One of the things I have discovered about Freemasonry is that there are so many conflicting opinions and statements about what it is, and what it means, that it is almost impossible to be able to say I understand it.
I don't know if 'understand' is the right word in this situation, perhaps it has more to do with belief. It seems to me that in order to understand Freemasonry a person has to believe, probably in terms of picking a theory and just agreeing to believe it. Does that make sense? What I am trying to say is that with so many theories, opinions, beliefs, ideas and propaganda, both for and against Freemasonry, the student has to make a decision and go with it. If you choose to believe in Freemasonry and that it is a good thing, you can find thousands of facts and opinions to back up your belief. On the other hand, if you believe otherwise, that is, if you believe Freemasonry is not a good thing, you can find thousands of facts and opinions to back up that belief.
Information about The Craft, as it is called, is wide, with detractors and promotors vying against each other. If you want to believe that Freemasonry started in the Middle East, around the time of Jesus, you can find lots to back that up, or you can find that it began in the 1700's and probably was an offshoot of The Knight's Templars, and so on. Most of the information has an authoritative ring to it, making it easy to belief either theory, along with all the others.
That may be one of the true secrets of Freemasonry. Almost like a magician who performs magic using something I believe they call 'misdirection' which can lead the viewer to see something that is not, or not see something by directing their attention to something else while the actual process takes place right in front of them, but they don't see it.
Freemasonry is like religion, with so many multi-faceted aspects, each claiming to be the rightful one, with so much information it is impossible for anyone to truly hope to find the right answer.
Freemasonry is not alone in it's misdirection either, other 'secret societies' like the Piory de Sion, Illuminati, Roscrucians appear to use similar techniques, misdirection, now you see them, now you don't methods of confusing the investigator or innocent onlooker. Despite all that has been written and said about these groups, proof, tangible proof of what they are really doing is almost non-existant.
I cannot help but wonder sometimes if they are 'hiding in plain sight' In other words, we all know and acknowledge their existance, and for all intents and purposes no one attempts to really deny anything that is written, letting loose all kinds of theories, from the absurd to what is probably the truth. However, with so much information, how can the unwashed see the truth for what it is. Masonic symbols abound everywhere we look, and unless you know them for what they are, we look at them daily without a clue. Building pillars, symbols above windows with Egyptian themes, triangles, geometric patterns and shapes, many of which symbolize Freemasonry are everywhere. We look but we don't see.
But how does a secret society maintain a secret with millions of members? Threats of having your tongue cut out probably don't hold much water these days. But if no one actually knows the secrets, that is, if the majority of the members of these groups don't really know the secret they are keeping, how can they tell it to anyone. I believe this has been the cornerstone (masonic reference) of their ability to keep Masonry going. The biggest blabbermouth can spew forth 'secrets' to his heart's desire, as none of them have any real meaning, and even if they are true, they are not the real secrets and as such meaningless......
I read a book a few years ago supposedly written by a Mason, called, The Meaning of Masonry by W.L. Wilmhurst which I think said something along the lines of what I have said here, that the mass of the rank and file Masons really have no idea what it is all about. It was some time ago, but I believe he was promoting the idea that only by going through all the degrees can a Mason really understand what Freemasonry is all about. I wonder if that is true?
It's amazing really....I find it fascinating....
2 comments:
Very interesting article about the Freemasons. Are they Free Masons, or Freres Maçons?
Have they evolved from the Templars, or the other way around? I like the expression "we look but we do not see". I can add "we hear but we do not listen". Is there any revolution or any great event in human history that no secret brotherhood had been involved?
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Some will read a book by Manly P. Hall an assume because he was a Freemason all that he wrote in his book is fact and true. That would be wrong. Manly P. Hall wrote his first book about Freemasonry when he was barely 21 years old and not a Mason. He did join the fraternity some 30 years later however. And all must be remeinded (again) that no one person speaks for all Masons. Masons come from all races, creeds and backgrounds and can meet on the level in peace and harmony. That means that there is NO higher degree than Master Mason (3rd Degree). there are concordant bodies that profess to add to your esoteric knowledge, but they are no higher than any 3rd degree Mason.
What do we do in our meetings? Well you'll have to join to find out. What I can say is that beyond the ritual the members are forbidden to discuss religion and politics, so what's left to discuss? As with any group the business of the lodge is to do good works , in other words CHARITY. The relief if suffering and noble things like that. We also agree to pay bills and other mundane things like that. The enlightenment so many speak of, comes from within. As the basic lessons of morality are taught during the degrees; it is up to each to learn the lesson and apply it to every day living. I say we need more of this type of teaching as we see more shootings and criminals running rampant. If more people would act according to Masonic teachings there would be a lot less suffering, hate and bigotry in the world. And the big story here, 'the secrets of Masonry', are in each Masons heart and trancend words, so how could they be "told" or "exposed", since they may mean a differnt thing to each Mason. You will never 'understand' until your are prepared in your heart to 'understand'.
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