How do you know yourself to be a Mason?

• A. By reciting a sign and token.
• B. By being examined by the lodge officers.
• C. By permission from the Worshipful Master.
• D. By being often tried, never denied, and willing to be tried again.

Answer: (D)

In Masonry, your true recognition as a Mason comes from your character and perseverance through trials, not from a single ritual or external permission. The idea of being often tried, never denied, and willing to be tried again captures that ongoing personal commitment: you face tests, you stay true when doubts or obstacles arise, and you’re prepared to continue seeking light. This inner resolve is what confirms your Masonry to yourself, over time.

Signs and tokens can identify or confirm a Mason in ceremony or among brothers, and examinations by lodge officers are part of advancing, but they don’t define the inner assurance of being a Mason. Likewise, seeking permission from the Worshipful Master isn’t the measure of being a Mason. It’s the steadfast willingness to endure trials and pursue improvement that truly characterizes a Mason.