Candidates must be male, at least 21 years of age, able to profess a belief in God, and of good character.
For information on mixed-sex Masonry, see the discussion on Co-Masonry in II, 7.
Some Grand Lodges also have a residency requirement; for example, the Grand Lodge of Michigan requires candidates to have lived in its jurisdiction (Michigan) for a minimum of one year.
There are some exceptions to the age requirement. For example, in England and Virginia, the direct relatives of Master Masons in good standing are eligible to join at the age of 18. In some jurisdictions, DeMolays may join upon reaching their 18th birthday. |