Masonic Lodge Opens Its Doors to the Public Today

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the mysterious doors of the ? This is your chance to find out, as the Middlesex Lodge of the Freemasons hosts an open house today, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Some people hear mention of Freemasonry and conjure up images of a secret society straight of out of the Da Vinci Code, but it’s not like that according to Alfredo Canhoto, past Master and Marshal of the Middlesex Lodge.

“There are some things that we probably keep to ourselves, but it’s not what Hollywood makes it,” said Canhoto.  “It’s a group of men looking to better themselves and their community.”

Saturday’s open house will allow the public to tour the lodge, meet the current Grand Master and other members, and ask questions about the Freemasons. 

Though membership is only open to men, women are welcome to attend the open house.

“It’s a good idea for men to bring their significant other,” said Sam Newland, Senior Warden of the Middlesex Lodge.  Newland consulted his own wife before joining the Masons because, he said, there is a time commitment involved in being a Mason – usually just a couple of evenings per month. Now that Newland has assumed more responsibility in the lodge, however, he said he is out of the house on Masons business three or four times a week.

As for requirements to join the Masons, potential members must be men 18 years and older, who meet certain moral qualifications and standards.  Though the Masons emphatically stress they are not a religious organization, the Massachusetts Freemasons website states members must “believe in a Supreme Being.” 

Masonic lodges across the country have seen their membership numbers dwindling, according to Canhoto. However, Massachusetts lodges have recently taken a proactive approach to finding new members, holding annual open houses and airing successful television ads featuring an actor playing Benjamin Franklin. These initiatives have boosted state Masonry memberships enough that they’re catching on in other lodges. This year, Masonic lodges throughout New England will participate in the annual open house in an effort to grow their numbers.

Framingham’s Middlesex Lodge is steeped in history and is part of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, the third oldest in the world next to lodges in England and Ireland.

The Middlesex Lodge was founded in 1795 by Paul Revere, who served as state Grand Master. Revere signed the lodge’s charter, which will be on display at the open house. 

Other treasures owned by the lodge include a staff said to be made of wood from “Old Ironsides” and a lock of hair from Revolutionary War veteran Jonathan Maynard, the first Middlesex Lodge Master and first postmaster of Framingham.

The Masons are involved in a variety of charitable programs, including the CHIP program for identifying children, the Shriners Hospitals, and the Angel Fund. 

As part of the fraternity’s Angel Fund, Canhoto said they work with Framingham school principals and nurses to provide winter coats to kids who need them and to fund learning aids for students with special needs.

Newland said those attending the annual Masons open house often want to learn the secrets of the Masons and see the inside of a building they view as mysterious. 

In the end, Newland said, they learn the Masonic building is “a regular building” and that the members “come in all shapes and sizes – it’s a very diverse demographic of men.”

Newland hopes they also leave with a better understanding of Freemasonry in the real world, beyond the stuff of books and movies.