How to become a freemason?

A person seeking to become a Freemason must meet specific internal and external qualifications before undergoing a formal application, investigation, and election process.

Internally, an applicant must apply of his own free will and accord, uninfluenced by mercenary motives or the persuasion of friends, and prompted by a favorable opinion of the institution 3. Externally, established regulations require a candidate to be of mature age, free, of good moral reputation, possessed of discreet judgment, and capable of earning an honest livelihood 2313. While historical requirements focused strictly on physical soundness, modern jurisdictions evaluate physical capabilities through the lens of the ritual, while requiring basic literacy such as the ability to sign one's name 31.

The formal process begins when a candidate submits a written petition to a lodge, customarily the one nearest his place of residence 3. The petition must be formally recommended by members of the lodge and submitted with a prescribed deposit 23.

Upon being read at a regular lodge meeting, the petition is referred to an investigating committee 1. This committee is charged with making inquiries into the candidate's moral, intellectual, and personal character 12. Under standard Masonic law, the committee must take at least one month to conduct its inquiry, reporting its findings at a subsequent regular meeting to prevent hasty admissions 12.

If the investigating committee presents an unfavorable report, the applicant is rejected without proceeding further 1. If the report is favorable, the lodge holds a ballot 1. Upon an affirmative vote, the candidate is approved to receive the degrees of Craft Masonry 12.