Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we are most often asked by truth-seekers
“We are all afraid of what we do not understand.” – Professor Langdon explaining Freemasonry to his students, Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol
You are thinking about Freemasonry, but you are held back by questions to which you do not know who to ask? This document is primarily intended for our lay friends who ask themselves questions, yet lack the elements and information to form an idea and perhaps one day knock on the door of the Temple.
Here we will address 11 topics by providing keys. I hold no absolute truth; I only offer keys, not answers. Keys lead to reflection, while answers lead to acceptance. Indeed, everyone’s critical awareness depends on who each of us is. The decision to enter Freemasonry must be made in free conscience, but also with full knowledge of the facts. It is necessary to demystify certain preconceived ideas that die hard because they are sustained by currents of thought that constitute antimasonry – in most cases primitive and simplistic – while on the other hand, we must present sufficiently enlightened elements.
I do not speak on behalf of all Freemasonry, but rather as a Freemason with many years of experience in the Order. These reflections pertain to the broader picture of Freemasonry in the Orient of Serbia, where a larger number of obediences operate.
1. Is there an age limit for entering Freemasonry?
Age alone does not open or close the doors of the Temple. According to the documents of most obediences, the formal limit is 21 years, but the true measure is not the number on an ID card – it is the moment when a person becomes self-sufficient in life. Each individual determines that moment for themselves.
2. Do you need a high level of intellectual knowledge or education to join?
A diploma is not a requirement; curiosity is. In Freemasonry, there are doctors “in something,” but also self-taught individuals without a degree – and both are equal Brethren in the Temple. What connects them is the curiosity to discover the Great Book of Life, the only encyclopedia in its natural size. We are like explorers, and the only true condition is an open mind and the willingness to learn for a lifetime. Formal education can be a useful tool, but it is never a prerequisite for access to Light.
3. Is it a secret society, or even a cult?
Freemasonry is an initiatory society that uses symbols, rituals, and myths as its tools, but it is not secret. It wishes to be discreet in order to protect its members from those who oppose us, because our freedom and the fact that they cannot control us bothers them. It is important to know that revealing a Sister or Brother is a serious offense that can lead to exclusion. On the other hand, everyone is free to reveal themselves or not. Moreover, as easy as it is to join a cult – especially if your wallet is very thick – and as difficult as it is to leave one, it is just as difficult to enter Freemasonry (due to waiting periods and background checks), yet it is easy to leave it. In a cult, the guru and his deputies remain at the head of their organization for life. In Freemasonry, there are annual elections, and the duration of mandates, as well as their renewals, are limited.
4. What is the Masonic secret that you hide from us?
The secret exists – but none of us can reveal it, even if we wanted to, because it is not made of words. The Masonic secret lies within each of us; it is untransferable because it is personal and intimate. There is no key, document, or whisper that could reveal it to someone who has not experienced it in the Temple. It lives on two levels: through our personal, inner work (personal), and through the contribution we build together, giving birth to the Lodge’s egregore (collective). This is a difference that no one outside can understand, and no one inside needs to explain.
5. Is belief in the divine required or not?
Freemasons are believers. Each obedience prescribes which Book of Sacred Law is used (Bible, Quran, Torah, etc.), with the utmost respect for all faiths, regardless of the Brother’s religion. In highly multi-ethnic environments, Lodges work with the White Book, and each interprets it according to their own faith. In any case, all Freemasons work willingly FOR THE GLORY OF THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE, which reflects both the essence and philosophical foundations of Freemasonry. The spiritual dimension is, therefore, present at the very heart of the Order, yet respect for others’ faith is never called into question.
6. Do you have to fit into a mold when you join Freemasonry?
On the contrary – Freemasonry does not shape people according to a mold; rather, it helps each person build their own. A Freemason can only exist if there is a man or a woman. A man or woman can exist without being a Mason. Freemasonry is not an end in itself. The human being is the goal in itself, and Freemasonry is a tool for personal and collective evolution, among other tools. It is up to each individual to adopt Freemasonry according to their personality, history, and culture. The only thing we check during interviews with laypeople is that they do not propagate, either individually or through an organization, ideas contrary to humanism (racism, xenophobia, etc.). Since 1987, Freemasonry has not changed my thinking, but it has allowed me to progress and structure my ideas. There are multiple obediences – over twenty-five in Serbia – but all consider themselves initiated and to have received Light. Some obediences are exclusively male, others exclusively female, but there are also mixed obediences.
7. Is Freemasonry a form of religion?
Religions are schools of thought based on dogmas and truths that are more or less indisputable. Freemasonry teaches no dogma or truth; it is not a school of thought but a school of methodology and reasoning. It confirms nothing, but provides keys that we use to varying degrees, depending on who we are. Opponents of Freemasonry like to compare us to religion in order to belittle us more easily, often portraying us as something dark and dangerous, even though it bears no relation to reality. There is an entire anti-Masonic literature and religious movements that sustain this tendency. Despite all these attacks, Freemasonry survives and endures through the centuries – proof of the strength of its ideals and values.
8. What do you do in the Lodge?
We address various topics with respect and attentive listening. These may include social issues (though not in all obediences), philosophy, or symbolism – but never politics. Moreover, what we have shared and gained in the Lodge must guide us in our behavior and actions outside the Temple. In this way, every Brother and Sister becomes a better person, more useful to their family, their community, and society as a whole.
9. Is Freemasonry a powerful network seeking power?
Yes, connections are established between Masons. There is nothing strange about that – it is a characteristic of all people who share the same organization, such as former students of a school, alumni of a university, or members of a trade guild. The story of Masons pulling the strings of power, however, is pure fantasy – a myth deliberately nurtured by currents of thought that benefit from the existence of an enemy. From it emerged the murky and dangerous conspiracy theory, which erupts with full force during times of economic and social crises and has caused enormous harm throughout history – particularly between 1933 and 1945. This is a classic scapegoat theory, and history has already shown where such rhetoric leads. Formally, Freemasonry today carries incomparably less political weight than a political party, a union, a lobby, or certain associations – for instance, a consumer protection group. Those who claim otherwise simply do not know the facts. The true strength of Freemasonry does not lie in influencing power, but in the bonds between Brothers and Sisters – and these bonds, when built on honesty and goodness, help make the world around us a better place.
10. Is it expensive to join Freemasonry?
It costs much less than joining a cult. Cults may require you to give away part or all of your assets, or to buy overpriced books and methods. In the obediences on the Orient of Serbia, the membership fee is less than €1 per day – half the price of an espresso at a café. Part of your membership fee is used for the functioning of the Obedience, and another part for Lodge membership. In some Lodges, there is “solidarity aid” that can prevent financial aspects from being an obstacle, especially for socially disadvantaged groups.
11. Are there many meetings, and does it require time?
Joining Freemasonry is not like joining a chess club. It is a personal commitment, as well as a commitment to your Sisters and Brothers. A superficial commitment wastes both the Lodge’s and the candidate’s time. Persistent absence from Temple works can lead to permanent exclusion. This is provided for in the Obedience’s regulations.
As for time, there must be enough to dedicate to collective and individual work. Here is an example: 2 Lodge meetings per month: 2 evenings. “Instructional” meetings for new members: 1 to 2 evenings every 2 months. Council meetings on annual matters: an average of 3 evenings per year. Time devoted to personal work presented in the workshop and acquiring Masonic knowledge: equivalent to 1 to 2 evenings per month. Indeed, Freemasonry is practiced equally in the Workshop as within oneself. In this sense, some speak of the “inner temple.” In January, July, and August: “Masonic holidays” – a time when Works are not held, but Freemasons continue to cultivate fraternal bonds through secular gatherings. This list is not exhaustive. Members of Masonic workshops with responsibilities must dedicate varying amounts of additional time, but they volunteer for these tasks.
Through these 11 points, you have the basic elements that will lead you to personal reflection. The rest is up to you – to decide, in peace and free conscience, whether you wish to continue your journey toward Freemasonry or not.
“You are here because you want to be, not because you have to be.” – Br. Z.J.
Prepared by,
Bro. Bratislav Uraković, Master of the Royal Art
Grand Master of the Grand National Lodge of Serbia
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Do you have any additional questions?
Contact the Grand Secretariat of the GGLS (VNLS) directly via our contact page.