What I Wish I Had Learned as a New Freemason
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Part Three
W Bro Tony Harvey, PJGD, 2012 Prestonian Lecturer, writes…
In the last two editions I shared the first four of my tops tips for new Freemasons. They were:
Understand what it is you have joined
Engage with your Lodge, its activities and members
Keep seeking what you are seeking
Study the ritual
In this article, I bring this series to an end with my final three top tips: what I wish I knew as a new Freemason.
5. Extend beyond your own Lodge
Your mother Lodge is your home base. You should always prioritise its meetings and, whatever else you do in Freemasonry, give it your full support.
However, one Lodge may not satisfy all you want. Lodges in this country meet at most once per month, and many less than that. Some have long breaks around the summer months. However knowledgeable and experienced the members of one Lodge will be, they will not know all you might want to learn.
Thankfully, there are many ways to extend your knowledge, network and experience.
One of the best pieces of advice I was offered as a new Freemason was to visit other Lodges. I support this absolutely. Visiting allows you to observe without any pressure to contribute. It widens your perspective as you witness different ways of doing things. It introduces you to different people and their wisdom and friendship. It helps you appreciate that Freemasonry really is universal. Don’t just visit other Lodges local to you. Stretch your “cable tow” to visit Lodges in other towns, in the Provinces and – if possible – even overseas.
Another great way to extend your network is to join and get involved with a Light Blues Club. In London we have the Connaught Club. Outside of London, almost every Province has one or more of these, which are for new and young Freemasons, typically those who have not been promoted to Metropolitan or Provincial rank. They are self-governed by their own members, so are very focused on what new Freemasons want and need.
Many Lodges have only a small number of Brethren progressing at the same time, so cannot provide much contact with people in similar situations. Light Blues Clubs can. Their members are at a similar stage in their journey in Freemasonry. So, members progress together through the degrees, the Lodge offices and into the chairs of their respective Lodges. Light Blues Clubs tend to offer a balance of social and educational experiences. As the proud Honorary Member of a Light Blues Club, and as a speaker to a good number, I wholeheartedly endorse their purpose and their activities. If you have not joined yours yet, please do so.
Progressing onwards, as you get more involved in Freemasonry you will become increasingly aware of Metropolitan Grand Lodge, or your Provincial or District Grand Lodge, and what it has to offer in the way of meetings, learning opportunities and new friendships. You won’t see the degrees practised in Provincial meetings. In fact, there are few esoteric elements outside of Lodge meetings. However, you can get the chance to witness other ceremonies, such as the Consecration of a new Lodge.
If you are especially interested in the ritual, you can join study circles and Lodges of Instruction. You may be asked to learn and deliver the Craft Lectures, which run parallel to our degree ceremonies and amplify their content and meaning. For those interested in charity, there are opportunities to support our fundraising appeals. Finally, many Lodges are formed around a special interest or connection and so are part of the Universities Scheme or a Lodge Association. Meetings of Lodge Associations can be great fun and bring you together with Brethren from around the country.
Freemasonry offers many opportunities that complement and enhance what is offered in Lodges. However, they can never replace the special bond you will form in your mother Lodge, or in other Lodges you join.
This brings me to the next top tip.
6. Know, but Constantly Review, Your Own Limits
As Freemasons, we are taught to be cautious. An enthusiastic Freemason would be wise to apply this to the extent of their involvement and commitment.
Freemasonry is scalable. Your involvement can be limited to one Lodge that meets four times a year or you can be out six nights a week. Where you sit between these extremes is up to you. Too little, and Freemasonry will have little impact on you. Too much, and it will drain you of time, money, and perspective.
Over the course of your life, as your circumstances and enthusiasm change, you will adjust the extent of the resources you put into Freemasonry. I advise you to review at intervals and always make sure you have something in reserve.
You will find some Freemasons ask you to commit to more. This is especially true when it comes to joining other Lodges or other Masonic Orders. These are different branches within Freemasonry. They are separate membership organisations, each with their own governance, rules and structures. They offer extensions and additions to the teaching of the three degrees of the Craft and that of the Royal Arch. They require membership of a Craft Lodge – and sometimes more – as a qualification for joining. You can get a great deal of satisfaction from joining other Orders, but they can also take over if you are not careful.
I hope you are already aware of the Royal Arch. In English Freemasonry this has a special status as it completes the journey you began with Initiation. It addresses issues raised but not answered in the Master Mason’s degree. I encourage you to make time to join a Royal Arch Chapter – when you are ready. The commitment, in both time and money, is less than is the case for a Craft Lodge. However, the depth of learning and the beautiful experience it offers cannot be compared.
Thereafter, there are many other Orders you can join. Please do not be swayed by flattery. Do not simply accept invitations. Research the Orders. Understand what they have to offer and how that connects with your journey so far. Weigh up the pros and cons of joining. Consider the commitment required and how it might complement or conflict with your responsibilities and progression in the Craft. Speak to others to get their perspective, always recognising that they will be on their own journey and have their own questions and preferences to satisfy. Anyone who “tells” you what you “should” do may have their own interests at heart rather than yours. Most especially, avoid any overzealous recruiting sergeants who are simply seeking candidates to boost their favourite Order.
My own experience may be helpful. After my Third Degree I joined something new every year. First was the Royal Arch and then the Mark. Others followed. Twenty years later I was far too thinly spread. So, I trimmed right back and resigned from most Orders. I concentrated on what I consider to be the core of Freemasonry – the Craft, Royal Arch and Mark – and which I enjoy the most. I have since re-joined a couple of other Orders but limit my involvement so I can focus my energies on my priorities. Your own priorities and interests may be different to mine, but the point is the same.
There are other aspects of Freemasonry that may attract your attention and interest. The same principle applies. Take time to consider your options. Review your existing commitments and assess the impact the new opportunity will have on them. Consider whether it is aligned to your own reason for being in Freemasonry. Learn to say, “Thank you, but no that is not for me. At least, it is not right now.”
This brings me to my final tip.
7. Remember the Three Things You Should Never Do
Being a very positive person, I like to explain things in positive terms, hence, “top tips.” However, there are three things which I feel are best explained by advising you what NOT to do.
They are:
Do NOT fall into debt with your Lodge.
Your Lodge operates on a tight budget. The annual subscription will be set at the lowest feasible level to meet its financial obligations. It relies upon prompt payment of all subscriptions and fees for it to function. If you pay these late, the Lodge will still incur costs, which then must be paid from accumulated funds and therefore by other members. It is unfair on your Brethren to expect them to pay for you.
If you fall into financial difficulty and cannot pay any charge on time, please talk to your Lodge Treasurer in confidence as soon as possible. He will offer whatever help is possible and, if appropriate and if you permit, ask the Lodge Almoner to assist.
Do NOT visit another Lodge before checking it is recognised by UGLE.
Earlier I mentioned that there are organisations which call themselves Freemasons, but which do not meet the standards set by the United Grand Lodge of England. Therefore, these organisations are not formally recognised for the purposes of visiting.
Fortunately, there are not many unrecognised Lodges within our own country. As soon as we go beyond our shores, however, the situation is more complicated. Therefore, if you wish to visit a Lodge – especially one overseas – first check with your Lodge Secretary that it is formally recognised. Your Secretary will follow a protocol agreed between all Grand Lodges and help you visit a recognised Lodge.
In the UK we have two Grand Lodges for women, namely the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons. They practise the same form of Freemasonry as us and so are considered Regular. In fact, we work closely with them through the Council for Freemasonry. However, we cannot visit each other’s Lodges.
There are a growing number of online entities claiming to be Freemasonry, but which are not. If they mention the Illuminati, claim to be an umbrella or international body for Freemasonry, or a digital version, you can be certain they are not part of what we call Freemasonry. Freemasonry happens in Lodges under national Grand Lodges which work together under a system of mutual recognition. There is no worldwide umbrella organisation covering Freemasonry and you cannot become a Freemason in the digital realm. Steer well clear of these.
Do NOT resign without discussing your reasons and the consequences.
I started by emphasising that, when you became a Freemason, you joined a worldwide fraternity and that, having done so, you are a Freemason for life. In this, it differs from almost everything else you might ever join.
However, you can resign from a Lodge. Nevertheless, I recommend you discuss with others before doing so.
If your circumstances have changed and you have less time or money available for Freemasonry, arrange to become what is known as a “country member” rather than resign. This involves a reduced commitment and cost. When circumstances allow, you can increase your commitment again.
If you are moving from your area, speak to the Metropolitan Migration Officer to find a Lodge you can join in your new locality. Provinces also have such officers, and together they assist relocating Freemasons to find new Lodges. Delay resigning from your original Lodge until you are comfortably engaged with your new one. Even then, consider becoming a country member of your mother Lodge.
If you feel you have joined the wrong Lodge, or are dissatisfied with it in some way, discuss your options with your Lodge Visiting Officer. They may be able to help you resolve the situation. Failing that, they will help you find an alternative and more suitable Lodge, possibly with the help of the Metropolitan Membership Team. There are almost 7,000 Lodges in United Grand Lodge. If you are suitable for Freemasonry, there are plenty of Lodges suitable for you.
So, these are my seven top tips for new Freemasons. They are based on my own thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience of Freemasonry, influenced by my views about how Lodges can adapt to the 21st century, and tempered with the insights of many who I meet when I deliver talks throughout our constitution and overseas.
Let me sum it all up.
You have joined the world’s oldest fraternal and charitable organisation. It has moral and spiritual lessons that have made a deep and positive impact on millions before you and, through them, the world at large. It offers you a lifetime of enjoyable, satisfying and life-enhancing experiences. To reap these benefits, engage, commit, learn, keep searching and always know your limits. Embrace Freemasonry and it will help you to grow to become a better person, and to have a greater positive impact on the lives of others.
To paraphrase the words of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on my Queen’s Scout certificate, “I wish you God-speed on your journey through Freemasonry. May it prove for you a joyous adventure.”
A lifelong Scout, Tony Harvey was Initiated into Pioneer Lodge No 9065, the Derbyshire Scout Lodge, in 1991. Specialising as a Lodge Secretary and Charity Steward, his active Provincial roles have been as a Mentor, Warden, Secretary, Membership Officer, Learning & Development Officer and Communication Officer. He was the Prestonian Lecturer for 2012 with, “Scouting & Freemasonry: two parallel organisations?” and has held many other Masonic lectureships. He has served as a trustee of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys, the Masonic Charitable Foundation and Lifelites. He is currently Chair of Trustees of Lifelites and Deputy Chair of the Grand Master’s Keystone Fund Awards Panel. Tony is a Past Junior Grand Deacon in UGLE and a Grand Officer in four other Orders.
Tony conceived and was the main author of UGLE’s Members’ Pathway. He also developed the Seven Habits of Highly Successful Lodges, which has become a Lewis Masonic best seller.
For twenty years Tony has concentrated on membership development and the modernisation of Lodge management. His books, talks and articles combine historical analysis with an understanding of organisational development to promote a forward-thinking approach to Freemasonry, based on the evolution of our Lodge practices while retaining our fundamental meaning and purpose. He encourages Lodges to adopt a member-centric approach, more suited to 21st century lifestyles.
This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 61 – Summer 2026.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in Arena Issue 61 here.
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