A guide for lodge officers

How to Host a Masonic Open House

The open house is the most effective, dignified way to introduce your lodge to good men. Here is how to plan it, promote it, run it — and follow up so it actually grows your lodge.

Why Open Houses Work

Most good prospects don't want a pitch — they want to meet the men and feel the place out. An open house gives them exactly that: a low-pressure way to walk in, see the building, ask their questions, and decide for themselves. Done well — and followed up on — a single open house can fill a lodge's petition pipeline for a year.

1

Plan It — 6 to 8 Weeks Out

A good open house is planned, not improvised. Six to eight weeks gives you time to promote it properly and prepare the building.

  • Pick a date that works for families — a weekend afternoon or early evening beats a weeknight.
  • Form a small committee (3-4 Brothers) so it isn't one man's burden.
  • Set a clear agenda and a start/end time. Two hours is plenty.
  • Decide who greets at the door, who gives the tour, who gives the talk, and who handles food.
  • Walk the building with fresh eyes — clean, well-lit, and welcoming. First impressions count.
2

Promote It — Be Where Good Men Look

An open house no one knows about builds nothing. Promote it where interested men and their families will actually see it.

  • Publish it on the public Masonic events calendar so it shows up in search and the community.
  • Post on your lodge's Facebook page and ask every member to share it.
  • Make a clean flyer for community boards, libraries, coffee shops, and the local paper.
  • Invite members' friends, sons, and coworkers personally — a personal invite is the strongest of all.
  • Frame it openly: "Curious about Freemasonry? Come see for yourself — bring your family."
Publish your open house on the events calendarMake a free event flyer
3

Run the Day — An Agenda That Welcomes

Keep it warm, honest, and unhurried. Visitors want to meet the men and get a feel for the place — not sit through a lecture.

  • Greet every visitor by name at the door and pin on a name tag.
  • Give a building tour — the lodge room (when permitted), the dining hall, the history on the walls.
  • Offer a short, plain talk: what Freemasonry is, what it isn't, who can join, and how. 10 minutes, no jargon.
  • Open the floor for questions. Answer honestly — including the "secrets" question (it's about modes of recognition, not hidden agendas).
  • End with food and fellowship. Let visitors simply talk with members over coffee or a meal.
4

Follow Up — Where Open Houses Are Won or Lost

Most lodges host a nice event and then never follow up. The follow-up is the whole point. Do this and you will out-recruit lodges twice your size.

  • Have a simple sign-in sheet — name, email, phone — and tell visitors you'll send them more info.
  • Within 2-3 days, a real Brother (ideally the one they connected with) reaches out personally.
  • Invite interested men to the next dinner before a stated meeting — low pressure, high warmth.
  • Make the path clear: meet the members, submit a petition, the investigation, the degrees.
  • Don't chase, but don't disappear. Steady, warm, personal contact converts curiosity into commitment.

Open House Timeline at a Glance

6-8 weeks out

Pick the date, form the committee, set the agenda.

4 weeks out

Start promoting — events calendar, social, flyer, personal invites.

1 week out

Prep the building, confirm roles, finalize food.

The day

Greet, tour, short talk, questions, fellowship — and collect contacts.

Within 2-3 days

Personal follow-up with every interested visitor.

Present a United Front

On open-house day, a coordinated lodge — officers and members in matching apparel with your lodge name — tells every visitor this is a place that takes pride in itself. Made For Freemasons makes custom lodge apparel, designed by Brothers.

Custom Lodge Apparel at MFF

Open House FAQ

Common questions about hosting a Masonic open house.

What is a Masonic open house?+

A Masonic open house is a public event where a lodge opens its doors to non-Masons — interested men and often their families — to tour the building, meet the members, learn what Freemasonry is and isn't, and ask questions in a relaxed, no-pressure setting. It is the most effective and dignified way for a lodge to introduce itself to potential members.

Can non-Masons attend a Masonic open house?+

Yes — that is the entire purpose. Open houses are specifically for the public. The lodge room and general areas are shown to visitors; only the actual ritual and degree work remain private. Many lodges encourage visitors to bring their wives and families so everyone can see the fraternal, charitable nature of the Craft.

What should a lodge NOT do at an open house?+

Don't be secretive or evasive about reasonable questions — it breeds suspicion. Don't hard-sell or pressure anyone to join; Masonry is asked for, not pushed. Don't let the event run long or feel disorganized. And the biggest mistake of all: don't fail to follow up afterward. A warm event with no follow-up converts almost no one.

How do you promote a Masonic open house?+

Publish it on a public Masonic events calendar, post it on your lodge's social media and ask members to share, make a clean flyer for community boards and the local paper, and — most powerfully — have members personally invite friends, sons, and coworkers. A personal invitation from a man you respect is the single strongest form of promotion.

How long should a Masonic open house last?+

About two hours is ideal. Long enough for a tour, a short talk, questions, and fellowship over food — but short enough to respect everyone's time and end on a high note. A weekend afternoon or early evening works best for visitors with families.

More for Lodge Officers

How to Grow Your Lodge

The full membership playbook.

Submit Your Event

Publish your open house publicly.

Event Flyer Tool

Make a free flyer in minutes.