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'This page has been approved by the United Grand
Lodge of England’
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United Grand Lodge of England and Masonry
Freemasonry is an Order which instructs men of mature age, sound judgment and strict morals in the peculiar aspects of the Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of men.
It teaches moral lessons and self-knowledge through participation in a progression of allegorical plays called rituals.
It is not a Secret Society as is normally perceived to be. It is typically a Society with certain secrets that are restricted purely to modes of recognition and its rituals. Its teachings are imparted through rituals to more effectively imprint these on the minds of its members.
The Order is organised into several Lodges which are brought into being by a Warrant issued by UGLE under the authority of the Grand Master. The inauguration of a Lodge is called 'consecration' and the halls where they meet are known as 'Temples' that are also consecrated by a ritual. The rituals are split into three degrees, namely the Initiation, the Passing and the Raising. A member becomes a full-fledged Freemason only after his Raising ceremony.
Membership is restricted to men only and is by proposal and seconding by members of a Lodge and the basic qualification, which does not admit of any compromise, is a firm belief in the Supreme Being. Other attributes include an ability to understand what is imparted, basically in the English language, attainment of the age of 21 years and a free inclination.
Some of the main aims and relationships of Freemasonry are:
* A belief in the Supreme Being which admits of no compromise.
* One entering Freemasonry is forbidden to countenance any act which subvert the peace and good order of Society. He is also strictly enjoined to pay due obedience to the laws of any State in which he resides and he must be never remiss in the allegiance due to Head of his Native land.
* While each one is entitled to hold his own opinion in public affairs, it is not permitted of any individual entering Freemasonry to discuss any subject or matter of political, religious or theological questions.
Meetings of Lodges are usually held once in a month though some lodges do meet less frequently.
The Bible, called by Freemasons as the 'Volume of the Sacred Laws' is kept open at every Lodge meeting and candidates for the various degrees are required to take an Obligation on this or other Volume of their own faith to impart sanctity to an oath or promise made. These include the Bhagavad Gita for the Hindus, Quran for the Muslims, Zend Avesth for the Parsis, and the Granth Sahib for the Sikhs.
Freemasonry is serious business and admits of no laxity at its meetings. The formation of Lodge, its meetings and proceedings, fees, administrative procedures etc. are strictly bound under the UGLE and all its actions and administrative principles are governed by the Book of Constitutions.
The Lodges controlled and administered by the UGLE are collectively called "English Constitution". There are, of course, bodies of Freemasonry under various other Constitutions such as the American, Irish, Scottish, Nigerian etc. The Constitutions which conform to the strict laws and stipulations in respect of membership, rituals, relationship to Society etc. of the UGLE are officially recognised and inter-visitation and other reciprocal facilities are permitted only between such bodies.
The UGLE and the Lodges under it function in a democratic dispensation with certain special powers vested in the Ruler of the UGLE and Lodge respectively. The Ruler of the UGLE is designated Most Worshipful Grand Master and of the Lodge, the Worshipful Master. They have their own set of Officers selected by them annually except for the Treasurer who is always elected by the members in open meetings.
The UGLE operates from the Freemasons' Hall, London which is its headquarters. It has an elaborate setup consisting of a Grand Secretary, Assistant Secretaries and a host of other officials to manage its vast jurisdiction consisting of 8000 lodges in England and Wales alone with 300,000 members. Another 30,000 members constitute membership in Overseas countries in ( ) lodges.
CHARITY:
The most important and visible contribution of the Order to Society at large is Charity through a number of institutions such as the Grand Charity, New Masonic Samaritan Fund, Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, Masonic Trust for Boys and Girls etc.
The total quantum of assistance through these institutions runs into millions of Pounds. The types of assistance rendered and other details are available in the Grand Lodge's own website,
UGLE's publications entitled " Freemasonry: An Approach to Life" and "Your Questions Answered" deal with more detailed information on the Order and are available to the general public who wish to be better informed on the subject.
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