Mount Washington Lodge No. 614

Become a Freemason
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To become a Mason in Missouri, you must be a man at least 18 years old, live in Missouri, and have a belief in a Supreme Being (No particular religion is required or excluded. All are welcome!)

You should be someone who does, or wants to learn to, enjoy the company of other men from all different social classes, faiths, backgrounds, races, countries, etc. Masonry is universal in its ideals.

If you are a family man, Masonry considers that your family obligations come FIRST, so you must be sure that: you have the time to participate, (usually two or three evenings/month at first for meetings and instruction, and then at least one evening per month for meetings from then on).

You should be coming to Masonry “of your own free will and accord“, to learn to improve yourself and to enjoy the company of other good people, not because someone keeps pestering you to join or because you think it will help you “get ahead” in business.

To join, all you have to do is ask.

What is Freemasonry
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Freemasonry is the oldest and largest world wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of a Supreme Being…

Although of a religious nature, Freemasonry is not a religion. It urges its members, however, to be faithful and devoted to their own religious beliefs. The organization of Freemasonry is based on a system of Grand Lodges, each sovereign within its own territory. There is no central authority governing all Grand Lodges. However, to be acknowledged by others, acceptable traditions, standards and practices must be maintained. In Missouri, the governing body is called the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri. It is under the leadership of the Grand Master.

Under the Grand Lodge, there are 49 Masonic Districts throughout the state. Each District encompasses several lodges within in a geographical area. Each of these lodges is under the direction of a Worshipful Master.


What it does
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As a fraternity, Freemasonry provides an opportunity for men to meet and enjoy friendly companionship and to study the tenets, morals and symbols that have allowed the order to survive for nearly 300 years.

In the spirit of helpfulness and brotherly love and guided by strict moral principles, Freemasonry encourages goodwill toward all mankind. Freemasonry is of a personal nature in its private ceremonies. Its ritual dramatizes a philosophy of life based on morality. It promotes self improvement. The tools of operative masons are used to symbolize and teach the basic principles of brotherly love, charity, and truth which Masons are encouraged to practice in their daily lives.

Charity is a tangible way in which Masons help those whose circumstances in life fairly warrant it. Freemasonry takes a good man, and makes him better.

Historical Background
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Our traditions can be traced directly to the associations of operative masons. They were men of outstanding character and high ideals, who built the cathedrals, abbeys, and castles of the Middle Ages. With the decline of cathedral building in the 17th Century, many guilds of stonemasons, called “Operative” masons, started to accept into their membership those who were not members of the masons’ craft and called them “Speculative” or “Accepted” masons. It was in these groups, called lodges, comprised mainly of “Accepted” masons that Freemasonry, as we know it today, had its beginning.

In 1717, four such lodges, which had been meeting regularly in London, united to form the first Grand Lodge of England under the direction of a Grand Master. From that first Grand Lodge, Freemasonry has spread throughout the world.

Today, some 150 Grand Lodges have a total membership of approximately four million Masons