John Wayne was a Mason...What does it mean to be a Mason? Why do people want to join? Once you’re a Mason, what do you do as a Mason?
"Mason" is shorthand for "Freemason", which is a fraternal organization for men.
Why do people want to join?
Men come to Freemasonry for a variety of reasons, but primarily to build fraternal relationships that are based on friendship, morality, and Brotherly love.
Once you’re a Mason, what do you do as a Mason?
I'm having a little trouble understanding this question. Could you be a little more specific about what you want to know? I'll be glad to help.
It depends on your lodge, really.
We do a lot with local schools.
Eat! Have fun-raisers for scholarhips and charities, eat, attend business meetings, eat, learn to pretend that you're not planning to take over the world; eat, drive funny little cars . . . oh, wait! That's the Shriners; eat, do the dishes, . . .
Why do people want to join? So you can attend the annual BBQ, of course!
Seriously, though, people want to be Masons so they can learn the secrets of building better temples.
John Wayne was a Mason... in my year as Master of our Lodge i held a child ID day, two blood drives, three charity breakfasts, five charity dinners and brought things for Masonic Vets and their ward mates at our local VA hospital. all of which i'm sure is fairly typical of the kinds things done all around the country.