Freemasonry
is one of the world's oldest fraternal societies.
The lessons Freemasonry teaches in its ceremonies are to do with
moral values (governing relations between people) and its acknowledgement,
without in any way crossing the boundaries of religion, that everything
depends on the providence of God. Freemasons feel that these lessons
apply just as much today as they did when it took its modern form
at the turn of the 17th century. Despite what many people claim,
Freemasonry is not in any way a secret society. Freemasonry's so-called
secrets are solely used as a ceremonial way of demonstrating that
one is a Freemason when in Lodge meetings. In any case, they have
been exposed by the media for almost as long as Freemasonry has
existed and are not important information anyway. The real point
of a Freemason promising not to reveal them is basically a dramatic
way of promising to keep one's promises in general.Other reasons
why Freemasonry cannot be called a secret society are that Freemasons
do not promise to keep their membership secret (they can tell anyone
they wish), where and when Freemasons meet are matters of public
record (you can look up masonic centres in telephone directories)
and our rule book, the Book of Constitutions and our aims are readily
available to anyone.
It is ironic that because Freemasons used to be reticent about their
membership (because they were and still are taught never to use
it to advance their own interests), critics have taken this the
wrong way round and think that there is something secretive and
nasty going on. Nothing could be further from the truth. Masonic
ceremonies are secular morality plays which are learned by heart
by members of the lodge for the benefit of the person who is becoming
a Freemason or who wishes to explore Freemasonry further. Each ceremony
has a message for the candidate. A further reason why Freemasons
do not go around broadcasting their contents is simply because it
would spoil it for the candidate - exactly as in the same way you
would not tell someone the ending of a book or a film. Under the
English Constitution, basic Freemasonry is divided into two parts,
called the Craft and the Royal Arch. For Freemasons who really want
to explore the subject in more depth there is a host of other ceremonies,
which, for historical reasons, are not administered by the United
Grand Lodge of England.All English Freemasons experience the three
Craft (or basic) ceremonies unless they drop out from Freemasonry
very early on. These three ceremonies (or degrees as we call them)
look at the relations between people, man's natural equality and
his dependence on others, the importance of education and the rewards
of labour, fidelity to a promise, contemplation of inevitable death,
and one's duty to others. A fourth ceremony - the Royal Arch emphasises
man's dependence on God.Although all Freemasons are required to
profess and continue in a belief in a Supreme Being, and their ceremonies
include prayers, Freemasonry is not in any way a substitute for
religion. It has and can have no theological doctrines, it offers
no sacraments, and it does not claim to lead to salvation. By having
prayers at its meetings Freemasonry is no more in competition with
religion than, say, having a meal at which grace is said.Furthermore,
Freemasons are not allowed to discuss religion at meetings. English
Freemasonry is also strictly non-political and the discussion of
politics at masonic meetings is expressly forbidden. These rules
both stem from Freemasonry's aims to encourage its members to discover
what people from all different backgrounds have in common. As is
all too well known, debate about religion and politics has all too
often led, when allowed to run riot, to discrimination, persecution
and war.A Freemason is thus basically encouraged to do his duty
first to his God (by whatever name he is known) through his faith
and religious practice, and then, without detriment to his family
and those dependent on him, to his neighbour through charity and
service. None of these ideas is exclusive to Freemasonry, but all
should be universally acceptable and Freemasons are expected to
follow them.
