Statewide Open House October 15th
The Freemasons will open their doors to the public on Saturday, October 15th, from 9 am until 3 pm. If you’ve ever wondered how the Freemasons help men become the best versions of themselves, this is the opportunity to find out!
More than 225 lodges will be hosting Open Houses to help the public gain a better understanding of Freemasonry and to demonstrate the positive impact it has on its members, their families, and their communities. Members will provide tours of their building, talk about Freemasonry’s history, discuss its rituals, signs, and symbols, and explain what they do.
The Open House is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about Freemasonry to meet and talk with Masons in their community,” said Harvey J. Waugh, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, and the presiding officer of over 29,000 members. “Although many have heard of us, very few are aware that for over 283 years we have been part of an unbroken tradition of great men who have changed our world in a number of ways. Men like Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thurgood Marshall, and John Glenn all joined the Masons prior to achieving the greatness we recognize them for. Today, there are countless others that have made their families, workplaces, and communities better because they are Masons. I warmly invite the public to join us on October 15th.”
Freemasons trace their roots to the stonemason guilds that built Europe’s cathedrals and castles during the early part of the last millennium. As construction of these buildings declined, they began accepting members from outside their trade. These new members, influenced by the “Age of Enlightenment,” transformed the organization from a group for builders to one focused on developing the character of its members. Freemasonry was formally organized in London, England in 1717. In 1733 it was formally organized in Massachusetts, making it the oldest Masonic group in the Western Hemisphere and the third oldest in the world.
Freemasonry, the world’s oldest and largest fraternity, seeks to bring together men of every country, religion, race, background, and opinion in order to develop the bonds of friendship between them. Through a large variety of North American Masonic philanthropies, approximately $2,000,000 is given to charity every day, 70% of which benefits the general public. During its symbolic initiation ceremony, members are encouraged to value high principles, ethics, and morals and to live their lives accordingly. By “making good men better,” Freemasonry positively benefits its members, their families and local communities. Freemasonry in Massachusetts is comprised of 29,000 Masons in more than 220 different lodges throughout the Commonwealth.
