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What is Freemasonry |
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The United Grand Lodge of England defines this as: Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest fraternal societies. The lessons
Freemasonry teaches in its ceremonies are to do with moral values (governing
relations between people) and its acknowledgement, without in any way
crossing the boundaries of religion, that everything depends on the
providence of God. Freemasons feel that these lessons apply just as much
today as they did when it took its modern form at the turn of the 17th
century.
Despite what many people claim, Freemasonry is not in any way a secret
society. Freemasonry's so-called secrets are solely used as a ceremonial way
of demonstrating that one is a Freemason when in Lodge meetings. In any
case, they have been exposed by the media for almost as long as Freemasonry
has existed and are not important information anyway. The real point of a
Freemason promising not to reveal them is basically a dramatic way of
promising to keep one's promises in general. Other reasons why Freemasonry cannot be called a secret society are that
Freemasons do not promise to keep their membership secret (they can tell
anyone they wish), where and when Freemasons meet are matters of public
record (you can look up masonic centres in telephone directories) and our
rule book, the Book of Constitutions and our aims are readily available to
anyone. It is ironic that because Freemasons used to be reticent about their
membership (because they were and still are taught never to use it to
advance their own interests), critics have taken this the wrong way round
and think that there is something secretive and nasty going on. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Masonic ceremonies are secular morality plays which are learned by heart
by members of the lodge for the benefit of the person who is becoming a
Freemason or who wishes to explore Freemasonry further. Each ceremony has a
message for the candidate. A further reason why Freemasons do not go around
broadcasting their contents is simply because it would spoil it for the
candidate - exactly as in the same way you would not tell someone the ending
of a book or a film. Under the English Constitution, basic Freemasonry is divided into two
parts, called the Craft and the Royal Arch [o Royal Arch]. For Freemasons
who really want to explore the subject in more depth there is a host of
other ceremonies, which, for historical reasons, are not administered by the
United Grand Lodge of England. All English Freemasons experience the three Craft (or basic) ceremonies
unless they drop out from Freemasonry very early on. These three ceremonies
(or degrees as we call them) look at the relations between people, man's
natural equality and his dependence on others, the importance of education
and the rewards of labour, fidelity to a promise, contemplation of
inevitable death, and one's duty to others. A fourth ceremony - the Royal
Arch emphasises man's dependence on God. Although all Freemasons are required to profess and continue in a belief
in a Supreme Being, and their ceremonies include prayers, Freemasonry is not
in any way a substitute for religion. It has and can have no theological
doctrines, it offers no sacraments, and it does not claim to lead to
salvation. By having prayers at its meetings Freemasonry is no more in
competition with religion than, say, having a meal at which grace is said.
Furthermore, Freemasons are not allowed to discuss religion at meetings.
English Freemasonry is also strictly non-political and the discussion of
politics at masonic meetings is expressly forbidden. These rules both stem
from Freemasonry's aims to encourage its members to discover what people
from all different backgrounds have in common. As is all too well known,
debate about religion and politics has all too often led, when allowed to
run riot, to discrimination, persecution and war. A Freemason is thus basically encouraged to do his duty first to his God
(by whatever name he is known) through his faith and religious practice, and
then, without detriment to his family and those dependent on him, to his
neighbour through charity and service. None of these ideas is exclusive to Freemasonry, but all should be
universally acceptable and Freemasons are expected to follow them
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This page was last updated Tuesday March 25, 2008
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