The process of becoming a member of Billings Lodge starts with us getting acquainted, usually by meeting for coffee, breakfast or lunch – whatever your schedule will permit. It’s important that you and we are a good fit for one another. Becoming a mason requires a commitment of time and effort. If coffee goes well and you should decide to become a mason you will need to obtain three signatures from members of the lodge who are willing to vouch for you. We solve this by inviting you to dinner where you can meet the guys and they meet you. After a bit of time, if you wish to continue, it’s not usually difficult to obtain three signatures.
Billings Lodge meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month (no meetings in July or August) at the Billings Masonic Center at 1101 Broadwater Ave. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. On the 2nd Monday of each month the meeting is preceded by dinner at 6:30. You should know this so you can determine if your schedule will permit regular attendance, otherwise you won’t get much out of your membership.
If you submit an application (accompanied by an initiation fee) it will be read at our first business meeting, after which the Master of the Lodge will assign an investigating committee of three members who will formally interview you (your wife or partner may want to be present for this interview) and present their report; then at the next business meeting you will be voted upon. If all goes well you will then be scheduled for the first of three ceremonies (we call them degrees) of initiation and will be so notified by the lodge secretary. Each degree begins with you kneeling at an altar and taking an oath upon a bible (or other holy book) in which you make promises to us, and we in turn make similar promises to you. It’s sort of a combination of the Boy Scout oath and the Ten Commandments; we promise not to lie, steal, cheat, etc. Each ceremony concludes with a lecture that presents you with our philosophies. Then, in order to make sure that you got the message we ask you to memorize a portion of the lecture. We will provide you with written materials to study and a coach to assist you in learning the work, and you should know that we don’t grade you on your public speaking skills……. honest! Once you have presented your “posting lecture” we will schedule you for your next degree, and so forth.
We look forward to hearing from you,