Posted by ancientlight on Jul 17, 2014 in Uncategorized | 0 comments
WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?
What is there about Freemasonry that has attracted the patronage of kings, potentates and presidents? What is there about Freemasonry that has caused such men as Sir John A. Macdonald, and over a dozen premiers of this province, to value their membership? What is there about Freemasonry that has brought down upon it the abuse of totalitarian regimes and religious zealots? What is there about Freemasonry that has enabled it to survive persecution under tyrants, and caused it to flourish wherever people are free? What is Freemasonry?
Some say that Freemasonry is a liberal education, but that does not satisfy. It may be one source for a liberal education, for those who devote sufficient time to study its lessons and teachings. But Freemasonry can only supply the material. It can only educate those who choose to be educated.
Some say Freemasonry is a religion. But Freemasonry denies this. True, there are within the lessons and teachings of Freemasonry full instructions for living an upright and godly life. Freemasonry teaches that death is not an ending but a journey. And freemasons invoke the name of God on all their undertakings. But belief about God is religion, while belief in God is faith. And Freemasonry welcomes men of all faiths, regardless of religion.
Freemasonry has been called a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Pretty words. But every freemason amongst the millions will have his own explanation for each allegory and each symbol. No two may agree, but each will agree that every explanation is correct for himself, and the others are equally entitled to our regard and respect.
What does Freemasonry require its members to believe? What does it require of them? Freemasonry asks its members to believe nothing except what, to their own minds, seems reasonable. Freemasonry requires no brother to do anything beyond what he knows he should do, whether or not he is obliged to do it. About all that Freemasonry asks its members is that they behave in this life, in preparation for the next.
To this end Freemasonry contains many beautiful ceremonies that illustrate these simple points.
If we knew from whence came the principles, the lessons, the teachings of Freemasonry, perhaps we might find a definition of Freemasonry. But the principles — the great truths upon which it is founded — existed from the beginning of time. They have existed in full splendor from that time to this. And will exist until time shall be no more.
If we knew what conditions existed when time began, or what they will be when time ceases, we might have a basis for a brief definition of Freemasonry.
Students have spent lifetimes delving into the mysteries of Freemasonry without discovering a concise, or even full, answer to our question. There is no ready answer for the world, that the world would understand. Freemasonry is an institution. It is more than a theory. It is more than a philosophy of life. It is what is in the heart, not always what the tongue proclaims.
There may be no better answer than this: Freemasonry is what freemasons are.
To learn more about Freemasonry in Delta BC, or in Masonry in general please visit http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/info.html