Without resorting to the usual answered provided by the ritual book - how would you answer this question?
In my 20yr Masonic career, whenever this question is asked I have to pause and think.. and each time I tend to give a slightly different answer. I guess that might be a response to the personality asking the question but I find that I change my views on Masonry every now and then because even after all this time I still find the Masonic process mysterious. One sort of grows into it.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
Perhaps Wilmshurst gave as good an answer as anyone, i.e. "...neither a religion nor a philosophy, but at once a science and an art, a theory and a practice." Or, how about - "a system for living on all levels?"
.. again we have the diversity and the levels. Next time I am asked that question I will remember direct the enquirer to this thread. Can't you just anticipate the next question ... "What levels?" How does one explain levels to a newbie?
Most inquirers can distinguish physical from emotional from mental awareness.
The inquirers may consider that similar distinctions (levels) must exist at more profound (subtle) levels of Creation along with suitable flora and fauna.
Thus humanity on the Earth can be seen as one species in a range of spiritual beings that live throughout the Cosmos.
I like to use this quotation from Joseph Fort Newton (The Builders) to start the conversation about what is a Mason, and then work to the 'What is Freemasonry'.
When is a man a Mason? When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage. When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgive, and to love his fellow man. When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows, yea, even in their sins - knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds. When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them, and above all how to keep friends with himself. When he loves flowers, can hunt the birds without a gun, and feels the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child. When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life. When star-crowned trees, and the glint of sunlight on flowing waters, subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead. When no voice of distress reaches his ears in vain, and no hand seeks his aid without response. When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of higher things, and to see majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be. When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something besides mud, and into the face of the most forlorn mortal and see something beyond sin. When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope. When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellow man, with his God; in his hand a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a song - glad to live, but not afraid to die !
In such a man, whether he be rich or poor, scholarly or unlearned, famous or obscure, Masonry has wrought her sweet ministry!
Last Edit: May 26, 2010 14:54:35 GMT 9.5 by jzryk8
I loved your post on Joseph Fort Newton's view of what a Mason is. I will make good use of that piece, thank you so much for posting it. I aim to read Bro Howard's article as soon as I get time too.
... glad to live, but not afraid to die !
One of our younger members told our newest Initiate that one of the mysteries of our lodge was 'why everybody here looks so much younger than their real age'. I laughed (and then went home and looked in the mirror ) I can honestly say that it may be because our Freemasonry has made us ... glad to live, but not afraid to die !
The Lauderdale ritual does indeed pour the hidden knowledge into Masonic vessels. And our three journeys illustrate the above.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
Post by conflagratorofspirit on Nov 27, 2021 22:53:48 GMT 9.5
LorrB, I've yet to poke and prod at any of your topics. Last night I came across this post. This morning on my cold walk it came across me. I noticed that there are not very many responses to this question.
The "What is Freemasonry" question I'm sure differs among the members due to the fact that each is allowed to use their own mind to decide what it means to them(am I not correct?). Yet I have to ask the simplest of questions here and now to perhaps prepare you or any other brother, including myself for questions that might pop up after you give them your response.
The typical is this.
Freemason's are men that help other good men become better men. Why? Freemason's are men that take care of widows. Why?
Freemason's are men that help take care of orphans. Why?
Now these three questions stick deep in my mind this morning as I ask the "Why?" What would happen if Freemasonry(nor any other similar fraternity/organization) didn't exist?
Paul made a statement along the lines "the source wants everyone to do the "love" thing and its always wise to do what "the source(god)" wants us to do". If it is love that he desires, then why are those that love the most, most tormented with the afflictions of love? Why did the source put our energies inside of beings that are unable to take care of themselves? Why is it necessary to have to help humans "live"? The typical female animal can have its young, raise them until they leave and go off on their own. Now, is this how the "cavemen" did it? Why is God's most precious creation not intelligent enough to take care of itself without needing assistance from enlightened men? Are we not supposed to be the wondering idiot animal that traditionally eats, shits and sleeps? What is the end game? Is there no stopping point? To put a stopper in that Newton quote above, why are we placed in circumstances to where we must feel for another's pain, sins and realize how hard life has been for one another? So is that it? Freemasonry just teaches us to live and be happy with the miserable lives that we all suffer over and over and over again. Yeah I think being blind has its privileges perhaps.
So now, not as far as what is a freemason as much is the question, why are there Freemason's? I do not belive there is one Freemason alive or dead that can answer that question, as it is for God to answer. Anyone got his phone number?
The answer is given in the Entered Apprentice tracing board, but studiously ignored. We are told that the Freemasons' lodge/temple extends from E to W and N to S and from the center of the Earth to the Heavens. This is a very large temple and very few Freemasons have learned much about how to manage it.
One might conclude that Freemasonry since 1717 has largely failed.
Fortunately Earth humans born after about 1995 have a clear goal of managing the surface of the planet. This is a good start
A further step forward has occurred with the Artemis Accords about rights in the solar system
It seems that Earth humans had quite a lot of help to write the accords. Was an early draft presented in the Star Trek series?
) I can honestly say that it may be because our Freemasonry has made us ... glad to live, but not afraid to die !