Freemasonry

From Conservapedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mcg (talk | contribs) at 21:24, May 24, 2011. It may differ significantly from current revision.
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Mason.jpg

Freemasonry is a fraternal organization, that is, an organisation for men, with a worldwide membership of around 3 million. Local branches are called 'lodges', and the members meet together and perform rituals teaching moral truths, similar to short plays, based on Biblical imagery mostly concerned with the building of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem.

Perhaps the best-known Freemasons are the Shriners, who raise funds for children's hospitals and other charities.

Membership dues can vary widely between jurisdictions and individual lodges. Meals are often eaten before or after meetings. Lodges also frequently raise money for charity.

Beliefs

The central tenets of Freemasonry are:

  • Brotherly Love - the regard men have for each other;
  • Relief - relieving the necessities and destitution a man sees around him (charity);
  • Truth - being true to himself, his brother Masons, and others around him.

The most recognisable symbol of Freemasonry is the "Square and Compass," which is used to teach, respectively, "square conduct towards others" and "keeping passions and prejudices within due bounds".

For most jurisdictions of Freemasonry there is a rule that the members must believe in a god or supreme being and in the immortality of the soul. In Masonry, the supreme being is sometime called "The Great Architect of the Universe," or abbreviated by the acronym G.A.O.T.U.; a term that is said to be traceable back to the Christian theologian, John Calvin. However, as founder of the system of Christian theology now known as Calvinism, Calvin's definition of the G.A.O.T.U. is the biblical definition of the triune God (God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.

Given the fact that Freemasonry accepts men from all religions, the Masonic definition of the G.A.O.T.U. is more in line with Freemason Christopher Haffner's explanation in his work, Workman Unashamed (Lewis Masonic, 1989, p.39):

Now imagine me standing in lodge with my head bowed in prayer between Brother Mohammed Bokhary and Brother Arjun Melwani. To neither of them is the Great Architect of the Universe perceived as the Holy Trinity. To Brother Bokhary He has been revealed as Allah; to Brother Melwani He is probably perceived as Vishnu. Since I believe that there is only one God, I am confronted with three possibilities:

They are praying to the devil whilst I am praying to God;
They are praying to nothing, as their Gods do not exist;
They are praying to the same God as I, yet their understanding of His nature is partly incomplete (as indeed is mine — 1 Cor 13:12)

It is without hesitation that I accept the third possibility.

This 'third' option is the Masonic view of God, and is considered heretical from a Christian perspective. Contrary to popular belief, Freemasons are not taught to 'prefer' other Masons or to do them special favors. They are pledged, however, to come to the assistance of other Masons if they are in need, so long as this does not involve any violation of one's ethical standards or imperil the well-being of the assisting Mason's family. However, excerpts from the oath of the York Rite Royal Arch degree contract the claim of not showing preferential treatment toward other Masons:

...

I furthermore promise and swear, that I will employ a Companion Royal Arch Mason in preference to any other person of equal qualifications.
I furthermore promise and swear, that I will assist a Companion Royal Arch Mason when I see him engaged in any difficulty, and will espouse his cause so far as to extricate him from the same, whether he be right or wrong.
I furthermore promise and swear, that I will keep all the secrets of a Companion Royal Arch Mason (when communicated so me as such, or I knowing them to be such), without exceptions...
To all which I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to keep and perform the same, without any equivocation, mental reservation, or self-evasion of mind in me whatever; binding myself under no less penalty, than to have my skull smote off, and my brains exposed to the scorching rays of the meridian sun, should I knowingly or wilfully violate or transgress any part of this my solemn oath or obligation of a Royal Arch Mason. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same.
Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor, by Malcom C. Duncan, (1866), page 230

Degrees

Standard Freemasonry is divided into three degrees:

  • the first is called Entered Apprentice,
  • the second is Fellow Craft, and
  • the third is Master Mason.

Progressing through the degrees traditionally involves memorization. After the third degree a Freemason may go on to other Masonic bodies such as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and the York Rite. These are considered to be branches of Freemasonry, never "higher" or superior degrees above that of Master Mason.

History

There is little known for certain about the beginnings of Freemasonry. Masonic legends claim various theories about its origins, including some considered, even by Masons, to be improbable. Certainly, lodges of "operative" Freemasons (men who worked stone and built with it) were formed around the major religious and civil work places during the Middle Ages in Europe and the British Isles. These lodges were early societies or guilds for the craftsmen, and places where an apprentice could be taught. The lodges also instilled moral teaching. When a man moved to another site he took special symbols, signs, and handshakes that were recognisable to the senior masons and formed a means of recognition of his standing in the wider society of masons. Over time, non-masons learned of the moral teaching and social atmosphere of the lodge and were admitted as non-operative or "speculative" masons. (However, some claim that the lodges first started with the ancient Hebrews or with Pythagoras or Euclid, both ancient Greek geometers. This is supposed to explain Masonry's emphasis upon geometric symbolism.)

In 1717 four lodges met together at a public house (pub, or hotel) in London and formed the Grand Lodge of England. It later chartered grand lodges in other countries.

Famous Freemasons

180px

Living/active Masons:

Historically well known Masons:

Women and Freemasonry

Women are accepted into the social events surrounding Freemasonry.

An organisation for women associated with Freemasonry is the Order of the Eastern Star, and Freemasons may attend their meetings.

Irregular Freemasonry including women

There are some branches that also accept women ("Co-masonry") and a few exclusively for women. These are not considered "regular" by Freemasons, and men can be expelled from their lodges if they are known to have attended meetings of these so-called "clandestine" organisations.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Freemasonry&oldid=871436"