There are any number of great web pages and books out there that talk about Freemasonry in an official way. If that is what you want, here you go: MA Freemasonry, United Grand Lodge, and Wikipedia.
I would rather talk about Masonry in its specifically modern context. Alexis De Tocqueville, in his book Democracy in America, believed that the saving grace of democracy was found, not in commerce or in the goodwill of public servants, but in the strength of community organizations. Democracy’s great strength would, he felt, flourish in places where people could meet and talk about life, problems, and public issues–places that give individuals a voice through community participation. Masonry was one of the many organizations where this dialogue occurred, which is why there are so many connections between public service and Masonry. Masons gather together and, in the process, are moved to make a difference in the world.
Beyond making the world a better place, there is another way in which Masonry is uniquely significant. Masonry helps make its members better people. Masonry is a study or practice that asks each member, what does it mean for me to be the best person I can be? This question is asked in a community of people who are all committed to the same ideals in their own ways, and who can help one another in their struggles to become better human beings. Even making a priority to attend one meeting a month and live up to the commitments a person makes at and for that meeting calls each member out of their self-interest and pushes them into new places of growth.
When we contrast this practice to the way the majority of people spend their evenings isolated by TV or internet surfing, Masonry’s significance and positive life-shaping potential emerges. We spend so much of our lives engaged in solitary pursuits, growing our businesses, and pursuing entertainment, that we have forgotten how to relate to one another. Masonry help bridge the growing gap between neighbors. In a world where the pressures of life seem to be pulling communities apart, Masonry, as a movement draws us out of our individual isolation and into community with others.
Kevin Baxter
Past Master