What is Freemasonry?

I have often come across people saying that when ever they have asked a Freemason about Freemasonry the answers have been fragmented disjointed and possibly incomplete. This has often left them feeling that the question has been avoided when the truth is probably the opposite.

The problem with the question “What is Freemasonry?” is the size of the answer to the question. The answer not being possible to give in the context of one conversation. In the 1700’s someone wrote down “It is a peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory illustrated by symbols”. This makes it even harder when many “facts and legends” were never intended to be taken as literally true. Whatever a student of Freemasonry looks for to study on their journey they will find.

What happens?

In Craft Freemasonry there are several degrees, with a ritual attached to each. These rituals date back for certain to the 1700’s and probably much further and are handed on from generation to generation unchanged and intact. The degrees relate to differing levels of an individual’s intellectual and emotional development. Interestingly these degrees are increasingly paralleled by a lot of modern neuroscience. After each ceremony there is a formal dinner and each lodge will have its own traditions during the meal. One of the most important things is the development of friendship and happiness. The one thing that doesn’t happen within a lodge is any discussion of politics or religion.

Freemasonries influences

Where to begin? The rationalist philosophers of the 1600’s? Plato or Plotinus? Hindu, Ancient Arabic, Islamic or Hebrew traditions? Far eastern philosophies?. Even with all this it is important to say that Freemasonry is not a religion. To become a Freemason you must have a faith but that faith is yours and yours alone.

History

This goes back so far it can get difficult especially when to take on board what I said earlier about allegory. In the early 1700’s the Ancients and the Moderns combined to create what   we now refer to as Free and accepted Masons. The oldest known text that can be seen clearly to relate to Masonry is the Halliwell document of 1380 but even this relates to documents now long lost.

Charity

This is a cornerstone of Freemasonry with charitable donations being made to people and organisations on an International, National and local level.

Whatever I have written above it hardly serves to scratch the surface but I hope it gives a little flavour of what we are about.

Freemasonry for Women

https://www.bedfordshirefreemasons.org/freemasonry-for-women