About Us

What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry aims to promote Friendship, Morality, and Brotherly Love among its members. It is, by definition, a fraternity; comprised of men from every race, religion, opinion, and background who are brought together as Brothers to develop and strengthen the bonds of friendship.
With over 3 million members, Freemasons belong to the largest and oldest fraternal organization in the world. Freemasonry proposes to "make good men better" by teaching —with metaphors from geometry and architecture— about building values based on great universal truths.

How do I become a Freemason?

Ask! Because Masons have not traditionally recruited members and do not hold public meetings, there has long been confusion about how to join the Fraternity. Should I wait to be asked? Does someone ask me, or do I need to ask them?
Today, because of widespread interest in the Fraternity, along with the breadth of both information and misinformation found on the Internet, the content on this site was assembled to help men understand the membership process.
Most men still begin the process of becoming a Mason by simply asking, just as Washington, Franklin, Hancock, Revere and most every Mason from the past to the present day has done.
Membership is open to men of every race, religion, culture, and income level. The basic requirements for membership are listed here.
Men usually seek out a Lodge near their home or workplace or ask a Mason they know to recommend a Lodge to them. Masonry is not for everyone, however. It does not purport to reform bad men, only to provide a lifelong opportunity for good men to improve themselves and the world around them.
The Masonic Fraternity seeks only men of good character as members. In fact, Masonic Lodges are required to review every applicant's moral and social character, and members must be unanimously balloted upon in a Lodge by all members present (and yes, the centuries-old "blackball" voting system is still in use).
Alternately, an Illinois Mason can inform a good man that he knows that should he wish to join, he is welcome to do so under a program called Invitation to Petition. So, if a Master Mason who knows you believes you have the character traits to be a good Mason, he may propose you for membership in a Lodge and have your name balloted upon, and then inform you of this action.
Or you may proactively seek out membership on your own by asking a Mason for a petition or completing a Petition Request Form here and submitting it via this website. In either case, the choice is still yours.

Plainfield Lodge No. 536
History

    On September 17, 1867 a special meeting was called for the purpose of constituting Plainfield Lodge as a regular subordinate Lodge. The Lodge retired to the town hall where public ceremony of constituting the Lodge and installation of officers was conducted by Most Worthy Brother W.W. Stevens, Grand Master of the State of Illinois. the charter of the Plainfield Lodge bears the date of October 1, 1867.
    Early in the morning (about 2:00 A.M.) on December 29, 1891, the Lodge room was destroyed by fire. Most of the furniture was destroyed but it was covered by $300 insurance. The charter, records and jewels were saved. Permission was granted by the Grand Master of the State of Illinois to hold meetings in the opera house building until another Lodge room could be obtained. On May 7, 1892 a group of Plainfield brethren formed a corporation under the name Plainfield Masonic Building Association, sold stock in it and raised enough money to erect the present Masonic Temple Building. About December 1, 1892, the building was completed and ready for occupancy. On the evening of February 27, 1896, the temple was dedicated with Most Worthy Grand Master Owen Scott in charge.
    The Lodge building will soon go under new renovation in 2008, restoring the building to it's previous appearance. And we are assured it will remain the most photographed and ornamental building in our town.