I think I agree with you, with the additional thought that we each find in direct proportion to the effort we put in to seek in the first place.
If you approach with the intent and idea that there are profound secrets (perhaps depths is more accurate ?) to be discovered by one's own personal search and reflection, always aided by wiser and more experienced Brothers - then ye shall find.
If you approach with the intent and idea that there are no secrets beyond the modes of recognition - then - ye shall also find.
The beauty of Freemasonry lies on the fact, that it is an individual journey and it can be molded to fit each mason in a personal way. In my opinion, both statements have validity. It depends on how the individual sees and approaches his journey. It depends on what it is, that the individual is seeking in Freemasonry. The mason searching for the esoteric teachings, will find secrets that can only be revealed, through studying and researching the deeper philosophical lessons that masonry provides. The brother that is looking for an exoteric experience, will find that the (secret) modes of recognition, allows him to be part of an organization, where he may find a fraternal and social connection to his brethren. How deep a person wants to search for that secret is up to the individual. The lodge, however, should be willing to provide the experience for schools of thought.
MWGM, you and one of the smartest Masons you know are both right. He just used the wrong word. He'd be completely correct if he said that none of our content is confidential. Anybody can find the complete text to our ritual and illustrations of our signs after a few minutes on Google.
How we each use that content on our personal never-ending journey and how that use betters our lives is the secret. I know how our lessons have affected me but in many respects it defies explanation. So perhaps our secrets are hidden in plain sight.
I agree with you both, sort of. There are a small set of secrets that Freemasonry gives its initiates, signs of recognition, etc. Then there are the secrets that Freemasonry gives you access too, and that are secrets because they can not be shared, they must be discovered (the experience is transverbal).
I don’t agree. Might be semantics, but we don’t “hold” the secrets to anything. The philosophies and teachings have been around far longer than speculative masonry. There is nothing we have that can’t be discovered by others through their own self study, contemplation and meditation.
The lodge I was raised in offered no secrets beyond the modes of recognition but my personal interests are more about the historical secrets that the fraternity may have but which appear all but lost. The moral astronomical and spiritual secrets aren't really secrets amymore and haven't been since the enlightenment which is probably why the fraternity went public in 1717. They didn't have to hide from the church anymore
Because regular scientific knowledge available to any layman had already broken the church's power. The secrets of the fraternity's origins and activities from its founding to 1717 are the secrets I really want to learn but although I have read a lot of speculative research on the subject, books like "the Hiram Key" and "Born in blood" both give well researched and highly believable speculation about the fraternities origins and original purpose, but they don't agree with one another at all. Just as an example of two of the literally hundreds of theories out there. I wonder if anyone really knows or if the truth will ever be discovered.
John Gebhart is correct--a few minutes in a Google search will reveal our ritual, signs, and passwords. But those search results won't tell what happens in a Mason's heart and soul. Ours is a system of moral philosophy, and the true secret is what happens to the individual Mason when he studies, investigates, and accepts into his heart. It's not something that can be gained by memorizing and parroting pages of ritual, or by sitting passively in lodge with the meeting goes on around him. As I tell initiates I coach, it's not a sprint to the fountain of all knowledge, not even a marathon. It's a slow hike along the Appalachian Trail, stopping to examine a flower here, a bird nest there, and continuing to uncover various gems of truth and beauty, becoming a better man, every day, every way. Just my thoughts...
I'm a systematic thinker which doesn't lend itself to probing through symbolism and metaphors of text. I know how to probe, but often lack the evidence that my understanding is on the right track. It is in this that I find these discussions interesting and illustrative of our variety in mental processing.
If I were to guess I'd say that our brother, the smartest mason you know, may have a view similar to mine. Whereas you, MWGM, perhaps find it easier to perceive that which is not outright evident. I believe there is much we can distill from the work and am bothered that I wander my Masonic journey feeling like I'm missing nuggets most others see clearly. I am, however, very thankful when they are pointed out.
All this is to say, that there are psychological differences in how one may interpret the information in front of us. Perhaps, it is not that something is being discounted rather it is merely not seen. One cause I've experienced, which doesn’t seem uncommon, is for the inquisitive mason to receive an answer that is delivered with such certainty that it is taken as fact. This leaves little room for discussion and probing. Being indoctrinated into Masonry being told what is rather than being shown what could be is an enforcement of group think. I feel a mason providing this information has the best of intentions. Yet they may not see that their passion of showing off their knowledge rather than subduing it, in lieu of discussion, may be hindering Masonry's enlightenment. I see Masonry's primary goal is to enlighten not by providing facts, but providing a space to foster one's ability to think independently. I think this is the greatest gift Masonry can give.
I think its sad when I hear a brother say the only secret to masonry is the handshake and word. Who do you blame, the teaching system or the student? There are many great and amazing secrets in Masonry, but they are also concealed, even to its members. It's possible some don't seek enlightenment any longer after joining our fraternity. Perhaps nobody tells them there is more, because they themselves don't know anything further than ritual work. The other thought I have, is that many may not be ready for what the secrets tell them. -"Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will rule over all."
I remember one particular initiation our lodge was doing several years ago. We had asked for some help filling one of the stewards positions. I later found out that as he was preparing the candidate, and probably in an effort to give him comfort, said "you have nothing to worry about here - there are no Masonic secrets". That is not a message that we would communicate to a candidate and that was the last time our lodge brought in someone outside our lodge to 'help'.
Freemasonry always has an esoteric explanation from an exoteric lesson. To say that our modes of recognition are the ONLY secrets explains only the exoteric.
I'll just say that men joining lodges these days are not doing so to learn exoteric modes of recognition. Those Masons and lodges exploring the esoteric nature of our Craft will be happy to see a growing number of Masons in their lodge wanting to join them on that journey.
MacNulty has a great section on secrets in his book "The Way of the Craftsman". I would highly recommend that book to all Masons.
I have been looking for the secrets from the time I took my EA degree. I am still looking and see the reinforcement of the honorable way to live one's life. Believe in a subprime being, be honest to yourself and others and to help others in distress as much as you can. For me Masonry hides its secrets in plain sight.
I think I agree with you, with the additional thought that we each find in direct proportion to the effort we put in to seek in the first place.
If you approach with the intent and idea that there are profound secrets (perhaps depths is more accurate ?) to be discovered by one's own personal search and reflection, always aided by wiser and more experienced Brothers - then ye shall find.
If you approach with the intent and idea that there are no secrets beyond the modes of recognition - then - ye shall also find.
The beauty of Freemasonry lies on the fact, that it is an individual journey and it can be molded to fit each mason in a personal way. In my opinion, both statements have validity. It depends on how the individual sees and approaches his journey. It depends on what it is, that the individual is seeking in Freemasonry. The mason searching for the esoteric teachings, will find secrets that can only be revealed, through studying and researching the deeper philosophical lessons that masonry provides. The brother that is looking for an exoteric experience, will find that the (secret) modes of recognition, allows him to be part of an organization, where he may find a fraternal and social connection to his brethren. How deep a person wants to search for that secret is up to the individual. The lodge, however, should be willing to provide the experience for schools of thought.
MWGM, you and one of the smartest Masons you know are both right. He just used the wrong word. He'd be completely correct if he said that none of our content is confidential. Anybody can find the complete text to our ritual and illustrations of our signs after a few minutes on Google.
How we each use that content on our personal never-ending journey and how that use betters our lives is the secret. I know how our lessons have affected me but in many respects it defies explanation. So perhaps our secrets are hidden in plain sight.
I agree with you both, sort of. There are a small set of secrets that Freemasonry gives its initiates, signs of recognition, etc. Then there are the secrets that Freemasonry gives you access too, and that are secrets because they can not be shared, they must be discovered (the experience is transverbal).
I don’t agree. Might be semantics, but we don’t “hold” the secrets to anything. The philosophies and teachings have been around far longer than speculative masonry. There is nothing we have that can’t be discovered by others through their own self study, contemplation and meditation.
The lodge I was raised in offered no secrets beyond the modes of recognition but my personal interests are more about the historical secrets that the fraternity may have but which appear all but lost. The moral astronomical and spiritual secrets aren't really secrets amymore and haven't been since the enlightenment which is probably why the fraternity went public in 1717. They didn't have to hide from the church anymore
Because regular scientific knowledge available to any layman had already broken the church's power. The secrets of the fraternity's origins and activities from its founding to 1717 are the secrets I really want to learn but although I have read a lot of speculative research on the subject, books like "the Hiram Key" and "Born in blood" both give well researched and highly believable speculation about the fraternities origins and original purpose, but they don't agree with one another at all. Just as an example of two of the literally hundreds of theories out there. I wonder if anyone really knows or if the truth will ever be discovered.
John Gebhart is correct--a few minutes in a Google search will reveal our ritual, signs, and passwords. But those search results won't tell what happens in a Mason's heart and soul. Ours is a system of moral philosophy, and the true secret is what happens to the individual Mason when he studies, investigates, and accepts into his heart. It's not something that can be gained by memorizing and parroting pages of ritual, or by sitting passively in lodge with the meeting goes on around him. As I tell initiates I coach, it's not a sprint to the fountain of all knowledge, not even a marathon. It's a slow hike along the Appalachian Trail, stopping to examine a flower here, a bird nest there, and continuing to uncover various gems of truth and beauty, becoming a better man, every day, every way. Just my thoughts...
I'm a systematic thinker which doesn't lend itself to probing through symbolism and metaphors of text. I know how to probe, but often lack the evidence that my understanding is on the right track. It is in this that I find these discussions interesting and illustrative of our variety in mental processing.
If I were to guess I'd say that our brother, the smartest mason you know, may have a view similar to mine. Whereas you, MWGM, perhaps find it easier to perceive that which is not outright evident. I believe there is much we can distill from the work and am bothered that I wander my Masonic journey feeling like I'm missing nuggets most others see clearly. I am, however, very thankful when they are pointed out.
All this is to say, that there are psychological differences in how one may interpret the information in front of us. Perhaps, it is not that something is being discounted rather it is merely not seen. One cause I've experienced, which doesn’t seem uncommon, is for the inquisitive mason to receive an answer that is delivered with such certainty that it is taken as fact. This leaves little room for discussion and probing. Being indoctrinated into Masonry being told what is rather than being shown what could be is an enforcement of group think. I feel a mason providing this information has the best of intentions. Yet they may not see that their passion of showing off their knowledge rather than subduing it, in lieu of discussion, may be hindering Masonry's enlightenment. I see Masonry's primary goal is to enlighten not by providing facts, but providing a space to foster one's ability to think independently. I think this is the greatest gift Masonry can give.
I think its sad when I hear a brother say the only secret to masonry is the handshake and word. Who do you blame, the teaching system or the student? There are many great and amazing secrets in Masonry, but they are also concealed, even to its members. It's possible some don't seek enlightenment any longer after joining our fraternity. Perhaps nobody tells them there is more, because they themselves don't know anything further than ritual work. The other thought I have, is that many may not be ready for what the secrets tell them. -"Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will rule over all."
I remember one particular initiation our lodge was doing several years ago. We had asked for some help filling one of the stewards positions. I later found out that as he was preparing the candidate, and probably in an effort to give him comfort, said "you have nothing to worry about here - there are no Masonic secrets". That is not a message that we would communicate to a candidate and that was the last time our lodge brought in someone outside our lodge to 'help'.
Freemasonry always has an esoteric explanation from an exoteric lesson. To say that our modes of recognition are the ONLY secrets explains only the exoteric.
I'll just say that men joining lodges these days are not doing so to learn exoteric modes of recognition. Those Masons and lodges exploring the esoteric nature of our Craft will be happy to see a growing number of Masons in their lodge wanting to join them on that journey.
MacNulty has a great section on secrets in his book "The Way of the Craftsman". I would highly recommend that book to all Masons.
There are no secrets in the universe, we are only limited by our ability to perceive them.
I have been looking for the secrets from the time I took my EA degree. I am still looking and see the reinforcement of the honorable way to live one's life. Believe in a subprime being, be honest to yourself and others and to help others in distress as much as you can. For me Masonry hides its secrets in plain sight.