That's not a surprising question. Even though Masons (Freemasons) are members of the largest and oldest fraternity in the world, and even though almost everyone has a father or grandfather or uncle who was a Mason, many people aren't quite certain just who Masons are. The answer is simple. A Mason (or Freemason) is a member of a fraternity known as Masonry (or Freemasonry). A fraternity is a group of men (just as a sorority is a group of women) who join together because:

• There are things they want to do in the world

• There are things they want to do "inside their own minds."

• They enjoy being together with men they like and respect.

BECOME A MASON
Are you interested in becoming a mason at John Philip Sousa Lodge No. 1106 (or JPS for short)? If you want to become a mason, or just find out more to decide if you want to become one, you can read more about freemasonry. Some of the best books are Freemasons for Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry. Others include Revolutionary Brotherhood and The Radical Enlightenment.

You can also meet our Masons, see what our informal events are like, and talk with us about Freemasonry. If you would like to meet members of John Philip Sousa Lodge No. 1106 at our dinners before our meetings or any any of our special events, we would be delighted to welcome you. Just send us a message on the contact page and we'll get back to you shortly.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BECOMING A MASON AT John Philip Sousa Lodge No. 1106?
If you are male, 18 or older, you can file a "petition for the degrees" (application) to become a member of JPS or any other Masonic lodge. Before you do that, though, it's best to talk with members of our lodge so we can get to know you and you can get to know us — and our informal dinners are the best way to do that. When you're ready to submit your petition, you can find it on our website at the resources page. The cost when you submit your petition is $200. Knocking on our door is your first step to becoming a Mason.