Freemasons Queensland

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest fraternal societies. It is made up of men who are concerned with moral and spiritual values and who pursue a way of life that complements their religious, family and community affiliations. They seek a better way of life and treat all men as equal regardless of race, religion or social standing. Every true Freemason: • seeks ways to share in building a better community;• shows tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behaves with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures;• practices charity care for the community as well as his own family,through charitable giving and by voluntary work; and• strives for the truth, requiring high moral standardsand aiming to achieve them in his own life. (1)WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?* Freemasonry is a fraternity of men, bound together by oaths, based on medieval stonemason craft guilds* Freemasonry teaches lessons of social and moral virtues based on symbolism of tools and language of the ancient building trade, using the building of a structure as a symbol for the building of character in men* Masons are obliged to practice brotherly love, mutual assistance, equality and trust between each other. “Brotherly love, relief, and truth”* Masons have secret methods of recognising each other, such as handshakes, signs, and passwords* Masons meet in lodges that are governed by a Master and assisted by Wardens* Freemasonry is not a religion, and has no religious dogma that it forces its members to accept. Masons must simply believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, whatever they conceive that deity to be. * Freemasonry is not a science, but it does teach its members to value learning and experience. * Freemasonry teaches Masons to be tolerant of the beliefs of others and to regard each man as their equal, serving both their respect and their assistance. 2 If you would like to find out more, please visit the UGLQ website on www.uglq.org.au