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Brother Allatt from Daily Masonic Progress included a question in his post yesterday. I’m hopeful that you’ll discuss answers to that question with me today.
I hope that you don’t find the question overly simplistic, or not worth your time.
As for me, I have always found it fascinating. And, it is a question that I have struggled to answer for myself, for all the years that I’ve been a Mason. I contemplate it often, but a satisfactory answer still eludes me.
Before answering that question, we have to answer first this question: what is not Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is not about the old stonemasons guilds or the roman collegia fabrorum. That is just the way the Ancient Freemasons hide the knowledge of the building of the Human Temple.
Freemasons did not built the pyramids, they were there, but they were doing their real job.
To answer the question.
Freemasonry in the core is a mortuary rite. Developed for the sole purpose of rebuilding the Human Soul. So it can continue his work on the Spiritual Realm.
Freemason travel from East to West and back (the are various ways to say it nowadays, but this is how I learned it). That means traveling from life (east) to death (west) and back again to life or to the Light. From our old life to a new life, but to get to that new life, death has to be experienced.
This mortuary rite is as ancient as Egypt itself. It comes from the Priests of Ptah. Ptah is the egyptian god of craftmen and artisan. But his main work is not related to construction. According the myth he created the world. But his Priests are mortuary priests. They were called the Ker Hebs.
I will leave it here. And will gladly answer more questions later. Blessings to all my BB.
We are the men who, with effort and understanding, are free from the bondage of the physical world. Builders of the tower of babel. United, regardless of language, race,or creed. Which in allegory builds up the earth-born, reaching to the heaven-born, and transcend as the god-born.
There is no single answer, because there are so many different forms of FM, and also because every Brother is seeking different things in FM. But what we all have in common is a set of symbols revolving around stone masonry (including a specific attire), a ritual revolving around the legend of Hiram, and a belief that living a moral life is important. If you have that, it’s FM. The rest is « jurisdictional » as you say in the US.
A system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols. And so it is. Our symbols are explained and illustrated. Our core understanding of these symbols are learned via a Master / Apprenticeship system. The 3rd Degree is an allegory. If one keeps their head out of the clouds it is fairly easy to understand. The point is continuously made that if a man adheres to our moral teachings he will end up a better man. But certainly not more than a man.
I have to admit I find the "more than a man a Manson" line absolutely abhorrent and reeking of hubris.
Nov 3, 2023·edited Nov 3, 2023Liked by Cameron M. Bailey
A fraternity built to provide individuals with the tools to improve oneself while surrounding them with individuals looking to do to the same while in an environment conducive to spiritual growth.
The closest I've come to answering this question for myself is an answer our Bro. Pike gave, that Freemasonry is the great peace society of the world.
I base this on the goal of Freemasonry, which is to unite all good men of the world into a common band or brotherhood. Removing all artificial divisions and conflicts. Religion, race, nationality, ideology, Freemasonry seeks to dissolve them all.
Our Craft hasn't of course always lived up to its ideals, but that is because as a human institution it is flawed, yet the ideals remain.
Complicating all of this of course is the fact that Freemasonry's scope is so vast. It is different things to different Masons. And there is certainly nothing wrong with that, properly looked at and utilized, this vast diversity of endeavors is a feature and not a flaw. But it does make the Craft awfully difficult to define.
Is it still Freemasonry when you run a candidate through a series of degrees without any explanation and then have him attend meetings that, other than some opening and closing ritual, otherwise take on the characteristics of any other business meeting?
I think Freemasonry is a verb, not a noun. And as such, cannot be put into practice solely by going through the degrees or even reading books. Not only should we study it but we should actively discuss it and practice it. Where? At lodge. A lodge that doesn’t foster this is doing everyone a disservice. And because this word can take on so many interpretations, it’s why I split it into two:
1. freemasonry with a little ‘f’ is how we run the lodge. The group needs to be run well in order to create an excellent experience.
2. Freemasonry with a capital ‘F’ is the vast content. Symbols, meaning, all the books written on the topic.
You need both the delivery system and the content. And we need brothers who can participate in both of these areas to truly practice WHAT it is.
Before answering that question, we have to answer first this question: what is not Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is not about the old stonemasons guilds or the roman collegia fabrorum. That is just the way the Ancient Freemasons hide the knowledge of the building of the Human Temple.
Freemasons did not built the pyramids, they were there, but they were doing their real job.
To answer the question.
Freemasonry in the core is a mortuary rite. Developed for the sole purpose of rebuilding the Human Soul. So it can continue his work on the Spiritual Realm.
Freemason travel from East to West and back (the are various ways to say it nowadays, but this is how I learned it). That means traveling from life (east) to death (west) and back again to life or to the Light. From our old life to a new life, but to get to that new life, death has to be experienced.
This mortuary rite is as ancient as Egypt itself. It comes from the Priests of Ptah. Ptah is the egyptian god of craftmen and artisan. But his main work is not related to construction. According the myth he created the world. But his Priests are mortuary priests. They were called the Ker Hebs.
I will leave it here. And will gladly answer more questions later. Blessings to all my BB.
We are the men who, with effort and understanding, are free from the bondage of the physical world. Builders of the tower of babel. United, regardless of language, race,or creed. Which in allegory builds up the earth-born, reaching to the heaven-born, and transcend as the god-born.
There is no single answer, because there are so many different forms of FM, and also because every Brother is seeking different things in FM. But what we all have in common is a set of symbols revolving around stone masonry (including a specific attire), a ritual revolving around the legend of Hiram, and a belief that living a moral life is important. If you have that, it’s FM. The rest is « jurisdictional » as you say in the US.
A system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols. And so it is. Our symbols are explained and illustrated. Our core understanding of these symbols are learned via a Master / Apprenticeship system. The 3rd Degree is an allegory. If one keeps their head out of the clouds it is fairly easy to understand. The point is continuously made that if a man adheres to our moral teachings he will end up a better man. But certainly not more than a man.
I have to admit I find the "more than a man a Manson" line absolutely abhorrent and reeking of hubris.
A fraternity built to provide individuals with the tools to improve oneself while surrounding them with individuals looking to do to the same while in an environment conducive to spiritual growth.
The closest I've come to answering this question for myself is an answer our Bro. Pike gave, that Freemasonry is the great peace society of the world.
I base this on the goal of Freemasonry, which is to unite all good men of the world into a common band or brotherhood. Removing all artificial divisions and conflicts. Religion, race, nationality, ideology, Freemasonry seeks to dissolve them all.
Our Craft hasn't of course always lived up to its ideals, but that is because as a human institution it is flawed, yet the ideals remain.
Complicating all of this of course is the fact that Freemasonry's scope is so vast. It is different things to different Masons. And there is certainly nothing wrong with that, properly looked at and utilized, this vast diversity of endeavors is a feature and not a flaw. But it does make the Craft awfully difficult to define.
Great question, indeed.
Is it still Freemasonry when you run a candidate through a series of degrees without any explanation and then have him attend meetings that, other than some opening and closing ritual, otherwise take on the characteristics of any other business meeting?
I think Freemasonry is a verb, not a noun. And as such, cannot be put into practice solely by going through the degrees or even reading books. Not only should we study it but we should actively discuss it and practice it. Where? At lodge. A lodge that doesn’t foster this is doing everyone a disservice. And because this word can take on so many interpretations, it’s why I split it into two:
1. freemasonry with a little ‘f’ is how we run the lodge. The group needs to be run well in order to create an excellent experience.
2. Freemasonry with a capital ‘F’ is the vast content. Symbols, meaning, all the books written on the topic.
You need both the delivery system and the content. And we need brothers who can participate in both of these areas to truly practice WHAT it is.