What is Freemasonry?
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What is it exactly?
The question of what is Freemasonry is a common one, espicially in America today.
The simpliest answer, and the one I most often give, is that Freemasonry is a post-collegiate male fraternity dedicated to the spiritual development of the initiate into a broader sense of the self. It explores how one relates to the Divine, and what our contributory role in the world is.
The Fraternity does this though the conveyance of a series of progressive lessons called degrees which initiate the candidate into a progressive level of understanding about his membership.
Ultimately, the raised Master Mason is given the allegorical tools to further work on and develop their Masonic intuition and advance, as desired into the appendant bodies which include:
- The Scottish Rite
- The York Rite
- The Shrine
There is also a number of post blue lodge (the term used for ones local masonic lodge) clubs and groups that offer a number of associations and social opportunities.
The most common belief is that Freemasonry is a club solely for the men, which is not entirely true. Scattered aroudn the world are a number of groups that cater to all feminine lodges, co-Masonic lodges, and the more mainstream masculine only lodge. There are also groups which are more prevelant in certian communities, such as the Prince Hall Masonic lodges, of which there are many.
To become a Mason, you must ask to join. Commonly the acrynom of 2B1Ask1 is used to denote this.
In applying for membership, these basic rules apply:
You must hold a belief in a Supreme Being - defined solely by yourself, but in an expressed belief.
- You must be older than 18 (in some areas the minimum age is 21)
- You need to meet the gender requirements of the body you join.
- You must be referred by members of the lodge you petition, though you can meet the membership and get to know them before you petition.
The first step in becoming a Mason is to contact a lodge local to you and express your interest in petitioning for membership, and they will advise you on the next steps in their process.
You can read more from Greg on his website Freemason Information.com or find him on twitter at twitter.com/MasonicTraveler
Manuel F. Nunez C. 5 months ago
I am forming a Mixed Lodge under the Gran Logia Constitucional del Peru in Los Angeles, California. Our Grand Lodge is a member of the CLIPSAS International Federation ( http://www.clipsas.com/en/members_f.htm ) and CIMAS ( http://www.cimas.info/potencias-integrantes ). I am also the founder of Progressive Freemasonry USA; which has begun as a website and is expanding into a national collective effort by members of various Progressive Masonic Obediences with International Recognition to open up our doors in our various Obediences to more members. Unlike the Conservative Anglo-American Lodges which make up 95% of the Masons in this nation (so far), we are open to black people (in theory Conservative Freemasonry is open but in practice...haha......there's a reason that the Prince Hall Order exists) and all minorities; men and women; LGBT; Secular Freethinkers, etc. We also tend to involve ourselves politically up front in causes that support the progress of humanity -- i.e. to end world hunger (not just give charity locally) through institutions designed for this; to stop world wars; to reduce pollution, etc. Members of Conservative Freemasonry prefer to clandestinely support very Conservative political movements by moving money through their lodges and Grand Lodges into the pockets of the United Grand Lodge of England, which has always been headed by a member of the Royal Family of England...which is linked to...who?? All of those rich banking families, multi-billion dollar corporations, etc. So much for Non-Political, right guys?
Interestingly enough, WE are the ones that are labelled as "Clandestine" Freemasons. We are also called "Irregular" Freemasons because we're opposed to prejudice, chauvinism and racism. I guess that's not very "Regular" in Masonic practice. As a former member of a Conservative Masonic Lodge actually, I can assure you that there is a world of difference between what Conservative Freemasonry SAYS that it supports
I'll prove my point.
Let's take what it says on the "Regular" Scottish Rite S.J." website ( http://scottishrite.org/ ) which proclaims "Human progress is our cause, liberty of thought our supreme wish, freedom of conscience our mission, and the guarantee of equal rights to all people all everywhere our ultimate goal."
I will first show that this is all a lie for Conservative Freemasonry and how this is true for Progressive Freemasonry and explain why the Conservative Anglo-American Masons kept this catchy little creed which is contrary to their actual practices but has the gall to call those of us who actually do abide by this as "Irregular" and "Clandestine." Let's begin, shall we?
1) "Human progress is our cause," Really? Is this why women are not allowed in Conservative Lodges? How about black men? I don't mean IN THEORY, I mean IN PRACTICE. Please...name ONE Prince Hall Grand Lodge that is accepted in ALL of the "Regular" Grand Lodges of the USA? Hmmm??? Not ONE. And here's one that's never discussed -- handicapped people. Uh oh...looks like I hit the nail on the head!!! Oops!! That's right! Anderson's Constitutions were written at a time when there was still a shift from Operative to Speculative Freemasonry and part four of the Constitutions explains that a member must be "able - bodied." As a matter of fact, I had forgotten about this bit of prejudice in Conservative Freemasonry until I was told by a man in Argentina that he was told he could not be a Mason of the "Regular" Grand Lodge of Argentina because he has bad legs and walks on crutches!!! Thankfully, I put him in touch with a Progressive Grand Lodge in CLIPSAS and CIMAS and he will be initiated next year. So tell me...how exactly IS Progress your cause? By supporting the British Royal Family?? Oh yeah...really progressive, guys.
Next.
2)"Liberty of thought our supreme wish," And this is why Religion and Politics are never mentioned in your lodge, right? Because...you...believe in...liberty of thought? Riiiiiiight. Progressive Lodges discuss these things openly and at the end of the day everyone leaves shaking hands and better understanding each other's positions. Wow, how very much against "liberty of thought" that is...those "irregular" freemasons and their "crazy" and "clandestine" ideas!!!
Next.
3) "Freedom of conscience our mission," And this is why Agnostics and Secular Freethinkers are NOT allowed in Conservative Freemasonry. Because you believe in...freedom of conscience...right...that makes sense.
Next.
4) "and the guarantee of equal rights to all people everywhere our ultimate goal." This is why black men have consistently suffered racism; why gay men will typically be black-balled; why women are still not allowed in Masonic Lodges and have to settle for being "almost" Masons in the Order of the Eastern Star (where they HAVE to be chaperoned by a MAN who is a Mason); etc. etc. etc.
So...that catchy little slogan is a LIE. But how did it start, you might ask?
It's simple.
the "Scottish Rite" as it has come down both in its original 25 degree structure and its later 33 degree structure is originally FRENCH. The FRENCH Tradition of Freemasonry is Progressive (I am talking about most French Grand Obediences not that "Grande Loge Nationale Francaise" thing created by the British that is SO obnoxiously unprofessional that it has actually been rejected this past year by its former buddies in most fellow European Conservative "Regular" Grand Lodges as well as the United Grand Lodge of England!!!). And the Scottish Rite in Progressive Freemasonry DOES uphold those rights. But don't get things twisted. There ain't no progress goin' down thar in Dixie-land, is there?
The homeland of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction (and that is the original jurisdiction in the US, by the way) is, after all, Charleston in South Carolina. And the father of the Scottish Rite in the USA is, after all, Albert Pike. So we have to go past the theory and look into the practice and really put our money where our mouths are.
You want to call me Irregular because I accept women, black people, gay people and agnostics? Fine. I'll just call you what you are: hypocrites.
Email me for more information on some REAL Freemasonry that practices what it preaches: progressive_freemasonry_usa@yahoo.com . And come to our site: http://progressive-freemasonry-usa.tumblr.com .
And for those of you who are Conservative Freemasons and are angry at what I'm saying...the truth hurts, doesn't it?
Well, you can do one of three things:
1) Change nothing. Stay a hypocrite.
2) Change your Obedience. Ha...good luck. Fat chance.
3) Change yourselves. Join a Progressive Obedience...like many other Freemasons in the USA are doing.