Answer · confidence: partial
How do you join the Freemasons, and how can I check if someone did?
Research question: What does it take to be accepted as a Freemason, such as initiation and dues, and how could a curious reader confirm that a particular person was initiated?
The records show that Regular Freemasonry starts with a qualification interview, followed by separate interviews and inquiries by an Investigation Committee that can take up to two years 1. Co-Freemasonry and Women's Freemasonry instead require candidates to be 'Free' and able to pay annual dues, and to be 'of Good Report' 2. A Master Mason under the United Grand Lodge of England receives a Grand Lodge certificate and is treated as a full, lifetime member who may resign if in good standing and having paid dues 3. Initiates are taught symbols and given grips, signs, and words to prove their initiation to other members 4. The provided facts do not give dues amounts or explain how a curious reader could confirm that a specific person was initiated, and the newest dated fact is from 2022, so current rules may differ 11.
Checked 2026-10-21. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
The initiation process in Regular Freemasonry involves passing an initial qualification interview, followed by separate interviews and inquiries by an Investigation Committee that can take up to two years.
"Before petitioning, pass an initial qualification interview. Most of the time, this is done with the Master of the Lodge or another elected officer. In some areas of the world, this may also include a legal background check ... After petitioning , pass a number of separate interviews and inquiries conducted by the lodge's Investigation Committee, which may take up to two years [ 3 ]"Masonic lodge
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Co-Freemasonry and Women's Freemasonry require candidates to be 'Free' (free from dogmatic principles, open to learning, able to pay annual dues) and 'of Good Report' (law abiding, striving toward self-improvement).
"Be "Free" (free from dogmatic principles; open to growing and learning; have time to participate regularly; have the ability to pay annual dues). ... Be "of Good Report" (law abiding; striving toward self-improvement and service to humanity; accepting and tolerant)."Masonic lodge
[3] supported
A Master Mason in Regular Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of England receives a Grand Lodge certificate and is considered a full, lifetime member with the right to resign (demit) if in good standing and having paid dues.
"In Regular Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), a Master Mason receives a Grand Lodge certificate, which may be required for visiting other lodges. A Master Mason is considered a full, lifetime member of the lodge where he received his degrees, with the right to demit (resign) if he is in good standing and has paid his dues."Masonic lodge
[4] supported
Candidates for the three degrees of Freemasonry are taught the meanings of symbols and entrusted with specific grips, signs, and words to prove their initiation to other members.
"The candidate of these three degrees is progressively taught the meanings of the symbols of Freemasonry and entrusted with grips, signs, and words to signify to other members that he has been so initiated."Freemasonry
[5] supported
The three foundational degrees of Freemasonry correspond to the grades of medieval craft guilds: Entered Apprentice, Journeyman or Fellow of the craft, and Master Mason.
"The degrees of Freemasonry are the three grades of medieval craft guilds : Entered Apprentice , Journeyman or Fellow of the craft, [ 6 ] [ 7 ] and Master Mason ."Freemasonry
[6] supported
Regular Freemasonry requires that a volume of sacred law be open in the lodge and that every member professes belief in a Supreme Being.
"Regular Freemasonry , which insists that a "volume of sacred law", such as the Bible , the Quran , or other religious scripture be open in a working lodge, that every member professes belief in a Supreme Being , that no women be admitted, and that discussion of religion or politics does not take place within the lodge"Freemasonry
[7] supported
Once a Mason has completed the Craft degrees, they are qualified to join various 'Concordant bodies' that offer additional degrees, which are usually administered separately from the Grand Lodges.
"Once the Craft degrees have been conferred upon a Mason, he is qualified to join various "Concordant bodies" which offer additional degrees. These organisations are usually administered separately from the Grand Lodges who administer the Craft degrees."Freemasonry
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In French lodges, the initiation rites included the line "As the means to be enlightened I search for the enlightened".
"In French lodges, for example, the line "As the means to be enlightened I search for the enlightened" was a part of their initiation rites."Freemasonry
[9] supported
The Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia admitted only regular Freemasons who had reached the Master degree, and it was primarily a Masonic study circle.
"Die S. R. i. A. nahm nur reguläre Freimaurer im Meistergrad auf und war in erster Linie ein freimaurerischer Studienzirkel"Rosenkreuzer
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Freemasonry grew in popularity with elite Protestant men after the American Revolution, and its lodges added rites to their secret initiations during this period.
"Freemasonry grew in popularity with elite Protestant men after the American Revolution and added additional rites to its secret initiations during this period."1. Uncomfortable Rites in Early Republican Freemasonry (2022)
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Freemasons kept their initiation rites behind closed doors and argued that the rites were too powerful for untrained eyes.
"Freemasons made claims to their sovereign role in American society by forming social bonds and mastering awkward ritual choreography behind closed doors, arguing that their rites were too powerful for untrained eyes."1. Uncomfortable Rites in Early Republican Freemasonry (2022)
[12] supported
An Edinburgh order influenced by Rosicrucian ideas admitted only deserving Freemasons, and only by invitation.
"In dem rosenkreuzerisch geprägten Orden wurden nur verdiente Freimaurer auf Einladung aufgenommen."Rosenkreuzer
[13] supported
The Sodalitas Rosae+Crucis & Solis Alati has six initiation degrees modeled on the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
"Der Orden hat sechs Initiationsgrade die an den Golden Dawn angelehnt sind."Rosenkreuzer