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Leadership and Religious Literacy in Freemasonry

Brother Paul J. Rich is a Freemason who lives in Boston. Over the years, I have read several of his Masonic research papers, and back in 2009 I was lucky enough to hear him speak in person at the International Conference on the History of Freemasonry, where he delivered a paper about the dubious history of a Masonic apron that purportedly belonged to Robert Burns. That was a dangerous thing to do deep in the heart of Scotland - even more so, he did it in the main hall of the Grand Lodge of Scotland!

Today, he is the president of the Policy Studies Organization in Washington, D.C. Brother Rich has a fascinating history. He is very well traveled and experienced, and he is an academic gentleman and Brother for whom I have the very deepest regard.

Paul just weighed in briefly on the discussion about the recent actions against gay Freemasons in Tennessee (and Georgia). I feel that it is a comment that should be more widely shared with all modern Masons today, and not just buried in the depths of an online discussion.

He writes:

Part of the crisis in the lodges over gay marriage is because of a change in the background of Masonic leadership, which has become less culturally literate at a time when the country is becoming more educated. An elite in grand lodges to an extent has become increasingly blue collar and lower middle class. Religions being to an extent a reflection of social class, the religious composition of some jurisdictions has changed.
The result includes the loss of Masonic cultural literacy, which means unawareness of the importance of the jettisoning of Christianity from the Craft in the early eighteenth century (and perhaps hints of that even before in the time of Christopher Wren and the Royal Society). Anderson and his cohorts in London embraced this change, and the lodges dropped Trinitarianism, providing forums that attracted men like Benjamin Franklin because of their freedom from orthodox religion.
Now with the increasing exit of educated members, there is a trend in some Masonic jurisdictions to move away from secularism and embrace a religiosity evidenced in the organist playing hymns and the prayers invoking an anthropomorphism rather than the Supreme Architect that the Enlightenment embraced. With that comes a Biblical literalism and its accompanying morality that should be left along with other theology outside the lodge room. The genius of Masonry was its insistence on providing a nondogmatic place of fellowship, so unusual at the time.
The separation of church and state in America has something to do with the contribution made by Masonic secularism. Andrew Jackson, Grand Master of Tennessee, found himself roundly criticized for refusing to declare a national day of prayer. He replied that he would be,

"...transcending the limits prescribed by the Constitution for the President and without feeling that I might in some degree disturb the security which religion nowadays enjoys in this country in its complete separation from the political concerns of the General Government." -- letter to the Synod of the Reformed Church of North America, 12 June 1832, explaining the request that he proclaim a "day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer."
He understood the importance of demarcation.
By all means people should have their views on marriage, but to impose in Freemasonry their religious beliefs on others stands against a centuries-old and successful openness that had much to do with the success of the movement.

Continue reading...
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
We have come a long way since the brethren of the late 17th century who were the leaders of scientific and philosophic investigation.

And certainly not all of it good. Lodge was always supposed to be a sanctuary away from the nonsense of fundies battling everyone they could point at. Not so in this decade where we have jurisdictions that had to vote down an edict banning specific religions, jurisdictions that failed to vote down bringing church law into lodge, jurisdictions ejecting PGMs over affiliating with lodges across race lines.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
For non-masonic readers, "the importance of the jettisoning of Christianity from the Craft " in England in the 1700's does not mean Freemasonry is anti-Christian. The writer refers to the fact that Christian elements (words and possibly symbols) were removed from the ceremonies - and rightly so, Freemasonry is a Fraternity. It is not a Religion nor is it a religious sect. Our meetings are not religious services. Removing these elements made Freemasonry more inclusive as a much more open Fraternity to men of different faiths. It removed religious elements and made the fraternity more universal. It ensured it was not a Christian Fraternity like Knights of the Southern Cross or Knights of Columbus. Such groups do exist, but Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry is not one of them,
 

pointwithinacircle2

Rapscallion
Premium Member
It is my opinion certain truths about deity are the basis from which all religions developed. Please allow me to offer one example.

One effect of a belief in deity is that the believer is called upon to recognize that human intelligence is not the supreme force in the universe. This is true no matter what religion one follows. Each religion expresses this truth in it's own words and in it's own symbols.

Communication is accomplished through the use of symbols. In order for communication to occur both parties must attach the same meaning to the symbols which are being used. If you wish to communicate to me about deity it is appropriate to use Christian symbols because those are the ones whose meaning I most capable of understanding.

By using Christian symbols I am not asserting that it is the "best religion" or the "only true religion", only that I understand it the best. In fact, I am able to accept the Christian symbol of the cross even though scholars and historians tell us that the cross as a symbol of deity predates Christ by at least 2500 years.
 
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dfreybur

Premium Member
What if the Jewish elements were removed? That would probably make the rituals more acceptable to Eastern cultures.

Acceptance is not symmetrical. Eastern faiths have no problem accepting stories and histories from other faiths. Not an issue.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
What if the Jewish elements were removed? That would probably make the rituals more acceptable to Eastern cultures.

Acceptance is not symmetrical. Eastern faiths have no problem accepting stories and histories from other faiths. Not an issue.

I agree with dfreybur's thinking. While I understand some folk might believe rubbish like the Protocols of Zion or leaders such as Hitler and think Freemasonry is some sort of Jewish Conspiracy, in removing Christian elements, it made the Craft more universal AND removed strong religious overtones specific to Christianity.. "Jewish" elements in the Craft are simply that; the story of King Solomon's Temple emerged from Jewish history and were elaborated on by Freemasons. "Jewish" elements in Craft ritual are not religious - they are 'historic" and just as I admire a great leader like Salidin - that does not make me Muslim, just like being in the Shrine does not make me a Muslim, or admiring men like Ghandi make me Hindu or Lao Tzu make me Daoist if I participated in a play about there deeds or thoughts.... . If an "Eastern" culture cannot tolerate the "Jewish elements" then they are probably not tolerant enough to be Freemasons and should not be admitted.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
It's a bit like Chinese noodles, just because they are used in spaghetti does not make spaghetti Chinese. Likewise the Craft's story is not "Jewish" - it's masonic ..
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Many pagan sites in Ireland became occupied by Catholic Churches. In occupying the real estate once occupied by Pagans, does that make it a Pagan site or a Catholic site ? Likewise, some Catholic Churches in England (and other European States) were once Catholic and then became Protestant. Does that make those Protestant Churches Catholic ? I see the Masonic Ritual the same way, the Freemasons simply adopted an earlier history and made it Masonic...

At the end of the day, Freemasonry is just one of several paradigms to look at several things ; morality, the self, our relationships and philosophy and (for some) the esoteric. We don't need a "non-ethnic non-religious mythology' to do that, we just need to think and reflect. And I can see how some folk might have tensions on that, but I don't. The whole thing is symbolic and speculative not literal..
 

pointwithinacircle2

Rapscallion
Premium Member
I suggest it is now time for a non-ethnic non-religious mythology for Masonry.
Surely only a truly secret society could survive with such a structure. In fact for a truly closed society such a structure would be the ideal. But since Freemasonry is neither a secret nor a closed society it is necessary to to use a mythology that deflects the fear of the uninitiated. If Freemasonry once had such a structure it has surely been hidden behind the veil of religion.
 

pointwithinacircle2

Rapscallion
Premium Member
With the demise of the Holy Inquisition we might be ready to do away with the veil of religion.
Religion is an easy balm to those who suffer from fear, ignorance, or superstition. It will, in my rather pessimistic view, always be possible to find frightened, confused human beings who will quickly cling to any mythology that offers them a proposed escape from their inner turmoil.
I would not like Masonry to be caught up in the general decline of traditional religions in Western countries.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2015/06/2067-the-end-of-british-christianity/
Perhaps religion in like the tides, they ebb and flow, but never disappear.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Religion is an easy balm to those who suffer from fear, ignorance, or superstition. It will, in my rather pessimistic view, always be possible to find frightened, confused human beings who will quickly cling to any mythology that offers them a proposed escape from their inner turmoil.

Respectfully, that's not very respectful of my faith. :) I would admonish you but I did something parallel recently in a thread.

If you're tolerant of others beliefs ( or simply able to ignore them), i find freemasonry a much easier path to tread than if i'm reacting negatively to others views..
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Yes it is. we use generic terms when speaking of deity. Our stories are just that...... stories! IF you dont like it dont join. Nothing is tuly universal. someone some where will not like it. O+ blood is the unverisal blood but i bet someone is illergic to it somewhere
 

Bloke

Premium Member
If Freemasonry is not a religion (i believe it is not, and I am going to assume James that you agree) then how is it that in incorporating an earlier tradition, it is no longer universal? The tradition is just as much cultural as religious ,and for me, the "tradition" is the building of KST, but its a metophor and could have been about building the pyramids or Westminster, but as I've said before, Freemasonry and indeed fraternalism in general has a bias for the old and the romantic - that's why we see Noah in earlier versions of the Craft or the Garden of Eden in the Free Gardiners, Robin Hood in the Forrester (I think it was that order).. Me, I think Religion is a function of address; if I was born in Mecca, I'd probably be a Muslim, in Tibet, probably Buddhist, but because I was born where I was, I'm Christian.. Freemasonry has strong Platonic overtones, that doesn't make us all Athenian. Some people would say the see Mithras, or other traditions, even Druidism (another Fraternal organization in the context of the old and romantic) , in Freemasonry, all have been fused into something Masonic and universal - and I see no tension in that. We're just a modern continuation of what has gone before. If you find tension in that, you've probably got tension with the past ?

So yes, Freemasonry is universal. If you think not, then you have to ask yourself why. Me, I've got a good understanding of why our Order does not admit women, atheists, felons, children etc yet can still describe it as universal.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
(I wrote the above while you were writing yours James).

You can see all sorts of things in Freemasonry, that's why it is universal and that is why it is subjective and that is why it has survived and people love it today.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Deuteronomy 26:17-19 "The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made

Leaving aside the provenance of the Jewish scriptures, how universal is that religious tradition?

An elite above all nations, is that the Masonic tradition of universal brotherhood?

It is time to move on.

Where does that quote appear in Masonic Ritual ? It doesnt. The quote is extrinsecus.

We are told to observe the VSL, but does that mean I must not eat Shellfish and I must kill Amalekites or sow salt into the fields of certain tribes ? No, Freemasonry leaves my religious beliefs to me, and I certainly do not see the modern Craft aligned with a single religious tradition.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
James, to me it seems you are more interested in the wrapping paper than the Gift it covers.. The Gift is Universal, regardless of how you wrap it.
However, I do know of a Rite that follows a more Sumerian/Babylonian style if you're truly uncomfortable in lodge.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
You divert the subject at every turn. First, it's the Hebrew trappings, then you turn the conversation to lost secrets. It sounds to me like you just don't like Masonry.
As for the other, research AAAR. It's a very small group.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
There are influences in all of our rites. Mystery traditions are like mushrooms, weaving unseen threads through the roots if societal trees.
 
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