Greetings everyone,

If you are a brother of Freemasonry or a brother of our Charles W. Cushman lodge #879, welcome –

If you are not a member of our lodge, I am guessing that you found our site through word of mouth or by searching the web, thank you for visiting our website.

If you are wondering what Freemasonry is all about and you have some questions about Masonry and what Freemasonry is all about….

Maybe we can try to help you understand what our fraternity is all about, and what it means to be a Freemason.

I am sure that you may have heard the various rumors about what Freemasonry is all about….

So we are going to set the story straight and tell you what Freemasonry is… And what it is NOT...

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What Freemasonry is:

  • The Oldest, largest and most charitable men’s fraternal organization in the world

  • Spiritual, not religious in nature, requiring every member to profess a belief in a Supreme Being of his choice

  • Family oriented with many programs and groups to involve the entire family

  • An opportunity for a man to improve himself. Rich in history, tradition and patriotism.

  • Sensitive to the needs of each community where it exist

  • Open to men of good character regardless of race, creed or religion.

What Freemasonry is Not:

  • A secret society.

  • Any information about Masons can be found at a well stocked bookstore or local library.

  • Masonic buildings are clearly marked and listed in the phonebook.

  • Members wear Masonic jewelry.

  • The only secret about Masonry is there are no real secret.

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Masonry a Secret Society?

If freemasonry was a secret society, why would masonry:

  • Show times of events and meetings

  • Show locations of meeting places

  • Allow members to show: emblems, signs, apparel, etc….openly to note who was a fellow mason?

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A Brief History of Masonry

No one knows just how old Freemasonry is because the actual origins have been lost to time. Most scholars believe Masonry rose from the guilds of stonemasons who build the majestic castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

In 1717 a formal organization was created in England when four Lodges in London joined in forming England’s Grand Lodge.

Freemasonry in America was initiated by our early settlers and was supported by men such as Washington, Franklin, Hancock, Revere and Dewitt Clinton. As a matter of fact, most of General George Washington’s military officers & staff were Free Masons.

The Grand Lodge of the State of New York was chartered in 1781.

We urge your family to read Masonic history; it is a vital part of our proud American heritage.

The Mason in your family has joined a renowned philanthropic brotherhood which has 1.7 million members in North America and 3.2 million members world wide.

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There are very few places in the entire world that could not offer your family Masonic friendship or assistance if the need arose.

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What is the purpose of Masonry ?

The main purpose of Masonry is to take good men and assist them in becoming better: husbands, fathers, sons and brothers.

Masonry does this by keeping them exposed to moral and ethical teachings and by consistently asking them to consider important character building issues. One of the most important concerns is what each Mason gives back to his community.

Masonry’s cornerstone is charity.

Approximately two million dollars a day is given to charity by all Masonic organizations combined.

In short, by improving ourselves, we are placed in a better position to help others.

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Do you still have any questions about Freemasonry?

Should you have any further questions, please ask us, or ask a known Masonic member.

Please contact our Charles W Cushman Lodge #879 –

Please feel free to contact us through our Contact page or contact our Grand Lodge at: 1-800-3MASON

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We hope this helped to answer some of your questions, and perked your interest in becoming a Freemason in the future.

As you see we are Not a secret Society, if we were, our purpose and information on Freemasonry would not be so easily found on the internet or in your local libraries.