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In other jurisdictions, more open
advertising is utilised to inform potential candidates where
to go for more information. Regardless of how a potential
candidate receives his introduction to a Lodge, he must be
freely elected by secret ballot in open Lodge. Members approving
his candidacy will vote with "white balls" in the
voting box. Adverse votes by "black balls" will
exclude a candidate. The number of adverse votes necessary
to reject a candidate, which in some jurisdictions is as few
as one, is set out in the governing Constitution of the presiding
Grand Lodge.
A candidate for Freemasonry must petition a lodge in his
community, obtaining an introduction by asking an existing
member, who then becomes the candidate's proposer. In some
jurisdictions, it is required that the petitioner ask three
times, however this is becoming less prevalent.[43] In other
jurisdictions, more open advertising is utilised to inform
potential candidates where to go for more information. Regardless
of how a potential candidate receives his introduction to
a Lodge, he must be freely elected by secret ballot in open
Lodge. Members approving his candidacy will vote with "white
balls" in the voting box. Adverse votes by "black
balls" will exclude a candidate. The number of adverse
votes necessary to reject a candidate, which in some jurisdictions
is as few as one, is set out in the governing Constitution
of the presiding Grand Lodge.
General requirements
Generally, to be a regular Freemason, a candidate must:[17]
Be a man who comes of his own free will.
Believe in a Supreme Being. (The form of which is left to
open interpretation by the candidate)
Be at least the minimum age (18–25 years old depending
on the jurisdiction).
Be of sound mind and body (Lodges do not deny membership to
a man because of a physical disability; this is largely a
historical holdover, and if a potential candidate says there
will be no problem, he will be taken at his word).
Be of good morals, and of good reputation.
Be free-born (or "born free", i.e. not born a slave
or bondsman).[44] As with the previous, this is entirely an
historical anachronism, and can be interpreted in the same
manner as it is in the context of being entitled to write
a will. Some jurisdictions have removed this requirement.
Have character references, as well as one or two references
from current Masons, depending on jurisdiction.
Deviation from one or more of these requirements is generally
the barometer of Masonic regularity or irregularity. However,
an accepted deviation in some regular jurisdictions is to
allow a Lewis (the son of a Mason),[45] to be initiated earlier
than the normal minimum age for that jurisdiction, although
no earlier than the age of 18.
Some Grand Lodges in the United States have an additional
residence requirement, candidates being expected to have lived
within the jurisdiction for certain period of time, typically
six months.[46]
[edit] Membership and religion
Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is neither
a religion nor a substitute for one. "There is no separate
Masonic God", nor a separate proper name for a deity
in any branch of Freemasonry.[47][48]
Regular Freemasonry requires that its candidates believe
in a Supreme Being, but the interpretation of the term is
subject to the conscience of the candidate. This means that
men from a wide range of faiths, including (but not limited
to) Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism
can and have become Masons.
Since the early 19th century, in the irregular Continental
European tradition (meaning irregular to those Grand Lodges
in amity with the United Grand Lodge of England), a very broad
interpretation has been given to a (non-dogmatic) Supreme
Being; in the tradition of Baruch Spinoza and Johann Wolfgang
von Goethe — or views of The Ultimate Cosmic Oneness
— along with Western atheistic idealism and agnosticism.
Freemasonry in Scandinavia, known as the Swedish Rite, on
the other hand, accepts only Christians.[7] Some of the appendant
bodies (or portions thereof) in some jurisdictions also have
religious requirements, but have no restrictions at the lodge
level.
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