Each man, it is said, comes to Masonry when he is ready. There may have been some change in your life to prompt your recent look into the world’s oldest fraternity. Perhaps a relative mentioned his involvement to you; perhaps you stumbled across a video on YouTube, or a mention in popular films such as “National Treasure” or “The Da Vinci Code”. In any event, something has encouraged you to look deeper into Masonry and its impact on the world.

This section of the Prince of Wales lodge website has been designed to give potential candidates an overview of what the membership process looks like. It isn’t meant to be a complete overview, but those of us who have undergone the process understand that joining any new group can be daunting. In this short segment, we will attempt to reassure candidates on what to expect and why.

Contacting the Lodge
Joining a new group is never easy. You can do research online or in books as much as possible, but taking that first actual step can be daunting. Candidates worry needlessly that they won’t be good enough or they will make some mistake. Rest assured everyone is here to help.

The first step is to read our website, especially our FAQ, thoroughly. If what you see is appealing, the next step is to petition for membership. The best way is to speak to an existing member of the lodge, who will be more than happy to answer whatever questions he can. However, we understand that this may not be possible for some candidates. So in response, we have included a contact email (click here).

Your email will be directed to the lodge secretary who will review your questions and contact you in return. Please don’t worry if there is no immediate reply; it may take a few days to respond.  Please note that contacting the lodge is NOT an application, but rather an indication that you are interested in possible membership. You haven’t committed to anything at this stage. if you have not received an acknowledgement from an email sent to this website within a week, please accept our apologies and re-email us, technology and people are not always perfect! 

The Petition Form
After speaking to the lodge secretary you will be sent a petition form via email, fax, or mail. It will ask for some general details, such as your name, address, and personal references. When completed and returned, it will be reviewed and an interview will be arranged.

All personal information is held in the strictest confidence by the lodge. No part of it will ever be used for any other purpose than the application process.

The Interview
This is more of an opportunity to meet some of the Masons from the lodge and to find out if joining our lodge is a good fit for you and for us. The brethren are simply trying to determine your interest in Masonry and also to address any questions that you may have. Interviews generally take place in the petitioner’s home, and we strongly encourage any partners or family to attend. Masonry never comes before a man’s family responsibility, and part of the interview committee’s job is to address any concerns or questions that family members may have.

The committee will interview the petitioner on such topics as their interest in the fraternity, how they came to know of it, and why they petitioned Prince of Wales lodge in particular. Again, it’s more of a discussion than an actual interview, where everyone gets a chance to address any issues and have questions answered. The committee will then report the results to the lodge and give their assessment as to the candidate’s intentions and expectations.

Voting on a Candidate
After hearing the investigation committee’s report, the lodge members will vote on the candidate, either accepting or rejecting his application. By far, this is the most nerve-wracking part of the process for many candidates, as it may take a number of weeks before you hear back from the lodge. If you have any concerns during this time, simply give your contact a call.

The Initiation
No, no, we won’t be giving away any secrets here! Rather, we’ll just outline in broad strokes what happens next.

After an application is voted on and accepted, the candidate will be contacted and given the date for their initiation. On this date, he will present himself at the lodge to undergo entrance his into Masonry, as millions of men before him have. For some this will be their first visit to the lodge, while others may have attended a social event over the duration of the process. This is strictly a matter of scheduling and opportunity; please don’t feel slighted if you didn’t have the chance to visit us before your initiation.

On the day of your initiation, it is not unusual to be nervous. Rest assured that all members of Prince of Wales lodge have experienced the same feelings, and we will be understanding. Everyone wants to see you succeed and enjoy your initiation. We take a man’s entrance into our lodge and fraternity very seriously, and it is the responsibility of existing members to ensure that you have a good experience.

In Closing...
If at any time over the course of the process you have further questions, feel free to contact a lodge member, or consult our FAQ for additional information. In addition, you will be assigned a mentor during the process that can help you with anything you may be unsure of. Prince of Wales lodge is dedicated to ensuring that your entrance into Masonry is a rewarding and memorable one, and it is our job to help and support any new brethren who have deemed us worthy of their membership.

To find out more about joining our Lodge, simply click here to email the Asst. Secretary.