How to Become a Mason

For over 300 years, Masons have been prohibited from “Asking a man to become a Mason.” The principle behind this requirement is Masons want all applicants to join our fraternity from their “own free will and accord”.

This does not mean that, as Masons, we are prohibited from talking to non-Masons about our fraternity, inviting them to join us at our Lodge non-Masonic Ritual events, participating at Masonic Funerals or reading books about Masonry. Before a man asks for a “petition to join a lodge”, we want that man to know as much about Masonry as possible.

At Las Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge, we give an open invitation to any good man at least 18 years of age with an interest in Masonry to join us at our monthly BBQ on the Patio. At this time, we will answer as many of his questions as we possibly can, show him what our Lodge room looks like and explain to him what Masonry requires of him in order to be made a Master Mason. This is done over a no-cost casual BBQ meal. Our BBQ on the Patio is held on the 2nd Monday of every month, rain or shine, and starts around 6:30. There are no reservations—just show up and introduce yourself.

The Petition to Join

If a good man is interested in joining Las Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge, he will have to ask a member for a petition. After completing the petition, he will need the signature of two of our members on his petition. If he knows one or more members, these friends should sign his petition. If he does not know any of our members, he should attend a couple of our BBQ’s so that several of our members can get to know him and be willing to sign his petition for him.

Currently the fee that must accompany a petition to join Las Palmas-Ponderosa Lodge is $304. This amount may change when our Grand Lodge meets in October, of 2026.

After the completed petition and accompanying fee is submitted to our Lodge Secretary, it must be read at our next Stated (business) Meeting which will be on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Your name will then be submitted to our Grand Lodge for their electronic background check. (This can take a couple of weeks.) If and when we get the OK from our Grand Lodge, the Master of our Lodge will then appoint a committee of three members to do personal interviews with you, perhaps your spouse, and the two members of the Lodge who signed your petition.

If the report from the investigating committee is favorable, you will then be voted on at our next Stated Meeting. We use a secret ballot of white balls and black cubes. One black cube is all it takes to be rejected. While black cubes are not common, if you get one, you will be refunded your application fee and be eligible to re-apply in one year.

Once you are elected to receive the degrees of Masonry

If you are elected to receive the degrees of Masonry in Las Palmas Lodge, you will be scheduled to have the Entered Apprentice degree conferred upon you. This is your initiation into Freemasonry. The ritual of your degree is the same throughout all lodges in California and takes between 1 ½ and 2 hours.

After you are made an Entered Apprentice Mason, you must commit to memory “a portion of the ritual of the degree” and after memorized, you must recite it in open lodge before you can be advanced to the degree of Fellowcraft Mason.

You will be assigned a “coach” to assist you in this memorization process, but it takes some time. If you get together with your coach 5 times a week, you should be able to learn your proficiency in about a month. If you only get coached once a week, it may take over a year. (Coaching sessions normally take about 30 minutes and some can be over the phone.)

You must give your proficiency before you can advance, but while you are learning your proficiency you can attend all other First Degrees and Stated Meetings at our Lodge.

The same applies once you get your second degree (Fellowcraft) before you get your third degree or Master Mason degree.