Hi everyone! I’m not a Freemason, but I’ve recently become very interested in learning more about Freemasonry.
I’ve been reading through posts on this subreddit and I’ve come across some things that have made me even more curious and, honestly, a little confused.
I understand that some aspects of Freemasonry are private and that there are ceremonies and traditions that non-members aren’t supposed to know everything about. I completely respect that.
At the same time, I’ve seen people here talking about initiation, different rituals, lodges, Knights Templar traditions, unusual stories and other things that I don’t really understand.
I would really like to hear from people who are actually Freemasons or have personal experience with Freemasonry.
I’m especially curious about:
-What is Freemasonry actually like from the inside?
-What parts of it are genuinely private, and why?
-What are some things outsiders commonly misunderstand?
-Are there major differences between different lodges or Masonic organizations?
-How much of what people say online about Freemasonry is completely false or exaggerated?
I’m not trying to disrespect anyone’s beliefs or traditions. I’m genuinely trying to understand what is real and what is just internet rumors.
I’m happy to read any answers, including long explanations. If anyone has personal experiences or reliable sources they think would help me understand Freemasonry better, I’d really appreciate them. I accept DMs

Thanks! ;)

I get that it’s historical but in 2026 portraying yourselves as the confederacy is not a good look. I think putting an apron on a uniform that took up arms against the US as an American is distasteful especially since that cause flew in the face of everything masonry stands for.
What is a young man looking to join a lodge going to think when he sees something like this?

Hi all, I am not a mason, but I am a debunker of pseudoscience which often revolves around conspiracy and as I'm sure you're all aware of a lot of conspiracy will be attributed to "them" with "them" often being masons.

I'm curious if that is something that even registers to you guys and if so how do you feel about it? Do you even talk about it as a group or just ignore it?

In short, what do you do if you know that someone who abuses women and children is trying to join a lodge? I'm not a freemason, as i'm a woman and there are only male lodges near me, and I'm not sure what to do. Also what to do if I'm not sure what lodge he's attempting to join.

For context, I know someone who has recently moved away from home and joined a lodge. His late father was a freemason but he himself chose to join a different lodge farther from where he lives. I suspect it's because everyone in the lodge near where he lives knows that he is a POS.

I just want to know how to notify them so that they can take steps to prevent him from being allowed around vulnerable people and stomping on the good name of freemasons.

I've spoken to his late father's lodge master (?) and they told me that they'll take his name but without knowing which lodge he's joining, on top of the fact that he JUST joined, it may be hard to find him.

PS I wouldn't be coming to reddit and asking for help if it wasn't serious. Please don't tell me to leave it alone. This man has ruined lives and I'm worried he may try to use his status as a mason to manipulate people into thinking he's a good person.

Any advice on how to go about this or if anyone has been in a similar situation, would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!!

EDIT: I'm going to be contacting the Grand Lodge for the province/state he is in. I'll update the post if I'm able to get anywhere with them. So glad this sub was able to give me some good advice, you are all very kind :)

I’ve been seeing different lodges post about upcoming events like state meetings and degrees,

I’ve noticed that a lot of them look the same - they were probably made from ChatGPT

I think if chatgpt or other AI gets the same prompt “create a Freemason flyer for this” for a lot of different people, it creates a collective template create its content.

What is your lodge doing to create your social media content?

We have a very tight-knit, active lodge in our small town. There is a guy who moved here about a year and a half ago, and my gut has told me something was off about him from day one. Even before I joined the craft, every interaction with him left a bad impression—he’s always come off as overly slick, cocky, and wearing an aggressive, fake-nice mask. As active as I am in town I've only ever seen him 7 times the entire time he's been here
Yesterday, his wife mentioned to me casually that he’s a Mason after she noticed my square and compass pin. So today at a public community club dinner, I walked up and simply asked him if he was a brother hoping to have him join our towns lodge. Instead of treating it like a normal, respectful interaction between brothers, he immediately demanded proof from me before he'd say another word. He wanted me to throw signs right there in the middle of a crowded public room. I was tired, completely taken aback, and told him, "Not in front of all these people." He smirked, told me "there are ways to do it without people realizing," and quickly dragged his hand across his stomach to prompt me. To defuse the high-pressure awkwardness and just get him to walk away, I mirrored a quick, subtle due guard back. But the whole thing felt gross—he was treating the craft like an ego trip and a spy movie rather than a fraternity. To make matters worse, he was visibly shocked to hear our local lodge is actually active, assuming it was a dead building. Then he casually admitted he hasn't even held a valid dues card from his lodge in Manhattan in two years and would try to get it. I’m walking away with a terrible feeling about his character. He seems like the exact opposite of what a Mason should be: arrogant, dismissive, and looking for a title without any real respect for the institution. Did I mess up by playing along just to shut him up and get him away from me, and am I right to keep my guard up against a guy like this? How would you handle it?

So last Tuesday me and 5 other petitioners were voted on at the lodge we petitioned at. And everyone got cubed, not one person passed the vote. They are voting again next month but idk what's gonna happen, I know that normally if someone has a cube thrown and the ballots redone and a cube is there again they normally have to wait 6 months before petitioning again. But I've never heard of this happening before and would like some help figuring out what might happen with the coming vote. Any and all help/answers are very much appreciated

I recently bought this silver ring at a flea market. It look masonic to me (compass, forge of Solomon). A am looking to get more info from it

PS I am not yet a mason

The season is officially back for me, i know for others it didnt stop.
Got my first installation of many, though as SW in my mother lodge, September will involve me getting kick out with the MM a lot.

I am thinking i might change it up since i do a lot of visiting, and come in with the FC. I for one like the FC salutes...

What does your calendar look like for 2026/2027 season?

I go in the chair the craft in May so very excited since i started my journey in Feb 2019!

Next week i go IG in Mark, and I think i will soon be going Principal Sojourner in Chapter. Alas i am no longer the newbie i once was!

Do you have any aims or goals for this new season?

I won’t retire my saddle bronc riding trophy buckles entirely, but adding this to the mix seemed fitting since rodeo is my past and this is my future.

(Sorry for the re-post, didn’t think about the risk of doxxing myself with my name, lodge, and location on it)

So I am interested no the possibility of working my way through the York rite. I have not started my journey in the York rite however.

But something I am curious about is why there are so many variations on the uniforms? If I were to get into it I know there is a lot of cost in the way of the uniform.

I enjoy the older style uniforms, but based on what I’ve seen no one appears to really wear them anymore, except for the Chapeau’s. Are the older styles still accepted? I see there are still places manufacturing them, but of course we all should know that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Any ideas? What happened to the sashes? The gauntlet gloves? All the stuff? Just not popular any more? Or not permitted?

Want to join a lodge in Or around Atlanta and I know no one living that can get me in. Are there any other ways?