Contact: James D. Williams; Meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.; Supported By: Self-funded

Mission or Objective:
Masonry seeks to improve the community and world by making "better men out of good men." In order to accomplish this goal, Masonry seeks to strengthen men's character, improve their moral and spiritual outlook and broaden their mental horizons.

Overview:
Freemasonry is "an organized society of men symbolically applying the principles of operative masonry and architecture to the science and art of character building." It is a charitable, benevolent, educational and moral society of men.

Freemasonry is an fraternity open to men of good character who believe in God and is practiced worldwide. It also consists of many organizations which include "Appendant Bodies" such as the Scottish Rite, York Rite (which includes the Royal Arch and Knights Templar), Shriners, Grottoes, and Tall Cedars.

Freemasonry respects all religions and has no theology with which to teach any methods of salvation to its members. Members are not required to belong to a church. Masonry's purpose is to unite men for brotherhood, not for religious purposes. The only two subjects banned from discussions in a lodge are religion and politics.

Masons donate millions of dollars to charity every day. In Illinois, Masons donate to the Illinois Masonic Home in Sullivan and to the Children's Home in LaGrange and Murphysboro. They also fund school programs which train teachers to intervene in substance abuse cases.

Masons also work with other groups such as the DeMolay, Job's Daughters, and Rainbow Girls.

Masonry is taught in lessons in three separate stages in degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason. The leader is the Master of the Lodge and Senior and Junior Wardens serve as his assistants. Others perform administrative tasks, coordinate programs and carry on lodge activities.

Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old, male, able to read and write English, resident of Illinois for at least six months, believe in a supreme deity, support the country's government and obey its laws; Fees: Initiation fees and annual membership dues; Limitations: Cannot be an atheist.

Revised Date: 11/02/07