What is Freemasonry?
The world’s oldest and largest fraternity, dedicated to making good men better.
Freemasonry is a fraternity of men who share a belief in a Supreme Being and a commitment to moral improvement, charity and fellowship. Through its ceremonies and teachings, Freemasonry encourages its members to be better husbands, fathers, citizens and neighbors.
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania maintains an excellent overview of the fraternity, including answers to the most common questions about who Masons are, what they do, and how to join.
Masonic Organizations
There are many Masonic and Masonic-related orders in which membership is based, to varying extents, on membership in a Masonic lodge. These include well-known bodies such as the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, the Shrine, the Order of the Eastern Star and many others.
The Blue Lodge, such as Dallas Lodge No. 231, is recognized as the root and foundation of all Freemasonry. Once a man has received the three symbolic degrees in a Blue Lodge and become a Master Mason, he may be invited to join one or more of the appendant orders. Many Master Masons go on to be active throughout the wider Masonic family, while remaining faithful to their Blue Lodge.
Several of these bodies, including the Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh, a Royal Arch Chapter, a Council of Royal and Select Masters and a Knights Templar Commandery, meet alongside Dallas Lodge at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center.
