Joining Freemasonry

As an organization focused on exemplifying the best aspects of human nature, Freemasonry is not difficult to join, but we will never solicit membership – men who wish to join the Fraternity must do so of their own free will and accord, asking for an application. Each applicant must meet several requirements, which questions are asked of all who come to our door, as has been done from time immemorial. They include:

• Be a man over 18 years of age
• Believe in a supreme being, regardless of denomination
• Have resided in California for the past year
• Is of good moral character and respects the laws of the United States

There is an Application form that must be turned in to our secretary, either by mail or in person at one of our many public events, such as our monthly Family Night Dinner. The application must be signed by two Master Masons of our Lodge who support your petition to take the degrees of Masonry, and you must include three personal references, who may or may not be Masons themselves. The Masons who sign your petition are likely to want to meet with you several times outside of Lodge, to get to know you better and to answer any questions you have about Freemasonry.

Once your application is read before the Lodge, an investigative committee will be formed, and over the course of the next month you and your references will be contacted by members of the Lodge who have been chosen by the Master to learn more about you and what you would like out of Masonry. All of the questions you are asked have been asked of all Masons since time immemorial – don’t worry! Provided all reports come back favorably, we will vote on your petition in a subsequent stated meeting, and from there schedule your initiation, the first step in Masonry.

Affiliation

If you are a Mason in good standing in another California Lodge and would like to affiliate with Petaluma-Hamilton #180, we’ve made it as easy as possible to do so – ask for the Affiliation application, fill it out, and bring it on down to the Lodge! We’re happy to have you sit with us, brother! For out-of-state Masons we must contact our respective Grand Lodges, but the process is not dissimilar.