We are members of the oldest Fraternity in the world; a society of men associated in an environment of companionship and brotherhood and dedicated to a common cause of promoting the personal and social development of our members.

Freemasonry is a fraternal organization whose membership shares moral and metaphysical ideals and, in most of its branches, requires a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.

The fraternity uses the metaphor of operative stonemasons’ tools and implements, against the allegorical backdrop of the building of the Temple of King Solomon, to convey what is generally defined as “a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.”

While it has often been called a “Secret Society”, it is more correct to say that it is an esoteric society, in that certain aspects are private.

From many quarters, Freemasons stated that Freemasonry in the 21st century became less a secret society and more of a “society with secrets.” Most modern Freemasons regard secrecy as a demonstration of their ability to keep a promise and to keep the privacy of their own affairs. Lodge meetings, like meetings of many other social and professional associations, are private occasions open only to members. The private aspects of modern Freemasonry deal with the modes of recognition amongst members and elements within the ritual.

While there have been many disclosures and exposés dating as far back as the eighteenth century, Freemasons caution these often lack the proper context for true understanding, may be outdated for various reasons, or could be outright hoaxes on the part of the author. Freemasons are proud of their heritage and are happy to share it, offering spokesmen, briefings for the media, and providing talks to interested groups upon request.

We trace our history to the ancient European Stone Mason Guilds, essentially labor associations of a very lucrative skilled profession whose members traveled all over medieval and renaissance Europe erecting buildings and cathedrals.

Over time, the character of the ancient guilds changed and they started admitting patrons for whom they were building as well as Stone Masons themselves. Those honorary members became known as non-operative or “accepted” masons. Eventually, the guilds declined, the number of working stone masons declined as well, and what remained were “accepted Masons” while guilds became known as Lodges. Hence our organization Today is known as the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons.

The basis of many of our ceremonies trace back to those ancient days when a stone mason through years of apprenticeship learned the secrets of the profession by first becoming an Apprentice Craftsman, later becoming a Fellow of the Craft, and eventually through travels and experience he became Master of the Craft.

Those three stages are preserved in the modern “speculative” masonry and represented in three degrees that a man goes through to become a Master Mason. These degrees are the Entered Apprentice, the Fellowcraft, and the Master Mason.

The early stone masons were bound by certain ethical standards in their personal conduct. Today Masons no longer erect cathedrals and buildings. But the ethical standards remain and have translated to become one of the fundamental purposes of Freemasonry: to be a good man and to encourage a good man to find a way to become a better man and a better citizen.

The moral and ethical standards that European Stonemasons adhered to were represented through allegories of the building of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. The Masonic ritual is largely based on these same allegories.

Masonic ritual makes use of the architectural symbolism of medieval operative Masons, who actually worked in stone. Freemasons, as Speculative Masons, use this symbolism to teach moral and ethical lessons of the principles of “Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth” — or as related in France: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”.

Two of the principal symbols always found in a Lodge are the square and compasses; symbols always displayed in an open Lodge. Some Lodges and rituals explain these symbols as lessons in conduct: for example, that one should “square their actions by the square of virtue” and to learn to “circumscribe their desires and keep their passions within due bounds toward all mankind”.

These moral lessons are communicated in the performance of allegorical rituals. A candidate progresses through degrees gaining knowledge and understanding of himself, his relationship with others, and his relationship with the Supreme Being (as he interprets this for himself). While the philosophical aspects of the Craft tend to be discussed in Lodges of Instruction or Research, and sometimes informal groups, Freemasons, and others, frequently publish — to a variable degree of competence — studies that are available to the public. It is well noted, however, that no one person “speaks” for the whole of Freemasonry.

The Volume of the Sacred Law is always displayed in an open Lodge. In English-speaking countries, this is frequently the King James Version of the Bible or another standard translation (there is no such thing as an exclusive “Masonic Bible”).  In Lodges with a membership of mixed religions, it is common to find more than one sacred text displayed representing the beliefs of the individuals present.

In keeping with the geometrical and architectural theme of Freemasonry, the Supreme Being is referred to in Masonic ritual by the titles of the Great Architect of the Universe, Grand Geometer, or similar forms of words to make clear that their reference is generic, not about any one religion’s particular concept of God.

No.

We are not a religion. Masonry offers no path to salvation, nor do we preach that there is one. Our members come from many different faith backgrounds. Many of us profess Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and other less traditional belief systems. Our ceremonies include a lot of allegory based on the Old Testament, something the stone masons of early Europe would have been very familiar with. Although we are not a religion, we profess love for a Supreme Being and our fellow man.

There are a few things we Masons obligate ourselves not to do. For example, we take an oath to not discuss certain words, rituals, and modes of recognition with anyone other than a Mason. This tradition begun by the historic stone masons who needed a way to recognize themselves and know that they are dealing with a Master of the Craft rather than an imposter. At the time this was an issue of safety and more than likely job security. We carry this tradition to this day and take pride in being counted on as men of integrity, who can keep a promise.

We don’t mind if people know these words, or modes of recognition or anything else! It is all out there, google it!

A Lodge in Ashburn was chartered in 1906 when a group of Masons from other lodges in the area started gathering together near a railroad station in the Village of Ashburn, in a location near Today’s Carolina Brothers. At the time, it was known as Ashburn Lodge No. 288.

Members of Ashburn Lodge were mainly farmers, merchants, and railroad workers a typical make-up of the region for that day. The Lodge moved locations several times but eventually settled near the crossing of Ashburn Rd. And the W&OR Railroad. Ashburn Lodge No. 288 remained there until 1989 when it relocated to our current building. On November 4th, 1997 Masons from neighboring Sterling Lodge No. 268 voted in favor of consolidating Sterling and Ashburn Lodges together, The next month, December 4th, 1997, Ashburn-sterling Lodge No. 288 met for the first time as a consolidated Lodge of Ashburn Lodge No. 288 and Sterling Lodge No. 268.

We are not.

We are a Fraternity, an association of philosophers, activists, and good men of this community, who come together in fellowship.

Despite not being a charity something great happens when good men come together. Take a look at the many ways in which our organization directly contributes to our community, our country, and the world.

Masonic organizations in North America collectively contribute well over 2.7 million dollars every day to charities. That’s close to One Billion dollars annually in charitable donations.

Our Stated Communication occurs on the second Tuesday of every month. Please visit us to learn more about Freemasonry or how to become a Freemason. We host a public dinner which begins at 6:30 PM and the Stated Communication starts at 7:30 PM. Please direct any inquiries to our Lodge Secretary via email at Info@AshburnSterling288.org.