CANDIDATE MATERIALS

The first thing you need to understand is the use of the terms Mason and Freemason.  Our ancient brothers coined the word "Speculative Mason" to differentiate themselves from the "Operative Masons" who made their living as a brick or stone mason.  Masons are construction workers who erect buildings using stone, brick and mortar. Speculative Masons are workers who strive to improve themselves through practicing the moral tenets of Masonry.

The word Freemason indicated that the person becoming a mason was free.  Our ancient brothers meant that the person was "free."  This meant the individual was not a slave, woman or child since slaves, women and children were not "free" but the property of their "owner."  The word "owner" included such words as master, father, husband, and in some cases, oldest brother.

Today we say the individual is free of prejudice and hatred.  Thus a modern Freemason is a person of lawful age who declares himself or herself free of all undue hatred and prejudice and ready to start a spiritual program of self-improvement.  If you declare this is true, you're invited to join our organization and partake in our degrees designed to help you become a better person.  If this is not true, we encourage you to continue studying the materials we freely offer here to the public.

The second thing you need to understand is the difference between a "regular" or Speculative Mason and an Esoteric Mason. Regular Masons desire to morally improve themselves. Esoteric Freemasons seek to spiritually improve themselves. Most of the work done by Esoteric Masons is individual inner work. Most of the work done by regular Masons is the rituals of opening and closing their lodges and initiating new members.

The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons presents the Speculative Masonic materials, rituals and initiations available to the public and does not share any secret information about regular Masons which is not easily available to the public. We invite you to read through these materials so you can make an informed decision about becoming an Esoteric Mason or a Speculative Mason.

If you read nothing else, read these documents:

[ The Greatest Secret in the World ]

[ Truth ]

[ Petition for Membership ]

The following four sections contain information about:

1. Recommended Reading About Esoteric Freemasonry
2. The Candidate's Ritual and Lecture
3. Optional Reading About Esoteric Freemasonry
4. Optional Reading About Regular Freemasonry

THIS IS IMPORTANT: Nobody has the right or the authority to tell you what you must study or how you must perform any of our rituals or initiations. You alone have the right and the authority to decide what you will read, what you will learn and what you will do to complete the requirements for each degree. We encourage you to read the esoteric lectures and lessons and to initiate yourself in each esoteric degree. Beyond that, you have the right and authority to study anything you desire.

RECOMMENDED READING ABOUT ESOTERIC MASONRY

Esoteric Freemasonry

Sister Dr. Dianne Fullerton and Brother John Gilbert presented this paper in 1978 to the Grand Lodge proposing changes which were implemented several years later. It gives the reader a great deal of insight into the differences between Speculative Masonry and Esoteric Freemasonry.

How to Join our Lodge

The Grand Lodge recommends that you learn as much as you can about the basics of both regular Freemasonry and Esoteric Freemasonry. Then, if you believe this path is for you, petition the lodge for membership.

The Principles of Freemasonry

This is one of the first articles we recommend to all who visit our website. If you have not already read it, please take the time to read this important information now. As you read it, the Esoteric Grand Lodge attempts to honestly compare the principles for "regular" Freemasonry with those of Esoteric Freemasonry. The major different, of course, is that Esoteric Freemasonry is more about individual inner work.

The Master Mason's Lodge