FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Information about Brandywine-Goddard Lodge No. 383 No. and Freemasonry in Pennsylvania. Official statewide reference: pagrandlodge.org
Lodge FAQ
When is your stated meeting?
Our stated meeting schedule is First Tuesday, 7:30 PM. Any special meetings and public events are posted on the calendar.
Where are you located?
We are located at .
How do I contact the lodge?
The best first contact is the Secretary. Email AbingtonRACNo245@masonview.com or call (610) 793-5062.
I am a Mason visiting from another lodge. What should I do?
Please bring your current dues card. If possible, contact the Secretary in advance so we can welcome you.
How do I start the process to join?
Begin on the Join page and submit a request for information. We will follow up privately and guide you through the process.
Pennsylvania Freemasonry FAQ
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is a brotherhood of men who share one goal: helping each other become better men. It is one of the oldest and most well known fraternities in the world.
Men from many backgrounds come together as equals and try to live three core virtues in everyday life: brotherly love, charity, and truth.
What are the qualifications for membership?
In Pennsylvania, to qualify for membership, a petitioner must be male, at least 18 years of age, and believe in the existence of a Supreme Being.
He should be of good moral character and motivated to join for the right reasons. Freemasonry is not for personal gain or profit.
Is Freemasonry a religion?
No. Freemasonry is not a religion and does not replace a man’s faith. It encourages members to practice their own religion but does not dictate belief or doctrine.
Must all Masons be obligated on the Bible?
A Mason must believe in a Supreme Being and take his obligation on a book he considers sacred to his faith. This may be the Bible, Torah, Quran, or another Volume of Sacred Law.
What are the Degrees of Freemasonry?
Freemasonry has three degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. Each degree teaches moral lessons using symbols and ceremonies.
Which important historical figures in Pennsylvania were Freemasons?
Pennsylvania has played a central role in American Freemasonry. Benjamin Franklin served as Grand Master of Pennsylvania and helped establish early Masonic traditions in the colonies.
Other notable Pennsylvania Masons include Andrew Hamilton, a key figure in American legal history, and Thaddeus Stevens, a leader during the Civil War and Reconstruction era.
Which famous public figures were Freemasons (not U.S. Presidents)?
Many well known figures throughout history have been Freemasons, including:
- Benjamin Franklin, inventor and statesman
- Paul Revere, silversmith and patriot
- Nat King Cole, musician and entertainer
- John Wayne, actor
- Shaquille O’Neal, professional athlete
- Buzz Aldrin, astronaut
These men came from very different walks of life, but shared an interest in personal growth, service, and fellowship.
Which famous Freemasons were from Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has produced many influential Freemasons. Benjamin Franklin is the most famous, but others include musicians, military leaders, business founders, and civic leaders connected to the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania Lodges were especially active during the American Revolution and early years of the Republic, making the state one of the strongest centers of Freemasonry in the world.
What makes Pennsylvania Freemasonry unique?
- Pennsylvania has the oldest Grand Lodge in the Western Hemisphere, founded in 1731.
- The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania have Masonic ties.
- The Grand Lodge Library in Philadelphia is one of the largest Masonic libraries in the world.
- Pennsylvania Lodges traditionally place strong emphasis on ritual accuracy and education.
Because of its early history, Pennsylvania Freemasonry has influenced Masonic practice far beyond the state.
When and where did African American Freemasonry begin in the United States?
African American Freemasonry began on March 6, 1775, in Boston when Prince Hall and fourteen other men were made Masons in a British military lodge.
Prince Hall later became a leader in the free Black community and laid the foundation for what is now known as Prince Hall Freemasonry.
