About Us

About Us

   Freemasonry is the oldest and largest world wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of a Supreme Being. Although of a religious nature, Freemasonry is not a religion. It urges its members, however, to be faithful and devoted to their own religious beliefs.
    Any man who becomes a Mason is taught a pattern for living - reverence, morality, kindness, honesty, dependability and compassion. He must be prepared to honour his country, uphold its laws and respect those in authority. He must be prepared to maintain honourable relations with others and be willing to share in Masonic activities.
    History of Freemasonry, is directly descended from associations of operative stone masons, the cathedral builders of the Middle Ages, who traveled through Europe employing the secrets and skills of their crafts. In the 17th century when cathedral building was on the decline, many guilds of "stone-masons", started to accept as members, those who were not members of the masons' craft calling them "Speculative Masons" or "Accepted Masons".
    It was from these groups, comprised mostly of "adopted" or "accepted masons" that Symbolic Masonry or Freemasonry, as we know it today, had its beginning.

Cherry Mountain Lodge #50 was instituted in 1948 & received its charter in 1949 govern by the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick. A Master presides over each meeting, each Master, Senior & Junior Warden and the Tyler is elected by the members once a year. We have 10 meetings per year, second Thursday of the month. There are non in July & August. Lodge opens at 8:00 p.m.
Any Male person aged 21 & over can join the craft on his own free will & accord, we do not solicit. He has to be living in the community for at least 6 months recommended by two members of the Lodge in his area.

Freemasonry offers many opportunities:

	To build up your self-esteem
	To become a speaker in front of a crowd
	Learn how to run a business meeting
	Overcome your shyness
	To be a leader
	Meet other Masons throughout the world

Above all to become a better person in the community, better father, husband, putting Masonic teaching into your daily lives, etc...

Our Lodge is active throughout the year:

	Installation of Officers in January
	Card Party in February
	Curling Bonspiel in March
	District 6 Church Parade with Brethren from the 8 Lodges in the District in first part of June hosted by a Lodge central in the District (usually Hiram #6 or Alexandria #33)
	Lobster & Steak supper first Saturday in June
	Widow's night between May & September every other year
	Annual Roast Beef supper in November
	Election of Officers in November
	Annual Masonic Christmas Tree / with Santa Claus passing out candy, any candy left over is donated to the soup kitchen
	Fund raiser for Camp Goodtime at least once a year
	Donations to the Harvey Music Festival & Graduation
	Benefit suppers or Dances to raise money for anybody in the community who is seriously ill
	Provide Masonic Services to departed brethren by request
	We usually have 1 or 2 candidates almost every year

To learn more on the facts, I recommend reading Facts about Freemasonry

Is there a conflict between Freemasonry and established religion?

There is nothing in Freemasonry that conflicts with most religions. However, Freemasonry does insist on religious tolerance. To the extent that certain religious groups would wish to suppress other religions or persecute their followers, Freemasons would be in opposition to such activities, and adherents of such groups would be both uncomfortable and unwelcome in Masonry. It is also the case that certain religious groups are misinformed about Freemasonry and believe things about the Fraternity that are not true; basing their opinions on this false information, they then formulate opinions that create conflict.

Is Freemasonry a cult?

That depends on what is meant by "cult." By some definitions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are cults. By another definition, golfing, bowling, and surfing the Internet are cults. But in the usual use of the term, referring to a group that separates itself from society and its members from their non-member friends, demands slavish obedience from its adherents, engages in brainwashing techniques, confiscates their resources, and sees itself in opposition to established society, absolutely not!

Quite the opposite, in fact: Masonry does not recruit members, does not compel attendance at any of its meetings, charges modest dues and fees (some little changed from sixty years ago, when the dollar was worth a lot more), encourages community service and participation in civic and religious organizations, and allows any member to quit (demit) at any time (providing he has no outstanding financial obligations; otherwise, he is liable to be suspended, but in either case, he would no longer be a member). It is easier to get out of Masonry than it is to get into it!

Why do certain fundamentalist groups oppose Freemasonry?

Mostly out of ignorance and misinformation, although possibly out of fear of competition for time and attention with the church (churches have been suffering the same loss of active membership over the past few decades as has Freemasonry). Ignorance of Masonry allows misinformation to spread. For example, it is claimed that Freemasonry has a "plan of salvation" that is in opposition to that of the Christian Church. Simply not true; nothing in any of the Masonic degrees refers to salvation.

To read more on difficult questions

or

If you would like to become a Mason, drop an E-mail to the of Cherry Mountain Lodge #50

Organized Freemasonry became established on 24 June 1717 when four London lodges came together at the Goose and Gridiron Ale House, St Paul’s Churchyard, formed themselves into a Grand Lodge and elected Anthony Sayer, Gentleman, as their Grand Master – the first Grand Lodge in the world. Initially the Grand Lodge was simply an annual feast for lodges in London but in 1721 John, Duke of Montagu, was elected Grand Master and the Grand Lodge met in ‘quarterly communication’ and began to establish itself as a regulatory body, attracting to it lodges meeting outside London.

From the four lodges which formed Grand Lodge in 1717, Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of England has grown to an organization of over 330,000 members grouped in nearly 8,000 lodges. Its membership has included men of rank and those who have become distinguished in many fields of human endeavor but the membership has always been a microcosm of the society in which it currently exists reflecting the social, religious and ethnic composition of our diverse society.

To learn more about Freemasonry in England visit Grand Lodge of England

Grand Lodge of England

To lean more about Freemasonry in general check out:

The Masonic Service Association of North America

or

The Anti-Masonry Points of View