~ How Do I Join a Lodge of Freemasons in South Carolina? ~

General Requirements
1. Must believe in a Supreme Being.
2. Must be male.
3. Must be 18 years old or older.
4. Must have resided in the state of South Carolina for 12 consecutive months.
5. Must be able to read and write English.
6. Must be recommended by two Masons.

Investigation and Balloting
1. Must apply by petition at a regularly scheduled business meeting.
2. Petition must be in the petitioner's handwriting.
3. Petition must accompany the specified fee. Fees are set by individual lodges and approved by the Grand Master.
4. The lodge will assign a committee of three to inquire into the petitioner's qualifications and make a report at the next scheduled business meeting.
5. If the committee is favorable, a vote of the lodge members present at a business meeting is taken.
6. If the vote is unanimous, the candidate is invited to take the first degree of three degrees.

Process
The process of joining a Masonic lodge after petitioning consists of three "degrees". They consist of the Entered Apprentice Degree, Fellow Craft Degree, and Master Mason Degree. Each of these degrees represent the three stages of life as well as the stages a operative Mason would go through in his life to learn his craft.

During the course of taking the degrees, all candidates are required to commit certain parts of our teachings to memory. A "coach" is assigned to teach the candidate. After the candidate has demonstrated that he has memorized the required text, the lodge membership votes again. If the ballot is unanimous, the candidate is invited to take the next degree.

General Requirements and Investigation and Balloting information can be found in Section 99 Code of the Grand Lodge and Articles 130-131 Constitution of the Grand Lodge
Good men search for Freemasonry; Freemasonry makes them better.

Copyright © 2001-109 by the Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of South Carolina
All rights Reserved