How to join Freemasonry?

To join a lodge, an applicant must seek membership of his own free will and accord, without being solicited or persuaded by others, and without mercenary or political motives 34. Freemasonry does not canvass for members, as the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India notes. A prospective candidate can also register interest online through body sites like that of the United Grand Lodge of England to locate a local lodge.

The candidate must satisfy both internal and external qualifications 3. Internally, he must hold a favourable opinion of the institution and resolve to conform cheerfully to its established usages 3. Externally, he must be of mature age, of good moral character, possess a reputable livelihood or visible means of support, and hold a belief in Almighty God or a Supreme Being 13. Under the rules of the United Grand Lodge of England, membership is open to any man over the age of 18 regardless of race or religion, while atheists are ineligible.

In traditional Craft practice, a candidate is proposed by a member during lodge hours, providing details of his name, age, occupation, and residence 1. In American usage, custom generally dictates applying to the lodge nearest one's place of residence 3. The formal petition is presented at a regular stated communication and referred to an investigating committee of three members to examine the applicant's character and qualifications 2.

After a mandatory probation period—typically one month—the committee delivers its report at a subsequent regular communication 2. An unfavourable report automatically results in rejection without proceeding to a ballot 2. If the report is favourable, the application proceeds to a secret ballot by the lodge members 23. Because candidate selection requires personal acceptability to the entire lodge, any member may exercise a veto through the ballot 3. Once elected, the candidate comes under the personal care of the Master to prepare for initiation into the Craft degrees 3.