What does Freemasonry Offer the World?

[Bro. Brad Marrs]

I found this on freemasoninformation.com. It's actually a summation of a Short Talk Bulletin from Ill∴Norman R. Buecker, MSA, 33°.

Ill ∴ Buecker answers his own question with six points.

1) Since Freemasonry does not work through society or any of its institutions, it is then centered around the individual. This ties Freemasonry to civil regimes that value the worth of the individual and explains why it flourishes best in a democratic setting. “Freemasonry offers to the world a basic ideal that is being forgotten – every individual is important and his personal welfare counts,†Buecker emphasizes.

2) Freemasonry believes in the Fatherhood of God. Every Mason has to have a belief in a Supreme Being but the details of that belief are not required or discussed. Thus Freemasonry actively encourages tolerance of different religious beliefs and facilitates men of different religious backgrounds to exist together in peace and harmony.

3) Freemasonry extols the Brotherhood of man. Buecker tells us that everywhere all around us we hear from those who are demanding “rights†yet what Freemasonry teaches us is that we have a duty or obligation to our family, friends and even strangers in our midst. He reports, “Dr. Joseph Fort Newton tells us ‘a duty dodged is like a debt unpaid; it is only deferred and sooner or later we must settle the account.’â€

4) Since the Middle Age guilds, Freemasonry has always held work in reverence. Our ancient Brethren worked with their hands and actually built buildings. Today we as speculative Masons are building that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Work is noble and honorable. “We are offered and guaranteed the right to use our God-given skills and by employing them to secure happiness,†Buecker says.

5) Freemasonry offers an opportunity for close male bonding and in its social venues brings men together in activities that bring men much joy and happiness. Buecker tells us, “I think that this is one of the intangible, subtle and necessary elements of Freemasonry – making the individual happy. We have already said if the individual is happy, the community is happy; if the communities are happy, the nation is happy; and if the nations are happy the world will be at peace.â€

6) Freemasonry offers the world a philosophy of life. It teaches a set of moral virtues, something that crosses all beliefs and is held in common by all cultures. But it has a unique way of imparting its value system to its members. That uniqueness impresses upon the mind of every Freemason how important its [tag]moral truths[/tag] are and what they mean to him as a member of the Craft. Each new Brother is literally reborn into a new way of life.

So what does Freemasonry have to offer the world? Buecker sums it up:

“Freemasonry offers to mankind an emphasis on the importance of the individual, the belief in the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God, the concept of the dignity of work and its necessity for the pursuit of happiness, the opportunity to realize one’s social aspirations in a moral, constructive atmosphere and a philosophy of life which can lead to individual and thereore community happiness.â€

 

[peace out]

That;s great, poundsand. My 7 yrold daughter and I have been taking Kung Fu. I find subtle similarities between the two. Both are guarded, held secret, taught to only the worthy, but yet have profound ideals to pass along. I find my recent start in my journey with both Kung Fu and Masonry have really complimented eachother.

Masonry has so much to offer the world, and as in other spiritual disciplines, it starts with the individual, then moves to brotherhood. I find the benefits of Freemasonry so visible now, though my initial investigation was blurred.

The mountain can only be moved one stone at a time.

 

[JohnnyFlotsam]

4) Since the Middle Age guilds, Freemasonry has always held work in reverence. Our ancient Brethren worked with their hands and actually built buildings. Today we as speculative Masons are building that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Work is noble and honorable. “We are offered and guaranteed the right to use our God-given skills and by employing them to secure happiness,†Buecker says.

Cool! Thanks for sharing that. I highlight number 4 in my quote because that's the one that really resonates with me when I think of what our Order offers the world. To me, the "work" of speculative Masons is especially embodied in the lessons of the Fellowcraft Degree. At the time those lessons were drafted, formal education involving the liberal arts and sciences was a relatively new thing, for most. The admonition to pursue learning in those areas as a means to deepen our understanding of things both intellectual and spiritual is what it is all about. We are charged with "stretching ourselves into a bigger game". When we do that, the world benefits, sometimes a lot, sometimes only a little, but that is our task.

 

[Bro. Brad Marrs]

We are charged with "stretching ourselves into a bigger game". When we do that, the world benefits, sometimes a lot, sometimes only a little, but that is our task.

Indeed "... that valuable branch of education which tends so effectively to polish and adorn the mind". The charge you allude to clearly demonstrates how Geometry and Masonry are synonymous terms, "both being of divine and moral nature", and further described, "Geometry, the first and noblest of sciences, is the basis on which the superstructure of Freemasonry is erected."

I love this degree.

 

[6229 MAC]

Tremendous Post - the opportunity to realize one’s social aspirations in a moral, constructive atmosphere and a philosophy of life... Happiness is what you give away...

 

[Blake Bowden]

Good stuff!