Masonic FAQ
(2) Introduction This FAQ is version 1.1, which includes a number of revisions,
suggestions, and reactions to version 1.0. It is still not complete and
final, though we are
slowly getting there.
One of the major changes is that it is now split into parts, to make distribution
easier.
Also, some newsreaders can't handle large articles, so this should alleviate
the problem.
Any question you see marked with an asterisk should be considered incomplete.
If you
take issue with something or want to help out in authoring any part of this
FAQ, please
drop me a line. Even catching (gasp!) spelling errors would be a great help.
Also note that there are some areas that are not asterisked, but should
be thought of as
"permanently asterisked" because their information may change
or could always be added
to. For example, do you know of any other names to add in the famous Freemasons
section? Are you aware of other FTP sites? Any books you would recommend?
Etcetera.
Finally, it should be stated without fail that no Mason, no Master, no Grand
Master can
speak for all of Masonry. The answers provided herein are not "authoritative"
in the sense
that they are universally true for all Masons everywhere and reflect the
beliefs of all
Masons. There are differences between each jurisdiction, and in general
there are
differences between US Grand Lodges and Grand Lodges in other countries.
Of course,
the high ideals and noble principles of Masonry remain the same the world
over, but some
of the fine points and details may vary.
So remember: nothing here is "gospel". This FAQ is intended to
provide a summation of
commonly-given answers to commonly-asked questions on the net.
Andrew Fabbro afabbro@umich.edu
(3) Table of Contents
Each Roman numeral is a separate file.
I. MASONRY ON USENET AND THE INTERNET (1) Where is this FAQ available?
(2) Is there a mailing list? (3) Are there any FTP sites? (4) Are there
any Wide World Web
Masonic resources? *(5)* What about CompuServe, AOL, Prodigy, GEnie, Delphi,
and
other commercial services? (6) What is alt.freemasonry for? (7) What is
alt.masonic.members for? (8) What is alt.masonic.demolay for? (9) Hey! Somebody
just
posted some nonsense about how Masons worship Satan and sell their soul
to the Reverend
Moon! What should I do about it?
II. WHO/WHAT ARE MASONS? (1) What is Freemasonry? (2) What is the Scottish
Rite? (3) What is the York Rite? (4) What is the Shrine? *(5)* Are there
other appendant
bodies? (6) What is the Eastern Star? *(7)* What is DeMolay/Rainbow? *(8)*
What is Co-
Masonry? *(9)* What is Prince Hall Masonry? (10) What is a 33rd degree Mason?
(11)
Are there any Masonic functions that I can attend as a non-Mason? (12) Who
is the head
of the Masons? (13) Are there dues, fees, etc. associated with being a Mason?
(14) I hear
Masons refer to an "apron". What is that? (15) What is a "Masonic
Funeral"?
III. RESPONSE TO COMMON NEWSGROUP FLAMES & TROLLS (1) Do
Masonic rituals have Pagan elements? (2) Do Masonic rituals have Satanic
elements? (3)
Do Masons have to swear terrible oaths? Are people killed when they break
them? (4)
Does Masonry teach magic(k)? (5) Masons believe in a special heaven for
Masons only,
don't they?
IV. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS & MYTHS (1) Are Masons just a bunch of old men?
Isn't
Masonry dying out? (2) Aren't Masons racist/elitist? (3) Isn't Masonry just
a place where
businessmen make deals? (4) I see titles like "Worshipful Master"
and "Senior Deacon"-- is
this some kind of cult? (5) Masonry is a secret society, right? (6) Masonry
is a religion,
right? (7) Are Masons really controlling the world/meeting with the Bavarian
Illuminati/members of the Trilateralist Commission/etc? (8) Masons are anti-Catholic,
right? (9) Masonic rituals are demeaning or embarrassing to the candidate,
right? (10) I
heard/read a Mason talking about a "Masonic Bible". Do Masons
have their own Bible?
(11) I see that Masonic buildings are called Temples. Does that mean that
Masons
worship there?
V. HOW DO I BECOME A MASON? (1) What are the requirements for becoming a
Mason? (2) Can <fill in an ethnic group>s be Masons? (3) Can homosexuals
be Masons? (4)
I have a physical disability. Can I be a Mason? (5) Can <fill in the
name of the religion> be
a Mason? (6) Can Catholics be Masons? (7) Can Wiccans be Masons? (8) What
if my
religion does not allow the swearing of oaths? (9) Do I have to be invited?
(10) OK, I'm
interested-- how do I proceed?
VI. HISTORY (1) Where did Masons come from? (2) What US Presidents have
been
Masons? (3) Was Thomas Jefferson a Mason? Patrick Henry? Abraham Lincoln?
(4)
What famous people have been Masons? (5) What famous buildings in the US
have been
laid Masonically? *(6)* What's the difference between AF&AM and F&AM?
(7) Was
Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church, a Mason? (8) What is the oldest
Lodge
Room in the world? In the US? (9) Is it true that all of George Washington's
generals
during the Revolutionary War were Masons? (10) Is it true that all the signers
of the
Declaration of Independence were Masons? The Articles of Confederation?
The
Constitution? (11) George Washington turned down the title of "Grand
Master of the
United States"-- true? (12) Why do some Lodges meet on a certain day
of the week
"following the full moon"? Are Masons some kind of moon worshippers?
(13) Did
Masons suffer at the hands of the Nazis? *(14)* Are Masons connected to
Greek-letter
college fraternities? *(15)* I want information on Masonic history. What
books would be
good introductions? (16) My local Library doesn't have any books on Freemasonry,
where
can I find them? *(17)* What movies/books feature Masonry?
Moon! What should I do about it?
I
(1) Where is this FAQ available?
This FAQ is available by FTP from Roger Ingersoll's FTP archives (see question
3 of this
section). It is available on the AFS file system, in the /afs/umich.edu/users/a/f/
afabbro/Public directory. This FAQ is also available by e-mail request to
afabbro@umich.edu.
It is posted monthly to alt.freemasonry, alt.masonic.demolay, and alt.masonic.members.
(2) Is there a mailing list?
Yes. Send e-mail to freemasonry-list@sacsa3.mp.usbr.gov with a message asking
to be
subscribed (e.g., "Please subscribe me. My name is Benjamin Franklin
and my e-mail
address is bfranklin@cont.congress.gov"). The exact syntax of your
request is not
important, as it will be read by a human.
(3) Are there any FTP sites?
Yes. Roger Ingersoll maintains a large collection of Masonic material at
ftp.netcom.com,
in the /pub/rogeri/freemasonry directory.
(4) Are there any Wide World Web Masonic resources?
Yes. Try http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/dryfoo/Masons/Main-page.html
*(5)* What about CompuServe, AOL, Prodigy, GEnie, Delphi, and other commercial
services?
On CompuServe, type GO MASONRY to reach the Masonry forum.
(The answer is also yes for AOL and GEnie, and possibly the others-- more
information as
it becomes available)
(6) What is alt.freemasonry for?
Alt.freemasonry is intended for general discussion of Masonry and related
topics. Almost
any question regarding Masonry is welcome there. Both Masons and non-Masons
are
welcome.
(7) What is alt.masonic.members for?
Alt.masonic.members is intended to be a home for USENET Masons to talk about
the
Craft, though non-Masons are welcome to participate. The focus in a.m.m.,
however, is on
discussion among people already familiar with Masonry or people who are
Masons, so
questions about becoming a Mason or what the York Rite is would be inappropriate
(feel
free to post such questions in alt.freemasonry instead).
Of course, neither newsgroup (or the mailing list) is considered Tiled and
non-Masons
read both regularly, so Brothers should not post anything that they would
not normally
discuss with non-Masons.
Discussion on Co-Masonry (a form of Masonry which includes both men and
women) is
welcome in either a.f or a.m.m.
(8) What is alt.masonic.demolay for?
A.m.d. is for discussion regarding DeMolay (shocker, huh?) See III, 6 if
you don't know
what DeMolay is.
(9) Hey! Somebody just posted some nonsense about how Masons worship Satan
and sell
their soul to the Reverend Moon! What should I do about it?
Periodically, someone will post obvious flame-bait on one of the Masonic
newsgroups.
Masons who read the newsgroup obviously want to post and rebut these false
claims.
However, keep in mind that a single bit of bait that takes 30 seconds to
write ("Masons are
all KKK members!") can consume hours of time in rebuttal. Half-a-dozen
flame-bait
posts can drown the newsgroup in meaningless flame-wars that asphyxiate
any serious
conversation. On the other hand, if the poster finds that his ramblings
are simply being
ignored, he will likely become bored and go off to alt.get-a-life and mingle
with his own
kind.
Some readers feel that these claims must be addressed, otherwise USENET
readers will
get the wrong impression about Masonry. There is some truth in this, though
to be frank,
if someone is willing to get his information from someone who posts unsubstantiated
one-
line attacks with half-a-dozen misspelled words, there is probably little
hope. However,
this FAQ has been created to provide an answer to these nonsense posts,
so that Masons
can simply say "read the FAQ" rather than having to recreate its
answers every time.
Still, some people will want to reply. In descending order of desirability,
here is a
hierarchy of possible responses:
(a) Ignore it. The person involved obviously is trying to stir up a flame-war,
or bait
Masons into saying something nasty in return so he can point and say "See!
Masons are
name-callers!"
(b) Respond via e-mail. Point the poster to this FAQ, or write your own
response.
(c) Post a followup designed to entertain newsgroup readers. For example,
if someone
posts claiming that Masons are part of a global conspiracy, a gag post about
channelling
Adam Weishaupt of the Bavarian Illuminati or stating that Masons receive
their daily to-
do lists from root@universe.org would show the folly of the poster's ideas
while still
contributing something enjoyable to the newsgroup's readers.
(d) If the poster's flame-bait is something not covered in this FAQ and
you feel that you
just can't hold back from responding, please:
(1) remove any cross-posts (in both the posting and the followups). Some
trollers will post
a bit of bait in alt.freemasonry and cross- post it to a half-dozen different
groups, thus
assuring that they receive at least some response somewhere, which will
be echoed to all the
other groups...can you say snowball?
(2) If it not covered in this FAQ, please send a copy of the original post
and your reply to
afabbro@umich.edu, so it may be included future editions. No one has yet
claimed that
Masonry is really a secret martial art or that Master Masons have a special
power to buy
real estate no-money-down, but if someone does, a Q&A just for them
will be added.
Finally, remember that there are people who have genuine questions or misconceptions
about Masonry and are not trying to flame anyone but rather simply want
answers. Just
because they have misconceptions does not mean they are trying to provoke
anyone. You
can usually tell the difference by the tone of the post:
Honest Question: "I read in the Weekly World News that Masons have
ties to the KKK
and are prejudiced and don't allow blacks to be members. Is this true?"
Flame-Bait:
"You Masons are all Klansmen and bigots, aren't you? How do you live
with yourselves?
Do you enjoy harassing ethnic minorities?"
Honest Question: "I've heard that Catholics can't be Masons. Is this
true? Are there any
Catholic Masons? What is the issue here?" Flame-Bait: "How can
you Masons lie about
Catholics, saying they can be Masons? Why are you trying to deceive everyone?
What is
your hidden agenda?"
Honest Question: "I thought Masonry was a fraternity, but I read that
you have to profess
some kind of faith in God, or that people pray in Lodge. Is Masonry a religion?"
Flame-
Bait: "Masonry is a religion, and you have to give up your religion
to be a Mason!
Don't believe what Masons tell you!"
Etcetera. Those asking honest questions will usually respond with a thanks
and consider
the information given. Those seeking to sow the seeds of a flame-war will
simply switch
subjects endlessly and ignore any responses.
II. WHO/WHAT ARE MASONS? (1) What is Freemasonry? (2) What is the Scottish
Rite? (3) What is the York Rite? (4) What is the Shrine? *(5)* Are there
other appendant
bodies? (6) What is the Eastern Star? *(7)* What is DeMolay/Rainbow? *(8)*
What is Co-
Masonry? *(9)* What is Prince Hall Masonry? (10) What is a 33rd degree Mason?
(11)
Are there any Masonic functions that I can attend as a non-Mason? (12) Who
is the head
of the Masons? (13) Are there dues, fees, etc. associated with being a Mason?
(14) I hear
Masons refer to an "apron". What is that? (15) What is a "Masonic
Funeral"?
(1) What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry (or simply, Masonry) is a fraternal order whose basic tenants
are brotherly
love, relief (philanthropy), and truth. We strive to enjoy the company of
our brother
Masons, assist them in times of personal trouble, and reinforce essential
moral values.
There is an old adage that Masonry "takes good men and makes them better",
which is
our goal.
It has often been observed that men are the products of everything they
come into contact
with during their lifetime. Masonry offers a man an opportunity to come
into regular,
enjoyable contact with men of good character, thus reinforcing his own personal
moral
development. Of course, Masonry is also meant to be enjoyed by its membership,
so the
order should not be viewed simply as a philosophical club, but rather a
vibrant fellowship
of men who seek to enjoy each other's company, a fraternity.
To maintain this fraternity, discussion of religion and politics within
the Lodge is
forbidden, as these subjects are those that have often divided men in the
past. Masons
cover the spectrum of both religious and political beliefs and encourages
a man to be
religious without advocating a particular religion, and to be active in
his community
without advocating a particular medium of political expression.
While there probably are some actual stone-workers who are Masons, Masonry
does not
teach is membership the literal techniques of stonework. Rather, it takes
the actual
"operative" work of Medieval Masons and uses it as an allegory
for moral development.
Thus, the symbols of Masonry are the common tools that were used by medieval
stonemasons: the gavel, the rule, the compass, the square, the level, etc.
Each of these has
a symbolic meaning in Masonry. For example, Masons are said to meet "on
the level",
meaning that all Masons are brothers, regardless of social status, personal
wealth, or office
within the Lodge or in the world at large. Similar symbolism exists for
other tools.
Masonry is distinguished from other fraternal orders by its emphasis on
moral character,
its ornate rituals, and its long tradition and history, which dates back
to at least the 17th
century in modern form, the 14th century (c. 1350-1390) in the written evidence
of its
precursors, and back to the mists of antiquity in its origin. Masonry has
a continuously
documented paper history (i.e., Lodge to Lodge) since 1717, though historical
analysis
shows Masonry to be much older.
There are also a great many things that Masonry is NOT: a religion, a secret
society, etc.,
and these will be covered later in this FAQ.
There are three degrees in Masonry. Other appendant bodies confer additional
degrees,
up to the 32nd (or the honorary 33rd) of the Scottish Rite, but in symbolic
Masonry (or
Blue Lodge Masonry) proper, there are only three. At the Blue Lodge, Masons
receive the
degrees of Entered Apprentice (first degree), Fellowcraft (second degree),
and Master
Mason (third degree). Promotion generally requires the mastery of a small
body of
memorized material, the contents of which varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
In
some jurisdictions, only the signs, tokens, and grips of each degree must
be learned; in
others, a longer amount of material.
Of course, no Mason would ever look down upon a Brother simply because he
was of a
lower degree-- the degrees do not exist to create a pecking order or to
confer rank.
Rather, they are a system of initiation that allows men to become familiar
with the august
and ancient history and principles of Masonry at a comfortable pace. Proceeding
from
Entered Apprentice to Master Mason in the US can take as little as three
months, while in
England, the degrees are spaced apart by a year's interval.
Most Lodges have regular communications (meetings) once a month, that are
also referred
to as "business meetings". In the US, these are typically only
open to Master Masons. In
England, these meetings are usually opened in the first degree, and EAs
may attend).
Conferring of degrees is usually done at other meetings during the month.
While conferral of degrees and mundane business do take up a lot of a Lodge's
time, there
are a host of other activities that Masons engage in within the fraternity.
Charitable work
is often done, in the form of fundraisers, community volunteer work, etc.
And there are
also a great many things done for the simple pleasure of company: monthly
breakfasts or
dinners, picnics, card/chess matches, lecturers on Masonic history, you
name it. Masonry
is a fraternity, and its membership seeks to have fun.
Local Masonic Lodges are organized under Grand Lodges. In the United States,
each
state has its own Grand Lodge, which is a peer with every other Grand Lodge.
There is
not "Grandest Lodge"-- each Grand Lodge is supreme in its jurisdiction
(e.g., in the US,
in its state) but has no authority elsewhere. Of course, this does not mean
that Masonry
in New York is radically different than Masonry in Scotland or New Mexico.
Masons are
very traditional and the differences between Grand Lodges are usually minor.
The head of a Lodge is given the title Worshipful Master. This, of course,
does not imply
that Masons worship him; it is merely an stylish title. Masonic Lodges can
be found in
many cities, of all sizes, around the world. There are presently approximately
5 million
Masons, half of which are in the United States.
(2) What is the Scottish Rite?
The Scottish Rite is an appendant body of Masonry, meaning that it is not
part of the
Blue Lodge per se, but closely associated with Masonry. It requires that
a man be a Master
Mason before joining the Scottish Rite. The Scottish Rite confers the 4th
through 32nd
degrees. The degree work may be, but is not necessarily, completed at one
time. Any
Master Mason is eligible to join the Scottish Rite. The degrees of the Scottish
Rite
continue the symbolism of the first three Masonic degrees. For a discussion
of the 33rd
degree, see question 9 of this section.
(3) What is the York Rite?
The York Rite, like the Scottish Rite, is an appendant body of Masonry,
and confers
degrees beyond the Blue Lodge's three degrees. It consists of nine degrees
additional
degrees: Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch
Mason; the
Cryptic Degrees of the Royal Master, Select Master, and Super Excellent
Master, and the
Chivalric Orders of the Order of the Red Cross, Order of the Knights of
Malta and the
Order of Knights Templar.
The Temple degrees, which comprise the top degrees of the York Rite are
specifically
Christian. Or at least, it can be stated that the oath is: in some Grand
Lodges in the US
and abroad, one need not be a Christian, but rather only be willing to take
a Christian
OATH. The difference here is that there are some who would willingly swear
to defend
the Christian faith on the grounds that they would defend any man's faith.
The Chapter
(or Royal Arch) and Consistory, which comprise the first two sections of
the York Rite, are
not specifically Christian.
As with most things Masonic, discuss any concerns with your local York Rite,
who can
advise you regarding your eligibility.
(4) What is the Shrine?
The Shrine is not an appendant body of Masonry, though the distinction would
escape
many. The Shrine confers no additional degrees. It was founded in 1872 (the
Mecca
Temple in New York City) and an Arabic theme was chosen. Hence, the distinctive
red
fez that Shriners wear at official functions.
Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles the Mystic Shrine for
North America
(AASONM is an anagram for "A MASON") are members of the Scottish
Rite's 32nd
degree, and/or Knights Templer of the York Rite. The Shrine is most noted
for its
emphasis on philanthropy and its jolly outlook on life-- it has been called
"the playground
of Masonry". This is expressed as "Pleasure without intemperance,
hospitality without
rudeness, and jollity without coarseness."
*(5)* Are there other appendant bodies?
Yes. For example, the Order of Judas Maccabeus. I'm sure some brave volunteer
will
shortly provide us with information on this and other orders.
*(6)* What is the Eastern Star?
The Order of the Eastern Star is an adoptive rite of Freemasonry with teachings
based on
the Bible and objectives that are charitable and benevolent. The founder
of OES was Dr.
Robert Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who was
a Master
Mason and Past Grand Master of Kentucky. Dr. Morris intended his creation
to become
a female branch of Freemasonry, but he failed to overcome the great opposition
this idea
engendered. After his first published ritual in 1849-50, he became associated
with Robert
Macoy who wrote and published a ritual based on Morris' in 1867. The first
Grand
Chapter was organized in Michigan in the same year. (There is evidence for
an
organization of the same name founded variously in 1788 or 1793, but this
group was
defunct by 1867.) Subordinate (local) chapters operate under charter from
state level
grand chapters which are responsible to the General Grand Chapter at the
International
Eastern Star temple in Washington, D.C.
Members must be eighteen years or older and either Master Masons in good
standing or
properly related to a Master Mason in good standing. The latter category
includes wives;
widows; sisters; daughters; mothers; granddaughters; step-mothers; step
daughters; step-
sisters; and half-sisters.
Each chapter has eighteen officers, some elected and others appointed. Two
offices are
specifically male (Patron and Associate Patron) while nine offices are specifically
female
(including Matron and Associate Matron). While the Worthy Matron is considered
to be
the presiding officer of the chapter, the degrees cannot be conferred without
a presiding
brother in good standing (hence the Patron and Associate Patron).
Each chapter retains the right to decide who shall be a member of the organization.
Election to the degrees must be unanimous, without debate, and secret. The
successful
candidate must profess a belief in a Supreme Being and is initiated in five
degrees, which
are conferred in one ceremony. (When Eastern Star was created, it was intended
to be the
first of a three degree series. The second and third degrees were Queen
of the South and
the Order of the Amaranth, respectively.)
Interestingly enough, OES requires only the belief in a Supreme Being even
though the
degrees are based in both the Old and New Testaments. While non-Christians
are not
specifically barred from membership, it would seem to be difficult to be
other than
Christian and belong to the Order.
While Freemasons as members of the OES are a requirement as the Order is
currently
constituted, one Grand Lodge in the United States forbids its members to
join Eastern
Star and similar organizations with both male and female membership. In
1921, the
Grand Master of Pennsylvania forbade the affiliation of Freemasons as "inimical
to
Freemasonry" and ordered those so affiliated to cease and desist within
six months or be
expelled from the Lodge. The long-term result of this edict--which has never
been
rescinded--has not been the demise of OES, but the importation of Freemasons
into
Pennsylvania from the surrounding states to be members of OES and Freemasons
resident in Pennsylvania who belong to lodges outside the jurisdiction of
the Grand
Lodge of Pennsylvania. (Thanks to Joy Leavy for this section)
*(7)* What is DeMolay/Rainbow?
The International Order of DeMolay is the world's largest fraternal organization
for
young men between the ages of 13 and 21. The Order was founded in Kansas
City,
Missouri on March 24, 1919 by Frank Sherman Land. DeMolay Chapters are sponsored
by Masonic Lodges, and some members of the sponsoring body also serve as
Advisors on
the Chapter's Advisory Council. Structurally, it is similar to Masonry.
The officers of a
Chapter are the Master Councilor, Senior Councilor, Junior Councilor, Senior
Deacon,
Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Orator, Scribe, Marshal,
Chaplain,
Standard Bearer, Sentinel, Almoner, and seven Preceptors.
DeMolay Chapters hold monthly or bi-weekly meetings with Masonic-like Ritual.
Other
activities include athletic tournaments and events, social functions (joint
activities with
Rainbow are encouraged), fund-raising activities, Masonic service activities,
and civic and
philanthropic activities.
DeMolays are taught the seven cardinal virtues of the Order-- filial love,
reverence for
sacred things, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness, and patriotism--
and the
importance of practicing them in their daily lives.
The Order's namesake is Jacques DeMolay, who was the last Grand Master of
the Knights
Templar and who was executed by the Inquisition on March 18, 1314. Louis
Lower, the
first DeMolay, and his group of friends, when asked by Dad Land to choose
a name for
their group, believed that his heroic fidelity and loyalty to his fellow
Templars were
qualities with which they wanted their group to be identified. Mind you,
Dad Land
explained this to them before they chose their name.
A fascinating book about the history of the Order and the life of Frank
S. Land (1890-
1957), titled "Hi! Dad," is available from the DeMolay and More
Store or practically any
member of the Order. The phone number of the DeMolay and More Store is 1-800-
DEMOLAY. (thanks to Tom Schnorrenberg)
*(8)* What is Co-Masonry?
Co-Masonry refers to Masonic Lodges that admit both men and women. These
are
uniformly considered "irregular" and are not recognized by regular
Lodges. Co-Masonry
is not a recent phenomenon and traces its heritage back to the 19th century.
(That's the short answer. The long answer is still in preparation. Until
it is ready, direct
questions to Jeffrey Zeth (brjacques@delphi.com))
*(9)* What is Prince Hall Masonry?
NOTE: This section is excerpted from the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick's
annual
communication. I am eagerly hoping to find some Prince Hall Masons who can
provide
better information.
"There are some schools of thought that Prince Hall (his name not a
title) was born in
Barbados to a free black woman and a Scottish father. He emigrated to the
Colony of
Boston, Mass. and acquired real estate, making him eligible to vote. It
was also
documented that he was a devout Christian and a leather-worker by trade.
On March 6,
1775, during the American War of Independence, Prince Hall along with fourteen
men of
color were made Masons in Army Lodge #441 of the Irish Constitution. When
Army
Lodge moved on, the aforesaid brethren were issued a permit authorizing
them to appear
publicly as a Masonic body for the purpose of celebrating the feast of St.
John and to bury
their dead.
On March 2, 1784, these same brethren applied to the Grand Lodge of England
for a
charter, which was subsequently issued to them on September 29, 1784. They
were
warranted under the name of African Lodge, No. 459 on the register of the
Grand Lodge
of England by authority of then Grand Master, the Duke of Cumberland. Prince
Hall
was the first Master. That charter, which is authenticated and in safekeeping,
is believed to
be the only original charter issued from the Grand Lodge of England still
in the
possession of any Lodge in the United States.
African Lodge allowed itself to slip into arrears in the late 1790's and
was stricken from
the rolls after the Union of 1813, although it had attempted correspondence
in 1802 and
1806. In 1827, after other unreplied to attempts at communication, it declared
its
independence of any external authority and began to call itself African
Grand Lodge No.
1.
It is interesting to note that when the Massachusetts lodges which were
acting as a
Provincial Grand Lodge declared themselves an independent Grand Lodge, and
even
when the present Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was formed by the amalgamation
of two
separate Grand Lodges, African Lodge was not invited to take part, even
though it held a
warrant every bit as valid as those others. This may be explained in part
by this 1795
quote from John Eliot, who later became Grand Chaplain of the Gr. Lodge
of Mass. He
wrote, "White Masons, who are not more skilled in geometry than their
black brethren,
will not acknowledge them... .the truth is they are ashamed of being on
an equality with
blacks."
Today there are 45 Grand Lodges (the latest being the just formed "Most
Worshipful
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Caribbean") that trace their origin
back to African Lodge
#459. There are more than 5000 Prince Hall Lodges and over 300,000 members.
So far
as it is known, their ritual, their secrets, their procedures, their requirements,
their beliefs,
their tenets or fundamental principles, are all either identical with ours,
or recognizably
similar." (by.. W Bro. Roy Cassidy)
To add to this:
Some Grand Lodges have recognized the Prince Hall Grand Lodges within their
jurisdictions, and it has been or is being discussed in other jurisdictions.
Since every
Grand Lodge is autonomous and the supreme authority in its jurisdiction,
this issue must
be approached on a state-by-state basis.
Some have criticized Masonry as "segregated" due to the Prince
Hall Lodges, but this is a
ridiculous claim, since there are many black Masons in non-PH Lodges, and
displays a
fundamental ignorance of Masonic history.
(10) What is a 33rd degree Mason?
The Scottish Rite awards a special honorary degree, the 33rd, to those it
feels has made an
outstanding contribution to Masonry, the community as a whole, and to mankind.
There
is no way to "achieve" this degree or "take" it, in
the sense that one takes the 4th through
32nd degrees in the Scottish Rite. It is a singular honor, rarely bestowed,
and greatly
admired.
(11) Are there any Masonic functions that I can attend as a non-Mason?
Yes. Many Lodges open their installation of officers to the public. Once
a year, a new
Worshipful Master takes office. The ceremony performed during his inauguration
is
public. It is not the same ceremony as would be performed in a regular Masonic
ritual or
degree, but it does have the flavoring of Masonic symbolism and allows the
public to "get
a feel for Masonry" without being Masons. NOTE: Not all jurisdictions
have public
installations. Call or write your local lodge for details.
In addition, many Lodges sponsor public functions throughout the year, such
as dinners
or charity functions, designed to allow non-Masons who are interested in
Masonry the
chance to talk with Masons and ask questions. For information, call your
local Lodge.
(12) Who is the head of the Masons?
No one. Each Grand Lodge has its own jurisdiction and is the supreme authority
within
that jurisdiction. Obviously, many Grand Lodges have regular communication
with each
other, but official policy in one has no effect in another.
(13) Are there dues, fees, etc. associated with being a Mason?
Yes. Like all organizations, Lodges must be able to pay their light bills.
Typically, there is
a one-time fee for the three degrees of Masonry, as well as regular annual
dues. But these
vary widely depending on the number of members, cost of living (rent in
Manhattan is
higher than it is in rural Oklahoma), the actual physical facilities of
the Lodge, etc. The
fees and dues, however, are not prohibitively expensive (the author is a
college student and
has no problem with them). Rather than give a single figure which may be
very different
than your local Lodge charges, or publishing an extended table of costs,
it is easiest to
simply refer the interested to their local Lodge.
Incidentally, many Grand Lodge jurisdictions provide for "life membership"
after a
Mason has paid dues for a long period. For example, in Michigan a Mason
is no longer
asked to pay dues after he has been a Mason for forty years. Other jurisdictions
allow
members to pay a lump sum for life membership. As with almost everything
in Masonry,
check with your local Grand Lodge or Lodge for more information.
(14) I hear Masons refer to an "apron". What is that?
"During the ceremonies of his initiation, each Mason is presented with
a white leather
apron. It is, to him, an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason. It
has, in all ages,
been cherished by the rich, the poor, the high and the low. It is his for
life. He will never
receive another one and has, therefore, been cautioned to take it home and
instructed in its
care. While perfectly satisfactory for him to do so if he desires, he need
not bring it to
Lodge, as linen aprons are provided for his use meetings." (From a
pamphlet, "To the
Lady and Family of a Mason")
The above applies to the US. In many other countries, the Master Mason owns
his regalia
and brings it to the Lodge.
(15) What is a "Masonic Funeral"?
"Any member who was in good standing at the time of his death is entitled
to a Masonic
funeral if he or his family requests it. Such a request should be made to
the Master of his
Lodge who will make the necessary arrangements with the family, the mortuary,
and the
minister. A service is authorized by the jurisdiction in which you are located,
and consists
of participation at the mortuary, the beginning at the mortuary and the
closing at the
graveside, or graveside only. Pallbearers will be furnished at the request
of the family. In
general, the Lodge will do as much or as little as the nearest relative
wishes it to do."
(From a pamphlet, "To the Lady and Family of a Mason")
III. RESPONSE TO COMMON NEWSGROUP FLAMES & TROLLS (1) Do
Masonic rituals have Pagan elements? (2) Do Masonic rituals have Satanic
elements? (3)
Do Masons have to swear terrible oaths? Are people killed when they break
them? (4)
Does Masonry teach magic(k)? (5) Masons believe in a special heaven for
Masons only,
don't they?
III. RESPONSE TO COMMON NEWSGROUP FLAMES & TROLLS
This section covers the current crop of trolling posts appearing in the
Masonic newsgroups.
The silliness of them is evident.
Other frequently-held myths are dealt with in Section IV. For information
on handling
flames, trolls, and those with anti-Masonic agendas, see I, 9.
(1) Do Masonic rituals have Pagan elements?
No. It has been stated in alt.freemasonry that Masonic ritual is laced with
worship of
Baal, Osiris, Thoth, the tooth fairy, and the Great Pumpkin. This is patently
false. First,
there is no worship of any God, Goddess, or supernatural creature in Masonry.
Respect is
certainly given to God, but his (her) nature is not defined, nor is a name
given to God.
Second, worship of any God except the God of their faith would be a serious
sin in any
Mason's faith, be he Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or whatever.
It should be noted that pagans who read alt.freemasonry do not consider
Masonry to be
pagan. Historians have noted that Gerald Gardner, considered to be the founder
of
modern Wicca, a pagan religion, was a Mason and borrowed from Masonic ritual.
However, the direction of the transfer was from Masonry to Wicca, not from
Wicca to
Masonry. This does not indicate that Masonry has any pagan elements, as
many other
non-pagan groups (such as the Knights of Columbus) borrowed as Gardner did.
One such charge of paganism was the fact that the candidate is taught "to
approach the
East" during the Entered Apprentice ritual. Someone stated that this
is a conscious
duplication of the Egyptian worship of the Sun God, who rose in the East.
This is patent
nonsense and is akin to claiming that every Muslim in North America is a
sun worshipper,
since they face to the East when praying (the fact that they are facing
Mecca is immaterial-
- they must be Egyptian sun worshippers!). The meaning in Masonry is symbolic
and non-
religious: it is simply where one of the Lodge officers traditionally sits
in Lodge. It should
be also noted that those making this claim have yet to provide any meaningful
information
on the Egyptian ritual referred to: is it Old Kingdom or Middle Kingdom?
which
dynasty? which part of Egypt? under which Pharaoh? Before or after ancient
Egypt's
flirtation with monotheism? (It is this author's personal suspicion that
those making the
claim could not even name the Egyptian sun god).
No documentation has been provided to back up the charge that Masonic rituals
are pagan
in character, nor has any part of any Masonic ritual been cited showing
pagan worship. It
simply does not exist.
(2) Do Masonic rituals have Satanic elements?
No. Again, consider that Masons are Christians, Jews, Muslims, and members
of other
faiths who view Satan as the ultimate evil agent, anathema to their relationship
with God.
Would members of these faiths, not to mention religious leaders, knowingly
take part in
Satanic worship? Of course not, nor would they remain within an organization
that had
even the slightest hint of Satanic worship.
Some critics have charged that there are Satanic "elements" in
Masonic ritual. For
example, they claim that Masons kiss the Bible as an act of "kissing
Jesus goodbye". This
is obviously ridiculous, since Christians of a large number of faiths kiss
the Bible during
various services as a sign of respect. Not surprisingly, the attitude of
deference and
reverence that surround the kissing of the Great Light during the Masonic
ritual referred
to is never mentioned in these claims.
Again, no documentation has been provided to back up the charge that Masonic
rituals are
Satanic in character, nor has any part of any Masonic ritual been cited
showing Satanic
worship. It simply does not exist.
(3) Do Masons have to swear terrible oaths? Are people killed when they
break them?
Yes, and no. Masons swear an oath of secrecy concerning Masonic secrets,
which are things
such as the modes of recognition, the rituals, etc. These oaths, which are
very old, are
phrased in colorful and symbolic language designed to impress upon the candidate
the
seriousness of this oath. The oath itself is very real-- it is sworn with
the candidate's hand
on the holy book of his faith (e.g., the Bible, the Koran, etc.) and is
meant to be morally
binding on the candidate.
However, the *penalties* involved in these oaths are symbolic. No Mason
ever need fear
harm from the hand of a Brother. Even if he were to break ties with Masonry
and publish
the secrets of Masonry, he would not be harmed. Have you ever read in the
New York
Times of a man being hunted down and slain by mad Masons? Of course not.
In recent times, some Grand Lodges have added phrasing to the rituals to
specifically state
the symbolic nature of the penalties.
(4) Does Masonry teach magic(k)?
No. Nowhere in Masonic ritual does a Mason learn any form of Magic(k). There
are no
spells, occult teachings, invocations, evocations, conjurings, nor are related
arts (such as
alchemy) taught.
This misconception often arises among those who have heard of the Golden
Dawn, the
Silver Star (A.A.), the Ordo Templis Orientis (O.T.O.), etc. First, a little
history. 19th
century England was a time of exploration into the mystical and the occult.
England's
contact with the Far East through her colonies was one source of this interest,
as were
people such as H.P. Blavatsky (founder of the Theosophical Society). Interest
in
mediums, spirits, and the occult was very high. Some occult groups, such
as the Golden
Dawn, structured their organization after Masonry. These occult groups often
had a series
of degrees, copied certain elements of Masonic ritual such as where officers
sit, use of
lectures to explain symbolism, etc. These organizations were not Masonic,
but rather
borrowed some of Masonry's structures.
The confusion comes when one hears of an occult order that has a series
of degrees that
begin with Apprentice and end with Master, or one comes across a "Lecture
for Initiates"
from one of these occult groups and later discovers that Masonry also give
a "lecture" to its
candidates-- obviously, Masons are occultists! Wrong. Again, other groups
borrowed
from Masonry and changed the nature of the substance while retaining the
form, but this
does not mean that Masons ever took information from occultists. To say
that Masons are
occultists is akin to claiming that the United States is really the Confederate
States of
America because the CSA borrowed the structure of its constitution from
the USA.
For more information on the Golden Dawn, consult the Golden Dawn FAQ that
is
published in alt.magick, among other places. Its author is Steve Cranmer
(cranmer@brivs2.bartol.udel.edu). Ellic Howe's _The Magicians of the Golden
Dawn_
(London: Routledge and Kegan Paul), 1972 provides a factual history of the
Golden
Dawn without getting into its occult practices.
(5) Masons believe in a special heaven for Masons only, don't they?
No. This misconception comes from the fact that Masons sometimes refer to
heaven as
"The Celestial Lodge". But this is just another poetic term for
the same heaven that
Christians, Muslims, and some Jews (depending on if their sect believes
in life after death)
call heaven.
We have all heard people of many different faiths refer to heaven as "the
pearly gates".
Does not mean that they believe that they are going to a special heaven
that has pearly
gates, while other heavens have iron gates? Of course not. Similarly, "the
Celestial
Lodge" is simply a metaphor for heaven.
IV. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS & MYTHS (1) Are Masons just a bunch of old men?
Isn't
Masonry dying out? (2) Aren't Masons racist/elitist? (3) Isn't Masonry just
a place where
businessmen make deals? (4) I see titles like "Worshipful Master"
and "Senior Deacon"-- is
this some kind of cult? (5) Masonry is a secret society, right? (6) Masonry
is a religion,
right? (7) Are Masons really controlling the world/meeting with the Bavarian
Illuminati/members of the Trilateralist Commission/etc? (8) Masons are anti-Catholic,
right? (9) Masonic rituals are demeaning or embarrassing to the candidate,
right? (10) I
heard/read a Mason talking about a "Masonic Bible". Do Masons
have their own Bible?
(11) I see that Masonic buildings are called Temples. Does that mean that
Masons
worship there?
(1) Are Masons just a bunch of old men? Isn't Masonry dying out?
As regards the United States:
There is no doubt that the population of Masons is aging. There was a huge
increase in
membership in almost all fraternal orders after World War II, including
Masonry. This
peaked at sometime in the late 50s. During the social turbulence and generational
strains
of the 60s and 70s, new membership fell off, with the result that by the
1980s, total
membership was in sharp decline.
However, there are signs that membership has leveled out, or is gaining
in some areas. In
many lodges, there are a great number of 50-and-up members, and a number
of 30-and-
under members, with a gulf in between, representing where Baby Boomers would
have
been. Of course, we are speaking in broad generalities here-- there is no
way to know the
demographics of your local Lodge without asking one of its members.
The overall point is that Masonic membership, when talking on a national
scale, has
probably hit a stable membership base, after a huge surge and then fall
in membership.
(Please submit information on other parts of the world)
(2) Aren't Masons racist/elitist?
Regarding racism: Masonry explicitly states the equality of men, regardless
of race, creed,
or color. But there are some Masons who are prejudiced, and this is unfortunate,
saddening, and unMasonic. However, it is not representative of Masonry as
a whole, or
representative of anything except a tiny minority of Masons. There are Masons
of all
ethnic backgrounds.
"Elitism" is harder to define. If you mean that Masons are highly
selective in their
membership, then yes, Masons are elitists. But just criteria is used: men
of good character,
of good report, who believe in God. Does the majority of the population
fit that criteria?
If you think not, then you could say that Masons are elitists.
The idea that Masonry is only open to the patrician class, the landed gentry,
and the
wealthy is incorrect. There are Masons of all economic backgrounds. Indeed,
there are
Lodges which are mostly or wholly made up of blue-color workers due to local
demographics.
(3) Isn't Masonry just a place where businessmen make deals?
No. In fact, most Masons believe that to trade with a Brother Mason only
because he is a
Mason is unMasonic. Even more importantly, anyone who attempts to join a
Lodge
solely for business reasons will not be given a petition.
Masons, however, are friends, and it is not surprising that many Masons
do trade with
Brothers. For one thing, they are dealing with people that are of good character
and can
be trusted, which is no small statement in the modern marketplace.
But Masonry is not a "place to network". Yes, some men do view
one of the benefits of
membership as an additional source of customers or partners, but few would
say that is
the only reason they became Masons. The work involved in the degrees alone
would make
this a poor investment-- better to join the Rotary Club or other business
group.
(4) I see titles like "Worshipful Master" and "Senior Deacon"--
is this some kind of cult?
No. The titles are simply colorful, stylish, and full of ancient symbolism.
No Mason
worships the Master of the Lodge, nor does a Senior (or Junior) Deacon engage
in
religious actions, as a Deacon of a church might.
(5) Masonry is a secret society, right?
Wrong. Secret societies are generally defined as organizations which are
unknown to the
public and whose existence is denied. The Bavarian Illuminati and the Mafia
would be
examples of secret societies.
Masonry, on the other hand, is well-known and proudly displays its existence.
Masonic
Temples are clearly marked as such, and many Lodges are listed in the yellow
pages
(usually under "Fraternal Orders"). Members often wear rings or
tie-clips that identify
themselves as Masons, and Masons often participate in community charity
work. Finally,
some Masonic functions are open to the public.
Masonry is not a secret society, but rather a society with a few secrets.
These are mainly
modes of recognition-- the signals, grips, signs, and phrases by which Masons
recognize
each other. The actual degree rituals are considered secret as well, not
because there is
anything that would harm Masonry by their revelation, but rather because
they are more
meaningful if the candidate does not know what is going to go on during
them
beforehand (see question 9 of this section if that makes you nervous).
It should be pointed out that many other organizations have a similar class
of secrets.
College fraternities (a.k.a. "Greek letter organizations") often
have small secrets known
only to their members, allowing them to travel from house to house and still
be known.
(6) Masonry is a religion, right?
Wrong.
Masonry is not a religion "by the definitions most people use. Religion,
as the term is
commonly used, implies several things: a plan for salvation or path by which
one reaches
the after-life; a theology which attempts to describe the nature of God;
and the
description of ways or practices by which a man or woman may seek to communicate
with God. Masonry does none of those things. We offer no plan of salvation.
With the
exception of saying that He is a loving Father who desires only good for
His children, we
make no effort to describe the nature of God. And while we open and close
our meetings
with prayer, and we teach that no man should ever begin any important undertaking
without first seeking the guidance of God, we never tell a man how he should
pray or for
what he should pray. Instead, we tell him that he must find the answers
to these great
questions in his own faith, in his church or synagogue or other house of
worship. We urge
men not to neglect their spiritual development and to be faithful in the
practice of their
religion. As the Grand Lodge of England wrote in 'Freemasonry and Religion',
'Freemasonry is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in
religious practice,
it expects each member to follow his own faith, and to place above all other
duties his
duty to God by whatever name He is known.' Masonry itself makes only a simple
religious demand on a man--he must believe that he has an immortal soul
and he must
believe in God. No atheist can be a Mason." (Dr. Jim Tresner, 33rd
degree)
"Freemasonry has no dogma or theology. It teaches that it is important
for every man to
have a religion of his choice and to be faithful to it. A good Mason is
made even more
faithful to the tenets of his faith by membership." (Rev. Norman Vincent
Peale, who is
also a Mason)
(7) Are Masons really controlling the world/meeting with the Bavarian
Illuminati/members of the Trilateralist Commission/etc?
Yes, not to mention the International Jewish Conspiracy, the Elders of Zion,
Inver Brass,
S.P.E.C.T.R.E., and the minions of Cthulhu.
<ahem> Anyone who believes that Masons are the Master Puppeteers of
the globe either is
pulling your leg, has read too much Robert Anton Wilson, or is in need of
serious
psychotherapy.
(8) Masons are anti-Catholic, right?
Wrong. There is nothing anti-Catholic in Masonry, in its traditions, its
rituals, or its
beliefs.
(9) Masonic rituals are demeaning or embarrassing to the candidate, right?
Nothing could be further from the truth. The rituals (degrees) are designed
to reinforce
virtues that the Craft finds desirable, such as Justice, Brotherly Love,
Truth, and the like.
The rituals are actually quite beautiful and filled with ancient language
and much
symbolism. At no point, however, is the candidate asked to do anything that
would
embarrass or demean him, nor anything that would violate his obligations
to his faith,
country, or the law.
(10) I heard/read a Mason talking about a "Masonic Bible". Do
Masons have their own
Bible?
"No. The Bibles sometimes called 'Masonic Bibles' are just Bibles to
which a concordance,
giving the Biblical citations on which the Masonic Ritual is based, has
been added.
Sometimes reference material on Masonic history is included. Anyone is welcome
to read
one." (Dr. Jim Tresner, 33rd degree)
(11) I see that Masonic buildings are called Temples. Does that mean that
Masons
worship there?
No. "Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary provides a definition
for the word
'temple' which is as good an explanation as any: 'a building, usually of
imposing size,
serving the public or an organization in some special way; as, a temple
of art, a Masonic
temple'". (Dr. Jim Tresner. 33rd degree)
V. HOW DO I BECOME A MASON? (1) What are the requirements for becoming a
Mason? (2) Can <fill in an ethnic group>s be Masons? (3) Can homosexuals
be Masons? (4)
I have a physical disability. Can I be a Mason? (5) Can <fill in the
name of the religion> be
a Mason? (6) Can Catholics be Masons? (7) Can Wiccans be Masons? (8) What
if my
religion does not allow the swearing of oaths? (9) Do I have to be invited?
(10) OK, I'm
interested-- how do I proceed?
(1) What are the requirements for becoming a Mason?
Candidates must be male, at least 21 years of age, able to profess a belief
in God, and of
good character.
For information on mixed-sex Masonry, see the discussion on Co-Masonry in
II, 7.
Some Grand Lodges also have a residency requirement; for example, the Grand
Lodge of
Michigan requires candidates to have lived in its jurisdiction (Michigan)
for a minimum
of one year.
There are some exceptions to the age requirement. For example, in England
and Virginia,
the direct relatives of Master Masons in good standing are eligible to join
at the age of 18.
In some jurisdictions, DeMolays may join upon reaching their 18th birthday.
(2) Can <fill in an ethnic group>s be Masons?
Any human who meets the requirements listed in question (1) of this section
is eligible,
regardless of race or color.
Some have speculated that while there is no official prohibition against,
say, blacks or
Asians from becoming Masons, there is a de facto prohibition because they
would never be
voted into a lodge. This is false. There are Masons of all ethnic backgrounds.
However, it is fair to state that Masons, as humans, are prone to the kinds
of prejudices
that all humans may succumb to. Since the vote to admit a candidate is anonymous
and
must be unanimous, one man's unspoken prejudice is sufficient to deny entry
to a man
(except, of course, in those jurisdictions which require more than one 'no'
vote to deny
entrance, but you get the idea). Prejudice is inexcusable and irreconcilable
with Masonry,
but then, it is also irreconcilable with Christianity, Judaism, and Islam,
and there are
certainly Christians, Jews, and Muslims who harbor prejudices.
So it is possible that a Mason, acting unMasonically, could act to keep
a member out
without due cause. But this is not common, nor is it representative of Masonry
in general,
nor does it conform to the high ideals of Masonry.
(3) Can homosexuals be Masons?
Yes, and there are homosexual Masons. Everything said in question (2) of
this section
holds true in this case as well. There is the consideration that some men
may view
homosexuality as being immoral, i.e., that homosexuals are not men of "good
character".
This is generally not due to any specific prejudice but rather due to religious
belief
(depending on how one interprets St. Paul, for example). However, judging
by
conversation on alt.freemasonry, it is safe to say that Masons generally
would not regard
homosexuality as a barrier to membership.
(4) I have a physical disability. Can I be a Mason?
The answer is almost certainly yes, provided you can attend Lodge (and meet
the non-
physical criteria in question (1) of this section). Paraplegics have been
made Masons, as
have the blind, the deaf, and others with a variety of physical handicaps.
Minor
modifications may need to be done to the rituals (e.g., employing sign language,
modifying points where the candidate stands if the candidate is in a wheelchair,
etc.) but
most Lodges are willing to accommodate candidates.
In medieval times, the requirement to have a sound body free of physical
defect was a
serious one, since the work of stonemasonry was physically difficult. Some
Grand Lodges
did carry this requirement into symbolic (i.e., non-operative) Masonry.
However, in
recent times this has all but been eliminated. Talk to your local Lodge
if you have any
questions.
(5) Can <fill in the name of the religion> be a Mason?
The only religious requirement is that candidates believe in the Supreme
Being. If you
can in you can in good faith profess a belief in the Supreme Being, you
are eligible to be a
Mason. No atheists will ever knowingly be made a Mason.
There are Christian (Catholic, Protestant, Mormon), Jewish, and Muslim Masons.
It
would be tedious and pointless to go into a religion-by-religion (and then
denomination-
by-denomination) discussion. The key points to remember are the requirement
of belief
in the supreme being and the fact that Masonry is a fraternity, not a religion.
(6) Can Catholics be Masons?
Yes.
Catholicism is only mentioned specifically because it has generated a lot
of traffic in the
past on the Masonic newsgroups. There is no prohibition in any Grand Lodge
jurisdiction
against Catholics being made Masons. The answer on the Catholic side of
the coin is also
yes. If you have questions, please contact your local Lodge or Grand Lodge,
or your
priest. Andrew Fabbro (afabbro@umich.edu) (who is both a Catholic and a
Mason)
would be happy to discuss this with you at greater length if you need more
information.
Please bear in mind that discussion of this subject on the Masonic newsgroups
invariably
generates a very high noise-to-signal ratio.
(7) Can Wiccans be Masons?
This religion is specifically mentioned only because it has been often debated
on
alt.freemasonry. It is possible to get into very involved discussions on
the nature of
Wiccan beliefs and their compatibility with Masonry, but the only possible
arbitrator is
your Grand Lodge. To that end, it is suggested that if you have more specific
questions,
contact your local Lodge.
Again, the same could be said about a number of religions, and Wicca is
only mentioned
specifically because it has been brought up repeatedly on the Masonic newsgroups.
Please
bear in mind that discussion of this subject on the USENET Masonic newsgroups
invariably generates more heat than light.
(8) What if my religion does not allow the swearing of oaths?
Some Grand Lodges allow affirmations to be used instead of the traditional
Masonic oath.
This is more common in Europe than in the United States. In all cases, it
is best to check
with the Grand Lodge in your jurisdiction (or your local Lodge) for more
specific
information.
(9) Do I have to be invited?
Don't wait to be invited-- you will die waiting. Masons are prohibited from
actively
recruiting or asking non-Masons to join the fraternity, to insure that candidates
come of
their own free will.
(10) OK, I'm interested-- how do I proceed?
If you know a Mason, ask him about membership. He will be glad to tell you
all about
the Craft and the local lodge, and give you a petition if you wish to join.
If you do not know a Mason, drop a letter to the local lodge, and one of
the officers will
call you (or call the lodge, though you may not get an answer unless someone
is actually
there).
Typically, the process is as follows:
(a) the applicant fills out a petition. The petition asks for two sponsors,
though if you
meet and talk with the officers, they can usually find sponsors or act as
sponsors
themselves if you do not know anyone in the lodge.
(b) the petition is read at the lodge during the next business meeting,
which for many
lodges is during the first week of the month. A committee is formed to investigate
the
candidate. The petition also asks for two character references.
(c) the committee meets with the candidate to answer questions, ascertain
that he meets
the criteria for membership, and find out a little about him. This is not
a "grilling
session", but rather a friendly and casual chat to make certain that
the candidate has been
properly informed about Masonry and that he is a worthy candidate. The committee
also
contacts the character references listed on the petition (typically asking
if they know any
reason why the candidate should not be accepted, etc.)
(d) The committee reports back to the lodge during the next business meeting
and the
candidate is voted on. If accepted, someone from the lodge (often the Secretary)
contacts
the candidate and informs him that he has been accepted and schedules a
date for the
Entered Apprentice degree.
NOTE: This is based on the summation of several experiences in the U.S.
Your mileage
may vary.
VI. HISTORY (1) Where did Masons come from? (2) What US Presidents have
been
Masons? (3) Was Thomas Jefferson a Mason? Patrick Henry? Abraham Lincoln?
(4)
What famous people have been Masons? (5) What famous buildings in the US
have been
laid Masonically? *(6)* What's the difference between AF&AM and F&AM?
(7) Was
Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church, a Mason? (8) What is the oldest
Lodge
Room in the world? In the US? (9) Is it true that all of George Washington's
generals
during the Revolutionary War were Masons? (10) Is it true that all the signers
of the
Declaration of Independence were Masons? The Articles of Confederation?
The
Constitution? (11) George Washington turned down the title of "Grand
Master of the
United States"-- true? (12) Why do some Lodges meet on a certain day
of the week
"following the full moon"? Are Masons some kind of moon worshippers?
(13) Did
Masons suffer at the hands of the Nazis? *(14)* Are Masons connected to
Greek-letter
college fraternities? *(15)* I want information on Masonic history. What
books would be
good introductions? (16) My local Library doesn't have any books on Freemasonry,
where
can I find them? *(17)* What movies/books feature Masonry?
(1) Where did Masons come from?
A fascinating question! And, alas, impossible to answer within the confines
of this FAQ.
There are a number of theories, a lot of debate, and a lot of musty history
books. Some
of the books listed in question 15 of this section should be of help. As
a *very* brief
overview, here is part of an essay by Henry C. Clausen, a noted Masonic
author. This is,
of course, just one point of view-- many other theories exist, but Cluasen
nicely covers the
basics:
"Our Masonic antiquity is demonstrated by a so-called Regius Poem written
around the
year 1390, when King Richard II reigned in England, a century before Columbus.
It was
part of the King's Library that George II presented to the British Museum
in 1757.
Rediscovered by James O. Halliwell, a non-Mason, and rebound in its present
form in
1838, it consists of 794 lines of rhymed English verse and claims there
was an
introduction of Masonry into England during the reign of Athelstan, who
ascended the
throne in A.D. 925. It sets forth regulations for the Society, fifteen articles
and fifteen
points and rules of behavior at church, teaching duties to God and Church
and Country,
and inculcating brotherhood. While the real roots of Masonry are lost in
faraway mists,
these items show that our recorded history goes back well over 600 years.
Further proof is
furnished through English statutes as, for example, one of 1350 (25 Edward
III, Cap. III)
which regulated wages of a "Master...Mason at 4 pence per day."
The Fabric Role of the
12th century Exeter Cathedral referred to "Freemasons."
The historical advance of science also treats of our operative ancient brethren
who were
architects and stonemasons of geometry. It is apparent from this portrayal
that they had
a very real and personal identification with the Deity and that this fervent
devotion
provided energy to build cathedrals. They embraced the teachings of Plato
and
understood and applied Pythagorean relationships. Just as there is a beauty
of harmony
credited to mathematical relationships on which music is based, in precisely
the same way
these master geometricians treated architecture. The architects and stonemasons
became
the personification of geometry, performing extraordinary feats with squares
and
compasses. Geometrical proportion, not measurement, was the rule. Their
marks as
stonemasons were derived from geometric constructions. The mighty works
they
wrought, cathedrals with Gothic spires pointing toward the heavens, and
especially their
"association," were not without danger and opposition, bearing
in mind the Inquisition
established in 1229, the Saint Bartholomew's Eve Massacre of 1572, and the
revocation of
the Edict of Nantes in 1685. These historical points remind us of the need
for our
cautions against cowans and eavesdroppers.
Our operative Brethren of the Middle Ages thus were the builders of mighty
cathedrals
throughout the British Isles and continental Europe, many of which still
stand. These
skilled craftsmen wrote in enduring stone impressive stories of achievement,
frequently
chiseled with symbolic markings. With these architectural structures of
these master
builders there was a companion moral code. These grew up together. Out of
this
background modern Freemasonry was born.
Although "Lodges" had existed for centuries, four of the "old"
Lodges met in London on
St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1717, and formed the first Grand Lodge
of England,
thereafter known as the Premier Grand Lodge of the world. No longer operative
as of
old, the Masons carried on the traditions and used the tools of the craft
as emblems to
symbolize principles of conduct in a continued effort to build a better
world.
The American colonial Masonic organizations stemmed from this Grand Lodge
of
England and were formed soon after 1717. Its then Grand Master appointed
Colonel
Daniel Coxe as Provincial Grand Master of New York, New Jersy and Pennsylvania
on
June 5, 1730, and Henry Price of Boston as Provincial Grand Master of New
England in
April 1733." -- Henry C. Clausen
(2) What US Presidents have been Masons?
George Washington James Madison Andrew Jackson James Polk James Buchanan
James
Garfield William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Warren
Harding
Franklin D. Roosevelt Lyndon B. Johnson Harry S. Truman Gerald R. Ford
It should be noted:
William Howard Taft was made a Mason At Sight by the Grand Master of Ohio
and later
raised to Grand Master of Ohio in 1909. Harry S. Truman was also Grand Master
of his
home state, Missouri. Lyndon B. Johnson only took the Entered Apprentice
degree. Bill
Clinton was not a Mason, though he was involved in DeMolay for a time.
Many other leaders in government have been Masons: "They have included
fourteen
Presidents and eighteen Vice Presidents of the United States; a majority
of the Justices of
the United States Supreme Court, of the Governors of States, of the members
of the
Senate, and a large percentage of the Congressmen. Five Chief Justices of
the United
States were Masons and two were Grand Masters. The five were Oliver Ellsworth,
John
Marshall (also Grand Master of Masons in Virginia), William Howard Taft,
Frederick M.
Vinson and Earl Warren (also Grand Master of Masons in California.)"
-- Henry C.
Clausen
(3) Was Thomas Jefferson a Mason? Patrick Henry? Abraham Lincoln?
No, no, and no. As for the first two, "an exhaustive search of Masonic
records in Virginia,
and elsewhere, offers no iota of evidence to make them Freemasons. Jefferson
participated
in the cornerstone laying of his University at Charlottesville, which was
done Masonically.
He praised Freemasonry and his own words proved he had never been a member
of the
Craft." (FMBITS.TXT)
There is some evidence that Abraham Lincoln intended to become a Mason when
he
returned to Springfield after his second term in office, had he not been
assassinated in
1865.
(4) What famous people have been Masons?
This is by no means a complete list.
FROM THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (other than Presidents): Benjamin Franklin,
John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Paul Jones, LaFayette, Rufus King, James
Otis, Baron
von Steuben, Joseph Warren
POLITICAL LEADERS: Winston Churchill, Simon Bolivar, Edmund Burke, Benito
Juarez, Edward VII, George VI, Bernardo O'Higgins, Jose' de San Martin,
Francisco de
Paula Santander, Jose'Rizal, Jose' Marti, Pandit Nehru, Lajos Kossuth, Jonas
Furrer,
Guiseppe Mazzini, Eduard Benes, John A. MacDonald, Aaron Burr, George McGovern,
Barry Goldwater, Estes Kefauver, Adlai Stevenson (not the governor of Illinois,
but his
father who was Vice President in 1892), Thomas E. Dewey, Alf Landon, Hubert
H.
Humphrey, Wendell Wilke
MILITARY LEADERS: Omar Bradley, John J. Pershing, Douglas McArthur, General
Winfield Scott, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS: Sam Houston, Stephen Austin, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie,
William B. Travis (and, it should be added, General Santa Ana)
FINE ARTS: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig von Beethoven, Jean Sibelius,
Franz
von Liszt, Josef Hayden, Irving Berlin, Gutzon Borglum, Charles W. Peale,
Alfons M.
Mucha, John Philip Sousa, both Gilbert & Sullivan, George Gershwin,
George M. Cohen
ACTORS: John Wayne, Red Skelton, Clark Gable, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers,
Burl Ives,
Roy Rogers, Danny Thomas
INDUSTRY & LABOR: Henry Ford, Samuel Gompers, Walter P. Chrysler, John
Wanamaker, S.S. Kresge, J.C. Penney, John Jacob Astor, John L. Lewis
ADVENTURERS: Lewis & Clark, Charles A. Lindberg, Kit Carson
PHILOSOPHERS: Francois Voltaire, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Gottholf E.
Lessing
ATHELETES: Bob Feller, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, Paul "Dizzy" Trout,
Harry Carey,
Dell Rice, Jimmy Fox, Joe Tinker (of "Tinker to Evers to Chance"),
Jack Dempsey,
Arnold Palmer
ASTRONAUTS: Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr., Leroy Gordon Cooper,
Donn F. Eisele,
Virgil I. Grissom, Edgar D. Mitchell, Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Thomas P.
Stafford, Paul J.
Weitz, James B. Irwin, John Glenn, Wally Schirra.
WRITERS: Mark Twain, Sir Walter Scott, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Burns, Wassily
I.
Maikow, Heinrich Heine, Jean P.C. de Florian, Leopoldo Lugoner, Antonio
de Castro
Alves, James Boswell
LAW: John Marshall, Earl Warren
MEDICINE: Drs. Alexander Fleming, Jules Bordet, Antoine DePage, Edward Jenner,
Charles and William Mayo, Karl and William Menninger
SCIENCE: Hans C. Orsted, Jons Jakob Frk. von Berzelius, Alfred Edmund Brehm,
Luther Burbank, Johan Ernst Gunnerus, Albert Abraham Michelson, Gaspard
Monge,
C.F.S. Hahnemann, Pedro N. Arata
...as well as Norman Vincent Peale, David Sarnoff, Thomas J. Watson, Giuseppe
Garibaldi, Cecil J. Rhodes, Marvin Zindler, and many, many more.
(5) What famous buildings in the US have been laid Masonically?
The U. S. Capitol The Smithsonian Institution Jackson Hall The National
Education
Association Building The Army War College Building House of Representatives
Office
Building The Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is in Alexandria, Virginia, and honors our first
President and
Brother Mason, George Washington. (FMBITS.TXT)
*(6)* What's the difference between AF&AM and F&AM?
F&AM means "Free & Accepted Masons." AF&AM means "Ancient
Free & Accepted
Masons". In practical terms, there is no difference, since the jurisdictions
that are termed
"ancient" F&AM are no different than those that are simply
F&AM. The distinction is a
historical one, owing to differences in Grand Lodge names. (someone will
provide more
information on this topic, I hope)
(7) Was Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon Church, a Mason?
(This section provided by Brother Bob Dixon; the use of the first person
is his)
"Joseph Smith was a mason, as were the following four presidents of
the LDS church.
From about 1839 to about 1846 most of the members of the church gathered
to Nauvoo,
Illinois, and there were at least four lodges in operation there. Joseph
Smith was a very
flamboyant individual and had a disagreement with the Grand Lodge of Illinois
over the
way the Nauvoo lodges were operated. Accordingly, their charters were revoked
by the
Grand Lodge.
He was murdered by a mob in 1844, and Brigham Young felt it was as a result
of a
masonic conspiracy. He prohibited Mormons from being Masons, which remained
in
effect until the last ten years or so. The ill feelings went both ways,
as the Grand Lodge of
Utah refused to accept Mormons as members until about 1984.
There are no particular restrictions on Mormons being Masons. We are continually
counselled to put our families and Christ first, which many interpret as
counsel to avoid
most activities outside family and church. This is a personal choice, though,
and not a
matter of strict doctrine.
We perform certain ordinances such as baptisms for the dead and eternal
marriages in our
temples, and minor portions of those ordinances bear very surface similarity
to parts of the
Masonic degrees. The whole scope and character is much different, though.
Where (I
feel, anyway) that the masonic degree work revolves around our place in
God's kingdom
here on the earth, our temple rituals deal with creation and our place in
the eternities."
(A minor historical note: Smith was made a Mason at Sight by the Grand Master
of
Illinois)
(8) What is the oldest Lodge Room in the world? In the US?
"St. John's Chapel, Edinburgh, Scotland is said to be the oldest Masonic
Lodge Room
(1736) in the world. The oldest known Lodge Room in the U.S. is situated
in Prentiss
House, Marble head, Massachusetts (1760).The oldest Masonic Lodge Building
is the
Lodge Hall of Royal White Hart Lodge No. 2, Halltax, Northings, North Carolina
(1771)." (FMBITS.TXT)
Other information disagrees with this, stating that the oldest American
Lodge Room is
"Masons Hall in Richmond, Virginia, the home of Richmond Randolph Lodge
No. 19
and Richmond Royal Arch Chapter No. 3. The building owned by Royal White
Hart
Lodge wasn't built until 1821. Masons Hall was built in 1785. It was originally
the home
of Richmond Lodge No. 10, the first wholly new Lodge chartered by the Grand
Lodge of
Virginia. It was also the first permanent home of the Grand Lodge of Virginia."
(from
Northern Light)
(9) Is it true that all of George Washington's generals during the Revolutionary
War were
Masons?
No. 33 of the generals serving under Washington were Masons. A substantial
number,
but not "all".
(10) Is it true that all the signers of the Declaration of Independence
were Masons? The
Articles of Confederation? The Constitution?
No. Masons constituted ten of the signers of the Articles, nine signers
of the Declaration,
and thirteen signers of the Constitution.
Additionally, Edmund Randolph, Grand Master of Virginia, was an active participant
at
the Constitutional Convention, though he didn't sign the document. It should
also be
noted that four Presidents of the Continental Congresses were Freemasons:
Peyton
Randolph of Virginia, John Hancock of Massachusetts, Henry Laurens of South
Carolina,
and Arthur St. Clair of Pennsylvania. (Northern Light)
(11) George Washington turned down the title of "Grand Master of the
United States"--
true?
Yes, sort of. The American Union Lodge proposed that Washington become "General
Grand Master of the United States", a title to be held in the "National
Grand Lodge".
However, there were many others who also disagreed with the idea, so it
was never a
serious proposal.
Washington was Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22 in Virginia, whose Grand
Master was
then Edmund Randolph. Washington was never Grand Master of Virginia (or
any other
jurisdiction).
(12) Why do some Lodges meet on a certain day of the week "following
the full moon"?
Are Masons some kind of moon worshippers?
The reason is actually simple practicality. Masonic Lodges meet at night,
since their
membership typically works during the day. Before street lights were available
in the 19th
century, men walked to Lodge in the dark of night and it was common to schedule
Lodge
meetings shortly after a full moon to provide maximum illumination for Brothers'
walk to
and from Lodge.
Obviously, this is no longer an issue, though some Lodges whose history
stretches back
into the 19th century or earlier still schedule their meetings by the moon's
period. These
are sometimes referred to as "moon Lodges".
(13) Did Masons suffer at the hands of the Nazis?
Yes. The exact numbers are unknown. Lt. Col. David Boyd wrote that 85,000
German
Masons were killed by the Nazis, though other research has found that this
number may
be off by as much as a third. This figure does not include any of the nations
the Nazis
occupied.
Regardless of the actual number killed, it is clear that Hitler viewed Masonry,
which exalts
truth, toleration, brotherly love, and free thought, to be dangerous and
a threat to his
regime. Ironically, in his last days in his bunker in Berlin, Hitler had
a painting of
Frederick the Great in his chambers. Frederick the Great was a Mason.
*(14)* Are Masons connected to Greek-letter fraternities?
*(15)* I want information on Masonic history. What books would be good
introductions?
Virtually anything by Allen Roberts.
Robinson, John J. _A Pilgrim's Path_ Robinson, John J. _Born in Blood_
Stevenson, David, PhD. _The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's Century 1590-1710_
(Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988).
_Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia_ is an excellent reference.
Any book by Bro. Allen Roberts
(16) My local Library doesn't have any books on Freemasonry, where can I
find them?
Many Lodges maintain their own libraries as do the Grand Lodges. Some larger
public
Libraries also may have a better collection than a smaller Library. Unfortunately,
bookstores do not typically carry a wide assortment of Masonic related books,
however,
there are several sources to purchase books:
Macoy Publishing (804) 262-6551 P.O. Box 9759 Richmond, VA 23228
Anchor Communications (804) 737-4498 110 Quince Ave. Drawer 70 Highland
Springs, VA 23075
*(17)* What movies/books feature Masonry?
_The Man Who Would Be King_, by (Brother) Rudyard Kipling. A good story,
later
made into an excellent film, starring Michael Caine, Sean Connery, and Christopher
Plummer. Its portrayal of Masonic history is quite fanciful, of course.
_Murder by Decree_ A Sherlock Holmes movie, concerning the Master Sleuth's
hunt for
Jack the Ripper. It does not portray Masonry in an honest, accurate, or
favorable light. A
good movie, but it is important to remember that no Mason would ever knowingly
commit a crime for a Brother. Incidentally, Edward VII was actually a Mason.
(The
story is not one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's).
There is also a modest body of Masonic poetry: Kipling's "The Palace"
and "Mother
Lodge," Burns's "Masonic Farewell," Goethe's "Mason
Lodge," Leigh Hunt's "Abou Ben
Adhem," Carruth's "Each in His Own Tongue," Burns's "On
the Apron," Meredith's
"Ebony Staff of Solomon," Bowman's "Voice of America,"
Malloch's "Father's Lodge"
and Nesbit's "I Sat in Lodge with You." (Carl H. Claudy)