Become a Mason
The path to becoming a man worth following begins with a single step.
Freemasonry takes good men and makes them better. If you have felt the pull toward brotherhood, purpose, and a life of service, here is how the journey begins.
A man is never recruited into Freemasonry. He must seek it of his own free will and accord. That choice is the first measure of the man.
Before You Begin
What is asked of every man who knocks
The requirements are few, but they are not small. Each one speaks to character rather than credential.
Belief in a Supreme Being
Freemasonry is not a religion and favors none, but it asks that a man profess faith in God, by whatever name he holds sacred.
Good Character
A reputation for honesty, integrity, and respect among those who know you. The lodge is built only of men it can trust.
Of Lawful Age
A man of the age required by our jurisdiction, ready to take on the obligations of membership freely and knowingly.
Your Own Free Will
No man is pressured or persuaded. You come because you choose to come, of your own free will and accord.
The Path
Five steps from the outside to the brotherhood
The journey is deliberate by design. It is meant to be walked, not rushed, so that both the man and the lodge are certain.
Reach out to us
Every Mason you have ever admired began exactly where you are now. Contact the lodge, or simply ask a Mason you already know. There is no obligation, only an honest conversation about who we are and what we stand for.
Get to know the lodge
Come share a meal, ask hard questions, and see the brotherhood for yourself. We will get to know you in turn. Masonry is a lifelong bond, and the right fit matters to both sides.
Submit your petition
When you are ready, you submit a written petition supported by members who know you. Submitting a petition is the beginning of the journey, not a guarantee of admission. In keeping with tradition, each candidate is carefully considered by the brothers before any decision is made.
Begin the work
Once accepted, you begin a progressive series of degrees that have shaped good men for centuries. Each one is a lesson in character, taught through symbol and tradition, taking the rough stone of yourself and shaping it stone by stone.
Take your place among brothers
As a Master Mason you join a brotherhood that spans generations and continents, bound by shared values and a shared purpose. The work of building, in yourself and in your community, becomes the work of a lifetime.
What we ask of you
- To live with honesty and integrity, in the lodge and beyond it.
- To treat every brother as your equal, on the level, regardless of rank or station.
- To give your time and your effort to the work of the lodge and the good of the community.
- To keep the trust placed in you, and to hold yourself to the obligations you freely take.
What you will gain
- A brotherhood of good men who will stand beside you for life.
- A path of personal growth that turns a good man into a better one.
- A purpose larger than yourself, rooted in service, faith, and charity.
- A place in a tradition older than any of us and stronger than any one man.
"Greatness is not in the title a man wears, but in the good he leaves behind him."
Honest Answers
Questions men ask before they knock
Is Freemasonry a religion?
Do I have to be invited to join?
Does submitting a petition mean I am in?
How much time does it require?
What does it cost?
There is a place for you at our door
Ready to take the first step?
You have read the path. The only thing left is the decision. Reach out today and begin an honest conversation about becoming a Mason of Shem Lodge No. 8.
Under the auspices of the Most Worshipful Isaac Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Texas
