The Secrets of FreeMasonry

Every now and again, I get individuals who will ask me how I feel regarding the secrets of FreeMasonry. To this must come the customary reply, "What secrets?" Answers come back, from Christ says that man should not have secrets (what happens in the darkness and all that stuff) to the Gadianton Robbers (see post here). Generally I ignore such comments as argument fodder, but thought I would address the topic here.

Masonry has two types of secrets; 1)traditional, and 2) philosophical.

The traditional secrets are no longer secrets. Since Speculative Masonry became public in 1717 there have been exposes of its secrets. When I had questions regarding the relationship between Masonry and Mormonism a gentleman, who would later become a Grand Master, directed me to Duncan's Ritual as a reference to my concerns. I still own that book and my wife at any time could open it and find out the traditonal "secrets." The secrets, the rituals, modes of recognition, etc., are nothing more than holdovers from a day when it was necessary that there be secrets. Don't get me wrong, I believe that these secrets are part of Masonry and are as integral, if not moreso, than anything else we physically do in a lodge room.

Masonry, or more appropriately, Masons have another secret, this secret cannot be read, wrote, or even discussed about as a whole. This is the philosophical secret of Masonry. Every single man who is initiated an Entered Apprentice leaves the Lodge Room with a philosophy regarding the instructions he just received. That philosophy is grown from the Mason's experiences coupled to the ritual of Masonry. For example, the lecture of the three great lights "The Holy Bible, Square, and Compasses," might be represented differently for the man whose Volume of Sacred Law is the Torah rather than the KJV of the Holy Bible. By being accessible to all, Masonry truly is that "peculiar system of morality, veiled in Allegory, and illustrated by Symbols."

This philosophy is individual, it can be discussed, wrote, or read about, but never on a level deeper than the individual, always maintaining its secrecy. Perhaps if previous generations had understood the difference between these two secrets perhaps we wouldn't have seen the missing generation that is not in the Lodge Room.

Ritual

The other night, Canyon Lodge initiated a brother into our solemn mysteries. It was another run of the mill initiations, everyone knew their parts and executed superbly. We had the pleasure though of having the Worshipful Grand Lecturer of the grand Lodge of utah present adn he presented the Entered Apprentice Lecture to our new brother.

There was a moment during that lecture when Worshipful Brother Allen fell inot his rythm and everything but he and the lecture faded away. Now, I must pre-empt my statements with the fact that I fancy myself a ritualist of some caliber; I have presented both the Fellow-Craft and Master Mason lectures numerous times, I am memorizing the Entered Apprentice lecture currently, I have read and re-read lectures, monitorial passages and degree work countless times. Last night though was if I had heard the lecture anew. True teaching was taking place that evening and our newly obligated brother was not the only student.

Friends, I truly love the ritual work of Freemasonry. The lessons of morality and rectitude of conduct that Masonry inculcates are taught through the edium of the ritual and nothing compares to ritual that is presented by a Master Ritualist. I also belong to another fraternal organization which, due to diminishing numbers, resorted to presenting recorded ritual to the new candidates. The lessons that could have been taught during these rituals were greand, exemplifying morality at its most basic and simple. yet, someting was lost in translation.

If ritual is so important, what makes a Master Ritualist? Memorization is basic, ritual should be presented from memory as accurately as possible. There is nothing more distracting for a candidate than brethren stumbling over their words because they hadn't take the time to study the ritual. But anyone can learn and memorize the ritual if they take the time, or show it on video for that matter.

No, there is something more to ritual. When the ritualist understands the ritual, begins to understand the lessons taught through it, and feels that he is imparting basic truths not only to the candidate but to the whole lodge, he no longer presents the ritual but faciliates it. When presented by the Master Rituatlist it becomes an entity separate from the presenter, the lodge, and the jurisdiction. It is this ritual that has lasted for near 300 years, spread across a whole globe, and has encouraged millions of men of various classes and creeds to knock upon Freemasonry's doors.

I firmly believe that the ritual is one of the most important parts of Freemasonry!

Sincerely, Fraternally, and Faithfully,

Holidays and Freemasonry

I love the holdiay season; people tend to be in happier modds, we try to think of our fellowmen, and I love the winter season in the Wasatch Mountains. In the space of two weeks we have four celebrations to encourage true Masonic living: 1) The Winter Solstice, 2) Christmas, 3) St. John the Evangelist Day, and 4) New Years. Each of these celebrations encourage us to remember that Day will lengthen over Night, that Light will overcome Darkness, Knowledge will rise above Ignorance, and that Life will vanquish Death. I thake the holiday season to evaluate my current road, recommit or make changes as necessary, hence the post!

First, I have been quite neglectful of this blog. That is going to change! I will also be changing the focus of it, before my goal was to discuss the relationship, in my mind at least, between Mormonism and Masonry. I have maintained another blog as well which has not delved into this topic, I do not hide the fact that I am L.D.S., but I have tried to keep the two separate. I realized though, that even if I can't have my religion in Lodge, I can have Lodge in my religion, and I should. Just as I can't separate my experience in Lodge from my L.D.S. perspective, I shouldn't try to separate the two in my diatribes. Hence, now my focus will be on MY relationship to Mormonism and Masonry and how both inter-relate in my life experience. Hopefully, my goal is to poast at least once a week.

Second, elections and installation in Canyon Lodge #13 have taken place. I have been humbled by the Brethren in their vote of confidence in electing me to the South. There a lot of exciting activites planned for the ensuing year and discussions and reports will be posted as these events occur.

Third, I believe that Masonry has made my life more positive than it was before I joined the Lodge. I don't believe Masonry is for everybody, I have met plenty of men who have been initiated and after seeing what Masonry really is - have said, this isn't for me. That attitude is okay. But Masonry has edified my life experience, both temporal and spiritual, and I should share those experiences. I ask for all brothers to share any common experience, question, or anecdote that relates to any blog, we all have much to learn, especially from someone who has already travelled the path before.

May we all reflect on the true message of the holiday season,

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Masonry, Religion, and Faith

As has already been stated on this blog, I am an avid motorcyclist. That is actually one of the reasons that I have not posted on this blog for a couple of weeks, I tend to write the post during my spare time throughout the week and then post on Sunday. Lately, however, I have been on a numerous amount of motorcycle trips and have not had the time to dedicate to the blog lately. Also, and the point of this post, due to the fact that it is not much fun to ride a motorcycle during Utah winters, I store my bike in my father's mechanic shop during the winter. This last winter my father had a family friend at the shop working on his motorcycle and he noticed the brake light decal of the square and compasses that I had on my brake light. In disbelief he asked, "Jason left the Church?" to which my father responded and dispelled that culturally engrained myth.

But, the idea that Masonry is a religion is a myth that is probably believed more today than it has in any other generation in the past. A great primer for this discussion is The Masonic Service Association of North America's Statement on Religion which can be found here.

Now, I would like to define a few terms for this discussion, Religion is the means of practicing one's Faith; the ceremonies, linguistic profile, culture, routine, etc. A person's Faith is the core set of beliefs pertaining to their ideas of salvation, the purpose of life, the hereafter, morality, virtue, etc. (Notice, I defined Faith, not faith) Most of the time, a person's Faith is concurrent with their Religion. In fact, I believe, if they are not that person has sold-out their Faith. I personally believe in the Faith that was restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith during the early to mid 1800's and I practice the Latter Day Saint Religion that embraces and expands on that revealed Faith.


But, there are definately religious-esce motifs and philosophy within the Masonic Rituals. In the Utah Jurisdiction, before a candidate is prepared to be initiated a few words of counsel are given to him. Throughout this lecture is the sentence,

"It [Freemasonry] is builded upon the abiding foundation of an unfeigned belief
in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man, and the Immortality of the
Soul."

This might sound very dogmatic, but look at many of the Faith groups throughout the world, and the different Religions throughout those Faith groups. Most of them share this common element, in fact most people throughout time have shared these three common beliefs. Freemasonry is builded upon a foundation known as The Perennial Philosophy. In short, The Perennial Philosophy, is the notion that eternal truths are innately known to man and that these truths have become present in most Faith groups throughout time.


These three specific truths are evident in all Faiths. Hence, the rituals, emblems, and symbols of Freemasonry are overtly Faith-based. This, though, does not make Freemasonry a Faith, let alone a Religion. But, Masonry is supportive of Faith and Religion. A man who does not have Faith will find no happiness in the mysteries of Freemasonry! Its very nature is to be subservient to the Faith of its members, no matter what Faith that might be, and hence, subservient to his Religion. For myself, Masonry has supported me in my Faith and my Religious practices, but it in no way dictates my Faith or my Religion.
Sincerely, Fraternally, and Faithfully,

Modes of Recognition

What makes a Saint or a Mason? According to Masonic lore, the grips of the Masonic degrees are used to tell one mason in the dark as well as the light. Every degree has a corresponding grip and word. Theoretically, a Master Mason would know all of the grips and passes while an Entered Apprentice would only know the ones corresponding to his degree.

There is also a common element in the L.D.S. Temple Endowment. Brigham Young, second President of the Church, Joseph Smith's successor, and Freemason said,

"Let me give you a definition in brief. Your endowment is to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being able to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell." (Discourse of Brigham Young, comp. John A Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1971], page 637)


So, is it knowing the keywords, signs, and token of the Holy Priesthood that enables us to return to the Celestial Kingdom?


I found the answer to this question in the Masonic Lodge. I have a fair amount of Masonic Lectures and Monitors around the house. In a number of these contain the entire ritual work, at least the rituals during the era of Malcolm Duncan. My wife could pick up any of these books, and give me the Modes of Recognition. Would this make her a Mason? Could she walk into a lodge and gain admission? Absolutely not!


It truly takes something more to be a Free and Accepted Mason. A Free and Accepted Mason, whether Ancient or not, is more than his modes of recognition. Correlated with these modes of recognition, a mason finds more light. He is instructed in living a moral life through the use of symbolism. A true Free and Accepted Mason is a man who incorporates the teachings of his profession into his daily life. He therefore surpasses the levels of expectation that those modes of recognition demand of him, that the other hand in that secret grip expects of him.


In the Temple, those faithful Saints are taught and instructed to live a life worthy to enter the presence of God. They make covenants with the Ever-Living God to meet certain levels of expectation, in reality, the expectation of that Omnipotent God. In correlation with each one of the covenants the Saints are invested with the modes of recognition spoken of by Brigham Young. By being able to pass by the angels who stand as sentinels and give the proper keywords, signs, and tokens is to prove that we have met the expectation that we have promised to.

Sincerely, Fraternally, and Faithfully,

Freemasonry-Modern Day Gadiantons?

One of the concerns that my wife had when we discussed my efforts in petitioning a lodge was that I was joining a modern day order of Gadianton Robbers. As I thought more on my decision, I knew that Freemasonry was not one of the Secret Combinations of the Book of Mormon. At first glance however, they might appear similar. So, the question is, is there a difference?

Who are the Gadianton Robbers:

The account of the formation of the Robbers of Gadianton and their exploits can be found in the Book of Helaman in the Book of Mormon. They were formed under the direction of a man named Kishkumen who bound these men with secret oaths with the intent of murdering the chief magistrate of the land. After accomplishing their task, they continued to work their works of darkness and spread fear and deceit amid the people. There were several incarnations of the band of Gadianton throughout the history that is contained within the Book of Mormon. All of these incarnations followed the exact same pattern as set forth by the original Robbers of Gadianton, as well as the Secret Combinations that were found amid the Jaredite People, whose history is contained in the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon.

Characteristics of the Gadianton Robbers:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint prints student manuals for many of its education systems. The following list is taken from the Book of Mormon Student Manual-Religion 121 and 122, copyrighted in 1989 and 1996. I have changed the order of the list. The original numbers are placed in parenthesis;

1 (6): The objectives of such secret combinations are power or gain, or both.

2 (7): These organizations use immorality, money, and violence to achieve their ends.

3 (4): Secrecy is one of the basic tenets of such organizations.

4 (5): Joined with the idea of secrecy is the idea of making covenants.

5 (3,8): Such organizations flourish and thrive when the more part of the people are wicked and seek to benefit from the spoils of such wickedness, and, the only way to lastingly curtail these organizations once they are established and begin to flourish is through conversion of the people to righteousness.

6 (1,2): The devil is the inspiration and source of all such organizations, and, such organizations are viewed by the Lord as constituting a wickedness "above all the wickedness of the whole earth."

Does Freemasonry meet the requirements:

1: The objective of Freemasonry are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.

2: Freemasonry uses biblical allegories to achieve its objectives.

3*: Secrecy is a basic tenant of Freemasonry.

4*: Freemasonry requires its members to make obligations.

5: As the world becomes more and more decadent, as it looses its moral and ethical fiber, Freemasonry actually dwindles in membership, yet it encourages the regrowth of such virtues.

6: I have a difficult time believing an organization that Joseph Smith joined and encouraged would be inspired by the Devil.

*You probably noticed that two of the "requirements" match. The two that match are gimmies however. First, for members of the L.D.S. faith, the rituals and ceremonies are maintained in secrecy, even though we prefer the term sacred. Second, in an L.D.S. Temple, covenants are made and members are placed under obligation to keep those covenants. Even in the world, in business meetings, the business of large corporations are kept secret, and nobodies generally declares the Disney Corporation as being a secret combination and many public officials takes obligations to maintain the duty of their office.

Conclusion:

Freemasonry does not bear any more resemblance to the Robbers of Gadianton than the Disney Corporation or the President of the United States, or even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As can be seen, Freemasonry actually encourages the growth of such virtues that dismantle the power and strength that allow these Secret Combinations to survive and grow.

Sincerely, Fraternally, and Faithfully,

Mormon and Mason

Friends, this is the blog post that started this site. I thought that I would post it here for many of you who have not had the opportunity to read it so far. I first posted it on my family's blog and then my Masonic blog, The Acacia Sprig. I am currently working on some new posts yet they are taking longer than I expected. Please enjoy while I continue to work on these.

As many of you know, I am a member of an ancient and honourable institution, I am a Freemason. Recently, I joined a motorcycling club that requires that its membership be Master Masons. This club is known as the Freemasons Riding Club. Of course, I placed the back patch on my jacket and I am quite proud of having it on my jacket. While on a ride with a group of friend, one saw the patch and said, "You know, Mormons can't be Masons." Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to know if this person is joking or not.

This was definitely not the first time a comment like this has been made, nor will it be the last. Yet, this time it made me ask myself, why can't a Mormon be a Mason? Why is there such a conflict of misunderstanding between these two groups.

First, in the State of Utah, there has not been a restriction on Mormons becoming Masons since 1984 when the Grand Lodge of Utah lifted its ban and allowed Mormons to become Masons.
Second, there has never been an official ban of Mormon Masons by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's stance has been more of an attitude of neutrality. I have always viewed the opinion of the L.D.S. Faith as; 1) The first place of Fraternity and Fellowship should be the Elder's Quorum, 2) A member of the Church should dedicate their time to their Church callings, activities, etc., and 3) A member of the Church should not be a member, or sympathize, with any organization that draws their attention away from the Divinity of Christ and His sacred gospel. For me, Masonry does not hinder my performance or attitude in regard to these three points.
In fact, Masonry has strengthened my resolve and emboldened my confidence of being a Saint and Disciple of Jesus Christ. Today, we live in a world that contends for our time, talent, and energies, and this world is becoming more decadent every generation, it is nice to find an organization that stresses high moral character and the purpose of faith in one's life.

I must ask myself, would their be so much concern for my eternal soul if I was to become a member of the Lion's Club or Rotary and dedicated as much time to these organizations as I did my Masonic Lodge? Probably not!

In closing, I cannot find anything bad in an organization that has compelled such men as Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Willard Richards, Newell K. Whitney, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, and Orrin Porter Rockwell just to name a few. And I am reminded of the 13th Article of Faith:

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing
good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We
believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and
hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely,
or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

I believe that Masonry is virtuous, lovely, and of good report.