Is their Initiations rites in freemasons, or list of qualifications before you can join?

Yes to both questions. Before you can join, you have to be sponsored by someone who is already a mason. They cannot recruit you, but they can answer any questions about masonry except certain secrets, mostly about the content of the initiations. If you tell a mason you want to join the lodge, a committee will be appointed to investigate you and make sure that you are of good character. They will talk to you and speak to character references about you. The masons frown on overindulgence in drink, a criminal record, or any immoral acts. When your application to join is complete, the members of the lodge vote whether or not to accept you and if anyone there knows of a reason you should not be accepted they won't let you in. Mostly everyone is accepted at this point, but again, it's about making sure everybody who joins is an honest and decent person. You do have to profess a belief in God, but you can be of any religion and do not have to go to church.

If your petition to join is accepted, you will have to pass three different initiations, called degrees. You will be coached beforehand by your sponsor or sponsors, who will teach you about masonry, and there are long passages you have to memorize and say during the later degrees. The third initiation has a lot of questions, hence the origin of the term, the third degree.

The masons do really good work in the community and support each other. It's a social group but it's also about learning to be a good man and a responsible citizen. The things you learn are (I'm sure) very interesting and in my opinion, everyone with a passing interest should talk to some masons. Ask them what masonry means to them and that will help you decide whether to join or not.

Requirements to become a Freemason (at least in a "regular" Lodge as defined and "Recognized" by the United Grand Lodge of Englad)...

1) be a man, 21 years old (18 in some cases)

2) belive in a Supreme Being

3) be of sound moral character

You would then contact a Lodge and ask to join, they will have you fill out a Petition (application) that will have to be signed by 3 Freemasons who know you, if you do not know any Freemasons, you can visit the Lodge and get to know some and then they will sign it for you.

You will then be interviewed and your Petition voted upon, if you are elected to receive the Degrees of Freemasonry you will then go through the 3 rituals that end with you being a Master Mason.

If you need help finding a local Lodge let me know.

to some other answers:

* you have to ask to join, you will not be invited and they will not seek you out

* very good answer Emily

Initiation differ widely depending on the tradition and coven you are a part of. Because of this, I really can't give you a general outline of an initiation ritual. In addition, initiation rituals are usually kept secret even from the initiate him/herself. Initiation is really something that you don't have to worry about as a solitary though. If you're just seeking information, some authors do describe their initiation experiences, but I haven't yet come across a book that covers the topic exclusively.

My brother is a Freemason. According to him, the first requirement is that you believe in a god of some type.

I think having a relative who was a Freemason helps too. And yes, there is an initiation.

Pay a visit to your local Masonic lodge if you're really interested.

Yes, there are elaborate initiation rites. You can't volunteer to join, you must be invited.

I tried to ask my friend but he didn't know. Sorry!