Worshipful Master
W. Bro. Mark Edward Pearlstein
W. Bro. Mark Edward Pearlstein
What's Masonry?
Masonry (or Freemasonry) is the oldest fraternity in the world. No one knows just how old it is because the
actual origins have been lost in time. Probably, it arose from the guilds of stonemasons who built the castles
and cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Possibly, they were influenced by the Knights Templar, a group of
Christian warrior monks formed in 1118 to help protect pilgrims making trips to the Holy Land.
In 1717, Masonry created a formal organization in England when the first Grand Lodge was formed.
A Grand Lodge is the administrative body in charge of Masonry in some geographical area. In the United
States, there is a Grand Lodge in each state and the District of Columbia. In Canada, there is a Grand Lodge
in each province. Local organizations of Masons are called lodges. There are lodges in most towns, and large
cities usually have several. There are about 13,200 lodges in the United States.
If Masonry started in Great Britain, how did it get to America?
In a time when travel was by horseback and sailing ship, Masonry spread with amazing speed. By 1731,
when Benjamin Franklin joined the fraternity, there were already several lodges in the Colonies, and Masonry
spread rapidly as America expanded west. In addition to Franklin, many of the Founding Fathers -
in the Constitutional Convention and the debates surrounding the ratification of the Bill of Rights.
Many of those debates were held in Masonic lodges.
When you become a Freemason in America you join a regular lodge under the State’s Jurisdiction.
When an American wants to join Freemasonry it is important for them to understand the path they are taking.
A man joins a local lodge under the Jurisdiction of the State’s Grand Lodge. Lodges under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of the respective state are consider Regular Lodges. All non- recognized lodges are considered
Irregular or Clandestine lodges and those that join Clandestine lodges are usually not invited to visit lodges
across the Country and/or the world. So , it is usually preferred for Men to contact their State’s Grand Lodge and
The Grand Lodge will refer the potential applicant to a local regular lodge that is located near the applicants residence.
The is no Grand Lodge of The United States of America that sets rules down for all states. Each state’s Grand Lodge
Rules it’s local lodges.
A man joins a local lodge under the Jurisdiction of the State’s Grand Lodge. Lodges under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of the respective state are consider Regular Lodges. All non-
Irregular or Clandestine lodges and those that join Clandestine lodges are usually not invited to visit lodges
across the Country and/or the world. So , it is usually preferred for Men to contact their State’s Grand Lodge and
The Grand Lodge will refer the potential applicant to a local regular lodge that is located near the applicants residence.
The is no Grand Lodge of The United States of America that sets rules down for all states. Each state’s Grand Lodge
Rules it’s local lodges.
Maryland Freemasons - Amicable-St John's Lodge No. 25 | Chartered June 21, 1797