Freemasonry: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Square compasses.png|frame|right|'''The Masonic Square and Compasses.''' (''This is found with or without the "G"'')]] |
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'''Freemasonry''' |
'''Freemasonry''' is a worldwide [[Fraternal and service organisations|Fraternal organization]]. Members are joined together by shared ideals of both a [[Morality|moral]] and [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] nature, and, in most of its branches, by a constitutional declaration of belief in a [[God|Supreme Being]]. However, there is no individual or organization that speaks for the whole of Freemasonry. <ref>[http://www.grandlodge-england.org/masonry/what-is-freemasonry.htm What is Freemasonry?], accessed February 6, 2006.</ref> It is referred to in ''Macoy's Masonic Manual'' as "a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols."<ref>[http://altreligion.about.com/library/texts/macoy/bl_masonicmanual.htm The Masonic Manual] by Macoy, accessed November 11, 2005.</ref> |
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Freemasonry is an [[Esotericism|esoteric]] society, in that certain aspects of its internal work are not generally disclosed to the public, but it is not an occult system. In recent years, it has become less and less a "secret society" and more of a "society with secrets." Among the reasons given for the amount of secrecy that remains, is that Freemasonry uses an initiatory system of '''degrees''' to progressively explore ethical and philosophical issues, and that the system is less effective if the observer knows beforehand what will happen. Therefore, the secret aspects of modern Freemasonry mainly deal with modes of recognition among members and parts of the ritual found in these degrees. Most other key components of the fraternity, including leadership, organizational structure, meeting places and membership requirements, have been considered public knowledge for centuries. |
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==Membership== |
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Freemasons are expected to exhibit the utmost tolerance both in "Lodge" (the meeting place of a group of Freemasons) and in their daily lives. Freemasonry will thus accept members from almost any religion, including all denominations of [[Christianity]], [[Judaism]], [[Islam]], [[Buddhism]], and so forth. Exactly how far this goes depends on the particular branch or "jurisdiction" of Freemasonry one is dealing with. [[Deism|Deists]] have traditionally been accepted. In Lodges derived from the Grand Orient of France and in certain other groups of Lodges, [[atheism|atheists]] and [[agnostic]]s are also accepted, without qualification. Most other branches currently require a belief in a Supreme Being. But even there, one finds a high degree of nondogmatism, and the phrase "Supreme Being" is often given a very broad interpretation, usually allowing Deism and often even allowing naturalistic views of "God/Nature" in the tradition of [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]] and [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe|Goethe]] (himself a Freemason), or nontheistic views of Ultimate Reality or Cosmic Oneness, such as found in some Eastern religions and in Western [[idealism]] (or for that matter, in modern [[cosmology]]). In some other (mostly English-speaking) jurisdictions, Freemasony is not as tolerant of naturalism as it was in the 18th century, and specific religious requirements with more [[theism|theistic]] and orthodox overtones have been added since the early [[19th century]], including (mostly in North America) belief in the immortality of the soul. The Freemasonry that predominates in [[Scandinavia]], known as the [[Swedish Rite]], accepts only Christians. |
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==Organizational structure== |
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Generally, to be a Freemason, one must: |
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{{main|Grand Lodge}} |
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# be a man, if joining the majority of Masonic jurisdictions, or a woman, if joining a jurisdiction with women's Lodges (unless joining a co-Masonic jurisdiction with no gender requirement), |
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# believe in a "Supreme Being", or, in some jurisdictions, a "Creative Principle" (unless joining a jurisdiction with no religious requirement), |
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# be at least the minimum age (18-25 years depending on the jurisdiction), |
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# be of sound mind, body and of good morals, and |
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# be free (or "born free", <i>i.e.</i> not born a [[slave]] or bondsman). |
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[[Image:freemasons.hall.london.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|right|250px| The Home of UGLE ]] |
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The gender requirement was traditionally for men only, and the inclusion of women is still a matter of controversy in many jurisdictions. The "free born" requirement does not come up in modern Lodges, and there is no indication that it would ever be enforced, but remains there for historical reasons. The "sound body" requirement is today generally taken to mean physically capable of taking part in Lodge rituals, and most Lodges today are quite flexible in accommodating disabled candidates. |
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There are many jurisdictions within Freemasonry, each sovereign and independent of the others, and usually defined according to a national or geographic territory. There is no central Masonic '''organizational structure''' or authority, and in any event many practices are determined by Lodge custom, so any general description will inevitably be inaccurate in respect of some places. |
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Freemasonry upholds the principles of "Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth" (or in France: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"). It teaches moral lessons through rituals. Members working through the rituals are taught by "degrees". Freemasons are also commonly involved in public service and charity work, as well as providing a social outlet for their members. There is considerable variance in the emphasis on these different aspects of Masonry around the world. In Continental Europe, the philosophical side of Freemasonry is more emphasized, while in Britain, North America, and the English-speaking parts of the world, the charity, service and social club aspects are more emphasized. |
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The top authority of a Masonic jurisdiction is usually called a ''[[Grand Lodge]]'', or sometimes a ''Grand Orient''. Each jurisdiction maintains a list of other jurisdictions that it formally ''recognizes'' as meeting its requirements for ''regularity''. If the other jurisdiction reciprocates the recognition, the two jurisdictions are said to be ''in amity''. Being in amity means that the members are able to attend meetings bilaterally. In keeping with the decentralized and non-dogmatic nature of Freemasonry, however, there is no ''universally'' accepted list of landmarks. Even jurisdictions in amity with each other often have completely different ideas as to what those landmarks are. Many jurisdictions take no official position at all as to what the landmarks are. However, it is common to forbid the discussion of Religion or Politics, to preclude disharmony by reference to those subjects. |
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While Freemasonry as an organization does not directly involve itself in politics, its members have tended over the years to support certain kinds of political causes with which they have become associated in the public eye: the separation of Church and State, the establishment of secular public schools, and democratic revolutions (in the [[American Revolution|United States]] and [[French Revolution|France]] on a smaller scale, but on a larger scale in other places such as Mexico, Brazil, and repeatedly in Italy). |
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The first Grand Lodge jurisdiction in Freemasonry was the Grand Lodge of England, founded in [[1717]]. This Grand Lodge became known as the ''Moderns'', but was reunited with the breakaway ''Antients'' Grand Lodge in [[1813]], to become the [[United Grand Lodge of England]] (UGLE). It is today the ''only'' regular Craft jurisdiction in England, and generally considered to be the oldest Grand Lodge jurisdiction in the world. The oldest jurisdiction in the European Continental branch, and the largest jurisdiction in France, is the [[Grand Orient de France]] (GOdF), founded in [[1728]]. At one time, the two branches bilaterally recognized each other, but most jurisdictions cut off formal relations with the GOdF around 1877. The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise (GLNF) <ref>[http://www.grandelogenationalefrancaise.com/ The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise (GLNF)], accessed February 6, 2006.</ref> is currently the ''only'' French Grand Lodge that is in ''regular amity'' with The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), and concordant jurisdictions. In most Latin countries, and in [[Belgium]], the GOdF style of European Continental Freemasonry predominates. The rest of the world, accounting for the bulk of Freemasonry, tends to follow the lead of the English UGLE, and concordant juristictions. |
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Many organizations with various religious and political purposes have been inspired by Freemasonry, and are sometimes confused with it, such as the Protestant [[Loyal Orange Association]] and the [[19th century]] Italian [[Carbonari]], which pursued [[Liberalism]] and [[Italian Unity]]. Many other purely [[fraternal organization]]s, too numerous to mention, have also been inspired by Masonry to a greater or lesser extent. |
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So, Freemasonry is often said to consist of two different branches: |
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Freemasonry is often called a "[[secret society]]", and in fact is considered by many to be the very prototype for such societies. Many Masons say that it is more accurately described as a "society with secrets". The degree of secrecy varies widely around the world. In English-speaking countries, most Masons are completely public with their affiliation, Masonic buildings are clearly marked, and meeting times are generally a matter of public record. In other countries, where Freemasonry has been more recently, or is even currently, supressed by the government, secrecy may be practiced more in earnest (again, depending greatly on the particular country). Even in the English-speaking world, the precise details of the rituals are not made public, and Freemasons have a system of secret modes of recognition, such as the Masonic secret grip, by which Masons can recognize each other "in the dark as well as in the light," and which are universally kept strictly secret. (Although these "secrets" have been available in printed exposes and anti-Masonic literature for many years.) |
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* the UGLE and concordant tradition of jurisdictions (termed Grand Lodges) in amity and, |
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==Criticism and Repression== |
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* the GOdF European Continental tradition of jurisdictions (often termed Grand Orients) in amity. |
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Freemasonry has been a long-time favorite target of [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorists]], who see it as an [[occult]] and [[evil]] power, often associated with [[Judaism]], and usually either bent on world domination, or already secretly in control of world politics. |
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In reality, there is no tidy way to split jurisdictions into distinct camps, as recognition is constitutional, not dogmatic. In addition, the geographical territory of one jurisdiction may overlap with another's, which may affect their relations, for purely territorial reasons. In other cases, one jurisdiction may overlook irregularities in another due simply to a desire to maintain friendly relations. Also, a jurisdiction may be formally affiliated with one tradition, while maintaining informal ties with the other. For all these reasons, labels must be taken only as rough indicators, not as clear designations. |
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Freemasonry is almost universally banned in totalitarian states. In [[Nazi]] Germany, Freemasons were sent to concentration camps and all Masonic Lodges were ordered shut down. German Masons used the blue Forget-Me-Not as a secret means of recognition and as a substitute for the traditional (and too-easily-recognized) square and compasses. |
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{{see also| Regular Masonic jurisdictions}} |
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In modern [[democracy|democracies]], Freemasonry is occasionally accused of being a sort of club, or network, where a lot of [[influence peddling]], and perhaps illegal dealings, take place. In the early 1800s, [[Morgan Affair|William Morgan]] disappeared after threatening to expose Freemasonry's secrets, causing some to claim that he had been murdered by Masons. In [[Italy]], in the 1970s, the [[P2|P2 lodge]] was investigated in the wake of a financial scandal and a suspicious death. As a result, the lodge was expelled from Italian Masonry (although it continued to function independently). In [[Nice]], [[France]], the head [[prosecutor]] accused some [[judge]]s and other judicial personnel of deliberately stalling or refusing to elucidate cases involving Masons. In the 1990s in [[Britain]], the [[The Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] government tried unsuccessfully to pass a law requiring all public officials who were Masons to make their affiliation public. |
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=== Prince Hall Freemasonry === |
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See also: [[Anti-Masonry]], [[United States Anti-Masonic Party]]. |
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{{main|Prince Hall Freemasonry}} |
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In 1775, an [[African American]] named [[Prince Hall]]<ref>[http://www.mindspring.com/~johnsonx/whoisph.htm Who is Prince Hall?], accessed November 14, 2005.</ref> was initiated into an Irish Constitution Military Lodge then in Boston, Massachusetts, along with fourteen other African Americans, all of whom were free born. When the Military Lodge left the [[North America]], the African Americans were given the authority to meet as a lodge, form Processions on the days of the Saints John, and conduct Masonic funerals, but ''not'' to confer degrees, nor to do other Masonic Work. In 1784 these individuals applied for, and obtained, a Lodge Warrant from the Premier Grand Lodge of England and formed African Lodge, Number 459 (Premier Grand Lodge of England). When the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) was formed in 1813, all US based lodges were stricken from their rolls – due largely to the [[War of 1812| US and British War, 1812 to 1815]]. Thus, separated from both UGLE and any concordantly recognised US Grand Lodge, African Lodge re-titled itself as the African Lodge, Number 1 - and became a ''de facto'' "Grand Lodge". (This Lodge is not to be confused with the various Grand Lodges on the Continent of [[Africa]]). These events led to a tradition of separate and predominantly African American Freemasonry in North America, known as '''Prince Hall Freemasonry'''. As with the rest of US Freemasonry, Prince Hall Freemasonry soon grew, and organised on a Grand Lodge system for each State. |
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== Ritual and Symbols == |
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The Freemasons rely heavily on the [[architecture|architectural]] symbolism of the [[Medieval]] "operative" Masons who actually worked in [[stone]]. One of their principal symbols is the "square and [[compass]]es", tools of the trade, so arranged as to form a quadrilateral. The square is sometimes said to represent matter, and the compasses spirit or mind. Alternatively, the square might be said to represent the world of the concrete, or the measure of objective reality, while the compasses represent abstraction, or subjective judgment, and so forth (Freemasonry being nondogmatic, there is no written-in-stone interpretation for any of these symbols). The compasses straddle the square, representing the interdependence between the two. In the space between the two, there is optionally placed a symbol of metaphysical significance. Sometimes, this is a blazing star or other symbol of Light, representing Truth or knowledge. Alternatively, there is often a letter "G" placed there, usually said to represent "[[God]] and/or [[Geometry]]". |
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Prince Hall Masonry has always been ''regular'' in all respects except constitutional separation. Widespread [[racism]] and [[Racial segregation|segregation]], in the 19th and early 20th century North America, made it impossible for African Americans to join lodges outside of Prince Hall jurisdictions - and impossible for inter-jurisdiction recognition between the parallel US Masonic authorities. Prince Hall Grand Lodges are, presently, recognized by some UGLE Concordant Grand Lodges and not by others, but appears to be working its way toward full recognition <ref>[http://bessel.org/masrec/phamapshistorical.htm Prince Hall Masonry Recognition details], Paul M. Bessel, accessed November 14, 2005</ref>. It is now quite usual for non-Prince Hall lodges to have ethnically diverse membership. The majority of Masonic Grand Lodges in the United States now grant at least some degree of recognition to Prince Hall Grand Lodges. |
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The square and compasses are displayed at all Masonic meetings, along with the open "Volume of the Sacred Law (or Lore)" (VSL). In English-speaking countries, this is usually a [[Bible|Holy Bible]], but it can be whatever book of inspiration or scripture that the members of a particular Lodge or jurisdiction feel they draw on--whether the Bible, the [[Koran]] or a book of philosophy. In many French Lodges, the Masonic Constitutions are used. In a few cases, a blank book has been used, where the religious makeup of a Lodge was too diverse to permit an easy choice of VSL. In addition to its role as a symbol of written wisdom, inspiration, and sometimes as the revealed will of the Deity, the VSL is what Masonic obligations are taken upon. |
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In 2005, Prince Hall Lodge became formally recognized by the Grand Lodge of Maryland in Cockysville. All Prince Hall Lodge members are now recognized and allowed to attend all other recognized lodge's meetings. |
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Much of Masonic symbolism is mathematical in nature, and in particular geometrical, which is probably a reason Freemasonry has attracted so many rationalists (such as [[Voltaire]], [[Johann Gottlieb Fichte|Fichte]], [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe|Goethe]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Mark Twain]] and many others). Freemasons thus have a tendency to view the metaphysics of the universe as heavily tied into geometrical principles. No particular metaphysical theory is advanced by Freemasonry, however, although there seems to be some influence from the [[Pythagoras|Pythagoreans]], from [[Neo-Platonism]], and from early modern [[Rationalism]]. |
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{{see also| Regular Masonic jurisdictions}} |
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In keeping with the geometrical and architectural theme of Freemasonry, the Supreme Being (or God, or Creative Principle) is sometimes also referred to in Masonic ritual as "the Great Geometrician", or the "Great (or Grand) Architect (or Artificer) of the Universe". Freemasons use a variety of labels for this concept, often abbreviated "G.A.O.T.U.", in order to avoid the idea that they are talking about any one religion's particular God or God-like concept. |
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===The Masonic Lodge === |
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There are three initial "degrees" of Freemasonry: (1) Entered Apprentice, (2) Fellow Craft and (3) Master Mason. One works through each degree by taking part in a ritual, essentially a medieval morality Play, in which one plays a role, along with members of the Lodge that one is joining. The setting is Biblical--the building of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem--although the stories themselves are not directly from the Bible, and not intended to be necessarily Jewish or Christian in nature. Nothing supernatural happens in these stories. The Temple can be taken to represent the "temple" of the individual human being, that of the human community, or of the entire universe. |
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{{main|Masonic Lodge}} |
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A '''Lodge''', often termed a ''Private Lodge'' or ''Constituent Lodge'' in Constitutions, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry. Every new Lodge must be warranted by a Grand Lodge, but is subject to its direction only in enforcing the published Constitution of the jurisdiction. A Master Freemason is generally entitled to visit any Lodge - in any jurisdiction in amity with his own. He is first usually required to check, and certify, the regularity of the relationship of the Lodge - and be able to satisfy that Lodge of ''his'' regularity of membership. |
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As one works through the degrees, one studies the lessons and interprets them for oneself. There are as many ways to interpret the rituals as there are Masons, and no Mason may dictate to any other Mason how he is to interpret them. No particular truths are espoused, but a common structure--speaking symbolically to universal human archetypes--provides for each Mason a means to come to his own answers to life's important questions. Freemasons working through the degrees are often (especially in Continental Europe) asked to prepare papers on related philosophical topics, and present lectures. |
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Contrary to popular belief, Freemasons meet ''as'' a [[Masonic Lodge|Lodge]] and not ''in'' a Lodge. Lodge buildings have for many years been known as ''Temples'', ("of Philosophy and the Arts"), but in many countries ''Masonic Centre'' or ''Hall'' has now replaced this term - to settle modern scruples. Several different Lodges often use the same premises - each on published dates. |
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[[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] was a Freemason, and his opera, [[The Magic Flute]], makes extensive use of Masonic symbolism. Two books that give a general feel for the symbolism and its interpretation are: |
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According to Masonic myth (see [[Freemasonry#History_of_Freemasonry|below]]), the ''operative lodges'' (the Medieval lodges of actual stonemasons) constructed a lodge building adjacent to their work site where the masons could meet for shelter, instruction and social contact. Normally this was on the southern side of the site (in Europe, the side with the sun warming the stones during the day). Hence the social gathering, (the ''Festive'' or ''Social Board''), of the lodge is sometimes also called ''the South''. |
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# "Freemasonry: A Journey Through Ritual and Symbol" by W.K. MacNulty, Thames & Hudson, London, [[1991]]. |
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# "Symbols of Freemasonry" by D. Beresniak and L. Hamani, Assouline, Paris, [[2000]]. |
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An early ''Speculative Lodge'', (including members not actually stonemasons), would meet in a [[tavern]] or other convenient meeting place with a private annex. The word Freemason may refer to these masons being "free" from work - as they met to talk about Masonic theory rather than practice - or it could relate to the liberal or "free" arts upon which much of freemasonry is based. It may simply refer to the superior grade of masons working in freestone, as used in early English statutes. |
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An expression often used in Masonic circles is "to be on the square", meaning to be a reliable sort of person, and this has entered common usage. Other phrases from Freemasonry in common use include "meeting on the level" (without regard to social, economic, religious or cultural differences), and putting someone "through the third degree". The practice of Freemasonry is referred to amongst its members as "The Craft". |
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Many Lodges are formed by Masons living within a given town or neighborhood. Other Lodges, particularly in urban areas where there are many Lodges close together, are formed by persons who share a particular interest, particular profession or background - certain schools, universities or military units. There are also specialist lodges of "Research and Instruction" (R&I). Membership in these R&I lodges is typically open to interested Master Masons of other lodges - as R&I lodges usually do not initiate new candidates to Freemasonry. |
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== Organizational Structure == |
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There are a great many different "jurisdictions" of Freemasonry, each sovereign and independent of the others, and usually defined according to a geographic territory. There is thus no central Masonic authority, although each jurisdiction maintains a list of other jurisdictions that it formally "recognizes". If the other jursidiction reciprocates the recognition, the two jurisdictions are said to be "in amity", which permits the members of the one jurisdiction to attend closed meetings of the other jurisdiction's Lodges, and vice-versa. Generally speaking, to be recognized by another jurisdiction, one must (at least) meet that jurisdiction's requirements for "regularity". This generally means that one must have in place, at least, the "ancient landmarks" of Freemasonry... the essential characteristics considered to be universal to Freemasonry in any culture. In keeping with the decentralized and nondogmatic nature of Freemasonry, however, there is no universally accepted list of landmarks, and even jurisdictions in amity with each other often have completely different ideas as to what those landmarks are. Many jurisdictions take no official position at all as to what the landmarks are. |
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===Other degrees, orders and bodies=== |
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Although there are hundreds of Masonic jurisdictions, they can be roughly grouped into two basic branches or traditions, sometimes loosely referred to as the "English" (or "Anglo") and the "French" (or "Continental") traditions. On the whole, the jurisdictions within each branch are in amity with each other. In reality, there is no tidy way to split jurisdictions into separate camps like this. For instance, jurisdiction A might recognize B, which recognizes C, which does not recognize A. In addition, the geographical territory of one jurisdiction may overlap with another's, which may affect their relations, for purely territorial reasons. In other cases, one jurisdiction may overlook irregularities in another due simply to a desire to maintain friendly relations. Also, a jurisdiction may be formally affiliated with one tradition, while maintaining informal ties with the other. For all these reasons, labels like "Anglo" and "Continental" must be taken only as rough indicators, not as any kind of clear designation. |
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There is no Masonic degree higher than that of Master Mason. Although some Masonic '''bodies''' and '''orders''' have degrees named with higher numbers, these degrees are considered to be supplements to the Master Mason degree rather than promotions from it. Nevertheless, it is essential for one to be a Master Mason in order to qualify for these further degree bodies, each of which is organized and administered more or less similarly to Freemasonry itself. In each organization there is a system of offices which confer rank within that degree or order alone. |
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Despite its name, the [[Scottish Rite]] is a system of Freemasonic degrees developed in Continental Europe, particularly in France. The [[York Rite]] is a system of Freemasonic degrees, which in America includes three distinct sovereign rites: the Holy Royal Arch, Royal and Select Masters (Cryptic Masonry), and [[Masonic Knights Templar|Knights Templar]]. |
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The ruling authority of a Masonic jurisdiction is usually called a "Grand Lodge", or sometimes a "Grand Orient". These normally correspond to a single country, although their territory can be broader or narrower than that (in North America, each state and province has its own Grand Lodge). The oldest jurisdiction in the Anglo branch of Freemasonry is the [http://www.grand-lodge.org/ United Grand Lodge of England] (UGLE), founded in [[1717]]. The oldest in the Continental branch is the [http://www.godf.org/ Grand Orient de France] (GOdF), founded in [[1728]]. At one time, these branches recognized each other, but most jurisdictions cut off formal relations with the GOdF sometime after it started accepting atheists in [[1877]]. In most Latin countries, the French style of Freemasonry predominates. The rest of the world, accounting for the bulk of Freemasonry, tends to follow the English lead. |
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Other groups include the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ([[Shriners]]), the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (Grotto), the [[Tall Cedars of Lebanon]]. The Shrine and Grotto, which are mostly located in North America, tend to emphasize fun and philanthropy. |
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Different jurisdictions vary in their relationships with such bodies, if at all. Some give them formal recognition, while others consider them wholly outside of Freemasonry proper. So not all such bodies will be universally considered as ''appendant bodies'', some being simply considered as more or less separate organizations that happen to require Masonic affiliation for membership. Some of these organizations have additional religious requirements, beyond "Craft Masonry", since they approach Masonic teachings from a particular, Christian, perspective. |
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There are also certain youth organizations (mainly North American) which are associated with Freemasonry, but are not necessarily Masonic in their content, such as the [[Order of DeMolay]] (for boys aged 12-21), the [[Job's Daughters]] and the [[International Order of the Rainbow for Girls]] (for girls 11-20). |
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There are also certain youth organizations, mainly North American, which are associated with Freemasonry, but are not necessarily Masonic in their content. These include [[DeMolay International]], for boys aged 12–21; [[Job's Daughters International]], for girls aged 10-20 with a Masonic family relationship; and the [[International Order of the Rainbow for Girls]], for girls who have Masonic sponsorship. The [[Boy Scouts of America]], founded in 1910 by [[William D. Boyce]], is not a Masonic organization. When [[Daniel Carter Beard]] joined the BSA in 1910 as one a National Scout Commissioner - he merged his group, the [[Sons of Daniel Boone]]. He is said to have exemplified "the Masonic ideals" throughout the Scouting program. |
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== History of Freemasonry== |
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''Main article: [[History of Freemasonry]]'' |
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==Membership requirements== |
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Freemasonry has been said to be an institutional outgrowth of the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[guild]]s of [[stonemason]]s (1), a direct descendant of the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem" (the [[Knights Templar]])(2), an offshoot of the ancient [[Mystery schools]](1), an administrative arm of the [[Priory of Zion]](3), the Roman [[Collegia]](1), the [[Comacine masters]](1), intellectual descendants of [[Noah]](1), and to have many other various and sundry origins. Others will claim that it dates back only to the late [[17th century]], and has no real connections at all to earlier organizations. These theories are noted in numerous different texts, and the following are but examples pulled from a sea of books: |
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A candidate for Freemasonry must apply to a ''Private'' (or ''Constituent'') Lodge in his community. After enquiries are made, he must be freely elected by secret ballot in open Lodge. Members approving his candidacy will vote with "white balls" in the voting box. Adverse votes by "black balls" will exclude a candidate. The number of adverse votes necessary to reject a candidate, which in some jurisdictions is as few as one, is set out in the governing Constitution. |
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# In "A History of Freemasonry" by H.L. Haywood and James E. Craig, pub. <i>circa</i> [[1927]] |
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# In "Born in Blood" By John Robinson, pub. [[1989]] |
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# In "The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail" by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln, pub. [[1982]] |
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===Membership and religion=== |
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Much of this is highly speculative, and the precise origins of Freemasonry may be lost in history. It is likely that Freemasonry is not a straightforward outgrowth of medieval [[guild]]s of [[stonemason]]s, for numerous reasons well documented in "Born in Blood" by John Robinson. Amongst the reasons for this conclusion are the fact that Stonemason's guilds do not appear to predate reasonable estimates for the time of Freemasonry's origin, that stonemasons lived near their worksite and thus had no need for secret signs to identify themselves, and that the "Ancient Charges" of Freemasonry are nonsensical when thought of as being rules for a Stonemason's guild. |
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Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is ''not'' a religion, nor a substitute for religion. There is ''no'' separate "Masonic God," and there is no separate proper name for a deity in ''any'' branch of Freemasonry<ref>[http://www.grandlodge-england.org/masonry/A2L-religion.htm UGLE: Is Freemasonry a religion?], accessed January 21, 2006.</ref>. Freemasonry accepts members from almost any monotheistic religion - as well as, for example, Buddhists and Hindus. In the ''[[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|irregular]]'' Continental European tradition, since the early 19th Century, a very broad interpretation has been given to a (non-dogmatic) Supreme Being - usually allowing [[Deism]] and naturalistic views in the tradition of [[Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]] and [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe|Goethe]] (himself a Freemason), or views of [[The Ultimate]] or Cosmic Oneness, along with Western atheistic [[idealism]] and agnosticism. This leads some anti-Masonic pundits to suggest that even ''regular'' Freemasonry will, in practice, accept certain kinds of atheists - willing to adopt quasi-spiritual language. However, in some jurisdictions (mostly English-speaking), Freemasonry is actually less tolerant of naturalism than it was in the 18th Century, and specific religious requirements with more [[theism|theistic]] and orthodox overtones have been added since the early 19th Century (mostly in North America), including belief in the immortality of the soul. |
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The Freemasonry that predominates in [[Scandinavia]], known as the [[Swedish Rite]] accepts ''only'' Christians. |
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Freemasonry is said by some, especially amongst Masons practising the [[York Rite]], to have existed even at the time of King [[Athelstan]] of England, in the [[10th century]] C.E.. Athelstan is said by some to have been converted to Christianity in [[York]], and to have issued the first Charter to the Masonic Lodges there. This story is not currently substantiated (the dynasty had already been Christian for centuries). |
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===General requirements=== |
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Some members of the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS) consider the ordinances performed in LDS temples (believed by adherents to be revelation from God to Joseph Smith) similar to elements in the masonic rituals and say this similarity is because the Masonic rituals are descended from those given by [[God]] at the [[Temple of Solomon]], and still contain many of the original truths. |
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Generally to be a Freemason, one must: |
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# Be a man who comes of his own free will. Traditionally Freemasons do not actively recruit new members. |
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A more historically reliable (although still not unassailable) source asserting the antiquity of Freemasonry is the [[Halliwell Manuscript]] or Regius Poem, which is believed to date from <i>ca.</i> [[1390]], and which makes reference to several concepts and phrases similar to those found in Freemasonry. The manuscript itself refers to an earlier document, of which it is seems to be an elaboration. |
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# Believe in a Supreme Being, or, in some jurisdictions, a ''Creative Principle''. |
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# Be at least the minimum age (18–25 years depending on the jurisdiction, but commonly 21), |
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# Be of sound mind, body and of good morals, and of good repute. |
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# Be free (or "born free", ''i.e.'' not born a [[Slavery|slave]] or bondsman). |
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# Have one or two references from current Masons (depending on jurisdiction). |
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The "free born" requirement is moot in modern Lodges; it remains for purely historical reasons. The "sound body" requirement, originally perhaps meant to ensure that operative Masons would be able to meet the demands of their profession, is today generally taken to mean "physically capable of taking part in Lodge rituals", and most Lodges today are quite flexible when it comes to accommodating disabled candidates. |
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It seems reasonable to suppose that, whatever its precise origins, Freemasonry provided a haven for the unorthodox and their sympathizers during a time when such activity could result in one's death, and that this has something to do with the tradition of secret meetings and handshakes. As the Middle Ages gave way to the Modern Age, the need for secrecy subsided, and Freemasons began to openly declare their association with the fraternity, which began to organize itself more formally. In [[1717]], four Lodges which met at the "Apple-Tree Tavern, the Crown Ale-House near Drury Lane, the Goose and Gridiron in St. Paul's Churchyard, and the Rummer and Grapes Tavern in Westminster" in [[London]], England (as recounted in (2)) combined together and formed the first public Grand Lodge, the Premier Grand Lodge of England (PGLE). The years following saw Grand Lodges open throughout Europe, as the new Freemasonry spread rapidly. How much of this was the spreading of Freemasonry itself, and how much was the public organization of pre-existing secret lodges, is not possible to say with certainty. The PGLE in the beginning did not have the current three degrees, but only the first two. The third degree appeared, so far as we know, around [[1725]]. |
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In addition, some Grand Lodges in the United States require candidates live in the state where they have jurisdiction for certain period of time, typically six months. This requirement may be waived in certain jurisdictions for certain situatons. |
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== Women in Freemasonry == |
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The position of women within Freemasonry is complex. Traditionally, only men could be made Freemasons. This has been changing in the last hundred years, but more quickly in some jurisdictions than others. In [[Britain]] and [[France]], and most other countries, women generally join "co-Masonic" Lodges, such as those under the international jurisdiction [[Le Droit Humain]] (LDH), which admit both men and women, or they join Lodges under local jurisdictions that admit only women. In [[North America]], it is more common for women not to become Freemasons <i>per se</i>, but to join an associated body with its own, separate traditions, the [[Order of the Eastern Star]] (OES), which admits only male Freemasons and their female relatives. In the [[Netherlands]], there is a completely separate, although allied, sorority for women, the [[Order of Weavers]] (OOW), which uses symbols from weaving rather than stonemasonry. |
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{{see also|List of famous Freemasons}} |
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The GOdF and other Continental jurisdictions give full formal recognition to co-Freemasonry and women's Freemasonry. The UGLE and other Anglo jurisdictions do not formally recognize any Masonic body that accepts women, although in many countries they have an understanding and a kind of informal acceptance that such bodies are part of Freemasonry in a larger sense. The UGLE, for instance, has "recognized" (since [[1998]]) two local women's jurisdictions as regular in practice, <i>except</i> for their inclusion of women, and has indicated that, while not formally recognized, these bodies may be regarded as part of Freemasonry. Thus, the position of women in Freemasonry is rapidly changing in the English-speaking world. While in many cases, North America is following England's lead on the issue of women, the remaining resistance to women in Freemasonry is mostly concentrated there. |
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===Women and Freemasonry=== |
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== Prince Hall Masonry == |
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{{main|Co-Freemasonry}} |
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In [[1775]], an [[African American]] named [[Prince Hall]] was initiated into an Irish Constitution Military Lodge, along with fourteen other African Americans, all of whom were free by birth. When the Military Lodge left the area, the African Americans were given the authority to meet as a Lodge, form Processions on the days of the Saints John, and conduct Masonic funerals, but not to confer degrees nor to do other Masonic Work. These individuals applied for, and obtained, a Warrant for Charter from the Grand Lodge of England in [[1784]] and formed African Lodge #459. Despite being stricken from the rolls for non-payment of dues after [[1813]], the Lodge restyled itself as the African Grand Lodge #1 (not to be confused with the various Grand Lodges on the Continent of [[Africa]]) and separated from UGLE-recognised Masonry. This led to a tradition of separate, predominately African American jurisidctions in North America, known collectively as "Prince Hall Freemasonry", which flourished due to widespread [[racism]] in North America, which prevented African Americans from joining many mainstream lodges (for instance, the traditional "born free" entrance requirement may have been used in some lodges to exclude Americans of African descent). Presently, Prince Hall Masonry is recognised by some UGLE-recognized Grand Lodges and not by others, and appears to be working its way toward full recognition (see [http://www.mindspring.com/~johnsonx/whoisph.htm]). |
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The position of '''women and Freemasonry''' is complex, although traditionally, only men can be made Freemasons, in ''[[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|Regular]]'' Freemasonry. |
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A supposed exceptional, (very [[Regular Masonic jurisdictions|irregular]] and perhaps unique), account of a woman being admitted to Freemasonry in, 18th century, is the case of [[Elizabeth Aldworth]] |
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[[John Marrant]] the [[Selina, Countess of Huntingdon|Huntingdonian]] minister preached to the Prince Hall Lodge on 24th June [[1789]]. His [[Nova Scotia]] congregation was significant in the successful agitation for [[repatriation]] by [[Black Loyalist]]s as well as the subsequent revolt which occurred in [[Sierra Leone]] in [[1800]]. |
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(born St. Leger), who is reported to have viewed the proceedings of a lodge meeting held at Doneraile House - the private house of her father, first [[Viscount]] Doneraile - a resident of [[County Cork|Cork]], [[Ireland]]. In the early part of the 18th century, it was quite customary for lodges to be held in private houses. This lodge was duly warranted for use by Lodge number 150 on the register of the [[Grand Lodge of Ireland]]. |
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Apparently, she removed a brick and saw the ceremony in the room beyond. After being discovered, Elizabeth's situation was discussed by the lodge. It was decided that she should be initiated into Freemasonry. The story is supported by other accounts of her being a subscriber to the Irish Book of Constitutions of 1744. She frequently attended, wearing her Masonic [[regalia]], and gave entertainments, under Masonic auspices, for the benefit of the poor and distressed. She married Mr. Richard Aldworth of Newmarket, and it is reported that when she died she was accorded the honour of a "Masonic" burial. |
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== The Two Great Schisms of Freemasonry ([[1753]] and [[1877]]) == |
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The PGLE (Premier Grand Lodge of England), along with those jurisdictions with which it was in amity, later came to be known colloquially as the "Moderns", to distinguish them from a newer, rival group of Freemasonry, known as the "Antients". The Antients broke away and formed their own Grand Lodge in [[1753]], prompted by the PGLE's making changes to the secret modes of recognition. Tensions between the two groups were very high at times. Benjamin Franklin was a "Modern" and a deist, for instance, but by the time he died, his Lodge had gone "Antient", and would no longer recognize him as one of their own, declining even to give him a Masonic funeral (see "Revolutionary Brotherhood", by Steven C. Bullock, Univ. N. Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, [[1996]]). |
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The systematic admission of women into International [[Co-Freemasonry]] began in [[France]] in 1882 with the initiation of [[Maria Deraismes]] into the Loge Libre Penseurs (Freethinkers Lodge), under the Grande Loge Symbolique de France. In 1893, along with activist Georges Martin, Maria Deraismes oversaw the initiation of sixteen women into the first lodge in the world to have both men and women as members, from inception, creating the jurisdiction [[Le Droit Humain]] (LDH). Again these are regarded as irregular bodies, by ''Regular'' Freemasonry. |
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The schism was healed in the years following [[1813]], when the competing Grand Lodges were amalgamated, by virtue of a delicately worded compromise which left English Masonry clearly not Christian, returned the modes of recognition to their pre-1753 form, kept Freemasonry <i>per se</i> as consisting of three degrees only, but which was ambiguously worded so as to allow the Moderns to think of the Antient Royal Arch degree as an optional higher degree, while still allowing the Antients to view it as the completion of the third degree (see [http://freemasonry.org/psoc/pragmatic.htm]). |
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In [[North America]], women cannot become Freemasons ''per se,'' but rather join an associated separate body with its own traditions. [[Order of the Eastern Star]] (OES) was created in the United States in the mid-19th Century for female Masonic relatives and Master Masons. Its members are mainly the wives and daughters of Master Masons. |
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Because both the Antients and the Moderns had "daughter" Lodges throughout the world, and because many of those Lodges still exist, there is a great deal of variability in the Ritual used today, even between UGLE-recognized jurisdictions. Most Lodges conduct their Work in accordance with an agreed-upon single "Rite," such as the "York Rite" (which is popular in the United States), or the "Canadian Rite" (which is, in some ways, a concordance between the Rites used by the "Antients" and "Moderns"). |
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In the [[Netherlands]], there is a completely separate, although masonically allied, sorority for women, the [[Order of Weavers]] (OOW), which uses symbols from weaving rather than stonemasonry. |
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The second great schism in Freemasonry occurred in the years following [[1877]], when the GOdF started accepting atheists unreservedly. While the issue of atheism is probably the greatest single factor in the split with the GOdF, the English also point to the French recognition of women's Masonry and co-Masonry, as well as the tendency of French Masons to be more willing to discuss religion and politics in Lodge. While the French curtail such discussion, they do not ban it as outright as do the English (see [http://bessel.org/masrec/france.htm]). The schism between the two branches has occasionally been breached for short periods of time, especially during the [[First World War]] when American Masons overseas wanted to be able to visit French Lodges (see [http://www.bessel.org/recfranc.htm]). |
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The GOdF and other jurisdictions, in the Continental European tradition, give full formal recognition to Co-Freemasonry and women's Freemasonry. The UGLE, and other jurisdictions concordant in that ''regular'' tradition, do not formally recognize any Masonic body that accepts women. The UGLE, has stated - since 1998 - that two local women's jurisdictions ''are'' regular in practice, ''except'' for their inclusion of women, and has indicated that, while not formally recognized, these bodies may be regarded as part of Freemasonry, when describing Freemasonry in general. |
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Concerning religious requirements, the oldest constitution of Freemasonry (that of Anderson, [[1723]]) says only that a Mason "will never be a stupid Atheist nor an irreligious Libertine" if he "rightly understands the Art". The only religion required was "that Religion in which all Men agree, leaving their particular Opinions to themselves" ([http://www.2be1ask1.com/library/anderson.html]). Masons disagree as to whether "stupid" and "irreligious" are meant as necessary or as accidental modifiers of "atheist" and "libertine". It is possible the ambiguity is intentional. In [[1815]], the newly amalgamated UGLE changed Anderson's constitutions to include more orthodox overtones: "Let a man's religion or mode of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from the Order, provided he believes in the glorious Architect of heaven and earth, and practices the sacred duties of morality." The English enforce this with a requirement for belief in a Supreme Being, and in his revealed will. While these requirements can still be interpreted in a nontheistic manner, they made it more difficult for unorthodox believers to enter the fraternity. |
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==Principles and activities== |
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In [[1849]], the GOdF followed the English lead by adopting the "Supreme Being" requirement, but there was increasing pressure in Latin countries to openly admit atheists. There was an attempt at a compromise in [[1875]], by allowing the alternative phrase "Creative Principle" (which was less theistic-sounding than "Supreme Being"), but this was ultimately not enough for the GOdF, and in [[1877]] they went back to having no religious entrance requirements, adopting the original Anderson document of [[1723]] as their official Constitutions. They also created a modified ritual that made no direct verbal reference to the G.A.O.T.U. (although, as a symbol, it was arguably still present). This new Rite did not replace the older ones, but was added as an alternative (European jurisdictions in general tend not to restrict themselves to a single Rite, like most North American jurisdictions, but offer a menu of Rites, from which their Lodges can choose). |
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Freemasonry upholds the '''principles''' of "Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth" - otherwise related, as in France: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". Moral lessons are ritually given, working through the rituals by ''degrees''. |
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The fraternity is widely involved in charity and community service '''activities''', as well as providing a social outlet for the members. |
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In Continental Europe, the philosophy is emphasized, while in Britain, North America, and the English-speaking parts of the world, charity tends to balance philosophy. Nevertheless, philosophy and esoteric knowledge remains a deep interest to many individuals. The philosophical aspects of the ''Craft'' tend to be discussed in Lodges of Instruction or Research, and sometimes informal groups. Freemasons themselves frequently reprint the scholarly studies that are available to the public, even though their "obligation" technically prohibits this. |
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==Ritual and symbolism== |
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Freemasonic '''Ritual''' uses the [[architecture|architectural]] symbolism of the [[medieval]] ''operative'' Masons who actually worked in [[rock (geology)|stone]]. Tools from operative masonry are used by Freemasons to teach moral and ethical lessons. Two of the principal '''symbols''' always found in a lodge are the ''square and [[Compass (drafting)|compasses]]''. However, as Freemasonry is non-dogmatic, there is no general interpretation for any of these symbols. |
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The square and compasses are displayed at all Masonic meetings, along with the open ''Volume of the Sacred Law'' (VSL). In English-speaking countries, this is usually the [[King James Version of the Bible]] or another standard translation (there is no such thing as an exclusive "Masonic Bible"). It is otherwise whatever book a particular jurisdiction authorizes. In many French Lodges, the Masonic Constitutions are used. |
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A candidate for a degree will normally be given his choice of VSL for his Obligation according to his beliefs. Christian candiates will typically use the Lodge's Bible. Those of other religions may choose another holy book, which can be but is not necessarily limited to the [[Torah]] for Jewish candidates, the [[Qur'an]] for Moslem canidates, the [[Vedas]] for Hindu candidates, or another appropriate scripture. Buddhist candidates can select from the [[Tipitaka]] or [[Mahayana]][[Sutras]], many selecting the [[Dhamapada]]. In these situations the Lodge's usual VSL is displayed alongside the candidate's. In lodges with a mixed religious membership it is not uncommon to find more than one sacred text displayed, each representing the religious beliefs of the individuals present. |
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In keeping with the geometrical and architectural theme of Freemasonry, the Supreme Being (or God, or Creative Principle) is sometimes also referred to in Masonic ritual by the atributes of ''Grand Geometer,'' or ''Great Architect of the Universe'' (G.A.O.T.U.). Freemasons use a variety of forms of words in order to avoid the idea that they are talking about any one religion's particular God or God-like concept. |
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===Degrees=== |
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The degrees of ''Craft'' or ''Blue Lodge'' Freemasonry are those of: |
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# Entered Apprentice (EA) |
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# Fellow Craft (FC) |
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# Master Mason (MM) |
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As a Freemason works through the '''degrees''', and studies the lessons they contain, he interprets them for himself. No Mason is dictated to as to the interpretation he personally gives, bounded only by the Constitution within which he works. A common structure of speaking symbolically, and universal human archetypes, provides for each Freemason a means to come to his own answers to life's important Philosophical questions. Especially in Europe, Freemasons working through the degrees are asked to prepare papers on related philosophical topics, and present these papers in an open Lodge. |
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===Landmarks=== |
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The '''Landmarks''' are the ancient and unchangeable precepts of Masonry, the standards by which the regularity of a Freemasonic Lodge and Grand Lodges are judged. Each Grand Lodge is self-governing and no single authority exists over the whole of Freemasonry. The interpetation of these principles can and do vary, leading to controversies of recognition. |
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The concept of Masonic Landmarks appears in Masonic regulations as early as 1723, and seems to have been adopted from the regulations of operative masonic guilds. Nowadays the term ''Landmark'' is generally understood by the definition of Dr. Albert Gallatin Mackey, 33°, who laid down three requisite characteristics, namely: (1) immemorial antiquity (2) universality (3) absolute irrevocability. |
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In 1856, Mackey attempted to set down the actual Landmarks as he saw them. He determined there were 25 in all. Seven years later, in 1863, George Oliver published Freemason's Treasury in which he listed 40 Landmarks. In the last century, a number of American Grand Lodges attempted the daunting task of enumerating the Landmarks, ranging from West Virginia (7) and New Jersey (10) to Nevada (39) and Kentucky (54). <ref>[http://www.srmason-sj.org/web/journal-files/Issues/Feb02/botelho.htm ''Masonic Landmarks''], by Michael A. Botelho, 32°. Accessed 7 February 2006.</ref> |
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==History of Freemasonry== |
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{{merge|History of Freemasonry}} |
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{{main|History of Freemasonry}} |
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===From Foundation to 1717=== |
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The Masonic ritualistic foundation myth, veiled in allegory, claims that the fraternity was founded by the builders of King Solomon’s Temple. |
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Beyond myth, there is a distinct absence of documentation as to Freemasonry’s origins, which has led to a great deal of speculation among historians, both from within and from outside the fraternity. Hundreds of books have been written on the subject. Much of the content of these books is highly speculative, and the precise origins of Freemasonry may very well be permanently lost to history. |
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Freemasonry has variously been attributed to <ref>''A History of Freemasonry'' by H.L. Haywood and James E. Craig, pub. ''ca'' 1927 </ref>: |
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*an institutional outgrowth of the medieval guilds of stonemasons, |
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*a direct descendant of the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem" (the [[Knights Templar]]), |
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*an offshoot of the ancient [[Mystery schools]], |
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*an administrative arm of the [[Priory of Sion]], |
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*the intellectual descendants of the Roman Collegia, |
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*the intellectual descendants of the [[Comacine masters]], |
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*the intellectual descendants of [[Noah]] or [[Enoch]]. |
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Others claim that it dates back only to the late 17th century in Britain, and has no real connections at all to earlier organizations. |
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It is thought by many that Freemasonry cannot be a straightforward outgrowth of medieval guilds of stonemasons. Amongst the reasons given for this conclusion are the facts that stonemasons lived near their worksite and thus had no need for secret signs to identify themselves, and that the "Ancient Charges" of Freemasonry are nonsensical when thought of as being rules for a stonemasons' guild. |
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*Especially amongst York Rite Freemasons, Freemasonry is said to have existed in the 10th century CE, at the time of King Athelstan of England. Athelstan is said to have been converted to Christianity in York, and to have issued the first Charter to the Masonic Lodges there. The story of his conversion is unsubstantiated - as that royal dynasty had been Christian for centuries. |
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A more historical source asserting the antiquity of Freemasonry is the Halliwell Manuscript, or Regius Poem - believed to date from ca. 1390. This makes reference to several concepts and phrases similar to those found in Freemasonry. The manuscript itself seems to be an elaboration to an earlier document, to which it refers. |
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There is also the Cooke Manuscript, dated 1430 - the Constitution of German stonemasons.<ref>Ibid</ref> The first appearance of the word 'Freemason' occurs in the Statutes of the Realm enacted in 1495 by [[Henry VII of England]], however, most other documentary evidence prior to the 1500s appears to relate entirely to operative Masons. |
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By 1583, the date of the Grand Lodge manuscript,<ref>Ibid</ref> the documentary evidence begins to grow. The Schaw Statues of 1598-9(4) are the source used to declare the precedence of Lodge Mother Kilwinning in [[Kilwinning]], Ayrshire, Scotland over Lodge Mary's Chapel in [[Edinburgh]]. These are described as Head and Principal respectively. As a side note, following a dispute over numbering at the formation of the [[Grand Lodge of Scotland]] (GLS) - Kilwinning is numbered as Lodge Mother Kilwinning Number 0 (pronounced 'Nothing'), GLS. Quite soon thereafter, a charter was granted to Sir William St. Clair (later Sinclair) of Roslin (Rosslyn), allowing him to purchase jurisdiction over a number of lodges in Edinburgh and environs.<ref>Ibid</ref> This may be the basis of the Templar myth surrounding [[Rosslyn Chapel]]. |
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From the early 1600s references are found to Freemasonry in personal diaries and journals. [[Elias Ashmole]] (1617-1692), was made a Mason in 1646, and notes attending several Masonic meetings. There appears to be a general spread of the Craft, between Ashmole's account and 1717, when four [[England|English]] Lodges meeting in [[London]] [[Taverns]] joined together and founded the Grand Lodge of England (GLE). They had held meetings, respectively, at the Apple-Tree Tavern, the Crown Ale-House near Drury Lane, the Goose and Gridiron in St. Paul's Churchyard, and the Rummer and Grapes Tavern in Westminster.<ref>Ibid</ref> |
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With the foundation of this first Grand Lodge, Freemasonry shifted from being an obscure, relatively private, institution into the public eye. The years following saw new Grand Lodges open throughout Europe. How much of this growth was the spreading of Freemasonry itself, and how much was due to the public organization of pre-existing private Lodges, is uncertain. |
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===The two great schisms of Freemasonry (1753 and 1877)=== |
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The Grand Lodge of England (GLE) expanded the degree system from two - Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craftsman - to three. This was done by adding the Master Mason degree, around the year 1725; and by reorganising, adding and dispersing ritual elements. The GLE along with those jurisdictions in amity with it, came to be known colloquially as the ''Moderns'', (or the Premier Grand Lodge), to distinguish them from a newer, rival group within Freemasonry, known as the ''Antients'', (or the Antient Grand Lodge). The Antients broke away in 1753, prompted by changes to the Ritual and a wish to have a fourth "Holy Royal Arch" (HRA) degree within Craft Masonry. [[Benjamin Franklin]] was a Modern, but by the time he died, his lodge had gone over to the Antients and would no longer recognize him as one of their own - declining to give him Masonic honours at his funeral.<ref>''Revolutionary Brotherhood'', by Steven C. Bullock, Univ. N. Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1996</ref> |
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The schism was healed in when the competing Grand Lodges were amalgamated into the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) in 1813, by virtue of a delicately worded compromise that returned the modes of recognition to their pre-1753 form, but kept Freemasonry ''per se'' as consisting of three degrees only, and while still allowing the Antients to view the HRA degree as the completion of the third degree.<ref>[http://freemasonry.org/psoc/pragmatic.htm A Pragmatic Masonic History], by Leo Zanelli, accessed November 14, 2005</ref> Both the Antients and the Moderns had ''daughter'' lodges throughout the world, and because many of those lodges still exist, there is a great deal of variability in the ritual used today, even between UGLE-recognized jurisdictions in amity. Most private lodges conduct themselves in accordance with an agreed-upon single Rite. |
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The second great schism in Freemasonry occurred in the years following 1877, when the GOdF started accepting atheists unreservedly. While the issue of atheism is probably the greatest single factor in the split with the GOdF, the English also point to the French recognition of women's Masonry and co-Masonry, as well as the tendency of French Masons to be more willing to discuss religion and politics in Lodge. While the French curtail such discussion, they do not ban it as outright as do the English.<ref>see [http://bessel.org/masrec/france.htm Masonic U.S. Recognition of French Grand Lodges in the 1900s], Paul M. Bessel. He is ''not'' an official spokesperson. Accessed November 14, 2005</ref> The schism between the two branches has occasionally been breached for short periods of time, especially during the [[World War I|First World War]] when American Masons overseas wanted to be able to visit French Lodges.<ref>Ibid</ref> |
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Concerning religious requirements, the oldest constitution found in Freemasonry - that of Anderson, 1723 - says that a Mason "will never be a stupid Atheist nor an irreligious Libertine" if he "rightly understands the Art". The only religious requirement was "that Religion in which all Men agree, leaving their particular Opinions to themselves".<ref> [http://www.2be1ask1.com/library/anderson.html Anderson's Constitutions], accessed November 14, 2005.</ref> Masons debate as to whether "stupid" and "irreligious" are meant as necessary, or as accidental, modifiers of "atheist" and "libertine". It is possible the ambiguity is intentional. |
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In 1815, the newly amalgamated UGLE modified Anderson's constitutions to include: "Let a man's religion or mode of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from the Order, provided he believes in the glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth, and practices the sacred duties of morality." |
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In 1849, France (GOdF) followed the English (UGLE) lead by adopting the "Supreme Being" requirement, but pressure from Latin countries produced by 1875, the alternative phrase "Creative Principle". This was ultimately not enough for the GOdF, and in 1877 it re-adopted the original Anderson document of 1723. They also created an alternative ritual that made no direct reference to any deity, with the atribute of the Great Architect of the Universe. This new Rite did not replace the older ones, but was added as an alternative, as Continental European jurisdictions, generally, tend not to restrict themselves to a single Rite - offering a menu of Rites, from which their lodges may choose. |
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{{see also| Regular Masonic jurisdictions}} |
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==Criticism, persecution, and prosecution== |
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{{main|Anti-Freemasonry}} |
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Freemasonry has historically attracted criticism and suppression from the politically extreme right (Nazi Germany), and the politically extreme left (the former Communist states in Eastern Europe). The fraternity has encountered both applause for “founding” and opposition for supposedly thwarting liberal democracies (such as the United States of America). It has also attracted criticism and suppression from theocratic states and organised religions for supposed competition with religion, or heterodoxy within the Fraternity itself. |
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Because of the private nature of its rituals and activities, Freemasonry has long been suspected by both Church and State of engaging in subversive activities. Due to the appearance of secrecy, and the possibility it might be implicated in rebellion, Freemasonry inserted into its core ritual a formal obligation to be a quiet and peaceable citizens, true to their lawful government of the country in which they live and not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion. A Freemason makes a further obligation, before being made Master of his lodge, to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrates. Examples of these obligations are found in ''Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor'', of 1866. |
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In modern [[democracy|democracies]], Freemasonry is sometimes accused of being a sort of club, or network, where political influence and illegal business dealings take place. In 1826, [[William Morgan (anti-Mason)|William Morgan]] disappeared in the [[US]], after threatening to expose Freemasonry's secrets. His disappearence caused some to claim that he had been murdered by Masons. No evidence was ever brought forward, however. In [[Italy]], the illicit and irregular [[P2 lodge]] has been investigated. In the wake of financial scandals that nearly bankrupted the [[Vatican Bank]] in the late 1970s, there is suspicion of involvement in murders, including the head of [[Banco Ambrosiano]], [[Roberto Calvi]]. He was found hanging under [[Blackfriars Bridge]] in [[London]], [[England]]. The trial of some of Calvi's alleged killers began in the autumn of 2005. In [[Nice]], [[France]], the head prosecutor has accused some judges and other judicial personnel of deliberately stalling or refusing to elucidate cases involving Masons. |
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In 1799 English Freemasonry almost came to a halt. In the wake of the French Revolution the 1799 Unlawful Societies Act banned any meetings of groups which required their members to take an oath or obligation. The Grand Masters of the Premier Grand Lodge and the Antients Grand Lodge called on the Prime Minister - William Pitt, not himself a Freemason - and explained to him how Freemasonry was a supporter of the law and lawfully constituted authority and was much involved in charitable work. As a result Freemasonry was specifically exempted from the terms of the Act provided that each Lodge Secretary lodged with the local Clerk of the Peace a list of the members of his lodge once a year. The provision continued until 1967 when it was rescinded by Parliament. The [[UK]] [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] Government attempted, in the 2000s, to require all members of fraternal organisations who are public officials to make their affiliation public. This was challenged under [[European]] [[Human Rights]] legislation, forcing the Government to curtail the scope of their requirements. |
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Perhaps influenced by the assertion of Masons that many political figures in the past 300 years have been Masons, Freemasonry has long been the target of [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], which see it as an occult and evil power. Often associated with the [[New World Order (conspiracy)|New World Order]] and other "agents", such as the [[Illuminati]] - the fraternity is seen, by conspiracy theorists, as either bent on world domination, or already secretly in control of world politics. One of the major religious objections to Freemasonry brought up by many mainstream Christian churches is the charge of [[Syncretism]] and that the religious aim of Freemasonry is the creation of a new 'super' or 'universal' religion created by combining various deities and teachings, many of which are pre-Christian. |
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In general, there are two doctrinal objections to Freemasonry made by established Christian denominations: |
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*The non-dogmatic nature of Masonry is seen as being at odds with the claims of Christian exclusivity. |
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*The esoteric aspect of Masonic ritual is seen as being synonymous with [[Gnosticism]], which was declared heretical and suppressed by the early Christian church. |
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However, Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is ''not'' a religion, nor a substitute for religion. There is no separate "Masonic god", and there is no separate proper name for a deity in ''any'' branch of Freemasonry. |
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In the traditional Masonic obligations, a candidate calls severe physical punishment upon himself should he ever reveal the secrets of Freemasonry to a non-Mason. By the early 1980s, the oaths had become quite problematic from a public relations standpoint, and many Masonic jurisdictions replaced them with oaths that excluded the traditional punishments - religating them to historical references unconnected to any obligation. The only real penalties that ever await a Freemason who behaves contrary to the rules of the fraternity are (and always were) reprimand, suspension, or expulsion. |
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Freemasonry unfairly attracts criticism that it is charitable mainly to its membership. In fact, Freemasonry contributes far more to external charities worldwide than many sovereign countries - and far more than it distributes internally. It is also commonly held that individuals become Freemasons through invitation, patrimony, or other non-democratic means, but this is actually officially and explicitly deplored. An individual must ask freely and without persuasion to become a Freemason in order to join the fraternity. |
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While regular Masonry has always tended as much to [[rationalism]] as it does to [[mysticism]], there are some groups, such as [[Rosicrucian]]s, who may interpret Masonic ritual magically (or "hermetically"). This is their right as private Masons, given the fraternity's non-dogmatic stance, but is by no means indicative of the fraternity as a whole. However, the very existence of the possibility of hermetic interpretations within Masonry has led Anti-Masonic activists to quote works such as [[Albert Pike]]'s ''[[Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry|Morals and Dogma]]'' to try to show Freemasonry as [[Satanic]]. Alternatively, the argument is made that because Pike claims "the works of [[Plato]] and [[Philo]] were as divinely inspired as [[Book of Revelation|The Apocalypse of Saint John]]", and because Plato and Philo were pre-Christian [[Paganism|pagans]] (Philo was neither pre-Christian nor pagan), and that furthermore, all pagan beliefs are Satanic, Pike and other Freemasons are therefore Satan worshippers. |
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However, since it is not a religion, Freemasonry is non-dogmatic and constitutionally governed. Pike's opinions are his own personal - and now somewhat outdated - interpretations. Most tellingly, Pike himself admits that his book is culled more from other sources than being his original work. Most importantly, Pike is but one commentator amongst many, and no one voice has ever spoken for the whole of Freemasonry. |
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==Contemporary challenges== |
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As with other fraternal organisations in the 21st Century, Freemasonry in some districts of the United States, the UK and other jurisdictions has been losing members, faster than it can replenish them. In contrast, the number of Masons is generally on the rise in South America and Continental Europe. |
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Many Grand Lodges in the US have tried a variety of, often-controversial, measures to address declining membership. These have included "one-day ceremonies" of all the three degrees for large groups of candidates, (as opposed to individual degree conferrals taking months or years to complete); advertising on billboards, and even active recruitment of new candidates by members, (as opposed to the tradition of considering only those who actively seek membership for themselves). Some Masons object to the traditions and principles of Freemasonry being ''diluted'' by these changes, feeling that the Fraternity has survived centuries of social change without changing itself; others cite a need for Freemasonry to modernize and make itself relevant to new generations. |
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==Cultural references== |
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* [[Kipling|Rudyard Kipling]] used Masonic symbols and characters in some of his writings, most notably ''[[The Man Who Would Be King]]'', which was later made into a film. Two adventurers are taken to be Masonic representatives of [[Alexander the Great]]. |
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* One of the main characters in [[Edgar Allan Poe|Edgar Allan Poe]]'s ''[[The Cask of Amontillado]]'' is a Freemason. |
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* One of the main characters in [[Leo Tolstoy|Leo Tolstoy's]] ''[[War and Peace]]'' becomes a Freemason. |
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* The plot of the opera "[[Die Zauberflöte]]" ("The Magic Flute") contains several references to Masonic ideals and ceremonies. [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] and his librettist [[Emanuel Schikaneder]] were in the same Masonic "Lodge of the Nine Muses". |
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*[[Joseph Smith]], the founder of the [[Mormon]] religion was a Freemason, as were the first five presidents of [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|the Church]]: Smith, [[Brigham Young]], [[John Taylor (1808-1887)|John Taylor]], [[Wilford Woodruff]], and [[Lorenzo Snow]]. |
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*The [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]] was a society founded by at least one Mason who also was a member of the [[Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia]] (a research and study group focusing on symbolic [[alchemy]], the mystical [[kabbalah]], [[tarot]], and Christian Symbolism). The Golden Dawn was ''never'' a Masonically ''regular'' body, and was open to membership from non-Masons and women. |
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* The [[graphic novel]] ''[[From Hell]]'' by [[Alan Moore]], (and the movie based upon it) - feature as their basic premise - a [[Jack the Ripper royal conspiracy theories|conspiracy theory]] linking "certain Freemasons" to the [[Jack the Ripper]] murders. The story is that "Freemason" [[William Withey Gull|Sir William Gull]], the then British Royal Household's physician, covered up a child of [[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence]] born to a Catholic shop girl - "by killing her, and all the women who knew about the baby". The story depends on the assumption that such figures as the [[Marquess of Salisbury]], Sir William Gull and [[Sir Robert Anderson]] were Freemasons - but there is no actual record of their initiation into Freemasonry in any Lodge. |
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* Freemasons feature heavily in [[Robert Shea|Robert Shea's]] and [[Robert Anton Wilson|Robert Anton Wilson's]] satire, ''[[The Illuminatus! Trilogy]]''. |
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* [[John Cleese]], and other Cast members, portray [[spoof]] Freemasons in the ''How to recognise a Freemason'' sketch of the satire ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. |
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* The Freemasons are [[spoof|spoofed]] in an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' as [[Stonecutters|The Ancient Society of Stonecutters]], a secret organisation that controls everything from [[NASA]] to the [[Academy Awards]] (thereby securing [[Steve Guttenberg]]'s stardom). |
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* Another episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' has a scene where [[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]], obsessing with germs and becoming a "[[Howard Hughes]]"-like recluse, sees germs on [[Waylon Smithers|Smithers']] face. The germs chant "Freemasons run the country." |
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* [[Dan Brown|Dan Brown's]] novels, ''[[Angels and Demons]]'', ''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'' and ''[[The Solomon Key]]'' draw heavily on supposed Masonic and Christian lore and symbolism. |
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* ''[[Foucault's Pendulum (book)|Foucault's Pendulum]]'' by [[Umberto Eco]] also deals with Freemasonic themes. |
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* [[The Cremaster Cycle]] films by [[Matthew Barney]] use Masonic imagery. |
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* The plot of the 2004 movie ''[[National Treasure (film)|National Treasure]]'' revolves heavily around the Freemasons and is somewhat unusual in that it depicts them in a benign light. |
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* In ''The Baron in the Trees'' Italian writer [[Italo Calvino]] includes Masonry lodges branching out into the lands of Ombrosa with the protagonist of the novel, Cosimo di Rondo, mysteriously and supposedly involved with them. |
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* [[Katherine Kurtz]] and Deborah Turner Harris use Freemasonry in their series ''The Adept'', most notably in ''The Adept Book Two: The Lodge of the Lynx'', and in Kurtz's [[American Revolution]] [[historical novel]] ''Two Crowns for America'', which links Freemasonry and [[Jacobitism]]. |
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* In [[John Steinbeck]]'s novel ''[[East of Eden]]'' Adam Trask, the main character, is mentioned as becoming a Freemason later in life. |
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==Notes== |
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<references/> |
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== See also == |
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* [[List of Masonic Grand Lodges]] |
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* [[Masonic Knights Templar]] |
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* [[List of Freemasons]] |
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* [[Gnosticism]] |
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* [[Pigpen cipher]] |
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* [[Taxil hoax]] |
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* [[Catholicism and Freemasonry]] |
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* [[Anti-clericalism]] |
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* [[Anti-Masonic Party]] |
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* [[Anti-Freemasonry]] |
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* [[Propaganda Due]] - The P2 Masonic Lodge Scandal |
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* [[Mormonism and Freemasonry]] |
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=== Appendant bodies === |
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* [[Scottish Rite]] |
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* [[York Rite|York Rite]] |
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* [[Shriners|Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners)]] |
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* [[Royal Order of Scotland]] |
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* [[Swedish Rite]] |
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* [[Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia]] in England |
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* [[Societas Rosicruciana in Scotia]] in Scotland |
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=== Organizations with Masonic affiliations === |
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* [[Daughters of the Nile]] |
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* [[DeMolay International]] |
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* [[International Order of the Rainbow for Girls]] |
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* [[Tall Cedars of Lebanon]] |
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* [[International Order of Job's Daughters]] |
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* [[Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America]] |
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* [[Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots]] |
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* [[National Sojourners]] |
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* [[Order of the Eastern Star]] |
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* [[The Philalethes Society]] |
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=== Co-Freemasonry === |
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* [[Co-Freemasonry]] |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.douknow.net/fm_FreemasonryandChristianity.htm Freemasonry & Christianity] |
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*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09771a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia] |
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*[http://www.saintsalive.com/freemasonry.html Saints Alive In Jesus Freemasonry Resource Files] |
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*[http://www.ephesians5-11.org Ephesians 5:11 ] |
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*[http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/05ws/ws050922.htm Straight Answers: Catholics and Freemasonry] |
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*[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/nyregion/10shot.html?ex=1128744000&en=7258fd77249bb303&ei=5070&ex=1084766400&en=91aa50721437061d&ei=5070 A Ritual Gone Fatally Wrong Puts Light on Masonic Secrecy] (To read full article one must register at the website) |
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*[http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry_faq.html Anti-Masonry Frequently Asked Questions] |
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*[http://www.brad.ac.uk/webofhiram/ Web of Hiram] |
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*[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/ PS Review of Freemasonry made by Freemasons for Free Masons] |
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*[http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/index.html/ History and philosophy of Freemasonry.] |
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*[http://almostinteractive.com/masonic/ Freemasonry, Seeking The Truth.] |
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*[http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/the_builder_1920_june.htm James A. Garfield, "Memorials to Great Men Who Were Masons"] |
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*[http://www.masonicinfo.com/famous.htm Famous Freemasons] |
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*[http://MasonryPage.org/ A Page About Freemasonry]*[http://www.geocities.com/stlaasr/masonic-books-online.html Masonic Books On-Line] |
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*[http://www.kena.org/hirams/ Hiram's Oasis] |
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*[http://internetloge.de/masmon/masmon.htm Webb's Freemason's Monitor — including the first three degrees] |
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*[http://www.harunyahya.com/globalfreemasonry01.php Harun Yahya: Global Freemasonry] |
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*[http://internetloge.de/masmanu/masmanu.htm Robert Macoy: The Masonic Manual — A pocket Companion for the Initiated] |
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*[http://internetloge.de/massym/massym.htm Albert G. Mackey, M. D.: Symbolism of Freemasonry] |
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*[http://www.internetloge.de/kunst/kunstabe.htm Masonic Art] |
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*[http://altreligion.about.com/od/masonicclipartgraphics/ Masonic art & clip art ] |
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*[http://users.marshall.edu/~will2/freemasonry.html The Real Secret of Freemasonry] |
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*[http://www.masonicinfo.com Discussion of Anti-Masonry] |
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*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09771a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia - Masonry (Freemasonry)] |
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*[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/bernheim3.html The Blue Forget Me Not, Another Side of the Story by W.Bro. Alain Bernheim 33rd] |
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*[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/bernheim12.html German Freemasonry and it's Attitudes towards the Nazi Regime, by W. Bro. Alain Bernheim 33rd Degree] |
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*[http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=2652 Catholicculture.org] |
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*[http://www.grandelogenationalefrancaise.com/ The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise GLNF] |
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*[http://www.bessel.org/forgnot.htm ''The Forget Me Not and Freemasonry''] |
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[[Category:Freemasonry|*]] |
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[[Category:Politics]] |
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[[Category:Sociology]] |
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[[Category:Secret societies|Freemasonry]] |
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[[ar:ماسونية]] |
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[[bg:Масони]] |
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[[da:Frimureri]] |
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[[de:Freimaurerei]] |
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[[et:Vabamüürlus]] |
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[[es:Francmasonería]] |
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[[eo:Framasonismo]] |
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[[fr:Franc-maçonnerie]] |
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[[id:Freemasonry]] |
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[[it:Massoneria]] |
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[[he:הבונים החופשיים]] |
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[[hu:Szabadkőművesség]] |
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[[nl:Vrijmetselarij]] |
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[[ko:프리메이슨]] |
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[[ja:フリーメイソン]] |
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[[no:Frimureri]] |
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[[pl:Masoneria]] |
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[[pt:Maçonaria]] |
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[[ro:Francmasonerie]] |
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[[ru:Масоны]] |
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[[sr:Слободно зидарство]] |
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[[sl:Prostozidarstvo]] |
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{{featured article}} |
Revision as of 17:26, 7 February 2006
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Freemasonry is a worldwide Fraternal organization. Members are joined together by shared ideals of both a moral and metaphysical nature, and, in most of its branches, by a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being. However, there is no individual or organization that speaks for the whole of Freemasonry. [1] It is referred to in Macoy's Masonic Manual as "a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols."[2]
Freemasonry is an esoteric society, in that certain aspects of its internal work are not generally disclosed to the public, but it is not an occult system. In recent years, it has become less and less a "secret society" and more of a "society with secrets." Among the reasons given for the amount of secrecy that remains, is that Freemasonry uses an initiatory system of degrees to progressively explore ethical and philosophical issues, and that the system is less effective if the observer knows beforehand what will happen. Therefore, the secret aspects of modern Freemasonry mainly deal with modes of recognition among members and parts of the ritual found in these degrees. Most other key components of the fraternity, including leadership, organizational structure, meeting places and membership requirements, have been considered public knowledge for centuries.
Organizational structure
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Freemasons.hall.london.arp.750pix.jpg/250px-Freemasons.hall.london.arp.750pix.jpg)
There are many jurisdictions within Freemasonry, each sovereign and independent of the others, and usually defined according to a national or geographic territory. There is no central Masonic organizational structure or authority, and in any event many practices are determined by Lodge custom, so any general description will inevitably be inaccurate in respect of some places.
The top authority of a Masonic jurisdiction is usually called a Grand Lodge, or sometimes a Grand Orient. Each jurisdiction maintains a list of other jurisdictions that it formally recognizes as meeting its requirements for regularity. If the other jurisdiction reciprocates the recognition, the two jurisdictions are said to be in amity. Being in amity means that the members are able to attend meetings bilaterally. In keeping with the decentralized and non-dogmatic nature of Freemasonry, however, there is no universally accepted list of landmarks. Even jurisdictions in amity with each other often have completely different ideas as to what those landmarks are. Many jurisdictions take no official position at all as to what the landmarks are. However, it is common to forbid the discussion of Religion or Politics, to preclude disharmony by reference to those subjects.
The first Grand Lodge jurisdiction in Freemasonry was the Grand Lodge of England, founded in 1717. This Grand Lodge became known as the Moderns, but was reunited with the breakaway Antients Grand Lodge in 1813, to become the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). It is today the only regular Craft jurisdiction in England, and generally considered to be the oldest Grand Lodge jurisdiction in the world. The oldest jurisdiction in the European Continental branch, and the largest jurisdiction in France, is the Grand Orient de France (GOdF), founded in 1728. At one time, the two branches bilaterally recognized each other, but most jurisdictions cut off formal relations with the GOdF around 1877. The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise (GLNF) [3] is currently the only French Grand Lodge that is in regular amity with The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), and concordant jurisdictions. In most Latin countries, and in Belgium, the GOdF style of European Continental Freemasonry predominates. The rest of the world, accounting for the bulk of Freemasonry, tends to follow the lead of the English UGLE, and concordant juristictions.
So, Freemasonry is often said to consist of two different branches:
- the UGLE and concordant tradition of jurisdictions (termed Grand Lodges) in amity and,
- the GOdF European Continental tradition of jurisdictions (often termed Grand Orients) in amity.
In reality, there is no tidy way to split jurisdictions into distinct camps, as recognition is constitutional, not dogmatic. In addition, the geographical territory of one jurisdiction may overlap with another's, which may affect their relations, for purely territorial reasons. In other cases, one jurisdiction may overlook irregularities in another due simply to a desire to maintain friendly relations. Also, a jurisdiction may be formally affiliated with one tradition, while maintaining informal ties with the other. For all these reasons, labels must be taken only as rough indicators, not as clear designations.
Prince Hall Freemasonry
In 1775, an African American named Prince Hall[4] was initiated into an Irish Constitution Military Lodge then in Boston, Massachusetts, along with fourteen other African Americans, all of whom were free born. When the Military Lodge left the North America, the African Americans were given the authority to meet as a lodge, form Processions on the days of the Saints John, and conduct Masonic funerals, but not to confer degrees, nor to do other Masonic Work. In 1784 these individuals applied for, and obtained, a Lodge Warrant from the Premier Grand Lodge of England and formed African Lodge, Number 459 (Premier Grand Lodge of England). When the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) was formed in 1813, all US based lodges were stricken from their rolls – due largely to the US and British War, 1812 to 1815. Thus, separated from both UGLE and any concordantly recognised US Grand Lodge, African Lodge re-titled itself as the African Lodge, Number 1 - and became a de facto "Grand Lodge". (This Lodge is not to be confused with the various Grand Lodges on the Continent of Africa). These events led to a tradition of separate and predominantly African American Freemasonry in North America, known as Prince Hall Freemasonry. As with the rest of US Freemasonry, Prince Hall Freemasonry soon grew, and organised on a Grand Lodge system for each State.
Prince Hall Masonry has always been regular in all respects except constitutional separation. Widespread racism and segregation, in the 19th and early 20th century North America, made it impossible for African Americans to join lodges outside of Prince Hall jurisdictions - and impossible for inter-jurisdiction recognition between the parallel US Masonic authorities. Prince Hall Grand Lodges are, presently, recognized by some UGLE Concordant Grand Lodges and not by others, but appears to be working its way toward full recognition [5]. It is now quite usual for non-Prince Hall lodges to have ethnically diverse membership. The majority of Masonic Grand Lodges in the United States now grant at least some degree of recognition to Prince Hall Grand Lodges.
In 2005, Prince Hall Lodge became formally recognized by the Grand Lodge of Maryland in Cockysville. All Prince Hall Lodge members are now recognized and allowed to attend all other recognized lodge's meetings.
The Masonic Lodge
A Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge in Constitutions, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry. Every new Lodge must be warranted by a Grand Lodge, but is subject to its direction only in enforcing the published Constitution of the jurisdiction. A Master Freemason is generally entitled to visit any Lodge - in any jurisdiction in amity with his own. He is first usually required to check, and certify, the regularity of the relationship of the Lodge - and be able to satisfy that Lodge of his regularity of membership.
Contrary to popular belief, Freemasons meet as a Lodge and not in a Lodge. Lodge buildings have for many years been known as Temples, ("of Philosophy and the Arts"), but in many countries Masonic Centre or Hall has now replaced this term - to settle modern scruples. Several different Lodges often use the same premises - each on published dates.
According to Masonic myth (see below), the operative lodges (the Medieval lodges of actual stonemasons) constructed a lodge building adjacent to their work site where the masons could meet for shelter, instruction and social contact. Normally this was on the southern side of the site (in Europe, the side with the sun warming the stones during the day). Hence the social gathering, (the Festive or Social Board), of the lodge is sometimes also called the South.
An early Speculative Lodge, (including members not actually stonemasons), would meet in a tavern or other convenient meeting place with a private annex. The word Freemason may refer to these masons being "free" from work - as they met to talk about Masonic theory rather than practice - or it could relate to the liberal or "free" arts upon which much of freemasonry is based. It may simply refer to the superior grade of masons working in freestone, as used in early English statutes.
Many Lodges are formed by Masons living within a given town or neighborhood. Other Lodges, particularly in urban areas where there are many Lodges close together, are formed by persons who share a particular interest, particular profession or background - certain schools, universities or military units. There are also specialist lodges of "Research and Instruction" (R&I). Membership in these R&I lodges is typically open to interested Master Masons of other lodges - as R&I lodges usually do not initiate new candidates to Freemasonry.
Other degrees, orders and bodies
There is no Masonic degree higher than that of Master Mason. Although some Masonic bodies and orders have degrees named with higher numbers, these degrees are considered to be supplements to the Master Mason degree rather than promotions from it. Nevertheless, it is essential for one to be a Master Mason in order to qualify for these further degree bodies, each of which is organized and administered more or less similarly to Freemasonry itself. In each organization there is a system of offices which confer rank within that degree or order alone.
Despite its name, the Scottish Rite is a system of Freemasonic degrees developed in Continental Europe, particularly in France. The York Rite is a system of Freemasonic degrees, which in America includes three distinct sovereign rites: the Holy Royal Arch, Royal and Select Masters (Cryptic Masonry), and Knights Templar.
Other groups include the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners), the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (Grotto), the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. The Shrine and Grotto, which are mostly located in North America, tend to emphasize fun and philanthropy.
Different jurisdictions vary in their relationships with such bodies, if at all. Some give them formal recognition, while others consider them wholly outside of Freemasonry proper. So not all such bodies will be universally considered as appendant bodies, some being simply considered as more or less separate organizations that happen to require Masonic affiliation for membership. Some of these organizations have additional religious requirements, beyond "Craft Masonry", since they approach Masonic teachings from a particular, Christian, perspective.
There are also certain youth organizations, mainly North American, which are associated with Freemasonry, but are not necessarily Masonic in their content. These include DeMolay International, for boys aged 12–21; Job's Daughters International, for girls aged 10-20 with a Masonic family relationship; and the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, for girls who have Masonic sponsorship. The Boy Scouts of America, founded in 1910 by William D. Boyce, is not a Masonic organization. When Daniel Carter Beard joined the BSA in 1910 as one a National Scout Commissioner - he merged his group, the Sons of Daniel Boone. He is said to have exemplified "the Masonic ideals" throughout the Scouting program.
Membership requirements
A candidate for Freemasonry must apply to a Private (or Constituent) Lodge in his community. After enquiries are made, he must be freely elected by secret ballot in open Lodge. Members approving his candidacy will vote with "white balls" in the voting box. Adverse votes by "black balls" will exclude a candidate. The number of adverse votes necessary to reject a candidate, which in some jurisdictions is as few as one, is set out in the governing Constitution.
Membership and religion
Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion. There is no separate "Masonic God," and there is no separate proper name for a deity in any branch of Freemasonry[6]. Freemasonry accepts members from almost any monotheistic religion - as well as, for example, Buddhists and Hindus. In the irregular Continental European tradition, since the early 19th Century, a very broad interpretation has been given to a (non-dogmatic) Supreme Being - usually allowing Deism and naturalistic views in the tradition of Spinoza and Goethe (himself a Freemason), or views of The Ultimate or Cosmic Oneness, along with Western atheistic idealism and agnosticism. This leads some anti-Masonic pundits to suggest that even regular Freemasonry will, in practice, accept certain kinds of atheists - willing to adopt quasi-spiritual language. However, in some jurisdictions (mostly English-speaking), Freemasonry is actually less tolerant of naturalism than it was in the 18th Century, and specific religious requirements with more theistic and orthodox overtones have been added since the early 19th Century (mostly in North America), including belief in the immortality of the soul.
The Freemasonry that predominates in Scandinavia, known as the Swedish Rite accepts only Christians.
General requirements
Generally to be a Freemason, one must:
- Be a man who comes of his own free will. Traditionally Freemasons do not actively recruit new members.
- Believe in a Supreme Being, or, in some jurisdictions, a Creative Principle.
- Be at least the minimum age (18–25 years depending on the jurisdiction, but commonly 21),
- Be of sound mind, body and of good morals, and of good repute.
- Be free (or "born free", i.e. not born a slave or bondsman).
- Have one or two references from current Masons (depending on jurisdiction).
The "free born" requirement is moot in modern Lodges; it remains for purely historical reasons. The "sound body" requirement, originally perhaps meant to ensure that operative Masons would be able to meet the demands of their profession, is today generally taken to mean "physically capable of taking part in Lodge rituals", and most Lodges today are quite flexible when it comes to accommodating disabled candidates.
In addition, some Grand Lodges in the United States require candidates live in the state where they have jurisdiction for certain period of time, typically six months. This requirement may be waived in certain jurisdictions for certain situatons.
Women and Freemasonry
The position of women and Freemasonry is complex, although traditionally, only men can be made Freemasons, in Regular Freemasonry.
A supposed exceptional, (very irregular and perhaps unique), account of a woman being admitted to Freemasonry in, 18th century, is the case of Elizabeth Aldworth (born St. Leger), who is reported to have viewed the proceedings of a lodge meeting held at Doneraile House - the private house of her father, first Viscount Doneraile - a resident of Cork, Ireland. In the early part of the 18th century, it was quite customary for lodges to be held in private houses. This lodge was duly warranted for use by Lodge number 150 on the register of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
Apparently, she removed a brick and saw the ceremony in the room beyond. After being discovered, Elizabeth's situation was discussed by the lodge. It was decided that she should be initiated into Freemasonry. The story is supported by other accounts of her being a subscriber to the Irish Book of Constitutions of 1744. She frequently attended, wearing her Masonic regalia, and gave entertainments, under Masonic auspices, for the benefit of the poor and distressed. She married Mr. Richard Aldworth of Newmarket, and it is reported that when she died she was accorded the honour of a "Masonic" burial.
The systematic admission of women into International Co-Freemasonry began in France in 1882 with the initiation of Maria Deraismes into the Loge Libre Penseurs (Freethinkers Lodge), under the Grande Loge Symbolique de France. In 1893, along with activist Georges Martin, Maria Deraismes oversaw the initiation of sixteen women into the first lodge in the world to have both men and women as members, from inception, creating the jurisdiction Le Droit Humain (LDH). Again these are regarded as irregular bodies, by Regular Freemasonry.
In North America, women cannot become Freemasons per se, but rather join an associated separate body with its own traditions. Order of the Eastern Star (OES) was created in the United States in the mid-19th Century for female Masonic relatives and Master Masons. Its members are mainly the wives and daughters of Master Masons.
In the Netherlands, there is a completely separate, although masonically allied, sorority for women, the Order of Weavers (OOW), which uses symbols from weaving rather than stonemasonry.
The GOdF and other jurisdictions, in the Continental European tradition, give full formal recognition to Co-Freemasonry and women's Freemasonry. The UGLE, and other jurisdictions concordant in that regular tradition, do not formally recognize any Masonic body that accepts women. The UGLE, has stated - since 1998 - that two local women's jurisdictions are regular in practice, except for their inclusion of women, and has indicated that, while not formally recognized, these bodies may be regarded as part of Freemasonry, when describing Freemasonry in general.
Principles and activities
Freemasonry upholds the principles of "Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth" - otherwise related, as in France: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". Moral lessons are ritually given, working through the rituals by degrees.
The fraternity is widely involved in charity and community service activities, as well as providing a social outlet for the members.
In Continental Europe, the philosophy is emphasized, while in Britain, North America, and the English-speaking parts of the world, charity tends to balance philosophy. Nevertheless, philosophy and esoteric knowledge remains a deep interest to many individuals. The philosophical aspects of the Craft tend to be discussed in Lodges of Instruction or Research, and sometimes informal groups. Freemasons themselves frequently reprint the scholarly studies that are available to the public, even though their "obligation" technically prohibits this.
Ritual and symbolism
Freemasonic Ritual uses the architectural symbolism of the medieval operative Masons who actually worked in stone. Tools from operative masonry are used by Freemasons to teach moral and ethical lessons. Two of the principal symbols always found in a lodge are the square and compasses. However, as Freemasonry is non-dogmatic, there is no general interpretation for any of these symbols.
The square and compasses are displayed at all Masonic meetings, along with the open Volume of the Sacred Law (VSL). In English-speaking countries, this is usually the King James Version of the Bible or another standard translation (there is no such thing as an exclusive "Masonic Bible"). It is otherwise whatever book a particular jurisdiction authorizes. In many French Lodges, the Masonic Constitutions are used.
A candidate for a degree will normally be given his choice of VSL for his Obligation according to his beliefs. Christian candiates will typically use the Lodge's Bible. Those of other religions may choose another holy book, which can be but is not necessarily limited to the Torah for Jewish candidates, the Qur'an for Moslem canidates, the Vedas for Hindu candidates, or another appropriate scripture. Buddhist candidates can select from the Tipitaka or MahayanaSutras, many selecting the Dhamapada. In these situations the Lodge's usual VSL is displayed alongside the candidate's. In lodges with a mixed religious membership it is not uncommon to find more than one sacred text displayed, each representing the religious beliefs of the individuals present.
In keeping with the geometrical and architectural theme of Freemasonry, the Supreme Being (or God, or Creative Principle) is sometimes also referred to in Masonic ritual by the atributes of Grand Geometer, or Great Architect of the Universe (G.A.O.T.U.). Freemasons use a variety of forms of words in order to avoid the idea that they are talking about any one religion's particular God or God-like concept.
Degrees
The degrees of Craft or Blue Lodge Freemasonry are those of:
- Entered Apprentice (EA)
- Fellow Craft (FC)
- Master Mason (MM)
As a Freemason works through the degrees, and studies the lessons they contain, he interprets them for himself. No Mason is dictated to as to the interpretation he personally gives, bounded only by the Constitution within which he works. A common structure of speaking symbolically, and universal human archetypes, provides for each Freemason a means to come to his own answers to life's important Philosophical questions. Especially in Europe, Freemasons working through the degrees are asked to prepare papers on related philosophical topics, and present these papers in an open Lodge.
Landmarks
The Landmarks are the ancient and unchangeable precepts of Masonry, the standards by which the regularity of a Freemasonic Lodge and Grand Lodges are judged. Each Grand Lodge is self-governing and no single authority exists over the whole of Freemasonry. The interpetation of these principles can and do vary, leading to controversies of recognition.
The concept of Masonic Landmarks appears in Masonic regulations as early as 1723, and seems to have been adopted from the regulations of operative masonic guilds. Nowadays the term Landmark is generally understood by the definition of Dr. Albert Gallatin Mackey, 33°, who laid down three requisite characteristics, namely: (1) immemorial antiquity (2) universality (3) absolute irrevocability.
In 1856, Mackey attempted to set down the actual Landmarks as he saw them. He determined there were 25 in all. Seven years later, in 1863, George Oliver published Freemason's Treasury in which he listed 40 Landmarks. In the last century, a number of American Grand Lodges attempted the daunting task of enumerating the Landmarks, ranging from West Virginia (7) and New Jersey (10) to Nevada (39) and Kentucky (54). [7]
History of Freemasonry
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From Foundation to 1717
The Masonic ritualistic foundation myth, veiled in allegory, claims that the fraternity was founded by the builders of King Solomon’s Temple.
Beyond myth, there is a distinct absence of documentation as to Freemasonry’s origins, which has led to a great deal of speculation among historians, both from within and from outside the fraternity. Hundreds of books have been written on the subject. Much of the content of these books is highly speculative, and the precise origins of Freemasonry may very well be permanently lost to history.
Freemasonry has variously been attributed to [8]:
- an institutional outgrowth of the medieval guilds of stonemasons,
- a direct descendant of the "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem" (the Knights Templar),
- an offshoot of the ancient Mystery schools,
- an administrative arm of the Priory of Sion,
- the intellectual descendants of the Roman Collegia,
- the intellectual descendants of the Comacine masters,
- the intellectual descendants of Noah or Enoch.
Others claim that it dates back only to the late 17th century in Britain, and has no real connections at all to earlier organizations.
It is thought by many that Freemasonry cannot be a straightforward outgrowth of medieval guilds of stonemasons. Amongst the reasons given for this conclusion are the facts that stonemasons lived near their worksite and thus had no need for secret signs to identify themselves, and that the "Ancient Charges" of Freemasonry are nonsensical when thought of as being rules for a stonemasons' guild.
- Especially amongst York Rite Freemasons, Freemasonry is said to have existed in the 10th century CE, at the time of King Athelstan of England. Athelstan is said to have been converted to Christianity in York, and to have issued the first Charter to the Masonic Lodges there. The story of his conversion is unsubstantiated - as that royal dynasty had been Christian for centuries.
A more historical source asserting the antiquity of Freemasonry is the Halliwell Manuscript, or Regius Poem - believed to date from ca. 1390. This makes reference to several concepts and phrases similar to those found in Freemasonry. The manuscript itself seems to be an elaboration to an earlier document, to which it refers.
There is also the Cooke Manuscript, dated 1430 - the Constitution of German stonemasons.[9] The first appearance of the word 'Freemason' occurs in the Statutes of the Realm enacted in 1495 by Henry VII of England, however, most other documentary evidence prior to the 1500s appears to relate entirely to operative Masons.
By 1583, the date of the Grand Lodge manuscript,[10] the documentary evidence begins to grow. The Schaw Statues of 1598-9(4) are the source used to declare the precedence of Lodge Mother Kilwinning in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland over Lodge Mary's Chapel in Edinburgh. These are described as Head and Principal respectively. As a side note, following a dispute over numbering at the formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland (GLS) - Kilwinning is numbered as Lodge Mother Kilwinning Number 0 (pronounced 'Nothing'), GLS. Quite soon thereafter, a charter was granted to Sir William St. Clair (later Sinclair) of Roslin (Rosslyn), allowing him to purchase jurisdiction over a number of lodges in Edinburgh and environs.[11] This may be the basis of the Templar myth surrounding Rosslyn Chapel.
From the early 1600s references are found to Freemasonry in personal diaries and journals. Elias Ashmole (1617-1692), was made a Mason in 1646, and notes attending several Masonic meetings. There appears to be a general spread of the Craft, between Ashmole's account and 1717, when four English Lodges meeting in London Taverns joined together and founded the Grand Lodge of England (GLE). They had held meetings, respectively, at the Apple-Tree Tavern, the Crown Ale-House near Drury Lane, the Goose and Gridiron in St. Paul's Churchyard, and the Rummer and Grapes Tavern in Westminster.[12]
With the foundation of this first Grand Lodge, Freemasonry shifted from being an obscure, relatively private, institution into the public eye. The years following saw new Grand Lodges open throughout Europe. How much of this growth was the spreading of Freemasonry itself, and how much was due to the public organization of pre-existing private Lodges, is uncertain.
The two great schisms of Freemasonry (1753 and 1877)
The Grand Lodge of England (GLE) expanded the degree system from two - Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craftsman - to three. This was done by adding the Master Mason degree, around the year 1725; and by reorganising, adding and dispersing ritual elements. The GLE along with those jurisdictions in amity with it, came to be known colloquially as the Moderns, (or the Premier Grand Lodge), to distinguish them from a newer, rival group within Freemasonry, known as the Antients, (or the Antient Grand Lodge). The Antients broke away in 1753, prompted by changes to the Ritual and a wish to have a fourth "Holy Royal Arch" (HRA) degree within Craft Masonry. Benjamin Franklin was a Modern, but by the time he died, his lodge had gone over to the Antients and would no longer recognize him as one of their own - declining to give him Masonic honours at his funeral.[13]
The schism was healed in when the competing Grand Lodges were amalgamated into the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) in 1813, by virtue of a delicately worded compromise that returned the modes of recognition to their pre-1753 form, but kept Freemasonry per se as consisting of three degrees only, and while still allowing the Antients to view the HRA degree as the completion of the third degree.[14] Both the Antients and the Moderns had daughter lodges throughout the world, and because many of those lodges still exist, there is a great deal of variability in the ritual used today, even between UGLE-recognized jurisdictions in amity. Most private lodges conduct themselves in accordance with an agreed-upon single Rite.
The second great schism in Freemasonry occurred in the years following 1877, when the GOdF started accepting atheists unreservedly. While the issue of atheism is probably the greatest single factor in the split with the GOdF, the English also point to the French recognition of women's Masonry and co-Masonry, as well as the tendency of French Masons to be more willing to discuss religion and politics in Lodge. While the French curtail such discussion, they do not ban it as outright as do the English.[15] The schism between the two branches has occasionally been breached for short periods of time, especially during the First World War when American Masons overseas wanted to be able to visit French Lodges.[16]
Concerning religious requirements, the oldest constitution found in Freemasonry - that of Anderson, 1723 - says that a Mason "will never be a stupid Atheist nor an irreligious Libertine" if he "rightly understands the Art". The only religious requirement was "that Religion in which all Men agree, leaving their particular Opinions to themselves".[17] Masons debate as to whether "stupid" and "irreligious" are meant as necessary, or as accidental, modifiers of "atheist" and "libertine". It is possible the ambiguity is intentional.
In 1815, the newly amalgamated UGLE modified Anderson's constitutions to include: "Let a man's religion or mode of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from the Order, provided he believes in the glorious Architect of Heaven and Earth, and practices the sacred duties of morality."
In 1849, France (GOdF) followed the English (UGLE) lead by adopting the "Supreme Being" requirement, but pressure from Latin countries produced by 1875, the alternative phrase "Creative Principle". This was ultimately not enough for the GOdF, and in 1877 it re-adopted the original Anderson document of 1723. They also created an alternative ritual that made no direct reference to any deity, with the atribute of the Great Architect of the Universe. This new Rite did not replace the older ones, but was added as an alternative, as Continental European jurisdictions, generally, tend not to restrict themselves to a single Rite - offering a menu of Rites, from which their lodges may choose.
Criticism, persecution, and prosecution
Freemasonry has historically attracted criticism and suppression from the politically extreme right (Nazi Germany), and the politically extreme left (the former Communist states in Eastern Europe). The fraternity has encountered both applause for “founding” and opposition for supposedly thwarting liberal democracies (such as the United States of America). It has also attracted criticism and suppression from theocratic states and organised religions for supposed competition with religion, or heterodoxy within the Fraternity itself.
Because of the private nature of its rituals and activities, Freemasonry has long been suspected by both Church and State of engaging in subversive activities. Due to the appearance of secrecy, and the possibility it might be implicated in rebellion, Freemasonry inserted into its core ritual a formal obligation to be a quiet and peaceable citizens, true to their lawful government of the country in which they live and not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion. A Freemason makes a further obligation, before being made Master of his lodge, to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrates. Examples of these obligations are found in Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor, of 1866.
In modern democracies, Freemasonry is sometimes accused of being a sort of club, or network, where political influence and illegal business dealings take place. In 1826, William Morgan disappeared in the US, after threatening to expose Freemasonry's secrets. His disappearence caused some to claim that he had been murdered by Masons. No evidence was ever brought forward, however. In Italy, the illicit and irregular P2 lodge has been investigated. In the wake of financial scandals that nearly bankrupted the Vatican Bank in the late 1970s, there is suspicion of involvement in murders, including the head of Banco Ambrosiano, Roberto Calvi. He was found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, England. The trial of some of Calvi's alleged killers began in the autumn of 2005. In Nice, France, the head prosecutor has accused some judges and other judicial personnel of deliberately stalling or refusing to elucidate cases involving Masons.
In 1799 English Freemasonry almost came to a halt. In the wake of the French Revolution the 1799 Unlawful Societies Act banned any meetings of groups which required their members to take an oath or obligation. The Grand Masters of the Premier Grand Lodge and the Antients Grand Lodge called on the Prime Minister - William Pitt, not himself a Freemason - and explained to him how Freemasonry was a supporter of the law and lawfully constituted authority and was much involved in charitable work. As a result Freemasonry was specifically exempted from the terms of the Act provided that each Lodge Secretary lodged with the local Clerk of the Peace a list of the members of his lodge once a year. The provision continued until 1967 when it was rescinded by Parliament. The UK Labour Government attempted, in the 2000s, to require all members of fraternal organisations who are public officials to make their affiliation public. This was challenged under European Human Rights legislation, forcing the Government to curtail the scope of their requirements.
Perhaps influenced by the assertion of Masons that many political figures in the past 300 years have been Masons, Freemasonry has long been the target of conspiracy theories, which see it as an occult and evil power. Often associated with the New World Order and other "agents", such as the Illuminati - the fraternity is seen, by conspiracy theorists, as either bent on world domination, or already secretly in control of world politics. One of the major religious objections to Freemasonry brought up by many mainstream Christian churches is the charge of Syncretism and that the religious aim of Freemasonry is the creation of a new 'super' or 'universal' religion created by combining various deities and teachings, many of which are pre-Christian.
In general, there are two doctrinal objections to Freemasonry made by established Christian denominations:
- The non-dogmatic nature of Masonry is seen as being at odds with the claims of Christian exclusivity.
- The esoteric aspect of Masonic ritual is seen as being synonymous with Gnosticism, which was declared heretical and suppressed by the early Christian church.
However, Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion. There is no separate "Masonic god", and there is no separate proper name for a deity in any branch of Freemasonry.
In the traditional Masonic obligations, a candidate calls severe physical punishment upon himself should he ever reveal the secrets of Freemasonry to a non-Mason. By the early 1980s, the oaths had become quite problematic from a public relations standpoint, and many Masonic jurisdictions replaced them with oaths that excluded the traditional punishments - religating them to historical references unconnected to any obligation. The only real penalties that ever await a Freemason who behaves contrary to the rules of the fraternity are (and always were) reprimand, suspension, or expulsion.
Freemasonry unfairly attracts criticism that it is charitable mainly to its membership. In fact, Freemasonry contributes far more to external charities worldwide than many sovereign countries - and far more than it distributes internally. It is also commonly held that individuals become Freemasons through invitation, patrimony, or other non-democratic means, but this is actually officially and explicitly deplored. An individual must ask freely and without persuasion to become a Freemason in order to join the fraternity.
While regular Masonry has always tended as much to rationalism as it does to mysticism, there are some groups, such as Rosicrucians, who may interpret Masonic ritual magically (or "hermetically"). This is their right as private Masons, given the fraternity's non-dogmatic stance, but is by no means indicative of the fraternity as a whole. However, the very existence of the possibility of hermetic interpretations within Masonry has led Anti-Masonic activists to quote works such as Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma to try to show Freemasonry as Satanic. Alternatively, the argument is made that because Pike claims "the works of Plato and Philo were as divinely inspired as The Apocalypse of Saint John", and because Plato and Philo were pre-Christian pagans (Philo was neither pre-Christian nor pagan), and that furthermore, all pagan beliefs are Satanic, Pike and other Freemasons are therefore Satan worshippers.
However, since it is not a religion, Freemasonry is non-dogmatic and constitutionally governed. Pike's opinions are his own personal - and now somewhat outdated - interpretations. Most tellingly, Pike himself admits that his book is culled more from other sources than being his original work. Most importantly, Pike is but one commentator amongst many, and no one voice has ever spoken for the whole of Freemasonry.
Contemporary challenges
As with other fraternal organisations in the 21st Century, Freemasonry in some districts of the United States, the UK and other jurisdictions has been losing members, faster than it can replenish them. In contrast, the number of Masons is generally on the rise in South America and Continental Europe.
Many Grand Lodges in the US have tried a variety of, often-controversial, measures to address declining membership. These have included "one-day ceremonies" of all the three degrees for large groups of candidates, (as opposed to individual degree conferrals taking months or years to complete); advertising on billboards, and even active recruitment of new candidates by members, (as opposed to the tradition of considering only those who actively seek membership for themselves). Some Masons object to the traditions and principles of Freemasonry being diluted by these changes, feeling that the Fraternity has survived centuries of social change without changing itself; others cite a need for Freemasonry to modernize and make itself relevant to new generations.
Cultural references
- Rudyard Kipling used Masonic symbols and characters in some of his writings, most notably The Man Who Would Be King, which was later made into a film. Two adventurers are taken to be Masonic representatives of Alexander the Great.
- One of the main characters in Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado is a Freemason.
- One of the main characters in Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace becomes a Freemason.
- The plot of the opera "Die Zauberflöte" ("The Magic Flute") contains several references to Masonic ideals and ceremonies. Mozart and his librettist Emanuel Schikaneder were in the same Masonic "Lodge of the Nine Muses".
- Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion was a Freemason, as were the first five presidents of the Church: Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow.
- The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was a society founded by at least one Mason who also was a member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (a research and study group focusing on symbolic alchemy, the mystical kabbalah, tarot, and Christian Symbolism). The Golden Dawn was never a Masonically regular body, and was open to membership from non-Masons and women.
- The graphic novel From Hell by Alan Moore, (and the movie based upon it) - feature as their basic premise - a conspiracy theory linking "certain Freemasons" to the Jack the Ripper murders. The story is that "Freemason" Sir William Gull, the then British Royal Household's physician, covered up a child of Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence born to a Catholic shop girl - "by killing her, and all the women who knew about the baby". The story depends on the assumption that such figures as the Marquess of Salisbury, Sir William Gull and Sir Robert Anderson were Freemasons - but there is no actual record of their initiation into Freemasonry in any Lodge.
- Freemasons feature heavily in Robert Shea's and Robert Anton Wilson's satire, The Illuminatus! Trilogy.
- John Cleese, and other Cast members, portray spoof Freemasons in the How to recognise a Freemason sketch of the satire Monty Python's Flying Circus.
- The Freemasons are spoofed in an episode of The Simpsons as The Ancient Society of Stonecutters, a secret organisation that controls everything from NASA to the Academy Awards (thereby securing Steve Guttenberg's stardom).
- Another episode of The Simpsons has a scene where Mr. Burns, obsessing with germs and becoming a "Howard Hughes"-like recluse, sees germs on Smithers' face. The germs chant "Freemasons run the country."
- Dan Brown's novels, Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code and The Solomon Key draw heavily on supposed Masonic and Christian lore and symbolism.
- Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco also deals with Freemasonic themes.
- The Cremaster Cycle films by Matthew Barney use Masonic imagery.
- The plot of the 2004 movie National Treasure revolves heavily around the Freemasons and is somewhat unusual in that it depicts them in a benign light.
- In The Baron in the Trees Italian writer Italo Calvino includes Masonry lodges branching out into the lands of Ombrosa with the protagonist of the novel, Cosimo di Rondo, mysteriously and supposedly involved with them.
- Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris use Freemasonry in their series The Adept, most notably in The Adept Book Two: The Lodge of the Lynx, and in Kurtz's American Revolution historical novel Two Crowns for America, which links Freemasonry and Jacobitism.
- In John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden Adam Trask, the main character, is mentioned as becoming a Freemason later in life.
Notes
- ^ What is Freemasonry?, accessed February 6, 2006.
- ^ The Masonic Manual by Macoy, accessed November 11, 2005.
- ^ The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise (GLNF), accessed February 6, 2006.
- ^ Who is Prince Hall?, accessed November 14, 2005.
- ^ Prince Hall Masonry Recognition details, Paul M. Bessel, accessed November 14, 2005
- ^ UGLE: Is Freemasonry a religion?, accessed January 21, 2006.
- ^ Masonic Landmarks, by Michael A. Botelho, 32°. Accessed 7 February 2006.
- ^ A History of Freemasonry by H.L. Haywood and James E. Craig, pub. ca 1927
- ^ Ibid
- ^ Ibid
- ^ Ibid
- ^ Ibid
- ^ Revolutionary Brotherhood, by Steven C. Bullock, Univ. N. Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1996
- ^ A Pragmatic Masonic History, by Leo Zanelli, accessed November 14, 2005
- ^ see Masonic U.S. Recognition of French Grand Lodges in the 1900s, Paul M. Bessel. He is not an official spokesperson. Accessed November 14, 2005
- ^ Ibid
- ^ Anderson's Constitutions, accessed November 14, 2005.
See also
- List of Masonic Grand Lodges
- Masonic Knights Templar
- List of Freemasons
- Gnosticism
- Pigpen cipher
- Taxil hoax
- Catholicism and Freemasonry
- Anti-clericalism
- Anti-Masonic Party
- Anti-Freemasonry
- Propaganda Due - The P2 Masonic Lodge Scandal
- Mormonism and Freemasonry
Appendant bodies
- Scottish Rite
- York Rite
- Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners)
- Royal Order of Scotland
- Swedish Rite
- Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia in England
- Societas Rosicruciana in Scotia in Scotland
Organizations with Masonic affiliations
- Daughters of the Nile
- DeMolay International
- International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
- Tall Cedars of Lebanon
- International Order of Job's Daughters
- Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America
- Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots
- National Sojourners
- Order of the Eastern Star
- The Philalethes Society
Co-Freemasonry
External links
- Freemasonry & Christianity
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Saints Alive In Jesus Freemasonry Resource Files
- Ephesians 5:11
- Straight Answers: Catholics and Freemasonry
- A Ritual Gone Fatally Wrong Puts Light on Masonic Secrecy (To read full article one must register at the website)
- Anti-Masonry Frequently Asked Questions
- Web of Hiram
- PS Review of Freemasonry made by Freemasons for Free Masons
- History and philosophy of Freemasonry.
- Freemasonry, Seeking The Truth.
- James A. Garfield, "Memorials to Great Men Who Were Masons"
- Famous Freemasons
- A Page About Freemasonry*Masonic Books On-Line
- Hiram's Oasis
- Webb's Freemason's Monitor — including the first three degrees
- Harun Yahya: Global Freemasonry
- Robert Macoy: The Masonic Manual — A pocket Companion for the Initiated
- Albert G. Mackey, M. D.: Symbolism of Freemasonry
- Masonic Art
- Masonic art & clip art
- The Real Secret of Freemasonry
- Discussion of Anti-Masonry
- Catholic Encyclopedia - Masonry (Freemasonry)
- The Blue Forget Me Not, Another Side of the Story by W.Bro. Alain Bernheim 33rd
- German Freemasonry and it's Attitudes towards the Nazi Regime, by W. Bro. Alain Bernheim 33rd Degree
- Catholicculture.org
- The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise GLNF
- The Forget Me Not and Freemasonry