Every Freemason has his or her own personal reason for joining. For some, it's the search for new friends; others are seeking charity or want to contribute to society. But for most, membership in a lodge is a personal enrichment in shaping their lives.

Lodge members usually meet weekly. A meeting may be for ritual temple work, a Masonic instruction, a lecture, or even a casual gathering for socializing.

In keeping with its symbolic craft, Freemasonry operates in three degrees: Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. The division of Freemasonry's teachings into stages is aligned with its three degrees. These correspond to a gradual development of the teachings, allowing the initiate to sustainably grasp the knowledge of each degree before ascending to the next.