We are told that Masonry is universally spread across the Earth but that is not obvious.
Firstly 70% of the Earth surface is water and perhaps half of the land mass is scarcely inhabited being too inhospitable.
So perhaps "universally spread" does not refer to geography.
What about universally spread throughout humanity?
That is a bit tricky too. English-speaking Masonry generally excludes women, and may exclude those who do not have a holy book e.g. Deists and those from oral religious traditions - unless of course they are willing to swear on the holy book of another.
Also, applicants that do not relate to the word "God" or to the idea of revelation may well not be accepted. They may consciously experience the flow of Existence but if they are not willing to use the concept of a Divine Being, they may well be excluded.
So what do we mean when we say Masonry is universally spread over the surface of the Earth?
So the term "universal" is not a reference either to geography or humanity?
But it is tricky to assert that every (human) body has a soul. If the soul enters the system sometime before birth, perhaps it can exit some time before death.
My dying friend appeared to me exactly 24 hours before she died, but I don't know if that was her soul or not.
I do believe that sometimes the personality leaves the body before death and mischievous spirits take over the weakened vehicle. ie The nice little old lady nearing death and who suddenly swears like a trooper and rants and raves, demonstrating a personality never shown during a long life.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
>nice little old lady nearing death and who suddenly swears like a trooper
We had one such. Very polite and well-behaved until quite elderly when she reverted to behaviour learned during her WW2 service. I understand that process to be that the higher parts have departed leaving the nature spirits of the lower chakras to their own devices.
Last Edit: Sept 22, 2019 11:16:19 GMT 9.5 by LorrB