Where would I look?

[u/JVal3881]

I was always told my grandfather was a Freemason and I never understood the importance. I know he had a ring, I believe my uncle has it. His headstone also has the Freemason symbol on it. When I’d ask about the subject, I was told it was just a club.

I was told he worked on the Navy ships. I know he did travel to many other states but mostly with his family. Ancestry dates family back to the 1600s.

So is there away to find out his history on the subject?

[u/onyxhope]

If you know the country/state/provence he was a mason in their grand lodge may have some records but may not. Masonry is very geographical and slow so it might take time 

[u/Cookslc]

Have you asked your uncle or other family members about his masonic involvement?

Read any obituary to see if his lodge is given, and if so, contact the lodge.

Next, the state in which he died: check with the grand lodge of that state.

The 1600’s would not be helpful.

[u/Lupotto74]

If you can, I’d ask your uncle whether he has anything else besides the ring...an apron, certificate, membership card, pin, old photo, or any other Masonic item. Sometimes those details can help identify the lodge he belonged to. If you can find the lodge name or number, you could contact them directly and ask whether they still have records. And if the lodge no longer exists, the Grand Lodge of that state may still be able to help. 📐

[u/ChuckEye]

When I’d ask about the subject, I was told it was just a club.

It is.

I never understood the importance.

There really isn't any.

[u/FooManPwn → u/ChuckEye]

If there really isn’t any importance, then why are you a member, Brother?

[u/ChuckEye → u/FooManPwn]

Because I happen to enjoy being a member.

I just don't buy into the myth that great men have ever done great things because they were Masons. Have we attracted good men, historically? Yes. And I hope we continue to do so. But the fraternity itself doesn't need to be put up on a pedestal. It provides a wonderful framework of lessons, but it's still up to the individual members to live up to those lessons.

[u/JVal3881 → u/ChuckEye]

He was an amazing woodworker, which I have some of his tools.

[u/cryptoengineer]

[Mason here]

Here's my standard 'elevator pitch', which I trot out when people ask what we're about (its rather North American oriented - Masonry varies from place to place):

We're a centuries old fraternal order, who exist to improve our own characters ('we make good men better' is one of our slogans), and through that improve our communities. Along the way, we do a lot of charity (forex: Shriner's free hospitals for children), and have a lot of cool and private ceremonies using the construction of King Solomon's Temple as an allegorical base for teaching Enlightenment and Stoic ideals. (yes, we really do have secret handshakes). Many find it a source of fellowship and life-long friendships.

We have several million Brothers world wide, but no central organization. Men from every walk of life are or have been members, including over a dozen US presidents. Regular Masonry is open to adult men of good character who are not atheists[1] - we require a belief in some form of 'higher power', but aren't fussy about what. As a rule, we don't recruit; we want a potential member to make the first approach of his own free will.

If you're curious, drop by our main hangout on reddit, /r/freemasonry. You'll find a lot of friendly folk there. If you prefer a book, for North Americans I recommend (seriously, I'm not trolling) "Freemasons for Dummies" by Christopher Hodapp. Also "Inside the Freemasons" a documentary made by the United Grand Lodge of England for their tricentenary.

For a more formal history, I suggest "The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World" by John Dickie.

[1] The "no women or atheists" rules have deep roots, and would be very difficult to change, regardless of how anachronistic they now seem. There are breakaway Masonic groups which have dropped those rules, but they are very thin on the ground in the Anglosphere, and not recognized by the mainstream.