~ How Do I Join a Lodge of Freemasons in South Carolina? ~
General Requirements
1. Must believe in a Supreme Being.
2. Must be male.
3. Must be 18 years old or older.
4. Must have resided in the state of South Carolina for 12 consecutive
months.
5. Must be able to read and write English.
6. Must be recommended by two Masons.
Investigation and Balloting
1. Must apply by petition at a regularly scheduled business meeting.
2. Petition must be in the petitioner's handwriting.
3. Petition must accompany the specified fee. Fees are set by
individual lodges and approved by the Grand Master.
4. The lodge will assign a committee of three to inquire into the petitioner's
qualifications and make a report at the next scheduled business meeting.
5. If the committee is favorable, a vote of the lodge members present at a
business meeting is
taken.
6. If the vote is unanimous, the candidate is invited to take the first
degree of three degrees.
Process
The process of joining a Masonic lodge after petitioning consists of three
"degrees". They consist of the Entered Apprentice Degree, Fellow Craft
Degree, and Master Mason Degree. Each of these degrees represent the three
stages of life as well as the stages a operative Mason would go through in his
life to learn his craft.
During the course of taking the degrees, all candidates are required to
commit certain parts of our teachings to memory. A "coach" is assigned to
teach the candidate. After the candidate has demonstrated that he has
memorized the required text, the lodge membership votes again. If the ballot is
unanimous, the candidate is invited to take the next degree.
General Requirements and Investigation and Balloting information can be found
in Section 99 Code of the Grand Lodge and Articles 130-131 Constitution of
the Grand Lodge
|
