[littlecat123]

I thought you had to be a bricklayer or stone mason to belong to the Masons.

Is this not so? From the home page, it looks like any male can join whether or not they have that profession.

[Jason]

Freemasonry is an speculative term used. While it is believed that traditions where taken from operative masons according to some. Others believed that operative Masons started taking opening up to others in the 16th and/or 17th century. A person today does not have to be a bricklayer to join the fraternity. They must simply:

1. Be a man, freeborn, of good repute and well-recommended;
2. Have a belief in a Supreme Being;
3. Ability to support one's self and family;
4. Of lawful age;
   
5. Come of their "own free will and accord".

[ninikins]

I always thought that the bricklaying thing etc was symbolic ie ' building' with knowledge instead of stones and bricks.