Freemasons are great patrons of the arts. Freemasons encourage educational development through a plethora of scholarship programmes.

Perhaps the most visible evidence of the success of Freemasonry are its more than three hundred years of growth and existence, and its five million brethren worldwide; however, the real successes of Freemasonry are both ubiquitous and humble. The thousands of lodges and Masonic halls across the United States and throughout the world give testimony to the involvement of Freemasons everywhere in the improvement of their communities and neighbourhoods.

Local Masonic lodges sponsor blood drives, conduct child identification programmes, present patriotic concerts and programmes, sponsor youth groups and sporting activities of all kinds for boys and girls of all ages, and participate in charitable fund raising, just to name a few of the activities where you will find your Masonic neighbour hard at work to make your small corner of the world a better place in which to live.

The sum total of these thousands of Freemasons, each making his own unique, small contribution, is what makes Freemasonry an effective force in the amelioration of mankind.

Freemasonry has long been considered an exemplary institution. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, hundreds of voluntary societies and fraternities were formed in the United States. The majority of these used Masonic elements in their organization, rituals and governance; often, Freemasons were directly involved as founders or members. Freemasons are recognized by substantial numbers of non-Masons as being worthy of admiration and respect; Freemasons who participate in public events are regularly hailed and applauded by the general population as being noteworthy for their public spirit, high standards, and general qualities deserving emulation.

The attractiveness of Freemasonry is undeniable; even men who do not intend to become Freemasons are fascinated by the history, organization, and lore of the Masonic fraternity. Some of the most appealing parts of Freemasonry are not evident until a man has actually been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason: the comfort and tranquillity that accompany attending a lodge meeting, greeting good friends, sharing fellowship, and working together for the good of all; these are some of the things that keep men returning to lodge time after time. The beauty of Freemasonry’s ancient rituals and practices also holds a special allure for many brethren. And, of course, there are the famous “secrets” of Freemasonry, which are not secrets at all, but simply the personal growth and development a man experiences as he proceeds along his Masonic journey; for Freemasonry is not a destination; it is a journey, to be enjoyed and savoured for a lifetime.