QPZIL
Premium Member
Hello all, I just started a Masonic blog at http://threeknocks.wordpress.com where I can put my thoughts and writings. I just published the first post, and here it is for your consideration. Enjoy 
-----
For this first post, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Ian. 3 years ago I knocked humbly at the west gate, and was initiated, then passed, then raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. I’m a member of Gate City Lodge #694 AF&AM in Greensboro, North Carolina, as well as a member of Chorazin Chapter #13 RAM, Greensboro Council #3 R&SM, and Ivanhoe Commandery #8 KT. For me, my Masonic journey is still just beginning. Though I’ve received light, there’s plenty more to receive – and plenty more to find within. Through this blog, through my thoughts and writings, I hope to come to more light and a better understanding of myself, my brethren, the Fraternity, and the spirituality therein.
I wanted to ruminate a bit on something that a brother companion told me this past week.
“The real secret of Freemasonry isn’t the grips, the words, or anything like that. The real secret of Freemasonry is in going through the degrees. Sure, you could tell someone how to do a grip or what a word may be, and no doubt people have, but tell me this… how are you going to tell your wife or your friend exactly how you felt that night you were initiated? How can you explain your emotions when you were raised? There’s simply no way to do it.”
This struck a chord with me as being something I’ve been trying to put into words for a long time. The very essence of Masonry isn’t in its secrets. In fact, it’s been said time and time again: we’re not a secret society, we’re a society with secrets. The real beauty and essence of Masonry is at a higher level than that.
Why do we have secrets? I’ve been asked this question more times than I ever imagined I would be when I petitioned to join my lodge. For the longest time, I had no idea what to say. My standard answer was something to the effect of, “well, that’s just how it’s been for hundreds of years.” And, I’ll admit, those ‘secrets’ that have been around for hundreds of years led me to join in the first place – I’ll wager that I’m not alone in that. I had seen the History Channel specials and the TOP SECRET exposés of Freemasonry. I thought I knew everything I was going to be encountering, but wanted to verify and see it for myself. As a disclaimer I’ll say please don’t get me wrong: I also joined for the brotherhood and the promise of becoming a better man. I received both of these in bounty.
But back to the secrets. Sure, I learned them, but it’s more complicated than that. I could walk up to any Joe Schmoe on the street and teach him the passwords and the grips and the signs, and he would be no different than before I told him. So, why even have them? Well, the secrecy itself is what’s important. We as Masons swear a solemn obligation to assist our brothers and, if need be, their widows and orphans. Being able to keep a secret is a sign of fidelity, it shows that you are trustworthy. The secrets themselves aren’t the important thing; being able to keep them is the important thing. That exact fact is the reason we have such symbolically harsh penalties for divulging the secrets of the degrees.
Keep in mind, I’m speaking of the philosophy of modern 20th/21st century Masonry. In past days, of course there was a benefit to keeping the secrets – an actual, honest-to-goodness, life-or-death benefit. Our fraternity has undergone a number of dark days. For example, in 1799, England enacted the Unlawful Societies Act, banning all societies which required taking an oath not authorized by law. In these days, it was certainly beneficial to keep the secrets of Masonry. If someone knew you were a Mason, you could be arrested – moreover, if someone were to learn the secrets of Masonry, they could infiltrate any given lodge.
Obviously, nowadays there is no danger of persecution or death associated with Masonry, though our fraternity is still misunderstood by many. But still, the fidelity and secrecy remains as a symbol of that tightly-knit brotherhood – and we take that very seriously.
So, keeping all that in mind, the “secrets” of Freemasonry are overblown and not at all what makes it a rewarding and enlightening organization to be a member of. The beautiful rituals, the brotherhood of fellow men, the historical lessons, the moral teachings – and most importantly – the emotions and experience… these are what make Masonry a truly rewarding and enlightening fraternity.
-----
For this first post, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Ian. 3 years ago I knocked humbly at the west gate, and was initiated, then passed, then raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. I’m a member of Gate City Lodge #694 AF&AM in Greensboro, North Carolina, as well as a member of Chorazin Chapter #13 RAM, Greensboro Council #3 R&SM, and Ivanhoe Commandery #8 KT. For me, my Masonic journey is still just beginning. Though I’ve received light, there’s plenty more to receive – and plenty more to find within. Through this blog, through my thoughts and writings, I hope to come to more light and a better understanding of myself, my brethren, the Fraternity, and the spirituality therein.
I wanted to ruminate a bit on something that a brother companion told me this past week.
“The real secret of Freemasonry isn’t the grips, the words, or anything like that. The real secret of Freemasonry is in going through the degrees. Sure, you could tell someone how to do a grip or what a word may be, and no doubt people have, but tell me this… how are you going to tell your wife or your friend exactly how you felt that night you were initiated? How can you explain your emotions when you were raised? There’s simply no way to do it.”
This struck a chord with me as being something I’ve been trying to put into words for a long time. The very essence of Masonry isn’t in its secrets. In fact, it’s been said time and time again: we’re not a secret society, we’re a society with secrets. The real beauty and essence of Masonry is at a higher level than that.
Why do we have secrets? I’ve been asked this question more times than I ever imagined I would be when I petitioned to join my lodge. For the longest time, I had no idea what to say. My standard answer was something to the effect of, “well, that’s just how it’s been for hundreds of years.” And, I’ll admit, those ‘secrets’ that have been around for hundreds of years led me to join in the first place – I’ll wager that I’m not alone in that. I had seen the History Channel specials and the TOP SECRET exposés of Freemasonry. I thought I knew everything I was going to be encountering, but wanted to verify and see it for myself. As a disclaimer I’ll say please don’t get me wrong: I also joined for the brotherhood and the promise of becoming a better man. I received both of these in bounty.
But back to the secrets. Sure, I learned them, but it’s more complicated than that. I could walk up to any Joe Schmoe on the street and teach him the passwords and the grips and the signs, and he would be no different than before I told him. So, why even have them? Well, the secrecy itself is what’s important. We as Masons swear a solemn obligation to assist our brothers and, if need be, their widows and orphans. Being able to keep a secret is a sign of fidelity, it shows that you are trustworthy. The secrets themselves aren’t the important thing; being able to keep them is the important thing. That exact fact is the reason we have such symbolically harsh penalties for divulging the secrets of the degrees.
Keep in mind, I’m speaking of the philosophy of modern 20th/21st century Masonry. In past days, of course there was a benefit to keeping the secrets – an actual, honest-to-goodness, life-or-death benefit. Our fraternity has undergone a number of dark days. For example, in 1799, England enacted the Unlawful Societies Act, banning all societies which required taking an oath not authorized by law. In these days, it was certainly beneficial to keep the secrets of Masonry. If someone knew you were a Mason, you could be arrested – moreover, if someone were to learn the secrets of Masonry, they could infiltrate any given lodge.
Obviously, nowadays there is no danger of persecution or death associated with Masonry, though our fraternity is still misunderstood by many. But still, the fidelity and secrecy remains as a symbol of that tightly-knit brotherhood – and we take that very seriously.
So, keeping all that in mind, the “secrets” of Freemasonry are overblown and not at all what makes it a rewarding and enlightening organization to be a member of. The beautiful rituals, the brotherhood of fellow men, the historical lessons, the moral teachings – and most importantly – the emotions and experience… these are what make Masonry a truly rewarding and enlightening fraternity.
