Freemasonry had its documented origins in Europe during the Middle Ages and traces its history there over a span of almost eight centuries. Freemasonry in the United States had its beginnings in colonial times, with the lodges of that period usually receiving their charters from the grand lodges of England or Scotland. Following the American Revolution, the lodges in each state received new charters from their respective grand lodges. From that base, Freemasonry gradually spread across the country as new states were added to the original thirteen.

The entry for North Carolina in the , indicates that in 1735 some Masons gathered at Cape Fear (now known as Wilmington) to form a lodge. This early colonial lodge is believed to be the forerunner of North Carolina's lodge that received a warrant in 1754 from the Premier Grand Lodge; it was later named St. John's Lodge. Chartered by the Grand Lodge of England, St. John's is thought to be the oldest masonic lodge in continuous operation in North Carolina.

The Grand Lodge of [North] Carolina of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons (of A. F. and A. M.) was formed in 1787. Subsequently, the Grand Lodge of Tennessee was founded by eight Lodges working under charters from the Grand Lodge of North Carolina on December 27, 1813. By the latter part of the 1990s, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina of A. F. and A. M. had more than 60,000 members in 385 lodges. Its headquarters are in Raleigh.

Now as in medieval times, each individual lodge is presided over by a master, assisted by a senior and a junior warden. The master of a Masonic lodge is vested with a higher degree of authority than usually given the presiding officer of other organizations. There are several lodge officers below the ranks of master and wardens; in most instances a Mason progresses through this line of officers until eventually becoming master. In some lodges all officers are elected; in others only the high officers are elected, with the master appointing the lesser officers.

To insure unity and conformity among the individual lodges, there is a grand lodge in each state of the United States and one in the District of Columbia. The organizational structure of a grand lodge is basically the same as that of a lodge, with its officers usually being called grand master, grand warden, etc. The business of a grand lodge is transacted during annual meetings, delegates from the member lodges usually constituting a majority of those entitled to vote therein. The grand lodge exercises complete authority over each of its member lodges, the lodges, through their delegates, have some say about who will govern them, and by what means.

Overall, freemasonry is concerned with the welfare of its members, financially, politically, and physically. The stated mission of freemasonry in North Carolina is to raise the moral, social, intellectual, and spiritual conscience of society by teaching the ancient and enduring philosophical tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, which are expressed outwardly through service to God, family, country, and self under the Fatherhood of God within the Brotherhood of Man. A belief in God is required, but otherwise it is not a religious organization. Today such service is expressed by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina of A. F. and A. M. in a variety of charitable activities, including sponsorship of the Oxford Home for Children at Oxford and the Masonic and Eastern Star Home at Greensboro.