Where does Prince of Wales lodge meet?
Prince of Wales lodge meets in the beautiful West Toronto Masonic Temple, located at 151 Annette Street, Toronto. It is located near the intersection of Keele and Annette streets, north of High Park. Click here for a map.

How often does the lodge meet?
Prince of Wales lodge meets twice monthly, on the first Thursday and fourth Friday of each month, excluding July and August when we go on summer break.

What is the difference between a "lodge" and a "temple"?
A “temple” is simply the physical space used for our meetings. A “lodge” is the group of Masons that operates within that space. In short, we belong to a lodge, but we meet at a temple.

Are all lodges the same?
All lodges with the A.F. & A.M. (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons) accreditation follow the laws and constitution of the Grand Lodge of Ontario – Province of Canada. These A.F. & A.M. lodges follow identical (or very similar) practices of Freemasonry.

What does A.F. & A.M. mean?
A.F. & A.M. means “Ancient Free & Accepted Masons”. This gets a little complicated, but in short, there have been different Masonic movements throughout history. “Ancient Free & Accepted Masons” are the largest Masonic group in the world, and the A.F. & A.M. distinction is an indication that the lodge with this accreditation follows the founding principles of Masonry. All lodges housed within the Toronto West Masonic Temple are A.F. & A.M, including Prince of Wales. Most non-A.F. & A.M. lodges are located outside of North America.

Is Masonry a religion?
Definitely not! Masonry does not present itself as nor act as religion. Rather, it is a system of morality designed to improve men’s lives through the study of ancient lessons.

What kind of man should become a Freemason?
This is a much different question than if a man can become a Freemason; it’s more than just the ability to meet the criteria for admission. Becoming a Mason is an indication that you are the kind of man who values history, fraternity, loyalty, and are willing to make an effort to improve yourself and your community. In your heart you probably already know if you are this kind of man and the answer may have led you here.

What are the requirements for becoming as Freemason?
There are four main considerations that must be met: you must be age 21 or older, a man, possess the belief of a Supreme Being, and be of good standing with your community and peers.

Do I need to follow a specific faith to become a Freemason?
No. Masonry welcomes men of all religions…the only requirement is that you believe in a Supreme Being, whichever it may be. We have members who are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and more.

Will someone ask me more about my religion?
The only question that you will be asked is if you believe in a Supreme Being, presented as a “yes or no” question. You will never be asked to explain or defend your faith or given any religious “test”.

Are politics or religion discussed in the lodge?
No, never. The goal of Masonry is to bring men together in fraternity, and religion and politics tend to be divisive topics. Therefore, these issues are not discussed when the lodge is meeting. However, if you’re outside the lodge and want to complain about the government, you probably won’t be alone ?

Do I need to have had a relative who was a Mason?
No. Masons adhere to a non-solicitation rule, even in families, so if you’re waiting to be asked by a relative, in-law, friend or colleague you are probably in for a long wait! You'll need to let them know (and don't be subtle) that you are interested in finding out more.

What if I don’t know anyone who is a Mason?
We are finding more and more men who are exposed to Masonry not through friends or families, but through the media and the Internet. As such, you may not actually know a Mason in your community. Recognizing this, simply send us an email requesting more information and the process will be underway.

Are women allowed to join the lodge?
No. Our lodge is fraternal, as are all lodges with the A.F. & A.M. designation, although women are eligible to join the organization known as the Order of the Eastern Star. There are other Masonic organizations that operate Sorority and Co-Masonic lodges, but they are “unrecognized” by A.F. & A.M. lodges and generally located outside of North America.

How do I join Prince of Wales lodge?
Potential candidates may either speak directly with a known member of the lodge or may contact us through this website. Please click here to contact us. Please not that this is NOT an application, but a request to be contacted by a lodge member to begin the application process.

How long will it take to hear from the Prince of Wales lodge?
While the actual application process will vary in time, if you have not received acknowledgement of an email sent to this website within a week, please accept our apologies and re-email us. Technology and people are not always perfect!

What can an applicant expect when joining Prince of Wales lodge?
All Masons go through the same process when joining a lodge; in fact, the application process has remained fairly unchanged for hundreds of years! Prince of Wales prides itself on providing an open and welcoming environment for those who choose to join with us, so you won’t be left without advice or support during the process. For more details please click here.

I see on your page detailing the application process that you will visit my home for an interview. Do I need to prepare anything?
No, not at all. We simply want to meet with you in a place that is comfortable for you. Don’t be put off if the interview committee is wearing more formal attire; this is just a sign of respect when visiting your home.

Can my family join me for my interview?
If you have family, especially a partner, we strongly encourage them to be present for the interview. Masonry always comes second to family responsibilities and it is important that loved ones have the chance to ask questions or voice any concerns.

I live out of town but joining a lodge in the area is convenient for me…is that allowed?
Yes, you are able to join a lodge in an area you do not actually reside in. It is up to you to honestly decide if the geographical distance from your home will allow you participate at the level you want to. Members who reside more than 100 kilometres from their lodge are eligible for a reduction in annual dues.

What type of time commitment would I expect to give as a member?
Prince of Wales lodge meets twice monthly for an evening. We also hold monthly informal discussions about Masonry and visit other lodges to expand the sense of fraternity, but these are voluntary events.

What is the dress code in the meetings?
For most occasions the dress code is jacket and tie (or business suit). We do not wear casual attire (jeans or khakis) for lodge meetings, although some events do allow for less-formal wear. For most events you’ll know in advance of the dress code.

What are the fees?
The fees are likely to be significantly less than you may have been led to believe; Freemasonry is not designed to exclude, but rather include men of all walks of life. There is a one-time membership fee and a requirement of annual dues: this is a standard arrangement found in most lodges. Your interview committee or lodge secretary can provide specifics during the application process.

Do lodge members do anything together outside of lodge meetings?
As brothers, we enjoy spending time with each other for matters both Masonic and non-Masonic. Many of our members get together on a regular basis for dinners, drinks, or coffee. Don’t be shy about suggesting a get-together outside of the lodge…you’ll probably find plenty of takers!

I’m still not sure if Masonry is for me…can I meet someone on a one-to-one basis?
We would be happy to meet with you in a casual environment to answer any questions. We have been doing this for several of our recent new members and they report that it is very beneficial to their application process. Just drop our secretary an email and we can arrange to meet with you in your area for a casual conversation about us, our lodge, and our fraternity.

I am really keen to get started. What can I do?
If you know of any Masons in your family or circle of friends, ask them about the fraternity and what it means to them. Chances are they will be more than happy to describe the benefits and rewards of membership. It is also a good idea to visit the website of the Grand Lodge of Ontario where there is a great deal of information for candidates, including audio and video components.

Finally, take a look through the rest of our website to see if you have any questions that can be answered right away.

Just a note: you may want to avoid reading about Masonic initiations and similar information posted on the Internet or in books. While this information is very often inaccurate, “spoilers” may take something away from the experience of your initiation.