MEMBERSHIP

The Official Website of:
Oakville Masonic Lodge # 599 F. & A.M.
4733 Winchester Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38118
Phone: (901) 363-3535
E-mail: oakvillemasonic@bellsouth.net

This site was last updated on August 12, 2008

Membership information

53 Frequently Asked Questions asked by Non-Masons about Freemasonry

53 FAQs Link

Qualifications for membership
Every petitioner for Freemasonry in Tennessee Must have the following qualifications:

	He must be a man.
	He must believe in a supreme being and the immortality of the soul.
	He must be of good morals and reputation.
	He must be at least 18 years of age and mentally competent.
	He must live in Tennessee*.
	He must seek admission of his own free will and accord.
	He must be recommended by two Masons of the Lodge to which he makes application
	He must be unanimously elected to membership.
	He must be willing to assume an obligation to the fraternity, but will not be asked to swear profane oaths; he will not be asked to assume obligations which are incompatible with his religious or civil duties, and those duties which he owes to his family or his fellow man. () There are a few exceptions to this rule for carefully specified reasons.*

membership Process

	A man decides to become a Mason.
	He approaches someone he knows is a mason and asks how he can become a mason.
	He is given a petition and is asked to fill it out.
	when he has completed all of the information on the petition he returns it to the lodge with the appropriate fee (Currently $150 at Oakville Lodge, ccan be divided as follows: $50 with petition and $50 prior to the second and third degrees).
	the petition is held until the next stated meeting, where it will be read to the members.
	upon being read to the members, an investigation committee will be assigned to the petition.
	this committee will verify the petitioner's qualifications and suitability for membership.
	the committee will give their report at the next stated meeting.
	the members of the Lodge will then vote to elect or reject his petition. The election must be unanimous to elect the petitioner.
	If elected, the petitioner is called and the date of his initiation is scheduled.
	the initiation process takes place in three parts, called degrees. there is a 28 day minimum waiting between the degrees.
	During the waiting period, the candidate must learn and credibly recite prescribed memory work to advance.
	After the candidate receives the third degree, he becomes a Master Mason and a full member of the order.

For a membership application that you can download and print out, follow the following instructions:

1. Click on the Membership Button below
2. Select the Petition for the Three Degrees
3. Choose the Format you wish to use (Word, PDF etc.)
4. Print a copy of the form
5. Fill it out COMPLETELY
6. Bring it to the Lodge