The Process of Petitioning

Background

Joining the fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons requires that a man, of his own free will, petition a Masonic Lodge for the Degrees in Masonry. No Texas Mason should ever ask you to join our fraternity.

Below are the general steps that a man seeking membership in Freemasonry may consider. Lodges will likely have their own procedures, but this will help you get started and give you a better understanding of the process.

Ask for Information

If you know a Mason, ask him about the fraternity. Don't be shy, we love talking to those interested in Masonry. If you don't know a Mason, you are welcome to visit with us. We have a dinner at 6:00PM on the third Tuesday of the month, prior to our regularly stated meeting which is at 7:00PM. We welcome visitors to visit during this time and there is someone always ready and happy to answer questions..

Visit the Lodge

Take this as an opportunity to meet some of the members and ask questions. Don't be intimidated, they'll be happy to see you. As stated above, we have a dinner before our regularly stated meeting (we meet monthly on the third Tuesday) and guests are always welcome. In many areas more than one lodge may exist. Visit as many as you can, as often as you can and get a feeling for the lodges you visit and pick the one that best meets your needs. You will want to visit several times before you choose to petition a specific lodge, and most lodges will want you to visit more than once as well. They need to know you, and you need to know them!

Request a Petition

Request a petition from a Mason or from the lodge you would like to join. Your petition will require the signature of several Masons. If you don't know any Masons, ask the lodge you're petitioning for advice. You can also download, fill out and print the patition here:

Submit Your Petition

Turn in your completed petition to the lodge of your choice. Ask if there are any fees that need to accompany the petition. Your petition will be received by the lodge and will be read during a stated meeting.

The Investigation

The Master of the lodge you submitted your petition to will assign three members of the lodge to interview you and investigate your background. The investigators may want to meet with you at home. There is a standard set of questions that all investigators must ask, but many will ask additional questions. Be honest with the investigators. No Mason is perfect...we don't expect petitioners to be perfect, either. This is an opportunity for you, or your family, to ask any questions as well.

The Ballot

Your investigators will be given a deadline by which to return their completed investigation reports to the lodge. Their reports along with their recommendation will be read to the lodge at a stated meeting. At this time, the Master of the lodge will usually call for a ballot to be taken on your petition. Eligible Masons will then vote on your petition and the outcome of the ballot will be announced to the lodge.

After the Ballot

Soon after the stated meeting, a member from the lodge should contact you with the outcome of the ballot and provide you with additional instructions.