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What Masonry means to people
Their thoughts on the Meaning of Masonry
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Turning The Hiram Key
Find out what Masonry means to Robert by reading his latest book,
Turning The Hiram Key.
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By Krystal |
My father was a Mason, as is my brother-in-law. As a woman it was never an option for me. Over the years I have always felt confused by the hidden aspect of masonry that imbued all masons with less than pleasant intentions. I would hear things about masons - and I knew it couldn't be true because I knew my Dad wasn't like that. We were not rich, we lived on a council estate in leafy Buckinghamshire. My sister and brother-in-law are not rich - but I do know as I write this that his fellow masons are providing help to him and my sister as he recovers from surgery that has left him immobile and needing carers.
I have just read Uriel's Machine, and have just started The Hiram key because I want to know more about the organisation that played such a large part in Dad's life. I remember him sitting reading a small book with key words missing from it. I also remember his weekly nights out at Lodge of Instruction. I remember Mum's big night - the Ladies night the year Dad was Worshipful Master which was the night my sister became officially engaged on my Brother-in-laws 21st birthday.
Masonry seems to have dominated my life - I feel it has in some strange way shaped me although I know nothing of it , and I don't understand why all the secrecy is needed. I feel it is a force for good - and it should let some light in (the light of Venus?)
The uniting of spirituality and science (which I am beginning to understand is very masonic) is for personal reasons important to me . The realisation that my Dad HAD to accept the existence of a supreme deity is causing me to re-evaluate what he really believed as we were not a church going family. My Dad was a good man, as I believe the majority of Masons are. But to keep things hidden is bound to cause outsiders to fear and distrust them. In this age of the internet and global communication I believe it is time for the Masons to become more communicative . |
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By James A. Rumsey |
I was raised December 7, 1998 in Wyandotte Lodge #3, Kansas City, Kansas of Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA. At the age of forty-eight. Becoming a Mason has in no small way affected the way I see and treat other creatures and humans. I do not celebrate any one particular religion nor do I wish all men believe as I do. Before becoming a Mason, I was confused about God and Heaven and religion in general. But since my initiation into Masonry many questions have for me been answered and those that are unanswered are of little or no consequence to me.
For a period of time beginning in 2006, I became very ill due to end-stage liver disease and eventually received a liver transplant, March of 2007. I mention this only because Masonry returned a quality of life to me that I would not have known without it. One of the results of my illness was that my memory, both short and long term was seriously impaired to a point that I did not recognize loved ones nor remember much about my avocations or education. After receiving a new liver and my health began to return, as a way of passing the hours and days of recuperation, I began to study my cipher and other Masonic literature. This exercise proved to be a much needed rehabilitation of my brain and memory function. I now hold a "Master's Proficiency Certificate" and shortly will be attempting the "Unlimited".
Thank you for listening to my brag and please continue to look for the "Secrets of a Master Mason".
James A. Rumsey, Past Master 2004
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By Little Brother |
I think secrecy includes secrecy in declaring membership, secrecy of rituals, passwords and grips etc.., and the secret knowledge imparted by various means. Under this last categorization I will include the perceived vagueness of goals and of what might be required from the member in the future. Personally I believe that memberships of masons should be divulged only by the Brother himself and not by other Brothers. Reasons for that are obvious after we see the rise of many forms of violent fanaticism and radicalism now and all through history. Some discussions just cannot be public or else it will degenerate into empty rhetoric and dogma. You cannot except people who think they know the truth of things, to search deeper because to them there is no need as they already found what they are looking for. For better or worst.
In Lebanon, the small nation that holds special in masonry as an organization in terms of members and in the ritual of building the Temple, and after seeing the first hand the reactions of people belonging to different walks of life such as different socioeconomic classes, educational levels, religious fervor (radicals to moderates to liberals), the various political party followers, various age groups, occupational groups and more; I come to the conclusion that secrecy is one of the common arguments against the Craft in 3 ways:
Many say that it is inconceivable to them to agree on an organization that requires members to swear allegiance before knowing what might be required of them and that this is like jumping into the unknown. I clearly remember a big shot journalist tell me this and an ex minister told my entire lodge in a presentation. My answer, in my mind, was I researched the craft for 6 years under the guidance of a master before I was initiated, the craft needs a lot of research and that joining the craft is such a serious obligation to our souls and minds that it warrants the search of information and knowledge to be sure that if fits the person in question. By no means should Masonic membership be given lightly and I also am strongly against recruiting members. It is persons own personal quest for deeper knowledge that will lead him to a Brother who will guide him. Personally my search to understand the dynamics of my life and the world and the universe and the Force behind them, was due to an early(middle school) disappointment with life and it's apparent injustices and non stop demanding challenges, and I always knew deep inside that there are answers somewhere.
Such an argument involving secrecy shows me that people truly ascending prejudices and willing to put all "truths" under the scrutiny of our aware minds, will waive this argument under the auspices of Trust, and this trust will be the result of a life long search well before membership in FM.
The second anti secrecy argument I noticed a lot is the accusation that FM, with pre-intent, lures people by offering a false sense of superiority due to the promise of secrets that differentiate them from those who don't them and thus satisfies many psychological tendencies in man such as curiosity, adventure, seeking power and more.
The masons I know today are pursuing the right approach of saying that there are no such secrets in the nature of superpowers or a holy Grail. Personally I think the greatest secrets hidden in the symbols are our individual interpretations of them after studious thought and study, and these would be our personal secrets, not the crafts, but they are not hidden at all as all Masonic symbols can be easily accessed on the Internet. What we attach to the symbol that fits and helps our individual personalities to be better are the true secrets that can transform lives. At least that's what I think at the moment.
The third argument against secrecy is close to all those conspiracy theories ranging from devil worship to world domination. To these no reply should be given as any PR campaign of this sorts will not benefit Masonry no matter what the result. These are the thoughts that massacred the Templars who attempted to compile knowledge from eastern and western religion and thought, and myself being a Muslim Lebanese Mason, I am at risk of such persecution in the volatile region I live in. It is mainly due to religious fanaticism in the middle east, similar to europes dark ages, that make me careful in disclosing my Masonic identity. Mind you that FM actually made me love and respect my religion much more than before and so with other religions. Indeed Love is a major outcome of Masonic work (mainly ritual work); brotherly love, love of truth, and love of nature and family.
To me at this point in time, Love is a valuable outcome of the ritual. Love in all it's manifestations.
After each lodge meeting there comes a feeling of happiness and content. A brother explained the reason as due to fact that all metals or material thoughts are left outside the lodge and the opening ceremony directs our concentration inwards away from our daily problems and that will have an obvious psychological effect similar to meditation. Listening and participating in the lecture also increases this focus of positive energy.
I make it a point to never decrease my reading of all sorts of subjects so that the ritual can play a more important role (to me personally). And that it helps me take this information from reading and transform them into realities I can "experience" after imprinting them deeper in the hidden parts of my mind(sub and un-conscious) by hearing so many differing opinions on the info from brothers and by matching them with the rich symbolism of the lectures that act as limitless reservoirs of knowledge that will gradually transform to become the seeds of wisdom. Ritual are like a crash course compared to individual study as it allows me(strangely to an EA like me) to speed up the process of transforming raw knowledge into usefulness,practicality, experience, and hopefully Wisdom and Power.
The rituals also have a moral effect due to the consistent reminding of the application of all the virtues and of the white gloves and aprons we wear.
The ritual of initiation personally gave me a wider perspective in life symbolized by passing through the "tests" associated with the four elements and hence of all material life, in preparation to a more sublime spiritual awareness. The opening and closing of the Lodge, and all furniture, ornaments, the Lights; all are subjects that require a lifetime of contemplation and the most fruitful contemplation is inside the closed lodge. This is my personal experience with rituals and is shared by most Brother I talk to about this subject. It is worthy to note that because I lived outside Lebanon in countries where FM is banned, I used to advocate the argument that I can "know myself" and seek truth all by myself thru reading and thought but not I have seen firsthand that the process of regeneration into a better human is faster and more potent in the rituals.
Anyway these questions posted require volumes of answers so I will suffice with this and get back to the other questions or elaborations on rituals and secrecy later.
Brotherly.... |
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By James |
My thoughts on Secrets:
I think it should be kept from those who would oppose it. Zig Ziglar says (paraphrased) "if you are making a self improvement goal - tell everyone. But if you are making a goal that one-ups someone, only tell a select a few - those that will support you." I like secrecy to protect myself when I am doing good things that others may take offense to. I think secrecy to all though, leads to dark things.
How I view Masonic Rituals:
A series of events, or a drawing, etc that helps to remind me of a larger picture/teaching.
Why I'm Curious about Masons:
I'm not a mason, but found this link by reading wikipedia and am curious. I want to be a better man - in the sight of my family, and in my God. Accountability to spiritual and like minded brothers is a good idea.
I look forward to comments.
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By larder full |
I am a freemason and have been a member of the Craft for some 17 yrs,i have been through the chair of my craft lodge .I wish to offer some of my thoughts on my "masonic" experience to date.My initiation was an experience filled with awe mainly because it was a moment of trusting in the unknown it did not infuse any spiritual connection and it in reality wasa rush of info to the mind which caused me to reflect.I feel that masonry can point you towards your God ,however i also feel that many masons today do not have any substantive belief rather a nominal nod towards the GAOTU,in order to join the club.I am proud to be a mason and in my employment was never fearful of declaring myself to be a. mason,even though this was in public service.When i was a new mason some older bretren gave me some advice which i hold dear,namely do not rush your masonic experience,today many want to rise and climb the ladder too quickly and in doing so i feel see their experience of the daily advancements minimalised.The demands of membership often pull at ones time and i find this a struggle in todays society.The ritual of the craft points one towards understanding and reading ones holy book and this of great benefit when one is caught up in the maelstrom of life, it directs one to contemplate and offers lessons in many areas of life but always refers one to the land mark of the VOSL.
Ones experience of masonry by the masons who have thought about it ,surely must of course be to want to share this and this is often done with other masons.Masonry in my experience is not secret and should be more open which is the case of late,however as the craft has a secret history we should ensure that masons are in no way involved in any activity that brings disrepute to our order.
The experience of masonic life in my talking to bretren differs according to ones lodge experience,some are rich in fellowship,some are more frugal! |
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By Ejder |
I will ask for forgiveness whit my writing and expression, i hope at least i can make a statement about what i think.
1. Should Freemasonry be secret, or should we be more open about it?
I believe that it should be more open about it, in the country that i live in few people know about freemasonry and they don't have a good opinion. The problem is that people even if they want to know, they use the internet which sometimes doesn't help you and gives you more headaches that is worth about it. A solution i think is to make some online library from where people can have access in there one language so they can understand it better.
2. What does Masonic ritual mean to you?
For me it represents a step to enlightenment, allowing you to understand the connection between the world and you.
Will not answer to the last question since i am not a freemason.
I will have 2 question
The first one is if the apple that our ancestors took from the tree if it was an ancient knowledge that allowed them to understand the secrets of this world, allowing them to be Godlike ?
The second is about an old book that had ancient knowledge and is was map that shows a place full of secrets and powers. That book belong to a sociaty that called themselves Masters or Keepers and were destroyed when the priest of God come ?
I am curios if there is something about them that perhaps come in a resource. |
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By JoeT |
I am a mason, I have been a member of the fraternity for about 20 years now in the U.S. and I have never regretted taking the first step nor the remaining steps that brought me from an entered apprentice to a master mason.
The rituals of Freemasonry are beautiful and are meant to evoke emotional responses not only for those who are going through them, but also for those involved in putting them on. Whenever I participate in or see the rituals performed, I remember the tension and concentration that I experienced when I went through them myself. How vivid these recollections are and how my understanding has grown from the time of my first entrance until now. Just as with any ritual, they are designed to teach and codify beliefs reducing them to allow understanding at a level below our normal cognition. Repeated viewing and learning in the craft lodge guides those who are willing to learn and willing to expand their thoughts and concepts.
These rituals help to create and maintain a new norm that is expressed best by saying that "we learn not to be better than others, but to be better than ourselves". That is the message that they pass along to me, that I can become a better person and that by doing right for others, we grow ourselves.
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By antosa |
All that is and all that ever has been starts with a thought.
The more I know the less I say and the less I say the more I know.
And that which will be will be.
The universal time stands for no one.
Knowledge of all is in all one only needs to be silent in order to hear and be awakened.
Mathematics is the foundation and the language of the universe spoken little and understood by few.
Ego is the mist that becloudes mortal minds
Mamon engulfs and drowns the senses
Only with pureness of thought and clarity of visiion can one see that which speaks to us all
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By Garethloki |
I have been interested in Freemasonry for over ten years, observing it from the outside and marking the change in its public relations over this period against its historical one. The recent riots that were spawned by people's lack of guidance and moral integrity seems to highlight why Freemasony may need to return to the limelight of British public life. The secrecy that was erected around the order because of Hitler's opposition in World War Two needs to be washed away again so that the Order can be fully recognised for its importance as a backbone of society.
Then we have the history of Freemasonry and the secret societies that have contributed to its rituals and pattern over the centuries. History is constantly being rewritten as more effective means of extrapolating the truth are explored. The standard view that Freemasonry began in the 17th century has already been proven farcical by your own research. Further investigation into the enigmatic origins and its relationship to far older religious practices seems paramount.
I hope that resources such as that which you have made available will help wash away the years of mystery and reveal for the benefit of all humanity some new insight into our spiritual evolution.
I would like to add that I am not a Freemason. |
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By Gary |
I joined freemasonry in Northern Ireland a little over 10 years ago. I joined simply because the masons that I knew were all good men. My mother lodge was dying on its feet. They'd had three candidates in approx 10 years and the average age would have been geriatric!
A friend I'd worked with approx 10 years before I joined & whom I'd meet up with a couple of times a year for a drink had also joined another lodge and I started to visit it regularly before affiliating. I remained a member of my mother lodge until it folded, and held the chair in its penultimate year. I've also held the chair of my affiliated lodge and oversaw a merger. The lodge is now thriving and we are struggling to cope with the number of candidates we have, a nice problem to have. I will be taking the chair of the merged lodge in 2012.
I think we should be (and I am) more open about our masonry. Only the means of one mason identifying himself to another & the actual ritual should be secret.
I'm uneasy with the requirement for a belief in a supreme being. I know this is a minority view - but there are a lot of good men out there living in good repute amongst their friends and neighbours who are not believers. These are lost to the order or have to stretch an "what we don't understand we call God" idea
The ritual I see as a torch which has been handed to us by the masons of yesterday and to be handed on to those of tomorrow. I see it as a never ending relay and a connection through the ages. I do enjoy the ritual - but find it hard to express why. I enjoy the social side of the order as well.
How do I feel when I was made a Mason? A bit like when I joined the army - I was joining something bigger than myself!
I hope this helps & will happily answer any queries you have. |
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