Freemasonry Education
Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. Our lodge is committed to educating both our members and the public about the rich history, philosophy, and symbolism of the Craft.
What Is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternal order — a living philosophical tradition that traces its symbolic roots to the guilds of medieval stonemasons who built the great cathedrals of Europe. Using the tools and language of operative masonry as allegory, it teaches moral and ethical lessons through ritual, symbolism, and fellowship.
It is not a religion, though it requires belief in a Supreme Being. It is not a political movement, though it champions liberty of conscience. It is not a secret society — it is a society with traditions, whose members are committed to self-improvement, charitable service, and the pursuit of truth.
"Freemasonry takes good people and, through a system of moral instruction veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols, endeavors to make them better."
Three Pillars of the Craft
Liberty
Freedom of thought and conscience — the sacred right of every individual to seek truth through reason, reflection, and personal conviction. Freemasonry teaches that no authority stands between a person and their search for understanding.
Equality
All who enter the lodge meet upon the Level. Regardless of station, wealth, or background, every brother and sister stands as an equal in the pursuit of wisdom and virtue. Le Droit Humain extends this to men and women alike.
Fellowship
The bond of fraternity that regards the whole human family as one. Through shared ritual, charitable works, and moral support, Freemasons cultivate a fellowship that transcends borders and generations.
The Three Degrees
Every Freemason's journey progresses through three symbolic degrees — each a deeper exploration of moral truth, self-knowledge, and the mysteries of existence.
Entered Apprentice
The Threshold of Light
The beginning of the Masonic journey. This degree introduces the candidate to the language of symbolism and the first principles of moral self-improvement. It is a degree of trust, humility, and the courage to seek.
Fellow Craft
The Ascent Through Knowledge
A degree of intellectual and philosophical growth. The Fellow Craft is encouraged to study, to question, and to develop the mind through the liberal arts and sciences. It represents the middle passage — the years of learning and discovery.
Master Mason
The Sublime Degree
The culmination of the Craft degrees — a profound meditation on fidelity, the nature of mortality, and the enduring bonds of fellowship. To be raised to this degree is to complete a transformation that words alone cannot convey.
Masonic Symbolism
Freemasonry communicates its deepest truths through symbols — a universal language that transcends words and speaks directly to the soul.
The All-Seeing Eye
A reminder of the ever-present awareness of a higher power, calling us to live with integrity in all things.
Light & Darkness
Freemasonry speaks often of light — the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and moral clarity against the darkness of ignorance.
The Square & Compasses
The most recognized emblems of the Craft. Together they represent the balance between moral duty and the boundaries of virtuous conduct.
Sacred Geometry
Geometric forms pervade Masonic tradition, reflecting the order and harmony that underlie creation and the art of building.
A Living History
The Regius Poem, the oldest known Masonic document, is written in England.
The Grand Lodge of England is founded, marking the birth of organized speculative Freemasonry.
Anderson's Constitutions are published — the foundational governance document of modern Freemasonry.
Le Droit Humain is founded in Paris by Marie Deraismes and Georges Martin, admitting both men and women.
Le Droit Humain establishes its first lodges outside France, spreading to Britain and beyond.
The American Federation of Le Droit Humain is established in the United States.
Le Droit Humain operates in over 60 countries. St. Germain Lodge No. 1737 carries this tradition forward in Miami.
Le Droit Humain
The International Order of Freemasonry for Men and Women
On January 14, 1882, Marie Deraismes — journalist, orator, feminist pioneer — was initiated into Freemasonry at the Lodge Les Libres Penseurs in Pecq, France. It was a revolutionary act. Eleven years later, in 1893, she and Senator Georges Martin founded Le Droit Humain: a Masonic order built from its inception on the principle that wisdom, virtue, and brotherhood belong equally to all human beings.
Today, Le Droit Humain is the largest international co-Masonic order in the world, operating in over 60 countries. The American Federation carries forward this mission across the United States, and St. Germain Lodge No. 1737 proudly serves the South Florida community as part of this global family.
"The true Mason is a practical philosopher, who, under religious emblems, in all ages, has adopted the principles of equality and justice."
Frequently Asked