Making Good Men Better.

Freemasonry is founded on the grand principles of brotherly love, relief and truth through which offers a mean for making good men better.

A Journey of Character, Brotherhood, and Service

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and most widely recognized fraternal organizations. Its purpose is simple to state, but lifelong in practice: to help good men continue the work of becoming better.

At its heart, Freemasonry is a journey of character, reflection, brotherhood, and service. It teaches that a man has duties to his family, his faith, his community, his country, his Brethren, and himself. Through ritual, symbolism, mentorship, fellowship, and service, Freemasonry gives a man tools to reflect on his life and live with greater integrity.

Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth

The great principles of Freemasonry are traditionally expressed as Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.

Brotherly Love teaches us to treat one another with respect, kindness, and goodwill.

Relief reminds us to care for those in need, beginning with our families, our Brethren, and our communities.

Truth calls us to live with honesty, sincerity, moral courage, and a desire for greater understanding.

These principles are ancient, but they remain deeply relevant. They are not meant only to be spoken in Lodge. They are meant to be practiced in daily life.

Ancient Tradition, Modern Purpose

Freemasonry has roots that reach back centuries, but it is not a relic of the past. Its lessons remain meaningful because the work of becoming a better man is never finished.

Men today face distraction, isolation, pressure, and uncertainty. Freemasonry offers a place apart from that noise: a place for reflection, friendship, discipline, responsibility, and shared moral purpose.

The Lodge brings together men from different backgrounds, professions, cultures, and walks of life. What unites them is not status or occupation, but character.

Freemasonry at St. Andrew’s

St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 560 is a Canadian Masonic Lodge in Ottawa with Scottish traditions. Our Lodge was founded by Brethren with Scottish roots, and we continue to honour that heritage through our customs, fellowship, and culture.

At the same time, St. Andrew’s is proudly multicultural. We welcome sincere inquiries from upright men of good character, regardless of background or walk of life, provided they meet the qualifications required by our Grand Lodge and are found to be a good fit for our Lodge.

Ritual is central to who we are. It is through ritual that Freemasonry teaches its most important lessons. It builds discipline, humility, memory, confidence, and meaning. It also reminds each Brother that he is part of something larger than himself.

More Than Membership

Freemasonry is not merely membership in an organization. It is participation in a living tradition.

A Mason learns, serves, contributes, and grows. He supports his Brethren and is supported by them. He develops responsibility through Lodge work, mentorship, committees, ritual, and, when called upon, leadership.

The result is not instant transformation. It is steady work over time.

Learn More

If you are curious about Freemasonry, we invite you to continue exploring.

You may wish to learn what Freemasonry is, why men become Masons, how the process works, or what makes St. Andrew’s Lodge a meaningful place to begin that journey.