"2-B-1-ASK-1" TO BE ONE ASK ONE!
How to Join and become a Mason, a member of the Masonic Fraternity of Freemasons and to discover the mysteries of Freemasonry you should ask one, "2B1ASK1" about membership or contact your local Blue Lodge.
In order to become a member of this ancient and honorable fraternity a man must, among other requirements, be at least 18 years of age, of good moral character, a law abiding citizen, who believes in a Supreme Being that promotes peace, love and harmony towards all mankind, more especially a Brother Mason.
Because a Mason cannot extend invitations to prospective members, nor are members solicited, any and all applicants must take the initiative of his own free will and accord and with an open heart.
All petitions for membership must be vouched by two active Master Masons, preferably members of our Lodge, who do know the Petitioner and thus able to vouch for the Petitioner's character and recommend him for admission into our Craft.
If a person meeting the above criteria is interested in joining, he should ask a Masonic friend for more information or contact a Local Lodge or the Grand Lodge of Virginia.
1- To petition Acacia Lodge No. 16 for membership visit our contact page
2- To petition one of over 300 other Masonic Lodges in Virginia, or solicit more information about basic requirements for membership into our Fraternity, please visit The Grand Lodge of Virginia website
What is Freemasonry video...
The Grand Lodge’s LMIP Program
Right Worshipful Edmund Cohen, Deputy Grand Master 2007
How can you provide a legacy to your Lodge? By giving the gift that keeps on giving! One of the Grand Lodge programs I really want to encourage you to consider is the Life Membership in Perpetuity (LMIP) program. It is so important to the financial strength of your Lodge that you and every member of the Lodge should become an LMIP member. Let me explain why. If a Lodge has 100 members, over the course of a year 10 of them may be dropped from the rolls of the Lodge as dues paying members — some because they demit or die, and some because they become 50 year or honorary members. Hopefully, the Lodge will make up the difference with new Brethren who are raised or affiliated in that year. If we assume this is the normal situation in your Lodge, your Lodge will continue to have 100 members, but it also will lose 100 members during that same period. In 20 years, it will lose 200 members. But now consider what will happen if all of them are LMIP’s. The Lodge will have 100 active, dues paying members, and also 200 additional LMIP members who will continue to help ensure the financial health of their Lodge. Now it is true that if all the members become LMIP’s at once, the Lodge will face short-term financial problems. The Lodge will be receiving LMIP payments based upon dues frozen at the time the LMIP was purchased, but Lodge expenses and current Lodge dues will have increased. But, over the long term, the compounding of Lodge membership by the cadre of LMIP Brethren will put the Lodge in a far better financial condition and bring financial stability to the Lodge year-after-year. It makes good financial sense for the young Mason to take out an LMIP, but it is a wonderful thing for the older Mason to take out an LMIP. He will remain on the rolls of his Lodge long after he has been called to the Celestial Lodge, and he will continue to contribute to its financial viability. What a great thing for the Brother to do for his Lodge, and what a great legacy to leave his Lodge. Beyond purchasing a life membership for yourself, you can purchase a memorial life membership for a deceased Brother – perhaps for a well-loved catechism coach, or a dedicated Brother who always mowed the grass, plowed the snow, or fixed the furnace. Consider purchasing an LMIP for a Past Master you particularly respected, or for a famous Brother from yesteryear. And remember, you can get a memorial life membership for any Mason, who was a member of a Grand Lodge recognized by the Grand Lodge of Virginia, not just for a Virginia Mason. If you have a dear friend who was a Mason, you can purchase a membership for him in your Lodge. And if you have deceased Masonic relatives, perhaps a father, a grandfather, or uncle, you can make him a life member of your Lodge. These LMIP’s do honor to the memory of the deceased Mason and will continue to help your Lodge now and far into the future. Some of the Brethren would like to take out an LMIP, but may not be able to write out a check for 16 times the current dues. This is not a problem. The secretary can, and should, take partial payments so that in a year or in five years, the Brother will have put aside enough to get the Life Membership. He will no longer need to worry about dues, and he will never be suspended for non-payment of dues. Most of all he will have done a wonderful thing for his Lodge and for Freemasonry. As a Master Mason, I ask you to think seriously about getting an LMIP for yourself or for another good Brother. As an officer, Past Master, or leader in your Lodge, I encourage you to promote the LMIP program, and make it your personal goal to have each of your members purchase an LMIP this year. And don’t forget to reach out to the members of the Lodge who are not able to attend very frequently. Many of them want to become more active, and this is a very tangible way for them to help their Lodge.