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Worldview or Religion?
Freemasonry is not a religion, and the lodges are not churches. Values such as humanity, brotherhood, freedom, justice, love of peace, and tolerance serve as orientations and standards for the thinking and actions of the members of the brotherhood. The brothers may belong to different religious communities. Freemasonry knows no dogma and allows room for individual beliefs. The value of a person is judged by their intellectual integrity. A characteristic of Freemasonry is also its building symbolism, which centers on the "Great Architect" of all worlds as a designation for the creator and sustainer of the world. This symbol forms the basis of the ethical responsibility of Freemasons.
What is the purpose of the lodge?
Freemasons work in fraternal connection in the tradition of the guild, an English borrowing: the lodge, in the German language: the Loge. Here is the place of fraternal encounter, the center of intellectual work and the place of reflection. Freemasons refer to each other as "brothers" as a sign of their close connection. In the lodge, fraternal conversations are held, here is the social life, also with the wives and family members of the lodge brothers, and here guests are received at public events. It is also the place of Masonic secretive rituals.
Rituals and Customs
Masonic rituals are highly developed, preserving much old symbolic knowledge. The customs have their origins in the medieval guilds, their main symbols being the Book of Holy Laws, the square, and the compass. The temple work follows prescribed rituals, in which actions, words, and music form a balanced unity. They serve to introduce new members into the community, deepen the connection within the brotherhood, reflect on moral standards, and to gather and uplift the individual brother on his journey through the various degrees of Freemasonry.
How do I become a Freemason?
A candidate or seeker is a "free man of good repute" who desires admission into a Masonic lodge. Being free here mainly means freedom from prejudices as well as independence and autonomy. Between the first contact and the admission to the lodge is a process of getting to know each other and evaluation. The result of this process, which begins with invitations to guest evenings and can take months, is the mutual wish to join the lodge. Besides the candidate, all the members of the lodge must also decide whether a membership is desired. The admission itself occurs through balloting, also called the ballot. This is a secret vote using white and black balls. Black balls signify a denial, white signifies an approval. After a successful ballot, one becomes a Freemason of the first degree within the circle of the brotherhood.
How do I get in contact?
To contact the lodge "Am Berge der Schönheit" in the Orient of Berlin, please use the contact form under the "Contact" section. Here you can get information about our guest evenings, where we look forward to your visit. We are also present on social media. We look forward to your joining our user group. Of course, we can also be reached via email at info@am-berge-der-schoenhei.de
