Why Do People Join Freemasonry?

In a world saturated with distractions, superficiality, and relentless pressure to perform, more and more people are searching for something deeper — genuine connection and purposeful reflection. Freemasonry offers a space where you can pause, reflect, and learn alongside others who walk the same path. It is not about receiving ready-made answers. Instead, it is about learning to ask better questions — about yourself, your values, and your place in the world.

The Three Pillars of Freemasonry

Freemasonry rests on three fundamental pillars that guide every member’s journey. These principles shape the experience within the lodge and extend far beyond its walls into everyday life.

Brotherly Love

Within a lodge, members form a close-knit community built on mutual support, encouragement, and inspiration. The atmosphere is not one of competition but of connection. Freemasons come from all walks of life, yet within the lodge they meet as equals — united by a shared commitment to growth and fellowship.

The Search for Truth

Truth in Freemasonry is not an absolute or dogmatic truth handed down from above. It is deeply personal — shaped by experience, reflection, and symbolic exploration. Each member is encouraged to seek their own understanding of the world, guided by the rich symbolic language that Freemasonry provides. This ongoing pursuit of truth keeps the Masonic journey alive and ever-evolving.

Self-Improvement

At the center of Masonic philosophy lies the powerful metaphor of the rough ashlar — an unfinished stone that each member is called to shape and refine over time. Every lodge meeting, every ritual, and every symbol serves as an invitation to look inward, cultivate self-knowledge, and strive to become a better version of yourself. This commitment to self-improvement is not a destination but a lifelong practice.

What Freemasonry Is Not

Misconceptions about Freemasonry abound. It is important to understand that Freemasonry does not promote any particular religious doctrine, nor does it engage in political agendas. It welcomes men of all faiths and backgrounds who share a belief in a higher principle and a desire for personal growth. The so-called “secrets” of Freemasonry are not conspiratorial — they are symbolic experiences meant to be lived and felt, not simply explained.

Is Freemasonry Right for You?

Freemasonry is for those who sense that there is more to life than what meets the eye. It appeals to people who want to live with greater intention, who are not afraid to ask difficult questions, and who are committed to personal development — always with respect for others. You do not need to have all the answers before you begin. You only need to be willing to search.

Freemasonry has endured for centuries because it speaks to something timeless in the human spirit — the desire for meaning, connection, and growth. Whether you are just beginning to explore what Freemasonry is about or are already considering taking the first step, know that the journey starts with a single question: are you ready to look within? The lodge door is open to those who knock with a sincere heart.

Copyright text & image: devrijmetselaar.nl
Texts are based on the ideas and content of the author of devrijmetselaar.nl, reviewed, corrected, and supplemented with the assistance of OpenAI. Images are created based on the ideas of the author of devrijmetselaar.nl using OpenAI/DALL-E.

The message What Is Freemasonry? Core Principles, Symbolism and Purpose first published on De Vrijmetselaar.

What Is the Song of Solomon?

The Song of Solomon — sometimes called the Song of Songs or Canticles — is the twenty-second book of the Old Testament. It consists of lyrical dialogues between a bridegroom and a bride, interspersed with choruses and interludes. On the surface, it reads as a collection of love poems filled with sensory descriptions: the fragrance of myrrh, the taste of wine, the sight of blossoming vineyards. But is that really all there is?

For centuries, scholars and theologians have searched for deeper layers beneath the poetic language. In the Jewish tradition, it was read as an allegory for the relationship between the Eternal and His people. In Christian circles, the bride was seen as the Church, the soul, or humanity itself seeking union with the Divine. Across all these interpretations, the same question persists: what does this longing truly represent?

What Does This Have to Do with Freemasonry?

A fair question. Freemasonry is not a religion and does not bind itself to any single sacred text. Yet Freemasonry works with symbols — and the Song of Solomon is profoundly symbolic. The language of this book speaks in images: the garden, the well, the sealed fountain, the lily among thorns. These are precisely the kinds of symbols that appear in Masonic thought, though often in different contexts.

Consider the garden. In the Song of Solomon, the beloved is described as an enclosed garden — a hidden space where beauty flourishes. In Freemasonry, we recognize the concept of the inner temple: a spiritual space that the initiate must cultivate, tend, and protect. Both traditions speak of something that grows only when it is lovingly maintained.

Is Love a Masonic Theme?

Absolutely. Brotherly love stands as one of the principal tenets of Freemasonry. This is not romantic love in the way the Song of Solomon portrays it, but rather a deeper bond — love for one’s fellow human being, love of truth, love of the ideal of self-improvement. And yet, there is a kinship between the two. For what is longing, if not the driving force behind every search?

“I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not.”

This line from the Song of Solomon describes a universal experience. The seeker who sets out on a journey, not yet knowing where the path will lead. Isn’t this precisely the position of the candidate who enters the lodge for the first time? He is searching for something he cannot yet name. He longs for light, for meaning, for connection.

Symbolic Imagery That Resonates with Masonic Thought

The Song of Solomon employs a wealth of natural imagery that echoes through Masonic symbolism:

The rose and the lily: Signs of beauty and purity, these symbols appear across multiple traditions as markers of inner development and spiritual refinement.

The cedar and the cypress: Building materials for the Temple, but also images of steadfastness and growth — qualities every Mason aspires to embody.

The fountain of living water: A symbol of wisdom that never ceases to flow, of knowledge that never runs dry. The search for further light in Masonry carries a remarkably similar resonance.

Night and morning: The transition from darkness to light — a theme that recurs constantly throughout Masonic ritual and ceremony.

These images are not exclusive to either tradition, but they form a shared symbolic language. Anyone who reads the Song of Solomon with a symbolic eye will recognize patterns that are also cultivated within the lodge.

Can Poetry Be a Teacher?

Without question. Poetry works differently than prose. It compels us to slow down, to feel, to experience multiple layers simultaneously. Freemasonry uses ritual and symbol with the very same purpose: not to provide direct answers, but to awaken questions. The Song of Solomon does exactly this. It offers no moral lesson, no commandment, no prohibition. It sings — and in that singing, it opens a space for contemplation.

Perhaps this is the greatest lesson the Song of Solomon has to offer: that truth does not always reside in propositions and statements, but sometimes in images, in rhythm, in the silence between words. The Freemason who takes his symbols seriously may find in this ancient love song an unexpected companion on the journey.

What Can We Take Away from This Exploration?

The Song of Solomon invites a different way of reading — not to gather information, but to undergo an experience. The bride who searches for her beloved is the soul seeking fulfillment. The garden that blooms is the inner world waiting for attention. The night that gives way to morning is the journey from ignorance to insight.

For the Freemason who remains open to multiple sources of wisdom, the Song of Solomon is a treasure chest of symbolism. It does not speak in the language of working tools, but in the language of nature, love, and longing. And therein lies its power: it reminds us that the work of building ourselves is not merely a craft — it is also a work of art.

The Song of Solomon is far more than a love poem. It is a mirror for anyone who seeks deeper meaning. The symbolic language of flowers, gardens, and fountains resonates powerfully with the Masonic journey toward light and self-knowledge. Those who read this ancient book with an open heart will discover that longing and wisdom lie closer together than we often realize. In the dialogue between bride and bridegroom echoes the eternal question that every seeker carries: where will I find that which my soul desires?

Copyright text & image: devrijmetselaar.nl
Texts are based on the ideas and content of the author of devrijmetselaar.nl, reviewed, corrected, and supplemented with the assistance of OpenAI. Images are created based on the ideas of the author of devrijmetselaar.nl using OpenAI/DALL-E.

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What Is a Comparition?

I was told afterward that I had just experienced a real comparition — a traditional Masonic discussion in which brothers openly share their thoughts following the presentation of a paper. That said, the remark was quickly qualified. The previous comparition had been about the concept of the Daimon and had taken the form of a guided group discussion after an introduction by two brothers. This evening was different because the originally planned event had been cancelled at the last moment. Fortunately, one of the brothers had a Tracing Board paper — what we call a “Bouwstuk” — far enough along that he could present it. The subject: love.

Love Is Everywhere

Love is everywhere, and without it, there is really no life. You see love in all its forms — between partners, in the devotion someone shows to a pet, or in the countless acts people perform simply out of love for others. There is even the possibility of covering something with the cloak of love, choosing compassion over judgment. The brother who presented the paper explored these many dimensions, drawing on a wide range of sources to illustrate just how deeply love is woven into the human experience.

The Bible and Love

The presenting brother drew heavily on passages from the Bible. Now, I have to be honest — I have no personal connection to the Bible. I didn’t grow up with it, and the various books and verses are largely unfamiliar to me. I had even worried that encountering so many biblical references in Freemasonry might make me feel out of my depth. And truthfully, following the specific passages was sometimes challenging. But the underlying ideas? Those resonated deeply. That’s what I find so beautiful about Masonic work — it’s never really about the source material itself, but about the universal truths that lie beneath it.

When Brothers Open Their Hearts

After the brother delivered his paper, the actual comparition began — and it didn’t unfold entirely by the book. Instead of the traditional format of questions and answers directed at the presenter, the discussion was opened up to the entire Lodge. One by one, brothers began sharing what love meant to them personally and how it manifested in their lives.

For some, emotions ran high. And that is not only permitted in the Lodge — it is welcomed. It was moving to watch how other brothers responded: offering comfort, a hand on the shoulder, a quiet presence. This is one of the great gifts of Freemasonry. Everything said within the Lodge stays within the Lodge, protected by what we call the “indented border” — the symbolic boundary that separates the sacred space of the Lodge from the outside world. This confidentiality creates an environment where conversations can become deeply personal, where men can be genuinely vulnerable without fear of judgment.

Selfless Love Versus Self-Serving Love

A particularly thought-provoking part of the discussion centered on the distinction between selfless love and self-serving love. Is there such a thing as truly altruistic love, or does every act of love carry some element of personal gratification? The conversation didn’t yield easy answers, but it set something in motion within me — a memory that surfaced with startling clarity.

A Father’s Quiet Love

I thought of my father, an optician by trade, who used to visit people in the hospital to fit them with new glasses. His reasoning was simple: even in their final days, people deserved to watch television clearly or see the faces of their loved ones one last time. He did this often without sending a bill, and always in his own free time.

But there was another side to his quiet service that struck me even more. On his days off, my father would visit a maximum-security prison to provide glasses to the most hardened inmates. He insisted that the guards leave the room while he worked. It’s something almost unimaginable today. He didn’t see those men as criminals — he saw them as human beings who deserved their dignity and the simple gift of clear sight. He never talked about any of this. He simply did what felt right: helping his fellow human beings regardless of their background and without any expectation of return.

That, to me, is what selfless love looks like. It asks for nothing. It announces nothing. It simply acts, quietly and without condition. And it is precisely this kind of love that Freemasonry encourages us to cultivate — not through grand gestures, but through consistent, humble service to others.

This comparition reminded me that love, in all its forms, is both the simplest and the most complex force in our lives. Within the safe and sacred space of the Lodge, brothers can explore its depths with a honesty that is rare in the outside world. Whether selfless or imperfect, spoken or silent, love remains the foundation of true brotherly connection — and perhaps the most important building stone any Freemason can lay.

Copyright text & image: devrijmetselaar.nl
Texts are based on the ideas and content of the author of devrijmetselaar.nl, reviewed, corrected, and supplemented with the assistance of OpenAI. Images are created based on the ideas of the author of devrijmetselaar.nl using OpenAI/DALL-E.

The message Love in Freemasonry: Selflessness and Brotherly Connection first published on De Vrijmetselaar.