Madison Masonic Lodge 5

Simply stated, our mission is, "To make good men better".  We feel that by taking men who already have the basic qualities and qualifications needed to be a part of our fine Fraternity, and teaching them the principles and ideals of Freemasonry, we will help to improve and enrich their lives, and consequently, the lives of all those around them.  Freemasonry as an institution is not a religious or political organization, but one that encourages free thinking and tolerance of others, regardless of their views and opinions.  Throughout history, our Fraternity has been a catalyst for change in all areas of life: Political, Religious, Social, Economical, and Philosophical. In nearly every free and democratic nation in the world, there is at the very least, the indirect influence of Masonic teachings, if not the direct influence and intervention of members of the Masonic Fraternity.  Many of the historical figures who we hold in such high esteem have been either members of our Fraternity, or strongly influenced by it. For a listing of some of these men, please feel free to look at our “Famous Freemasons” page.

While our main goal is to better our members, we also wish to help those around us, whether they be Masons, or not.  Our Lodge is involved with various charities and organizations, both local and worldwide.  We feel that by helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves, that we are doing what we are taught in the Holy Writings, and in the most basic of teachings: “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you”, also known as the “Golden Rule”.  We always welcome and encourage questions and information from all those in need, and those charities who are trying to assist them.  Bearing in mind that we are not a “Charitable Organization”, but a Fraternity that does charitable deeds, we ask you to remember that while we will strive to help all that we are able, not all needs will be able to be met.

Within our Lodge, you will find a group of men who love and care for each other as Brothers and equals, regardless of their stations in life, or their economic holdings.  We feel that a man’s value should be judged by his quality of character, rather than any material or external manifestations.  When you get to know the members of our Lodge, you will find an extremely diverse group of men, with jobs including, but not limited to: Doctors, Lawyers, Professors, Engineers, Politicians, Realtors, Business Owners, Soldiers, Bus Drivers, Computer Technicians, Construction Workers, Students, and More!  This diversity is the glue of our Fraternity which allows us to transcend the petty differences of everyday life, and aspire for something greater than our individual selves. We hope that you may find in us, a group of likeminded men with interests and goals similar to your own.

How to Join

If you are interested in becoming a Freemason, the steps to joining are simple. Freemasonry accepts applications from men who are of good character, recommended by those within the Fraternity, and who believe in one God. With the exception that one must be monotheistic, Freemasonry makes no distinction among the various religions when considering a man for membership, nor does it care about his political beliefs, wealth, or station in life.  Religion and politics are never discussed in Lodge, and to violate this ancient custom would result in severe penalties, and possible expulsion from the Lodge. In all things, it is the interior character of the man and not the external trappings and wealth which would recommend him to become a Mason.

To become a Mason, an applicant must ask a Mason for a petition, and be recommended by two members.  If the petitioner does not know two members of the Lodge, two Brothers will be appointed to meet with the petitioner to determine his worthiness to petition our Lodge. Once his worthiness has been established, the petition is then presented to the Lodge, along with the petition fee of $40.00, and an investigative committee is chosen to interview the petitioner, his friends, and family.  Typically, there will be two separate interviews with the candidate, one at their residence, and one at our Lodge.  After the interviews, the investigative committee will present their findings to the Lodge, and a vote will be taken by ballot.  The candidate must be unanimously approved by ballot. If successful, the applicant then is qualified to take the Entered Apprentice degree at a special communication of the Lodge.

At the time of the First Degree, the candidate will be required to pay the fees for their 3 degrees, as well as their annual dues, and payment toward the George Washington Masonic Memorial Fund.

The fees break down as follows:

Application Fee:                     $40.00

Entered Apprentice Degree:   $30.00

Fellowcraft Degree:                $15.00

Master Mason Degree:            $15.00

G.W. Memorial Fund:             $5.00

Current Dues:                          $85.00/year

Total:                                      $190.00

All checks should be made out to Madison Lodge 5.

Ready to take the next step? Print out the following form, and fill it out completely. Once you have done that, either have two Masons that you know (at least one must be from Lodge 5) vouch for you, and mail it to us with your application fee; or contact us and let us know that you would like to meet with two Brothers to determine your worthiness to petition our Lodge. We look forward to hearing from you!

 Petition for Degrees