Why Become a Freemason?

By becoming a Freemason, you’ll be making a commitment to yourself and to your Brother Masons to be the best man you can be. By taking the obligations of this ancient Fraternity, you will be joining millions of Freemasons across the globe who are also committed to helping each other develop their potential and improve the quality of life for themselves, their families and communities.

By joining, you will become the latest in a long line of men from all walks of life - world leaders and everyday men - who have found inspiration in Freemasonry and who strive to live by the values of honor, integrity, equality and brotherhood.

When you become a Mason, you join a lodge, which can be thought of as a local chapter or club of the larger organization, the Grand Lodge. The name goes back hundreds of years, to when all Masons were taught, “A Lodge is a place where members assemble and work.” That idea still holds true today, and we talk about joining “the Lodge.”

Qualifications for Membership

Not everyone can or should be a Mason. To become a Mason and member of Whitehorse Lodge No. 46 and the Grand Lodge of BC & Yukon, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a resident of the Whitehorse area for at least six months
• Be at least 21 years old
• Be able to read and write English
• All Freemasons are expected to have a religious belief.
• Be of good reputation as a man of honor and integrity
• Be recommended by two members of the Whitehorse Lodge No. 46

When a potential member does not know anyone in the local Lodge, the Lodge will arrange a casual meeting with members who will be glad to share information about the Lodge and its activities. This kind of meeting provides an opportunity to get to know each other, to ask and answer questions, and to discover if it looks like a good fit between the man and the Lodge. You may be invited to some of the lodge activities or social functions before two members will agree to make the recommendation and accept your application. On occasion, after meeting with members of the lodge, a potential candidate may discover that he already knows somebody in the lodge who will be willing to make that recommendation.

Are there costs to join?

There will be a fee to join, which currently is $500. This fee is due at the time of a formal application is submitted for membership. There is no charge to meet with the lodge to learn more about it or the process of becoming a member. Once a man becomes a member, he then pays annual dues in support of lodge operations and he will be expected to pay for meals and event fees if the lodge holds banquets, charitable or social events.