F. & A.M. | Waukesha, WI

What is the purpose of Freemasonry? One of its most basic purposes is to make good men even better. We try to place an emphasis on the individual man by strengthening his character, improving his moral and spiritual outlook, and broadening his mental horizons. We try to impress upon the minds of our members the principles of personal responsibility and morality, encouraging each member to practice in his daily life the lessons taught through symbolic ceremonies within the lodge.

One of the universal doctrines of Freemasonry is a belief in the "Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of God". The importance of this belief is reinforced by each Freemason as he practices the three principle tenets of this gentle craft: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, while promoting a way of life that binds like-minded men in a worldwide brotherhood transcending all religious, ethnic, cultural, social and educational differences.

In The Farmers Almanac for 1823 published at Andover, Mass., the following was printed under the heading, Definition of a Freemason:

"The real Freemason is distinguished from the rest of Mankind by the uniform unrestrained rectitude of his conduct. Other men are honest in fear of punishment which the law might inflect they are religious in expectation of being rewarded, or in dread of the devil, in the next world. A Freemason would be just if there were no laws, human or divine except those written in his heart by the finger of his Creator. In every climate, under every system of religion, he is the same. He kneels before the Universal Throne of God in gratitude for the blessings he has received and humble solicitation for his future protection. He venerates the good men of all religions. He disturbs not the religion of others. He restrains his passions, because they cannot be indulged without injuring his neighbor or himself. He gives no offense, because he does not choose to be offended. He contracts no debts which he is certain he cannot discharge, because he is honest upon principal."

The Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons is the oldest, largest and most widely known fraternal organization in the world. It has its roots in antiquity, and is directly descended from the Association of Operative Masons, cathedral builders of the Middle Ages who traveled through Europe employing the secrets and skills of their crafts. The organization as we know it today began in 1717 in England when cathedral building was on the decline and Operative or Free Masons as they were known, began to accept individuals who were not members of the craft, calling them Speculative or Accepted Masons.

Early settlers then brought Freemasonry to the United States. Benjamin Franklin, in an early newspaper article published by him, refers to a Lodge of Freemasons being in existence in Philadelphia in 1730.

Wisconsin has 183 Lodges with a membership totaling over 14,000. Worldwide, there are approximately 5 million Freemasons, over 3 million of whom are located in the United States under the jurisdiction of 50 Grand Lodges.

Freemasonry is not contrary to common belief a "secret society," but rather a "society with secrets." If it were a secret society, its members would not wear Masonic jewelry or publicly mark their many Halls. However, Freemasonry does have many time honored traditions and customs, which of course are known only to its members.

Freemasonry in Wisconsin first took organized form on the night of December 27, 1823 when seven army officers and three civilians met at the home of Brother George Johnston on the west bank of the Fox River in what is now Green Bay. The soldiers were attached to the 3rd Regiment and stationed at Fort Howard under the command of Col. John McNeil, also a Freemason. Wisconsin was then part of the territory of Michigan and very lightly settled. Native Americans still roamed freely and played havoc with traders on the Fox and the soldiers were there to maintain order and protect the settlers in this vast wilderness.

Desiring to form a lodge, the men sent a petition to the Grand Lodge of New York requesting a charter. Dispensation for the formation of a lodge was granted, and on September 2, 1824, the interested brethren met again to organize it. Their charter from the Grand Lodge of New York was dated December 3rd.

During the following year, Menomanie Lodge #374 ceased to be a military lodge and became a public one. An 1854 address given in Green Bay showcased the lodge's records dating back to 1827 and its cessation as a lodge in 1830. It was, therefore, never chartered as a "Wisconsin" lodge; moreover, its New York charter was destroyed in a fire during 1870 at Washington Lodge #21, Green Bay.

Carved out of the original Michigan Territory in 1836, the rich lead mines of the southwestern Wisconsin territory attracted a large influx of settlers, including influential men from Missouri and Illinois. These men too, looked forward to organizing lodges of Freemasonry.

Melody Lodge No. 49 under the Grand Lodge of Missouri received a dispensation at Mineral Point on October 8, 1840. Organized on July 27, 1841, it was granted a charter in October 1842 and began work on February 15, 1843.

Meanwhile on January 10, 1843, a second dispensation came from Missouri to form Lodge No. 65, about 20 miles from Mineral Point in Platteville. With dispensation granted on June 12, 1843, The Grand Lodge of Illinois, as that area's Grand jurisdiction, chartered Milwaukee Lodge No. 22.

The Grand Lodge of Wisconsin was formed and charters granted to representatives from Mineral Point # 1, Melody #2 of Platteville and Kilbourn #3 of Milwaukee on January 17, 1844.