Dear Friend,

There are a few important things you should know and consider before petitioning to join the Masonic Fraternity.

Freemasonry is a Fraternity which teaches ethics and morality. We welcome men of every color, creed, religion, sect, and opinion, but each candidate for Freemasonry must be willing to profess his belief in God. No atheist can become a Mason.

Although we require that our new members publicly state their belief in Deity, we specify no religion, and leave to each Mason what faith he should practice or what worship he should perform. Beyond this simple requirement at your entrance into the Fraternity, Masonry will not go, and discussion of religion in the Lodge is strictly forbidden.

Freemasonry distinguishes between patriotism and partisanship. While patriotism is encouraged as an essential virtue both in the Lodge and in society at large, Masonry takes no position on political issues, and the discussion of politics in the Lodge is also strictly forbidden.

The essential purpose of Freemasonry is the further development of the individual Mason as an honest, ethical, moral, sincere, caring and charitable man, learning more about his own potential as a human being and developing his intellectual and spiritual character. A man should never enter the Fraternity in the hope of making business connections or for any other sort of professional or mercenary gain. If he does, he will be disappointed, for they will not be found there. What he will find is a group of like-minded men, who are willing to treat him as a Brother and share in a deep and rewarding fellowship with him. In the Lodge, he will find true friends and life-long companions.

We expect men who petition for membership to be good men, but not to be perfect. We know that all men have limitations and weaknesses. Our questions are: does he care about others; does he feel a responsibility to improve himself; does he wish to make the lives of others better as best he can; is he willing to be open and honest with us and with himself?

Inside this petition we ask detailed questions about you, and we require that you complete a background examination. These questions and the background examination are not asked of you out of idle curiosity. when we accept a man as a Brother, we make a sincere promise to him that we will trust him completely and will treat his needs and his interest just as if they were our own. This completed petition and background check, and the visit some Lodge Brothers will make with you, commence the process of sharing information which is vital if both you and we are to be comfortable with one another.

We are glad you are interested in the Masonic Fraternity, and we look forward to the chance to know you as Brother.

The Executive Committee
Grand Lodge of Wisconsin