Since the successful book The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown and the blockbuster movie of the same name there has been more interest in "secret societies" such as Freemasonry. I will try to shed what 'light' I can on a basic level of what Freemasonry is, what Freemasons do and why.
First of all, I will tell you that I am a 3rd Degree Mason. I was looking for something more in life and I found that Freemasonry held the promise of a 'richer' life. And lo and behold! I became a Mason. I found (and still do!) it fascinating learning all about Freemasonry and was suprised at how much I had to learn to get through the degrees. To be clear... whilst Freemasonry has it's roots in 'operative masonry' (ie: The builders of King Soloman's Temple were operative masons, in that they worked with stones. They also had 3 degrees of masons, the entered apprentice, whose job was to learn the basics about building and to take large rocks and make them in to rough stones. These were then worked on by the fellocraft masons who were also called 'huewers' as they made the stones into rough ashlers. Then the master masons would take the stones, and applying the secrets of their craft, make the rough ashlers into perfect ashlers. The lower degree masons did not know the secrets that their higher ranking 'guild brothers' (akin to a union of sorts), only what they needed until they proved that they could do the work perfectly.
Freemasonry, operates under the apron of 'Speculative Masonry', since we do not actually work with rocks, eh? We pass through the various degrees learning gradually, the secterts as we make a symbolic journey from Entered Apprentice to Fellocraft to Master Mason. Each degree has more responsability and gets progressively difficult. An interesting note about handshakes and 'secret words'.. I will not tell them to you, (though they are available courtesy of Google), was origionally a way for masons to find out what degree the mason was... and they had to prove that they were of the rank to which they were trying to get access to. The secrets of each degree were held most dear as they were literally the key to their livelihoods. In Freemasonry, the same can be said, but instead of the knowledge of building and forming stones, the secrets deal with bringing a mason to the light, as in knowledge. Today, Masons use the same words and handshakes as well as 'regailia' (Aprons, just as the operative masons wore to protect their clothing!
I started as an "Entered Apprentice" and then was passed to the degree of a Fellowcraft and finally 'raised' to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. I learned much about what makes good men better and I still hold Masonic values very close to my heart.
Its main motto is "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"
Some Masons define it as "a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols"... also as "the realization of God by the practice of Brotherhood": To reach God by doing good works to your neighbor...
It has been described as "the biggest, richest, most secret and most powerful private force in the world"... and certainly, "the most deceptive", both for the general public, and for the first 3 degrees of "initiates": Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason (the basic "Blue Lodge")...
These Initiates are purposely deceived!, in believing they know every thing, while they don't know anything about the true Masonry... in the words of Albert Pike, whose book "Morals and Dogma" is the standard monitor of Masonry, and copies are often presented to the members, "the first three degrees are but the outer court of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the Initiate, but he is intentionally mislead by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it is intended that he shall imagine he understand them... it is well enough for the mass of those called Masons to imagine that all is contained in the Blue Degrees" ("Morals and Dogma", p.819).
Masonry: (form the french "mason", "stone masons"), started in the 13th century as a "Union of Workers" of the cathedral builders to help each other; it was the "working" or "operative masonry", meeting in "lodges".
Freemasonry: With the decline of cathedral building, some lodges of operative masons begun to accept honorary members to bolster their declining membership... and from here, "Freemasonry" was born, not to build "cathedrals", but to build "cathedrals of men", and "the cathedral of the whole world"... it is the "speculative masonry", adopting the rites and trappings of ancient religions, orders, sects, the occult, and chivalric brotherhoods.
First of all, I will tell you that I am a 3rd Degree Mason. I was looking for something more in life and I found that Freemasonry held the promise of a 'richer' life. And lo and behold! I became a Mason. I found (and still do!) it fascinating learning all about Freemasonry and was suprised at how much I had to learn to get through the degrees. To be clear... whilst Freemasonry has it's roots in 'operative masonry' (ie: The builders of King Soloman's Temple were operative masons, in that they worked with stones. They also had 3 degrees of masons, the entered apprentice, whose job was to learn the basics about building and to take large rocks and make them in to rough stones. These were then worked on by the fellocraft masons who were also called 'huewers' as they made the stones into rough ashlers. Then the master masons would take the stones, and applying the secrets of their craft, make the rough ashlers into perfect ashlers. The lower degree masons did not know the secrets that their higher ranking 'guild brothers' (akin to a union of sorts), only what they needed until they proved that they could do the work perfectly.
Freemasonry, operates under the apron of 'Speculative Masonry', since we do not actually work with rocks, eh? We pass through the various degrees learning gradually, the secterts as we make a symbolic journey from Entered Apprentice to Fellocraft to Master Mason. Each degree has more responsability and gets progressively difficult. An interesting note about handshakes and 'secret words'.. I will not tell them to you, (though they are available courtesy of Google), was origionally a way for masons to find out what degree the mason was... and they had to prove that they were of the rank to which they were trying to get access to. The secrets of each degree were held most dear as they were literally the key to their livelihoods. In Freemasonry, the same can be said, but instead of the knowledge of building and forming stones, the secrets deal with bringing a mason to the light, as in knowledge. Today, Masons use the same words and handshakes as well as 'regailia' (Aprons, just as the operative masons wore to protect their clothing!
I started as an "Entered Apprentice" and then was passed to the degree of a Fellowcraft and finally 'raised' to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. I learned much about what makes good men better and I still hold Masonic values very close to my heart.
Its main motto is "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"
Some Masons define it as "a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols"... also as "the realization of God by the practice of Brotherhood": To reach God by doing good works to your neighbor...
It has been described as "the biggest, richest, most secret and most powerful private force in the world"... and certainly, "the most deceptive", both for the general public, and for the first 3 degrees of "initiates": Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason (the basic "Blue Lodge")...
These Initiates are purposely deceived!, in believing they know every thing, while they don't know anything about the true Masonry... in the words of Albert Pike, whose book "Morals and Dogma" is the standard monitor of Masonry, and copies are often presented to the members, "the first three degrees are but the outer court of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the Initiate, but he is intentionally mislead by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it is intended that he shall imagine he understand them... it is well enough for the mass of those called Masons to imagine that all is contained in the Blue Degrees" ("Morals and Dogma", p.819).
Masonry: (form the french "mason", "stone masons"), started in the 13th century as a "Union of Workers" of the cathedral builders to help each other; it was the "working" or "operative masonry", meeting in "lodges".
Freemasonry: With the decline of cathedral building, some lodges of operative masons begun to accept honorary members to bolster their declining membership... and from here, "Freemasonry" was born, not to build "cathedrals", but to build "cathedrals of men", and "the cathedral of the whole world"... it is the "speculative masonry", adopting the rites and trappings of ancient religions, orders, sects, the occult, and chivalric brotherhoods.
MASONIC SYMBOLS:
- Compass and square forming the triangle of God, with the letter "G" in the center, or the "eye" of God... or on top of an open Bible.
- They are the 3 indispensable jewels of a Lodge, representing "equality, liberty, and fraternity".
- The "compass" is the male element, represents solidarity, by making a circle; the "square", the female element, represents righteousness. Remember balance from the book The DaVinci Code? well there it is in Freemasonry!
Below you will find the explanations for the various ideas and items used in Masonry, or "The Craft" - (NOT WITCHCRAFT!!!), as we refer to it. The letter "G" by the way, stands for "Geometry" and "GOD" as you will see below... but again, dating back to the building of Soloman's Temple, it means much more than that:
The Square and Compass
Blue Lodge Masons (I am one) are taught that the Square is to remind them that they must be "square" in their dealings with all men, i.e., to be honest. The Compass, they are taught, is to teach them to "circumscribe their passions," i.e. to control their desires and to be temperate. The real meaning of these "great lights," however, is sexual. The Square represents the female (passive) generative principle, the earth, and the baser, sensual nature; and the Compass represents the male (active) generative principle, the sun/heavens, and the higher, spiritual nature. The Compass, arranged above the Square, symbolizes the (male) Sun, impregnating the passive (female) Earth with its life-producing rays. The true meanings, then are two-fold: the earthly (human) representations are of the man and his phallus, and the woman with her receptive cteis (vagina). The cosmic meaning is that of the active Sun (deity, the Sun-god) from above, imparting life into the passive Earth, (deity, the earth/fertility goddess) below and producing new life
- They are the 3 indispensable jewels of a Lodge, representing "equality, liberty, and fraternity".
- The "compass" is the male element, represents solidarity, by making a circle; the "square", the female element, represents righteousness. Remember balance from the book The DaVinci Code? well there it is in Freemasonry!
Below you will find the explanations for the various ideas and items used in Masonry, or "The Craft" - (NOT WITCHCRAFT!!!), as we refer to it. The letter "G" by the way, stands for "Geometry" and "GOD" as you will see below... but again, dating back to the building of Soloman's Temple, it means much more than that:
The Square and Compass
Blue Lodge Masons (I am one) are taught that the Square is to remind them that they must be "square" in their dealings with all men, i.e., to be honest. The Compass, they are taught, is to teach them to "circumscribe their passions," i.e. to control their desires and to be temperate. The real meaning of these "great lights," however, is sexual. The Square represents the female (passive) generative principle, the earth, and the baser, sensual nature; and the Compass represents the male (active) generative principle, the sun/heavens, and the higher, spiritual nature. The Compass, arranged above the Square, symbolizes the (male) Sun, impregnating the passive (female) Earth with its life-producing rays. The true meanings, then are two-fold: the earthly (human) representations are of the man and his phallus, and the woman with her receptive cteis (vagina). The cosmic meaning is that of the active Sun (deity, the Sun-god) from above, imparting life into the passive Earth, (deity, the earth/fertility goddess) below and producing new life
The Letter "G"
The Blue Lodge Mason is taught that the "G" in the Masonic symbol represents God. Later on, he is told that it also represents "deity." Later still, he is told that it represents "geometry." In reality, this letter represents the "generative principle," the Sun-god and, thus, the worshipped phallus, the male "generative principle…" In its position (along with the Square and Compass) on the east wall over the chair (throne) of the Worshipful Master, it is the representation of the Sun, thus of the Sun-god, Osiris. Its earthly meaning, then, is of the sacred phallus; its cosmic meaning is of the Sun, worshipped since antiquity by pagans while facing the East.
The "G" and the "YOD"
The English letter "G" in Masonic symbolism is inseparable from, and identical with, the Hebrew letter "YOD." This "YOD" is the symbol on the Scottish Rite ring. "YOD" represents deity in general (its cosmic meaning), and the worshipped phallus in particular (its earthly meaning). Albert Pike wrote that the "G" displayed in English speaking lodges is merely a corruption of the "YOD" (with which it should be replaced), and that "the mysterious YOD of the Kabala" is the "image of the Kabalistic Phallus." The "Kabalah" he refers to here is a medieval book of the occult, a highly mystical and magical interpretation of the Bible, and important sourcebook for sorcerers and magicians.
The Point Within a Circle
The Masons of the Blue Lodge are taught that the Point within a Circle represents the individual Mason (the Point), contained and restricted by the boundary line of his duty (the Circle). Its real meaning, however, is that of the phallus, positioned within the female generative principle (sex organ), the climactic act of Sun-god worship.
Dr. Albert Mackey, already quoted herein, also writes in his classic work "Symbolism of Freemasonry," page 352, "Phallus, a representation of the virile member which was venerated as a religious symbol… It was one of the modifications of sun worship, and was a symbol of the fecundating power of that luminary. The Masonic point within a circle is undoubtedly of phallic origin."
The Vertical Lines
The two vertical lines touching the sides of the circle are represented to the Blue Lodge Mason as "the Holy Saints John." By this is meant John the Baptist and John the Apostle. In reality, the two vertical lines represent the Summer and Winter Solstices, the shortest and longest nights of the year, respectively. These nights are, and have been since antiquity, important periods for pagan worship.
Concerning these two lines, Albert Mackey has written ("Symbolism of Freemasonry," page 352), "The lines touching the circle in the symbol of the point within a circle are said to represent St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, but they really refer to the solstitial points, Cancer and Capricorn, in the Zodiac."
The Bible
The Bible, only one of the "Three Great Lights" of Masonry (along with the Square and Compass), is represented to Blue Lodge Masons as symbolizing truth. In reality, the Bible may be replaced with the Koran, the Book of the Law, The Hindu scriptures or any other "holy book," depending on the preferences of the men in the Lodge. In most American Lodges, the members are told that all the Masonic system and its rituals are "based on the Bible." Such, however is not the case. In Chase's "Digest of Masonic Law," pages 207-209, it is clearly written that "Masonry has nothing whatever to do with the Bible," and that "it is not founded upon the Bible, for if it were it would not be Masonry, it would be something else."
Albert Pike, in writing on the subject of Masonry's source-book said, "Masonry is a search after light. That search leads us directly back, as you see, to the Kabalah." (Morals and Dogma, page 741). The Kabalah, then, seems to be the actual sourcebook of Masonry and the Bible merely (as it is spoken of in the ritual) a piece of the "furniture" of the Lodge.
NOTE: For more information concerning Masonic symbols and their true meanings, see McQuaig, C.F., "The Masonic Report," Answer Books and Tapes, Norcross, GA, 1976; Storms, E.M., "Should a Christian Be a Mason?," New Puritan Library, Fletcher NC 1980; and Mackey, Albert G., "Symbolism of Freemasonry," Charles T. Powner Co., Chicago 1975.
By the way....Freemasonry is made up uf several 'concordant bodies', most you have heard of but did not know they are part of Masonry:
York Rite
Royal Arch Masons
Mark Master
Virtual Past Master
Most Excellent Master
Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch
Council of Royal and Select Masters (Cryptic Rite)
Royal Master
Select Master
Super Excellent Master
Royal Ark Mariner
Preceptory of Knights Templar
Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
Order of Saint Paul
Order of Saint John or Malta
Order of the Knights Templar
Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection
4° Secret Master
5° Perfect Master
6° Confidential [Intimate] Secretary
7° Provost and Judge
8° Intendent of the Building
9° Elu, or Elected Knight, of the Nine
10° Illustrious Elect or Elu of the Fifteen
11° Sublime Knight Elect, or Elu, of the Twelve
12° [Grand] Master Architect
13° Knight of the Ninth Arch, or Royal Arch of Solomon
14° Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason, or Perfect Elu
Chapter of Rose Croix
15° Knight of the Sword [of the East]
16° Prince of Jerusalem
17° Knight of the East and West
18° Knight [Prince] Rose Croix
The Blue Lodge Mason is taught that the "G" in the Masonic symbol represents God. Later on, he is told that it also represents "deity." Later still, he is told that it represents "geometry." In reality, this letter represents the "generative principle," the Sun-god and, thus, the worshipped phallus, the male "generative principle…" In its position (along with the Square and Compass) on the east wall over the chair (throne) of the Worshipful Master, it is the representation of the Sun, thus of the Sun-god, Osiris. Its earthly meaning, then, is of the sacred phallus; its cosmic meaning is of the Sun, worshipped since antiquity by pagans while facing the East.
The "G" and the "YOD"
The English letter "G" in Masonic symbolism is inseparable from, and identical with, the Hebrew letter "YOD." This "YOD" is the symbol on the Scottish Rite ring. "YOD" represents deity in general (its cosmic meaning), and the worshipped phallus in particular (its earthly meaning). Albert Pike wrote that the "G" displayed in English speaking lodges is merely a corruption of the "YOD" (with which it should be replaced), and that "the mysterious YOD of the Kabala" is the "image of the Kabalistic Phallus." The "Kabalah" he refers to here is a medieval book of the occult, a highly mystical and magical interpretation of the Bible, and important sourcebook for sorcerers and magicians.
The Point Within a Circle
The Masons of the Blue Lodge are taught that the Point within a Circle represents the individual Mason (the Point), contained and restricted by the boundary line of his duty (the Circle). Its real meaning, however, is that of the phallus, positioned within the female generative principle (sex organ), the climactic act of Sun-god worship.
Dr. Albert Mackey, already quoted herein, also writes in his classic work "Symbolism of Freemasonry," page 352, "Phallus, a representation of the virile member which was venerated as a religious symbol… It was one of the modifications of sun worship, and was a symbol of the fecundating power of that luminary. The Masonic point within a circle is undoubtedly of phallic origin."
The Vertical Lines
The two vertical lines touching the sides of the circle are represented to the Blue Lodge Mason as "the Holy Saints John." By this is meant John the Baptist and John the Apostle. In reality, the two vertical lines represent the Summer and Winter Solstices, the shortest and longest nights of the year, respectively. These nights are, and have been since antiquity, important periods for pagan worship.
Concerning these two lines, Albert Mackey has written ("Symbolism of Freemasonry," page 352), "The lines touching the circle in the symbol of the point within a circle are said to represent St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, but they really refer to the solstitial points, Cancer and Capricorn, in the Zodiac."
The Bible
The Bible, only one of the "Three Great Lights" of Masonry (along with the Square and Compass), is represented to Blue Lodge Masons as symbolizing truth. In reality, the Bible may be replaced with the Koran, the Book of the Law, The Hindu scriptures or any other "holy book," depending on the preferences of the men in the Lodge. In most American Lodges, the members are told that all the Masonic system and its rituals are "based on the Bible." Such, however is not the case. In Chase's "Digest of Masonic Law," pages 207-209, it is clearly written that "Masonry has nothing whatever to do with the Bible," and that "it is not founded upon the Bible, for if it were it would not be Masonry, it would be something else."
Albert Pike, in writing on the subject of Masonry's source-book said, "Masonry is a search after light. That search leads us directly back, as you see, to the Kabalah." (Morals and Dogma, page 741). The Kabalah, then, seems to be the actual sourcebook of Masonry and the Bible merely (as it is spoken of in the ritual) a piece of the "furniture" of the Lodge.
NOTE: For more information concerning Masonic symbols and their true meanings, see McQuaig, C.F., "The Masonic Report," Answer Books and Tapes, Norcross, GA, 1976; Storms, E.M., "Should a Christian Be a Mason?," New Puritan Library, Fletcher NC 1980; and Mackey, Albert G., "Symbolism of Freemasonry," Charles T. Powner Co., Chicago 1975.
By the way....Freemasonry is made up uf several 'concordant bodies', most you have heard of but did not know they are part of Masonry:
York Rite
Royal Arch Masons
Mark Master
Virtual Past Master
Most Excellent Master
Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch
Council of Royal and Select Masters (Cryptic Rite)
Royal Master
Select Master
Super Excellent Master
Royal Ark Mariner
Preceptory of Knights Templar
Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
Order of Saint Paul
Order of Saint John or Malta
Order of the Knights Templar
Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection
4° Secret Master
5° Perfect Master
6° Confidential [Intimate] Secretary
7° Provost and Judge
8° Intendent of the Building
9° Elu, or Elected Knight, of the Nine
10° Illustrious Elect or Elu of the Fifteen
11° Sublime Knight Elect, or Elu, of the Twelve
12° [Grand] Master Architect
13° Knight of the Ninth Arch, or Royal Arch of Solomon
14° Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason, or Perfect Elu
Chapter of Rose Croix
15° Knight of the Sword [of the East]
16° Prince of Jerusalem
17° Knight of the East and West
18° Knight [Prince] Rose Croix
Click Above for a bigger picture. Complicated, eh?
Appendant Bodies
Women’s Orders
Amaranth
Order of the Eastern Star
Daughters of the Nile
White Shrine
Youth Orders
De Molay
Job’s Daughters
Rainbow Girls
Women’s Orders
Amaranth
Order of the Eastern Star
Daughters of the Nile
White Shrine
Youth Orders
De Molay
Job’s Daughters
Rainbow Girls
Also interesting..
Shriners (also know as Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine or "AAONMS")... are part of Freemasonry and sometimes referred to as, 'The playground of the Masons'... All Shriners are Masons, but not all Masons are Shriners!
That's enough for now...
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Mike Douglas, whose affable personality and singing talent earned him 21 years as a television talk show host, died Friday on his 81st birthday.
He died at 5:30 a.m. in a Palm Beach Gardens hospital, said his wife, Genevieve Douglas. She wasn't sure of the cause, but said he had been admitted Thursday.
Douglas became dehydrated on the golf course a few weeks ago and had been treated on and off since. 
