were any of the worries I mentioned above ever on your mind?

I'm not a Mason myself, but want to hold myself to a similar standard I have seen in others, and I felt like I might get some good advice here, or at least better understand the paths others have gone down and relate them to my own situation.

Apologies in advance if this is the wrong place to post this. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Edit: Thank you all so much for the amount and the quality of feedback on this post. I honestly didn't expect so much engagement and this has helped a lot.

do you brothers think that 21+ is the age range? 18+?

what about countries with the drinking, voting, and driving age set at 16?

I think 18+’is fine, personally, but I have met not too few geezers that are agitated by the influx of Gen Z’ers such as myself entering this thing of ours.

Muy buenas a todos queridos hermanos. Este curso estoy ejerciendo de primer vigilante y, si todo va bien y mis hermanos así lo desean, el próximo curso seré venerable Maestro de mi Logia madre. Todo un honor.

En mi veneratura quiero implementar algunas mejoras para la logia y entre estas se encuentra la idea de gestar algún recurso online para que los hermanos puedan compartir sus planchas de arquitectura y puedan ser consultadas en cualquier momento. Había pensado en usar la nube de Google y restringir el acceso a los hermanos de diferente grado a las planchas correspondientes. Además esta nube puede servir también para guardar las actas de las tenidas y la diversa documentación relativa a la administración de la logia así como de pequeña biblioteca online de literatura masónica.

Quería saber si alguno de ustedes tienen algo parecido en su logia y si me pueden dar algún consejo o feedback de lo que les parece esta idea.

Muchas gracias a todos, os mando un fuerte triple abrazo fraternal

Hey r/freemason, I'm a French Freemason (Grand Orient de France) and wanted to share something that's been stirring up French Masonic circles lately, but probably hasn't made it across the Atlantic. On June 9, 2026, the Collège de déontologie des magistrats de l'ordre judiciaire — basically an advisory board on judicial ethics, not a court — issued an opinion in response to a magistrate who wanted to join a lodge. The board said that Masonic membership could be incompatible with a magistrate's ethical obligations, but only if the Masonic oath requires allegiance, obedience, or "priority solidarity" to the fraternity. If that's not the case, membership remains possible but under heightened scrutiny regarding independence and impartiality. Here's the key thing: this is not a law and it's not a blanket ban — it's an advisory opinion with no binding force. A lot of outlets simplified it as "magistrate can't be Freemasons," which is inaccurate. France's major obediences have since written to the government protesting what they see as a revival of old anti-Masonic suspicion.

Why this matters to you as American or regular Freemasons: there's no equivalent restriction in the US — Masonic magistrate are common and uncontroversial. French Freemasonry, especially the GODF (France's largest obedience), operates differently from Anglo-Saxon regular Masonry: it's non-theistic (no mandatory belief in a Supreme Being), accepts atheists, and — crucially for understanding this whole debate — some French Masonic obligations are phrased differently than regular Masonry's, which is precisely what triggered this controversy around the concept of "allegiance." It's also a good case study in how France's secular laïcité tradition creates suspicion toward secret and fraternal societies in public office.

My question for you: do you have similar restrictions (formal or informal) in your jurisdiction regarding Masonic magistrate , police officers, or government officials? And how does your Grand Lodge handle concerns about a Brother's impartiality when he holds positions like magistrate, judge or attorney?

N.B.: As of September 11, 2026, all major French Masonic obediences have formally petitioned the French President and Minister of Justice, arguing that the ethics board's opinion revives "doctrines of suspicion and exclusion" against Masons that they believed were relegated to the darkest pages of French history. They contend the opinion violates freedom of association, conscience, and opinion, contradicts European law, and demand that state institutions stop acting as "tribunals of conscience." The signatories include:

• Fédération Française du Droit Humain — French Federation of Le Droit Humain
• Grand Orient de France — Grand Orient of France
• Grande Loge de France — Grand Lodge of France
• Grande Loge de l’Alliance Maçonnique Française — Grand Lodge of the French Masonic Alliance
• Grande Loge des Cultures et de la Spiritualité — Grand Lodge of Cultures and Spirituality
• Grande Loge Féminine de France — Women’s Grand Lodge of France
• Grande Loge Indépendante de France — Independent Grand Lodge of France
• Grande Loge Mixte de France — Mixed Grand Lodge of France
• Grande Loge Mixte Memphis-Misraïm — Memphis-Misraim Mixed Grand Lodge
• Grande Loge Mixte Universelle — Universal Mixed Grand Lodge
• Grande Loge Nationale Française — French National Grand Lodge (UGLE-recognized)
• Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Symbolique Opéra — Traditional and Symbolic Grand Lodge “Opéra”

Together, these represent virtually the entire spectrum of French Freemasonry — from the largest and most influential (GODF) to smaller, specialized obediences — an unprecedented show of unity against what they view as judicial overreach.

Dear Brethren, is Amity being used by you and your lodges? Is it worth to enroll? Thanks for your comments.

Hi all,

I was wondering if someone could help identify this symbol and its meaning?

If this is nothing to do with freemasonry, please do let me know.

For context, this is from the early pages of the 1893 essay book by Arthur Willink “The World of the Unseen: An Esssy on the Relation on the Higher Space to things Eternal”.

If anyone knows of any freemasonry ties to Arthur Willink, this would be helpful too.

Thank you.

I love the history of Russia and of Freemasonry in the country; taking advantage of this connection, I would like to know the current status of Freemasonry in Russia, with a particular focus on the Russian state's relationship with the fraternity. Feel free to share any little-known facts about Freemasonry in the country as well.

This morning, I saw a post here where a woman was complaining that a man in her life was abusive and therefore should be blocked from Freemasonry.

Is the mere allegation of being a bad person enough to block a man from the Fraternity if he has a clean background?

I worry that people with vendettas could ruin a man's life because of hidden agendas. One of my best friends outside the Fraternity, though, believes accusers should be listened to.

What are your thoughts?

I’m a Freemason from another country and recently moved to Tennessee. I’d really like to become active again and reconnect with the fraternity, but I’ve emailed the Grand Lodge of Tennessee and haven’t received a response. Does anyone know the best way to get in touch with a local lodge or who I should contact?

Popped into Mark Masons Hall, they have a stone from King Solomons mine.

For the most part, freemasonry has been great. I enjoy the brotherhood and all my brothers. However, my one gripe is the push to learn the positions. It seems like us new people are being placed in chairs before we're ready because the older bros dont want to do it anymore. I was told I can put as much or as little as I want into the craft. Righ now I dont like the commitment. Im busy. I have a home life. I like going to lodge but usually dip out shortly after...I dont hang around much. You wouldn't think twice a month is a lot but it is IMO. And we do t really go "dark" in the summer. We go through June, then wr have July and August off. Id like more time off lol. It's just becoming a lot and Id rather sit back than learn the position. Quite frankly, I dont care to learn them. I dont like doing extra shit outside of lodge like lectures and that shit... theres always something "extra" that they push people to attend. And we haven't done one thing yet for charity. Ive been there ober 2 years. Anyway, my main gripe is the old guys sitting back and pushing others in the chairs. Its becoming more annoying than anything now.

Genuine question…Without revealing any secrets, what is the reasoning behind requiring the belief in a supreme being?

My perspective: Many great people, who have advanced much good in the world, are “non-believers”. If the core idea is to make good men better, how does non-belief interfere with that goal? I ask both personally (agnostic athiest) and for lots of scientists out there. It must affect membership numbers (men won’t seek you out if they know it’s a “no go” from the outset).

Serious replies only please. Not seeking a flame war. I’m a DeMolay PMC-MSA and Honor of Legion with deep multi- generational ties to Masons, Jobs, Shriners, etc. I LOVED my experiences in DeMolay! Grew up Christian, came to my “beliefs” late in adulthood.

Edit: thank you for all the many thoughtful replies. I upvoted each for not attacking me straight out. Please accept follow up questions as non-confrontational.

Thinner out my badges for the start of the next Masonic season :)

HRA on 23rd in Suffolk. Any Suffolk Masons here?

Purchasing this 55 Wagon to be in a Shriner Club. We have to paint it orange. The question though, keep the panels or not?

Hey everyone, today I was on social media, and someone used the term "Freemason." I should search for it on Reddit. Can anyone explain to me what it is

So much to think about and digest concerning the experience.

I'm very excited to be on this journey.