How does one become a Prince Hall Mason?

How do I become a Prince Hall Freemason? One of the ancient landmarks of the fraternity is that it does not solicit new members. A man must seek Masonic membership of his own free will and accord. To become a Mason you need only “ask”, meet the qualifications, and be accepted by the Lodge of which you are petitioning .

Who wrote the Masonic lectures?

Origins of the Lectures From the 18th century onwards, there were different systems of Masonic Lectures in circulation. William Preston 's system of Lectures, developed from 1772 onwards, and John Browne's Master Key, first published in full in 1801, were the first to reach a broader audience.

What's higher than a Mason?

A masonic lodge confers the three masonic degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft (or Fellow Craft), and Master Mason . Whilst there is no degree in Freemasonry higher than that of Master Mason, there are additional degrees that are offered only to those who are Master Masons.

What is the highest degree a mason can get?

Craft Blue lodges operate under the authority of national (or in the US, state) Grand Lodges, not the Supreme Council. It is important to note that there is no higher degree in Freemasonry than the third degree, that of Master Mason .

What is the oldest Masonic text?

The Halliwell Manuscript, also called Regius Poem , is the oldest known document of masonic origin. It was published in 1840 by Shakespearean scholar and collector James Halliwell who dated it to 1390.

All Shriners are Masons, but not all Masons are Shriners Shriners International is a spin-off from Freemasonry, the oldest, largest and most widely known fraternity in the world. Freemasonry dates back hundreds of years to when stonemasons and other craftsmen gathered after work in shelter houses, or lodges.

What are the three degrees of masonry?

The degrees of Freemasonry retain the three grades of medieval craft guilds, those of Entered Apprentice, Journeyman or fellow (now called Fellowcraft), and Master Mason .

Why did Prince Hall become a Mason?

Hall was interested in the Masonic fraternity because Freemasonry was founded upon ideals of liberty, equality, and peace . Before the American Revolutionary War, Hall and fourteen other free black men petitioned for admittance to the all-white Boston St. John's Lodge.

What does Prince Hall affiliated mean?

There are different organizations that purport to be of Prince Hall Freemasonry: one group is the independent, 'Prince Hall Affiliated' or 'PHA' Grand Lodges, most of which are recognized by their State Grand Lodge counterparts and the United Grand Lodge of England, being considered 'regular' in freemasonry.

How do you know yourself to be a Mason?

Final answer: To know oneself to be a Mason, one must join a Masonic lodge and actively participate . Masons gain knowledge and understanding of the principles and values of Freemasonry through initiation ceremonies and the study of Masonic rituals and teachings.

Reading Course – Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library (2024)

The Livingston Masonic Library offers seventeen structured Reading Courses designed to provide education and enlightenment in areas of Masonic study and interest. This educational program is designed to provide guidance to newly-made Masons, expand the horizons of long-time Brothers, stimulate their interests and widen the perspectives of the Brethren in general.

Enrollment in a Reading Course is open to Entered Apprentices, Fellowcrafts, and Master Masons who are members in good standing of a lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of State of New York. Brothers may participate in the Courses by visiting the Library’s Manhattan branch, borrowing books, through the mail, or through our digital library on Odilo.

Books are lent for 4 (four) weeks and may be renewed for an additional three weeks by email, telephone, or in person. The Reading Courses are offered free of charge; participating Brothers are responsible only for the nominal fee of return postage (by Library rate) if they participate in the courses through the mail.

Members wishing to receive borrowing privileges must complete the following

and return the form by email to Avastola@nymasoniclibrary.org or by mail to,

Robert R Livingston Masonic Library

c/o Alexander Vastola

71 West 23rd Street

14th Floor

New York, NY 10010

The Reading Courses include volumes and topics which reflect contemporary theories and ideas in the course subject areas. Modern scholarship is combined with the respected traditional works of Masonic authors and other scholars of the Craft so that Reading Course participants experience a full appreciation of the literature available. In true Masonic tradition, the Reading Courses offer the Brethren exposure to information, with the hope and understanding that they will use the information to develop their own thoughts, ideas, and practices in their area of study. The Library is always interested in receiving feedback on existing courses or hearing suggestions for new titles or courses.

Learn more about the Reading Course

Course OneCourse TwoCourse ThreeCourse FourCourse FiveCourse SixCourse SevenCourse EightCourse NineCourse TenCourse ElevenCourse TwelveCourse ThirteenCourse FourteenCourse FifteenCourse SixteenCourse Seventeen

1. Who Comes Here? The first course, features what we believe are the “read first”, most expository books available on vital Masonic topics:

Foreign Countries by Carl Claudy (M11 C57)
The Way of the Craftsman by Kirk MacNulty (M11 M23)
The Freemasons by Jasper Ridley (M10 R43)
The Craft and its Symbols by Allen E. Roberts (M11 R53)
American Freemasons by Mark A. Tabbert (M10 T11)

Reading Course – Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library (2024)

Members wishing to receive borrowing privileges must complete the following

and return the form by email to Avastola@nymasoniclibrary.org or by mail to,

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How does one become a Prince Hall Mason? ›