160 lines
7.9 KiB
Plaintext
160 lines
7.9 KiB
Plaintext
From: Peter Trei <ptrei@mitre.org>
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Subject: Pamphlet: Freemasonry as a way of Life.
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What follows the <FF> is a verbatim copy of a booklet printed for
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distribution to prospective members of Masonry. It attempts to
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explain what Masonry is about and to address many of the popular
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myths.
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It was published by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free
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and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1980 (so
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the numbers are somewhat dated).
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FREEMASONRY--A WAY OF LIFE
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The Fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons is the oldest,
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largest, amd most widely known fraternal organization in the world.
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Literally thousands of books have been published about Freemasonry,
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but its organization and philosophy are still misunderstood by many.
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This folder therefore has been prepared to present correct
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information for everyone and thereby dispel incorrect beliefs.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
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In a broad sense, the history of Freemasonry may be divided into
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three periods, namely: the ancient or legendary, the medieval or
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operative, and the modern or speculative.
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The ancient or legendary period has been traced by historians to the
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Tenth Century B.C. when masons, or stone workers, were employed in
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the building of King Solomon's Temple. During the medieval or
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operative period, guilds or associations of artisans were formed as
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operative masons. Their work was largely confined to the building
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of cathedrals. As artificers in stone, these masons traveled
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through Europe making use of their skill and secrets of their
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guilds.
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The modern or speculative period occurred during the 17th Century.
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It was then that ecclesiastical building declined. This caused many
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guilds of stonemasons, then known as "Operative Masons" to accept as
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members those who were not a part of the mason's craft. These
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members were then called "Speculative," and acquired the designation
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of "Accepted Masons."
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As a result of this significant development, Freemasonry, as it is
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known today, had its historic beginning.
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In 1717 four Lodges of Freemasons meeting in London, England, formed
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the first Grand Lodge in the world. This Grand Lodge chartered
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Masonic Lodges and Provincial Grand Lodges in many countries,
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including the United States.
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MASONRY IN MASSACHUSETTS
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Regular and duly constituted Freemasonry in North America was born
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in Massachusetts in 1733. It was on July 30 of that year in Boston,
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that Henry Price organized the Provincial Grand Lodge of
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Massachusetts at the famous Bunch of Grapes Tavern. This followed
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the issuance of a deputation in April 1733 by the Mother Grand Lodge
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of England appointing Henry Price the "Provincial Grand Master of
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New England and Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging."
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The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts is the administrative
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authority for the Masonic Lodges within the Commonwealth of
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Massachusetts as well as Lodges located in the Canal Zone, Chile,
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China, Japan, and Caribbean Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; with a
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membership of approximately 95,000.
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MASONRY AROUND THE WORLD
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There are approximately 6,000,000 Masons who are members of about
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150 Grand Lodges in the world today. Of these, there are 49 Grand
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Lodges in the United States with a membership of about 4,000,000
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Masons.
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A MASONIC LODGE
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The basic unit of all Grand Lodges is the Masonic Lodge, commonly
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referred to by its members as the "Blue Lodge." This is where
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Masonry operates on a local level under the Jurisdiction of its
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Grand Lodge. It is here that the Masonic Lodge receives and acts on
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petitions for membership in Freemasonry, and confers the three
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Symbolic Degrees known as the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and
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Master Mason Degrees.
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MEMBERSHIP
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Membership in Freemasonry is limited to adult males without regard
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to race, color, or creed, who are of good character and reputation.
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Information concerning membership must be requested by a man of his
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own free will and accord, from one one he believes to be a Mason.
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This is necessary because Freemasonry does not solicit members, nor
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can a Mason invite a friend to join. All inquiry is strictly
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voluntary on the part of the applicant. Then he must be recommended
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by a member of the Masonic Lodge to which he is seeking admission.
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When his application is favorably received by the Lodge, the
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applicant must be given a unanimous ballot before he can receive the
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Degrees.
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A VIEW OF FREEMASONRY
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Freemasonry is many things, but one brief description could be that
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it is a society for the joint effort of its members towards
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individual self-improvement, a fraternity for learning and
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culivating the art of living and the building of character.
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It is not a club, nor a mutual benefit or insurance society. It is
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not an organization or a forum for political or social reform, and
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profit is not one of its motives, although members of the Fraternity
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do share in the many services and charity that are afforded them.
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The principles of Freemasonry are steadfastly acclaimed as Brotherly
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Love, Relief and Truth. In its teachings great emphasis is placed
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on the cardinal virtues of all ages: Temperance, Fortitude,
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Prudence, Justice, Faith, Hope, and Charity. Its ethical principles
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can be accepted by all good men, and tolerance toward all mankind is
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embraced by the entire membership.
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MASONIC SECRECY!
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Freemasonry is secret only in the manner by which one member
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recognizes another, and its method of symbolic instruction. It is
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not a secret society, but a society with secrets. Freemasonry makes
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no attempt to conceal its existence, its principles, its purpose, or
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its aim. Its members proudly declare their affiliation. Masonic
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buildings are publicly located and clearly identified. Gatherings
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of its members are frequently public with announcements published in
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the press. Its Constitutions are printed for any to see, and its
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rules and regulations are available for inspection.
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IS MASONRY A RELIGION?
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Though religious in character, Masonry is not a religion, nor a
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substitute for one. It fosters belief in a Supreme Being--this
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being a prerequisite for membership. Freemasonry accepts good men
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who are found to be worthy, regardless of their religious
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convictions, and strives to make better men of them by emphasizing a
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firm belief in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man, and
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the Immortality of the Soul.
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A good Mason is invariably a better church member, and a regular
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church attendant makes a better Mason. Religious men go to church,
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not to their Lodge, to worship God. They go to their Masonic Lodge
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to learn moral truths and how to apply them to their everyday home
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and business lives.
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A WAY OF LIFE
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Freemasonry is Charity for all mankind; practice of the Golden Rule;
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love of country; serving God with reverence; treating the home and
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family with tenderness and affection; being humble; helping the weak
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and lowly; adherence to the cardinal virtues; and greeting everyone
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on the same level of human understanding. All these, and many other
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ways constitute
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FREEMASONRY AS A WAY OF LIFE
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