Lynnhaven Lodge No. 220 AF & AM - 2959 N Lynnhaven Road, Virginia Beach, VA. 23452-6916

Q:		What is Freemasonry?
A:		Freemasonry (also called “Masonry”) is the world"s ﬁrst and largest Fraternity, based on the belief that each man can make a difference in the world. Freemasonry enhances and strengthens the character of the individual man by providing opportunities for fellowship, charity, and education.
Q:		Is Masonry a secret organization?
A:		Membership in Masonry is not a secret; all members are free to acknowledge their membership. There is no secret about any of Masonry’s aims or principles. Masonry’s constitutions and rules are available to the public, and meeting locations are clearly identiﬁable. Like many similar organizations, some of Masonry’s internal affairs, such as ceremonies, grips, and passwords, are regarded as private matters for members only.
Q:		Where do the names Freemasonry, Masonry, and Ancient Free & Accepted Masons come from?
A:		Masons’ name comes from the occupation of their original members – stonemasons who built castles and cathedrals in England and Scotland. The word “free” was added during the Middle Ages. Because stonemasons possessed knowledge and skills not found everywhere, these men had the privilege of traveling between countries. Over time, many men who were not builders were drawn to the practices of Freemasonry. To encourage intellectual diversity, stonemasons began accepting men from other professions into the Fraternity. These men were known as “accepted Masons.” This trend continued, and accepted members eventually outnumbered operative members. Today, the names “Freemasonry,” “Masonry,” and “Free and Accepted Masons” are used interchangeably to refer to the Fraternity.
Q:		What is a Lodge?
A:		Freemasonry began when stonemasons formed local organizations, called lodges, to take care of the sick and widows, as well as the orphans. The masons also used the lodges as places to meet, receive their pay, plan their work, train new apprentices, and socialize. Today, this term refers both to a unit of Masons and the room or building in which they meet. There are more than 300 Lodges with over 32,000 Freemasons in Virginia.
Q:		What happens at a Lodge meeting?
A:		There are two kinds of meetings for members. The most common is a business meeting, called a stated communication, devoted to administrative procedures: minutes of the last meeting, discussing ﬁnancial matters, voting on applications, and planning for Lodge activities. The second kind of meeting is ceremonial, cornerstone laying, degree work used for admitting new Masons and conferring degrees.
Q:		What are degrees?
A:		There are three stages of Masonic membership: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. These stages are referred to as “degrees,” and correspond with members’ self-development and increased knowledge of Freemasonry. As a man completes each phase of learning, the Lodge holds a ceremony to confer his degree. Degree names are taken from craft guilds: In the Middle Ages, to become a stonemason, a man would ﬁrst be apprenticed. As an apprentice, he learned the tools and skills of the trade. When he had proved his skills, he became a “fellow of the craft,” and when he gained exceptional ability, he was known as a “master of the craft.”
Q:		What is the signiﬁcance of ofﬁcers’ titles?
A:		Masonry came to America from England and many of the original English titles are still in use. These titles may sound archaic in today’s society, but their meanings are simple. The Master is the leader of the Lodge, similar to the term president in other organizations. He is called “Master” for the same reason that the leader of ﬁrst violins in an orchestra is called the concertmaster. It’s simply an older term for leader. The Senior and Junior Wardens represent the ﬁrst and second vice presidents.
Q:		Why does Masonry use symbols?
A:		Symbols allow people to communicate quickly, and to transcend language barriers. When you see a green light or a circle with a line through it, you know what it means. Likewise, Masons use metaphors from geometry and the architecture of stone-masonry to inform their continuing pursuit of knowledge, ethics, and leadership skills. To reﬂect their heritage, Masons wear aprons while in Lodge, at certain public events, and at funerals to demonstrate their pride in the fraternity, and their lineage from stonemasons, who historically carried their tools in leather aprons. The square and compass is the most widely known symbol of Masonry: When you see the symbol on a building, you know that Masons meet there.
Q:		Is Masonry a religion?
A:		Masonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. The Fraternity requires its members to have a belief in a God, but the Fraternity itself is not afﬁliated with any religion, and men of all faiths are represented in the fraternity. Religion is not discussed at Lodge meetings. The Grand Lodge does not restrict membership by men of any denomination, including Roman Catholic.
Q:		Why do Masons call God The Great Architect of the Universe?
A:		We refer to God sometimes as the Great or Supreme Architect of the Universe, which means there is no higher Being anywhere. God is deﬁned in your religion as we do not interfere, discuss, or judge your religion. However, you MUST believe in a God that promotes peace, love, and harmony.
Q:		Why are some Masonic buildings called temples?
A:		We sometimes call a building a “temple” in the same sense that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes called the Supreme Court a "Temple of Justice." Most Virginia Lodges now refer to their buildings as Blue Lodges or Lodges.
Q:		What is a Grand Lodge?
A:		A Grand Lodge is an administrative body that oversees Freemasonry in a speciﬁc geographic area, called a jurisdiction. The United States has Grand Lodges in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.
Q:		Are there ﬁnancial commitments for Masons?
A:		There is an application fee for membership and degrees, which includes a charitable contribution to help fulﬁll our philanthropic mission and our obligation to aid Brothers and their families in times of need. Continued giving supports important charitable programs, which rely on member contributions. Annual dues begin when the Master Masons degree is received; each Lodge determines the dues amount.