What is Masonry?
and
What is its Connection
to the Shrine?

In order to become a Shriner, a man must first be a Freemason. The fraternity of Freemasonry is the oldest, largest and most widely known fraternity in the world. It dates back hundreds of years to when stonemasons and other craftsmen on building projects gathered in shelter houses, or lodges. Over the years, formal Masonic lodges emerged, with members bound together not by trade, but by their own desire to be fraternal brothers..

The basic unit of Masonry is the Blue Lodge, where members earn the first three Masonic degrees. There is no higher degree than that of Master Mason (the Third Degree), but for those men who wish to further explore the allegory and symbolism learned in the Blue Lodge, the Scottish Rite and York Rite elaborate on the basic tenets of Freemasonry.

There are two jurisdections in Newfoundland & Labrador: The Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador and the District Grand Lodge of Newfoundland of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Updated: March 28, 2005