To Become One, Ask One

It is one of the ancient landmarks (customs) of regular Freemasonry that one is not asked to become a Mason – a man must do it of his own volition. To do that, he should understand what Freemasonry is, and what it offers.We hope that the following information will provide enough detail about our ancient and honorable fraternity so that you will take the next step by seeking us out with more questions. No regular Mason will pressure you, and since we are all proud of our fraternity, we encourage you to ask. If you decide that Freemasonry is for you, then you can print out a copy of the petition for membership, and contact us for assistance in completing the process.

1. Visit the Lodge

Locate a Lodge near you. We have a listing here on the website. Contact the nearest Lodge and ask them when you might be able to come by and visit. Some Lodges hold dinners that are open to prospective members. Others may be holding special events that you can attend.

2. Request a Petition

You may download the Petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry here. Your petition will require the signature of several Masons. If you don’t know any Nevada Masons, you should get to know some by routinely visiting a local Lodge and getting to know the Brothers. If you are already a Master Mason in Good Standing under either the Grand Lodge of Nevada or some other Masonic jurisdiction which is recognized by the Grand Lodge of Nevada, you will want to use the Petition for Dual and Plural Membership from here.

3. Turn in your Petition

Once you’ve completely filled out the Petition and had it signed, you will have to turn it in the Lodge with the required fee. Your petition will be received by the lodge and will be read during a stated meeting. These happen only once a month, so depending on when you turn in your Petition, it may take several weeks before it is acted upon. The fees will vary by Lodge, so be sure to ask.

4. The Investigation

The Master of the Lodge will assign three members to interview you and investigate your background. The investigators may want to meet with you at your home. Often, spouses and others have questions about Freemasonry, and this is the perfect time to get those questions answered. Be honest with the investigators. No Mason is perfect… and we don’t expect petitioners to be perfect, either.

5. The Ballot

Your investigators will be given a deadline by which to return their completed investigation reports to the Lodge. Their reports along with their recommendations will be read to the Lodge at a stated meeting. At this time, the Master of the Lodge will usually call for a ballot to be taken on your petition. Eligible Masons will then vote on your Petition and the outcome of the ballot will be announced to the Lodge.

6. Upon the Threshold

Soon after the stated meeting, a member of the Lodge will contact you with the outcome of the ballot and provide you with additional instructions.