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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 Neet |
Not just the thoughts on masonry, but what the books, The Hiram Key, The second Messiah, Uriel's Machine and The book of Hiram unvails to the open minded and curious soul...
I'd like to start with saying what lead me to where I am today.
As a person who is beholding no religeous inclination towards any destinct faith (and is concidered by everyone who knows the mechanics of my thought process to be an agnostic and seeker of truth), have been doing a lot of research into various beliefe systems, as well as history of our civilization as we know it.
This began when I was very young and more specifically when my mom told me the stories of her fantastic history teacher who inspired everyone. When I went to school I was looking forward to the same inspiration but was very dishapointed when that particular subject no longer was thought as an individual subject in norwegian school. But we did have some projects that got my mind going, and the first one I ever did was on the Egyptians, and Tut Anch-Amon. This sparked my still ongoing facination with ancient societies and their beliefs, myths and legends. As I've grown up I've continued looking into the wonderful and vast information as it has become available to the lay person and when 14. I read three different bibles to compare the information within them wich again turned my interest towards the Knights Temlars and their origins, and from there to various other subjects whenever something struck my imagination.
At this moment in time I'm doing some research for a friend of mine who is writing a book series with wich the author wants to ressonate the correct history to the extent that it can be a plausible and alternative to acepted history. My friend is someone who actually hates writing, but does it extremly well and have had this story popping into the conciousness for a while now before accepting that it has to be written. When I was taken into confidence on the subject I found that everything that I'm interested in and is inspired by has found its way into the "storyline", and promptly said I would do some research on the various points in history which might be of importance. Little did i know that the key points of the authors story would coincide with the books mentioned above in somewhat spooky ways.
Once me and my friend started to do research I had already some ideas that this would be a huge undertaking and that I wanted to seek out information that I had until then not concidered. Having read and re read numerous books of accepted and "prooved correct" history I found myself still having a lot of doubt on many subjects and especially on the various different religions of the world and their origins. At this point I started re reading some of the Mesopotamian myths and legends, as well as the Greek, Roman, Norse and Egyptian ones and started noticing many similarities that spans over too vast a timespan to be a coincidence.
Talking to my friend who mentioned that a secret within a secret society such as Knights Templar or Freemasonry had started to emmerge into the storyline I set out to find out more on these matters and what I started with was The Hiram Key.
I have to say that I was surprised to read and find in paper a lot of my own thoughts on events taking place in history as all the books mentioned above has taken me on a journey that is only just begining (I believe) wich also is hightening my own belief that there's no such things as a coincidence and that everyone is put on their path in time for personal enlightenment and growth when ready.
This brings me to the questions of wether or not Fremasonry should remain secret or more open...
My answer as a non mason is as such: I believe that even though it will have to shed more light on its "inner workings" to remain alive as a society as is, my personal thought is that even though the rituals would be open to the general public the secrets it contains will at large still be hidden to most people. This I say because while a ritual or a story is told it will not be understood unless it is "experienced" or explained in a way that appeals to the various people of the world. With this I mean that each persons brain is absorbing the informaon in slightly different way and will emphesise on different structures and evoke emotions on different levels. To give a messurable ref. look at the new testament and the various christian sects that has inspired. Look at the old testament and the major belief systems that has given....
The other question wich I can comment on here is what does Masonic ritual mean to me.
Well this is something that is difficult to put into one scentence, and as a non mason I can only comment on the publicly known ones and their content, but I will try.
To me the rituals represents both an oral history tradition as a way of keeping information for future benefit because they are repeated to the point that your brain is reciting as if from a book, and as a spiritual rising of your inner knowledge and to act as an illumination of your soul's search/thirst for enlightenment. What you gain from a ritual is not just a sence of belonging but also a sence of importance, wich in some cases can lead to great egos and non understanding internally, but also a hightend sence of self realisation that rarely happens without some transitory phase, ritual or milestone marker among equals no mater what religion or belief system you are following.
My reason for making this contribution here has as many layers as Freemasonry and histrory itself has, but firstly I wanted to give some thoughts back to two great researcher of history who have put together a force de tour of information and that to the detriment of some and joy for others. Secondly I am very surprised that so many of my own thoughts (that of a lay person without formal training in history and research as such) have found themselves into these books of knowledge. Thirdly the fact that my friend's ideas all incorporate the Masonic history and that of the spirit wich I believe is within has found a solid base in the storyline without my friend knowing anything at all about Masonic belief or history. And because through my search for knowledge I have found something that inspires me to reach even further!
Hopefully this will inspire more people to enlighten themselves, to seek out knowledge and find their path's in life! |
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By Yoachim54 |
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I am favorably inclined towards Masons in general and in particular, for reasons of their generally supportive nature for society, and toleration for peoples of different creeds and ethnicities.I myself am a believer in G-d ,or the lifeforce in man that needs to be cultivated and needs to be useful.I was raised as a Roman Catholic, and I still have a certain fondness for that perspective, but I don't identify with their past[or present] antipathy against Freemasonry.Or the Evangelical community with an incessant need to see the Devil's works everywhere.In the early 60's with Vatican II, the Catholic Church was moving gradually towards a more ecumenical and unifyied relationship with both Protestantism and Judaism.But lately the Church has been atavistically going backwards in a defensive posture.I like my mother before me, reflect a more liberal position, and as a student of comparative religions .I see God everywhere.I had learned of "Unity", a New Thought mindset years ago, and Rosicrucianism and many other ideas that invigorate and give wings to new imaginative ideas.There are many myths involved in belief systems, but they are_ True_ in a way that can teach us better ways to live.I am a believer in whatever binds [religere] us together as a society.The ideas that we have in common and hold us together as a people,in our families, and our nations and our planet.The Masons are good guys in this venture of life.It's not really a Secret what they believe and do.Sometimes secrets are buried ,right out in the open.You just got to open your mind.Thanks for the good works and the good thoughts. Sincerely Patrick D. Prein * |
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By A. Mason - Province of Norfolk |
AMBITIOUS MASON
Is it wonderful to be a Mason? - others might well ask,
pomp and ceremony all cloaked with a mysterious mask;
A journey of self discovery that not all can see,
penetrating the many veils of mystery;
Perfected in stone – are principles we all agree; kindness,
truth, charity, these three we promote without dispute;
But should our practice of principles be more resolute?
Listen to that inner voice – it can say ambition is fine,
but be careful not loose sight of that perfect stone;
lest you fall pray to the ego… and spiritual decline.
A. Mason
Province of Norfolk |
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By victor |
The Masons that I have met in life, have been decent men, with a good Moral foundation.
So it has always surprised me that they were not more open, either about the Craft, or even their Charitable Activities.
Quite a few of them were surprised that most of non Masons, were curious, but not hostile.
After all it is not a Secret Society, and if you were minded, you could look up the Members of a Lodge. The Buildings are there for all to see.
I think the charge that I have heard most being Leveled at Masonry, is that they give preferance to Fellow Craft. But I have yet to find any substance to that claim...
Yours Sincerley.
V.W.Grana
P.S.
I enjoyed "The Secrets of Masonry". |
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By ZenMonk |
Hello Robert!
* Should Freemasonry be secret, or should we be more open about it?
Freemasonry is a secret by it's own nature. Because everything you find out by going to the temple it is reveled ONLY to your mind and you usually do not share. You can share a symbol or a meaning to a symbol but this is meaningless without your own interpretation.
* Is a member of your family a Freemason, and how do you feel about that?
I am due to my grandfather who went to the Grand Architect 8 years ago, but he marked my way in life.
* If you are a Mason, what does Masonic ritual mean to you?
First of all it is an escape from the profane life. An escape from the rush for the money... Secondly it's a path of my whole life.
* How did you feel when you were made a Mason?
I actually was reading a lot about freemasonry since I was a little child (I have read my first book about symbols of freemasonry when I was 13 years old) but my initiation and my master mason ritual pass where a a lot different than all the books I've read about... Because I was made mason and I took the place of Hiram. I was in the middle of the ceremony and not some others in some books. It was a death experience and then a reborn. The light even if it was a "material light" was so encouraging.
* And what role has Masonic ritual played in your life since?
It is governing my entire life. One thing that is in my head since I was made a Master Mason is that I am not a Master Mason. I am still a companion of the path of life. I am still an companion in the search of the truth and the search of the word and the search of the meanings. I guess we all are only companions till the moment death will come for our mortal body.
* Do you feel it is something which can not, or perhaps should not, be put into words?
Yes, I can. A lot of the experiences cannot be explained into words.
I also have a few ideas regarding the Kirkwall Scroll, but I wait for the end of your book. I am still reading it having a few pages left. Unfortunately I leave in Romania and books are coming a little bit late and also they are in my opinion a bit badly translated and as a Mason, you have to read between the lines. I have read most of your books and they seem at least interesting and would be a pleasure to meet you one day (hope dies last) and to have at least a few hours to discuss about as from time to time I have different opinions about some ideas and they might seem interesting for your future books.
I greet you by all the numbers that are known to you!
Bro.'.Andrew
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By a profane |
My great grandfather was a Freemason, wha attained a considerable 'rank' within his lodge. I never knew him nor his son but it is clear to me that the 'mark' of the freemasons was transmitted to me via the 'insights' which my father gave to me.
My father 'educated' me or rather 'initiated' me into the way of thinking & 'seeing' the world which i find rarely amongst my friends, with notable exeptions which lead me to believe that their families also have a connection to freemasonry.
I feel : that i was 'priveliged' to have been entrusted with such knowledge.
Freemasonry should remain 'subtle' about itself - not neccessarily secret, but not an 'open house' either as not all minds are receptive to the 'truths' contained within the fremasonory.
Though still uninitiated thus unfamiliar with the rituals, from what i have discovered, the rituals are important in maintaining the 'identity' of the masonic movement, and the majoe 'events' that helped to shape the guild.
In this day where solidarity is sorely lacking, where the individual is king and where the magic & mysteries of life have been neglected for the scientific 'truth' apparently inherant in all things, we need esoterique teachings, a 'fraternity' and spiritualism.
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By Shelton |
My father was a Mason, so was my Grandfather on my mother's side, her mother being in Eastern Star (my mother was passively involved), and then my mother passed away almost two years ago in a Masonic Home in Maryland. However, a few years ago my son then in his late twenties went to a Masonic Lodge in Asheville, NC to inquire about being a Mason. He gave up because basically they told him he was too young. He felt out of place. As a mom, I was very proud of his inquiry though.
Strangely in Madison, Wisconsin in 2004, I was at a bookstore, and of the hundreds of books there, this book called out to me, Uriel's Machine, not even knowing (or interested at the time) that it had to do with Freemasonry. But I read it with rapt interest, devouring the words, and even had to bring it overseas with me while working at a school here in Kuwait. I am reading it a second time while living in the Middle East. I simply cannot get enough ... because it rings truth. A leap in many directions through logical deduction and quite simply, some of us have the calling to read and understand.
To the authors, thank you for this profound book. I hope to read more of the other books you have written, and to encourage my son to not give up. |
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By skitours |
i had joined masonry in order to become a better person under masonic teaching. i have been instructed on the working tools, however i'm still non the wiser how i apply these to become a better person.
Also
the more i have read on masonry the more contraditions i find.
example
before entry into masonry we must confer we believe in a supream being, but in the 2nd degree we are told to study science and nature, and all modern evidence points to there being no god. |
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By James Staunton |
Freemasonry is a force for good in the world - the second largest donor to non-masonic charities in Britain (after the National Lottery).
It is a fraternity that protects its own. My grandfather's Lodge still takes my Grandmother out for lunch once a year and sends her flowers on her birthday. She values the support his Lodge still provides, more than thirty years after his death.
Along with Radio4, public schools, Rememberance Day and Top Gear masonry stands as the last vestige of old England. It protects decency and tradition in a country where upright God-fearing Englishmen men are out-numbered by the massed ranks of Peter Mandleson, recruitment consultants, and the loathsome rabble that agree with the views of Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.
It is proud of the Empire and our past, unlike your average left-wing state-school teacher tutoring her wretched, drug-addled pupils in media studies, socially responsible graffiti-art and twitter-speak.
It is the fraternity of Kitchener, Churchill, Wellington and Gibbon - great men who weren't ashamed to make Britain great. |
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By Wor Bro Ed Backhouse (Lodge Killarney, Cape Town) |
Whilst I agree that the ritual or ceremony of freemasonry reinforces the morals I was taught as a young boy by my parents, the aspect of introspection or self examinatioin and thereby self knowledge creates the platform by which I am able to contribute towards the well being of my masonic brothers and the profane world I come into contact with.
Charitable works are important, but we need to find a mission in a similar manner to the 'Royal Society' which made information available to the common man. |
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