The Investigating Committee: What Happens When Masons Visit Your Home?

You have handed in your petition. A week or two later, your phone rings. Three members of the lodge would like to come and visit you at home. If your stomach just dropped, relax. This is the most normal step in the whole process, and it is far less formal than you think.

The investigating committee exists for one reason: the lodge wants to get to know you before it votes. Here is exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

§What the committee is

When a lodge receives a petition, the Worshipful Master appoints a small committee, usually three Master Masons, to investigate the candidate. They meet you, check your references, and report back to the lodge. That report guides the members when they vote. What Is the Masonic Ballot? explains the vote itself.

Some jurisdictions call it the investigation, some the interview, some the committee of inquiry. The process is the same. If you have read The Masonic Interview, this is the in depth version of that conversation.

§Where and when it happens

• Most often at your home, in the evening, lasting about an hour.
• Sometimes at a coffee shop or the lodge building if a home visit is not practical.
• Usually within two to four weeks of handing in your petition.
• Occasionally done as separate visits by each committee member.

Why your home? Because it tells them about you. Not whether it is tidy or big. Whether you are settled, whether your family knows what you are doing, and whether you are the same man they met at the lodge dinner.

§Should your spouse be there?

Yes, if you have one, and if possible. Many committees specifically ask to meet your wife or partner. They want to know she supports your decision, understands the time commitment, and has had a chance to ask her own questions. Lodges have learned that a man whose family resents his membership rarely stays.

Your partner does not need to sit through the whole conversation. A friendly introduction and ten minutes of her questions is typical. Prepare her by sharing Will My Family Be Welcome? beforehand.

§What they will ask you

Questions vary by lodge, but expect most of these.

• Why do you want to become a Freemason?
• How did you first hear about Freemasonry?
• Do you believe in a Supreme Being? (They will not ask which one.)
• What do you do for work, and how long have you lived here?
• Tell us about your family.
• Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a crime?
• Have you ever petitioned another lodge?
• Can you afford the fees and dues without hardship?
• Do you have the time to attend meetings and learn the ritual?
• What questions do you have for us?

Answer honestly and in your own words. There are no trick questions. On the criminal record question especially, tell the truth. Most lodges run a background check, and an old conviction you disclose is far less of a problem than one you hide. Can a Felon Become a Freemason? covers this in detail.

Want to know how you would score before the committee arrives? The free Readiness Quiz checks the same areas they ask about.

§Red flags committees look for

• Joining for business contacts. Do Freemasons Help Each Other Get Ahead? explains why this is a bad motive.
• Joining because you think you will learn secrets of power or wealth.
• Not believing in any Supreme Being but saying you do.
• A spouse who is clearly unhappy or uninformed.
• Money problems that dues would make worse.
• Dishonesty about anything, even small things.

§Questions you should ask them

The committee expects you to ask questions. It shows you are serious. Good ones include the following.

• How often does the lodge meet, and what happens at a typical meeting?
• What does it cost, including initiation, dues and dinners?
• Will I have a mentor through the degrees?
• How long between degrees, and how much memorisation is involved?
• What does the lodge do for charity and the community?

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Freemason? and Do You Have to Memorise Ritual? give you the background to ask good follow ups.

§How to prepare

1. Re read your petition so your answers match it.
2. Let your references know they may be contacted.
3. Talk with your partner about why you are joining.
4. Write down three honest reasons you want to join.
5. Write down three questions to ask.
6. Put on the coffee. Dress like you would for dinner with friends.

§What happens next

After the visit, the committee reports to the lodge, usually at the next stated meeting. The lodge then votes. If the ballot is favourable, you will be contacted to schedule your initiation. The whole process from petition to first degree typically takes one to three months. How Long Does It Take to Join? breaks down the timing, and What Happens After You Ask to Join covers the full sequence.

§If something goes wrong

Sometimes life gets in the way. The committee may need to reschedule, or you may. That is fine. Just keep in touch with the lodge Secretary so your petition does not stall. If the conversation turns up something unexpected, like a concern about your schedule or finances, the committee may suggest you wait a few months before going to ballot. That is not a rejection. It is the lodge looking out for you. Take the advice, fix what needs fixing, and come back stronger. And if you are wondering what the officers you will meet actually do, Masonic Ranks and Hierarchy and What Is the Worshipful Master? give you a quick map of the lodge before you walk in.

Remember this: the committee is hoping you are a good fit. They drove to your house because they want new members. Be honest, be yourself, and you will likely enjoy it.