When and where did Masonry begin?

The Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons (F. & A. M.) is the oldest and most widely known fraternal organization in the world. It has its roots in antiquity and is directly descended from the association of "operative masons," the cathedral builders of the Middle Ages, who traveled through Europe employing the skills of their craft. The organization, as we know it today, began in 1717 in England where the cathedral building was on the decline and the "operative masons," or "free masons" as they were known, started to accept members who were not members of the mason's craft, calling them "speculative masons" or "accepted masons. "Freemasonry was brought to the United States by our early settlers. Throughout the world there are approximately five million Freemasons. Nearly three million of them reside in the United States. Membership in Arkansas is limited to adult males, 21 years of age or older, who can meet recognized qualifications and standards of character and reputation. There are presently 260 Lodges in Arkansas.

What is the Purpose of Freemasonry?

The basic purpose is to make "good men better"; better fathers, better husbands, better brothers and better sons. We try to place emphasis on the individual man by strengthening his character, improving his moral and spiritual outlook and broadening his mental horizons. We try to build a better world . . . by building better men to work in our communities. Masonry, and its several appendant and sponsored bodies, adopt or participate in many types of charities. It is conservatively estimated that Masons of the world contribute to charities an amount that averages more than three million dollars a day. During the past two years, Pulaski Heights Lodge has donated $5,000.00 each year to various charitable organizations. During the 2008 annual meeting of Arkansas Masons in February (called an Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas), our Grand Master presented a check to the Arkansas Children's Hospital for $105,000.00 contributed by the Masons of Arkansas.

Is Freemasonry a Secret Organization or a Religion?

The answer is NO. A secret organization is one which conceals its membership, has secret meeting places and of which the public has little knowledge regarding its organization or its principles. This does not fit the Masonic Fraternity at all. Our secrets are a very few in number and deal with methods of personal recognition, some details of our degrees and the privacy of each member's ballot. Freemasonry is not a religion, although it is religious in character. Every applicant for the degrees in Freemasonry must express a belief and a trust in a Supreme Being. Masonry does not take the place of religion, but stresses personal commitment, and involvement in the individual's faith community. The Masonic fraternity encourages every member to attend and support the religion of his own choice. During Lodge meetings, a Bible sits opened to remind us that it is our "book of rules," and we should always be mindful of its teachings.

What are the "Degrees"?

Degrees denote a level of membership. Lessons in Masonry are taught in three separate stages or degrees in our Masonic Lodges. The degrees, in order, are Entered Apprentice (First Degree), Fellow Craft (Second Degree), and Master Mason (Third Degree). The titles of the degrees were adopted because they are ancient terms used by craft guilds. During those times, a man who desired to become a skilled laborer, he entered the craft as an apprentice; when he became proficient in the skills of the craft, he became known as a fellow of the craft; as he reached a level of experience and development in which his skills were markedly better that others, and he was capable of teaching others to improve their skills, he was known as a master of the craft. In our fraternity, allegoric lessons and depictive plays are used to teach the importance of being an honorable man.

What are Masonic Aprons?

An apron was worn by Operative Masons to protect themselves from rough stones and tools. Presently, it is a badge of fraternal distinction. During his first degree, each Mason is given a plain white leather apron; it represents the white lambskin, a symbol of innocence. In Arkansas, it is Masonic tradition that after a man has completed his three degrees, he no longer wears that apron to lodge meetings. Instead he carefully puts it away and wears one of the cloth aprons each lodge supplies for its members and visitors. The white leather apron becomes a keepsake throughout his life and finally, at his passing, he wears it in death as an eternal symbol of hope. Every Mason should tell his wife and family where he keeps his apron.

What Do Masonic Symbols Mean?

The most widely recognized symbol of the Fraternity is the Square and Compasses with the letter "G" in the Center. The square reminds us to "square our actions" by being an honest and upright man of good character. The compass remind us we should figuratively draw a line or border around our actions which will teach us to subdue our actions and not allow ourselves to cross over the line into extreme actions in which no man of good character should participate. The letter "G" represents Geometry and also it is the initial of God, the Supreme Architect of the Universe.

Members wear Masonic symbols to remind themselves of their obligation to the lessons learned in their Lodges, and to identify their membership to other Masons and all people. Masonic symbols have wide meanings, some directly related to the tools used by actual Operative Masons and some, represent the need for order and direction in life.

When are Meetings Held?

Lodges meet in regular monthly sessions and on such other days as are necessary to conduct its business and degree work. Pulaski Heights Lodge No. 673 usually conducts its regularly stated monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, a meal is served at 6:15 P. M., and the meeting begins at 7:00 P. M. At times, we will conduct more than one meeting during a month if we have a new member going through the degree work, or if a special event is scheduled.

Our meetings are conducted in the Scottish Rite's Albert Pike Memorial Temple, located at 712 Scott Street, in Little Rock. While every Mason's attendance is earnestly solicited, it is not intended that a Lodge should interfere with one's regular vocation or duty to God, family, or country. We hope you will attend regularly, and participate in the degree work and other activities of the Lodge.

Titles

The Masonic fraternities, and its appendant bodies, are well known for some of the most grandiose titles of any organization. The elected presiding officer of the state is called Grand Master, and the State body is referred to as the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Arkansas. We also use certain terms in place of the commonly used "Mr." Those terms include:

• "Most Worshipful" is used preceding the name of any Mason who is serving or has served as a Grand Master of Masons. The letters "P. G. M." after a Mason's name indicates he is a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Arkansas.
• "Right Worshipful" is used preceding the name of any Mason who is or has served as a Grand Lodge officer. Those offices included the elected officers and those who have been appointed or have ever been appointed to serve as a "District Deputy Grand Master."
• "Worshipful" is used preceding the name of any Mason currently serving in one of several appointed Grand Lodge offices, or is serving or has served as the Master of a Lodge. The letters "P. M." after a Mason's name indicates he is a Past Master of a Lodge.

These terms have no religious connotation, and are not meant to indicate that we worship those who hold them. Worshipful was a term used in ancient times to designate one who was worthy of praise for his accomplishments or deeds.