Who Are The Freemasons? As Freemasons, we are members of the oldest and largest Fraternity in the world. Freemasons come from all walks of life and span all religions, races, classes and distinctions. There are Freemasons to be found in every democratic country of the world. There are probably many in your community. Is Freemasonry a religion? We are a varied group of men who share a common core of beliefs. We are not a religion, but we do require that a member have a belief in a Supreme Deity to be qualified for membership. Beyond that belief, a Freemason's personal convictions towards his religion are his own. It is not a secret that no Freemasons are atheists. What are the qualifications for membership? Freemasonry is a fraternity, and as such we admit only men. Freemasonry is not a secret organization, it is a private organization. The secrets of Freemasonry are part of the private language of the fraternity, assisting us to make good men better men. To be a member you must be a resident of the state of West Virginia, have lived for one year or more in your community, and be over the age of 21. You must petition (apply for membership) to the lodge in whose jurisdiction you live. Feel free to contact us or a lodge member in your area. Does Freemasonry solicit members? We do not solicit members. We believe the surest way to attract good members is to have them seek us. A man becomes a Freemason of his own choosing. This simple fact sets us apart from many Fraternal Societies. Is Freemasonry a Secret Society? We are not a Secret Society. It has been said that we are a Society with Secrets. Neither is really true. Our meetings are not open to non members. Our meetings are much like family conversation around a dinner table. These conversations like our meetings are private. Our lodges are almost always marked with signs and our members will often times wear a pin or ring as a sign of membership. What can I expect after joining? As a society we offer the benefit of time honored traditions and methods of helping a man to learn more about himself and the world he lives in. We teach through ancient tools and symbols of Masonry. These common implements have much to say about morality and the world we live in. They are as relevant today as they were 300 years ago. It has been said many times that we as Freemasons are not taught to be better than others, but rather better than ourselves. Any man who takes our teachings to heart will be a better husband, father and citizen. How old is Freemasonry? Freemasonry is said to have existed from time immemorial and certainly our origins are subject to debate and research as to when and why. Some lodges in Scotland have records that date back to the 16th century. The first Grand Lodge formed in the world was in 1717 in England. The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of West Virginia dates back to 1863. Prior to that time we were under the auspices of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Virginia. There is a Grand Lodge for every state and during the Civil War, our Grand Lodge was formed shortly after the state of West Virginia was formed. Where can I learn more? Our site has a Masonic Links section that has links to many other sites where additional information can be obtained. You can also contact our Grand Secretary for more information.