The answer given in the ritual written 250 years ago is "a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols".

A more modern answer to the question given by Grand Lodge is "An ancient, voluntary association of men who believe in high moral and spiritual values, and believe in the betterment of mankind in general".

A more basic answer is a spare time activity - but above all it is fun! Some may join in purely on moral grounds but for the majority it is a pleasant way of joining with friends, having a meeting, a drink, dinner, and making lasting friendships. It is, however, not a club.

Why then are there such misconceptions about Freemasonry? Much of this is our fault because we have not explained ourselves. But much is also the fault of people who judge us as they wish to see us, not as we are.

We do not admit women but equally the Order of Women Freemasons does not admit men. They are quite separate orders with no connection. The reason for the separation is purely historical as is much in masonry.

There are two different theories for the formation of Freemasonry:

The first theory is that operative stonemasons who built the great cathedrals and castles, had Lodges in which they discussed trade affairs. They had simple Initiations for Apprentices and Fellows and, as there were no City and Guilds certificates, dues cards or trade union membership cards, they adopted secret signs and words so that they could demonstrate they were trained masons when they moved from site to site. In the 1600s these operative Lodges began to accept non-operatives as 'gentlemen masons' who gradually changed these lodges into 'free' or 'accepted' Lodges.

The second theory is that the group who formed Freemasonry (in the late 1500s and early 1600s)were a group who were interested in the promotion of religious and political tolerance in an age of great intolerance, when differences of opinion on matters of religion and politics were to lead to bloody civil war. What they were trying to do was to make better men and build a better world. As the means of teaching in those days was by allegory and symbolism they took the idea of building as the central allegory on which to form their system. The main source of allegory was the Bible, the contents of which were known to everyone, described even if they could not read, and the only building described in detail in the Bible was King Solomon's Temple, which became the basis of the ritual. The old trade guilds provided them with their basic administration of a Master, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary, and the operative mason's tools provided them with a wealth of symbols to moralise upon.