What Is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry is a fraternal order that admits men who say they believe in a Supreme Being, and the United Grand Lodge of England says it is “neither a religion nor a substitute for religion.” Its rituals, as printed in the nineteenth-century exposures, also include an altar, oaths sworn on the Bible, prayers, and a Master Mason degree in which the candidate plays a murdered man and is raised. This page quotes both the self-description and the ritual texts.

Key Points

• The United Grand Lodge of England (1) says belief in the Supreme Being “is essential and admits of no compromise,” and that “Masonry is neither a religion nor a substitute for religion.”
• Its FAQ (2) says the phrase “Supreme Being” is “deliberately phrased so as to be fully inclusive,” with “no requirement to be an active practitioner of any particular religion.”
• The Grand Lodge of Texas (3) says, “Masonry is not a religion,” and “Religion and politics are two subjects not allowed to be discussed when a lodge is in session.”
• Albert Mackey’s Encyclopaedia (5), a standard Masonic reference, says Masonry is “an eminently religious institution.”
• Duncan’s Ritual (4) prints obligations sworn on the Bible with penalties such as “having my throat cut across.” The United Grand Lodge of England removed those penalties from its obligations in 1986.

How Grand Lodges Describe Themselves

The United Grand Lodge of England’s guidance booklet states its “Aims and Relationships of the Craft.” Item 3 reads: “The first condition of admission into, and membership of, the Order is a belief in the Supreme Being. This is essential and admits of no compromise.” Item 4 says the Bible, “referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open in the Lodges,” and that each candidate takes his obligation on that book “or on the Volume which is held by his particular creed.” (1)

The same booklet says: “It cannot be too strongly asserted that Masonry is neither a religion nor a substitute for religion. Masonry seeks to inculcate in its members a standard of conduct and behaviour which it believes to be acceptable to all creeds, but studiously refrains from intervening in the field of dogma or theology.” (1)

The Grand Lodge of Texas says that “Persons of all faiths and Christian denominations are a part of the worldwide Masonic fraternity,” and that “Masonry teaches the importance of helping the less fortunate.” (3)

What the Rituals Say Happens

Grand lodges do not publish their full ritual. The detailed texts most often quoted are exposures such as Malcolm Duncan’s 1866 monitor, which describes the American working of its day. Each grand lodge is sovereign, so wording and practice vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time.

In Duncan’s Entered Apprentice degree, the Master asks the kneeling candidate, “in whom do you put your trust?” and the prompted answer is “In God.” (4) The obligation is sworn at an altar, ending “So help me God.” In the Master Mason degree the candidate represents “Our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff,” is struck down by actors playing three ruffians, and is raised by the Master. (4) Those steps are on The Master Mason Degree and The Hiram Abiff Legend and the Raising.

What Masonic Writers Have Said

Mackey disagreed with brethren who insisted the order has nothing religious about it. Under “Religion of Masonry” he wrote: “I contend, without any sort of hesitation, that Masonry is, in every sense of the word, except one, and that its least philosophical, an eminently religious institution.” (5) Under “Altar” he called the lodge altar “a sacred utensil of religion” and the ceremonies “part of a really religious worship.” (5)

Albert Pike wrote for the Scottish Rite that “Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion” (Morals and Dogma, p. 213) (6). Mackey and Pike wrote as individuals. Neither book is binding on a grand lodge today.

The Christian Claim

Christians confess that Jesus is God and the only way to the Father: “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6John 14:6 · King James VersionJesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6 · King James VersionOpen source) (7). The question churches have asked is whether a lodge that prays to a Supreme Being defined so that every creed can join, and that teaches its own account of death and raising, is compatible with that confession. What Churches Say About Freemasonry quotes their answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Freemasonry a Religion?

The United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Texas say it is not. Mackey and Pike, writing in the nineteenth century, called it religious. Several churches concluded that its rites function as religion; see What Churches Say About Freemasonry.

Are the Exposures Accurate?

They describe the working their authors knew. They are not authorized texts, and grand lodges have changed their rituals since, including the 1986 English change to the penalties. Masonic Oaths and Penalties gives the dates.

Do Masons Have to Believe in God?

They must affirm a belief in a Supreme Being. The United Grand Lodge of England says that belief “admits of no compromise” and does not require a particular religion. (1) (2)