So the options seem to be that the genuine secrets:
- are a marketing ploy - were not made available to the London Masons of 1717 - were held by some brethren in London after 1717 but were not communicated/understood by the new brethren - were held by a more secret organisation that sponsored Masonry - were partially hidden in the ritual (but eroded by editors) - were lost in the distant past through absence of critical brethren as allegorised in the ritual - have not been provided but are sometimes achieved by individual brethren.
The function of the various Grand Lodges/Orients etc. seems to be primarily to run a social club with charitable purposes. While good on all counts it does not qualify as an organization with special secrets about the destiny of man or any other animal for that matter.
Indeed it wasn't, it was grafted on at least and may point to other elements within the proto-masonic movement. The evidence that Masonry even has something to do with . . . something else is yet to be seen.
Quite so. There may well have been or may be some more profound organisation that sponsors Masonry.
Some years ago I was reading Harry Carr and, reading between the lines it seemed possible to identify the lodge in which the 3rd degree was introduced.
One of the points that struck me was that the Master of that lodge was not actually a member of the lodge. From where did he draw the authority to take over the lodge?
I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that there are certain sponsors of Masonry. It could be likely that a movement, or more likely a loosely affiliated group with similar ideas infested the early Masonic lodges. That would explain the proliferation of more degrees and other oddities of philosophy.
I will do nothing of the sort. I would never do that on an open forum at which any cowan could claim pre-knowledge or perfect knowledge of. Some secrets are meant to be kept and these days I am far from having the desire or energy to help those that wish to remain ignorant. I simply don't care anymore.
I have been attacked and deleted for even entering into the conversation. I won't be surprised if this is deleted as well. I don't care about that either.
Kabbalism flourished among the Jews in Spain from at least the ninth century, the general population hated the Jews forcing the Kabbalists to conduct their operations in secret, their ceremonies were referred to as the Mysteries.
The Kabbalists were described in Hebrew as Bennaim, "Builders".
If you want to know more then I suggest you read this book from top to bottom.