What is Freemasonry? One Mason to another...

I am a Freemason. This post is meant as a challenge to other Freemasons, and as a frank discussion between Masons and non-Masons alike, and I hope that the fruits of this thread will be useful to myself and others on this site in our future discussions of Freemasonry with non-Masons and young Masons.

I have recently witnessed something in Freemasonry that stunned me, and I have given much thought to what happened, and I feel I should share my experience.

At a dinner recently, I happened to be at a table with several active Grand Officers and their wives, and one of the women at the table, who was married to a Mason of 30 years, asked the most senior Mason at the table: "What is Freemasonry?" Without thinking, he answered that it was a system of morality that uses symbols and stories as a teaching aid.

She answered: "But what do you do? What system of morality do you teach? What is that system? Why should somebody join Freemasonry and not something else? What makes it unique and different?" The senior Mason tried some explanation and stammered over his words, but could not offer a satisfactory answer. This is someone who has been a Mason for 40 years, and in one of the most senior positions in all of English Freemasonry. He then went on to explain that some people join for the Brotherhood, some for the esoteric side, some for the social side.

This got me thinking. Why could he not answer the question? The fact that he said some people joined for the esoteric side bothered me, as in my opinion, there is only an esoteric side to Freemasonry - everything else is secondary. Freemasonry is a life philosophy - a way of living. It is only by studying the meaning contained in its Rituals and its Secrets that we can ever become true Masons in our hearts and lives. Without this, there is no Freemasonry - there is only friendship and sociability that can be found anywhere. Is it just me who thinks that there is only an esoteric side to Freemasonry? This is bothering me, and I would therefore love to engage other Masons and non-Masons in sharing thoughts about this.

Anyway, since the dinner, I started to ask around - to the Masons that I knew: "What is Freemasonry?" Those that profess to be interested in "esoteric Masonry" were the only ones who could put together a clear statement of what Masonry actually is to them. Most fumbled on with lines that they know from the ritual in an attempt to explain it.

Why do so Many Masons find this question so difficult to answer? I am being frank here.

Therefore, I challenge the Masons on this site to think deeply about what Masonry is, and rather than simply quote the ritual, to offer a personal and thought out answer to the following questions:

What is Freemasonry?What do we do? What system of morality do we teach? What is that system? Why should somebody join Freemasonry and not something else? What makes it unique and different?

I hope that we can all learn from sharing on this thread.

a reply to: Saurus

Thank you for posting this ... As a non Mason I will be intrigued to follow the responses

a reply to: Saurus

I almost joined, an old Irish buddy of mine wanted me in so badly that he told me everything just so I would know what to do say and write so that I would be accepted

So why didn't I join, well simple

I used my high intelligence mind to realize that these mystery schools are designed to take you AWAY from the architect God and not toward it

The only reason left to join is for business connections which can be a real benefit

But Freemasonry regardless of the level will not enlighten your mind

originally posted by: PizzaAnyday505
a reply to: Saurus

I almost joined, an old Irish buddy of mine wanted me in so badly that he told me everything just so I would know what to do say and write so that I would be accepted

So why didn't I join, well simple

I used my high intelligence mind to realize that these mystery schools are designed to take you AWAY from the architect God and not toward it

The only reason left to join is for business connections which can be a real benefit

But Freemasonry regardless of the level will not enlighten your mind

Who told you that it would enlighten you?

originally posted by: PizzaAnyday505
a reply to: Saurus

The only reason left to join is for business connections which can be a real benefit

But Freemasonry regardless of the level will not enlighten your mind

I am not a mason but i'd have to disagree. I think the trick is understanding the hidden meaning or the ability to see correlations between humanity and nature. Not unlike Rosicrucianism I'd reckon.

I had actually applied once and someone reached out to me but I never followed up. That was a long while ago. A couple years or less I reached out through a friend. It appears however, that my last name being of hispanic origin was enough to discourage the lodge from a yeah vote. He followed with, "It only takes one no".

a reply to: Saurus

Thank you for an interesting topic. I am not a Mason although I know someone who is and have had relatives and other acquaintances who were. Were you recruited to join? If so, what were you told that enticed you to join? If you were not recruited, what made you want to join? Did it meet your expectations? If not, why not?

What I'm getting at is whether you expected to receive some secret knowledge and were disappointed when the secrets turned out to not be spectacular? Is the very fact of being a member of a (not very) secret organization enough for you?

Were you religious before you joined and did you expect the Masons to be a religious organization? If so, were you disappointed?

I hope I'm not detouring too far from your OP but it occurs to me that, like most things, it probably provides different experiences for different people -- or at least they interpret it differently.

Based on what I've gathered, as a non-Mason who has many friends who are, it is just a good old boys club.
I was encouraged to become a member, but respectfully declined.
My relationship to the Creator is personal. No religions, membership dues, oaths, or rituals involved.

A way of life. A code to live by. The tools needed to accomplish any task. A bond with men whom I haven't met yet. Friendship. A challenge. A personal bond with God.

I realize my answers may not be the same as others, and may not even be close to what you are looking for, but that is my answer to that question.

It changed me in that I reflect on what I have been taught, and what I teach in my daily actions.

a reply to: Saurus

Of course many will join for the social activities alone. Man is a social animal, and to some the Masons are "just another group" like the Lions Club, or the street gangs the Okinawa Tigers and the Chicago Bears (oh my). So you will have a percentage of people who will never look much further past that as you are able to do, and you'll find your like-minded people that way.

originally posted by: network dude
A way of life. A code to live by. The tools needed to accomplish any task. A bond with men whom I haven't met yet. Friendship. A challenge. A personal bond with God.

I realize my answers may not be the same as others, and may not even be close to what you are looking for, but that is my answer to that question.

It changed me in that I reflect on what I have been taught, and what I teach in my daily actions.

How did it change you? Examples?

originally posted by: Rosinitiate

originally posted by: PizzaAnyday505


... I think the trick is understanding the hidden meaning or the ability to see correlations between humanity and nature. Not unlike Rosicrucianism I'd reckon.

I had actually applied once and someone reached out to me but I never followed up. That was a long while ago. A couple years or less I reached out through a friend. It appears however, that my last name being of hispanic origin was enough to discourage the lodge from a yeah vote. He followed with, "It only takes one no".

I'm familiar with Rosicrucianism. I wonder if the Masons share the same goal as the Rosicrucians.

Were you actually told that your hispanic surname was the reason for your rejection? Their loss.

originally posted by: Tangerine

originally posted by: Rosinitiate

originally posted by: PizzaAnyday505


... I think the trick is understanding the hidden meaning or the ability to see correlations between humanity and nature. Not unlike Rosicrucianism I'd reckon.

I had actually applied once and someone reached out to me but I never followed up. That was a long while ago. A couple years or less I reached out through a friend. It appears however, that my last name being of hispanic origin was enough to discourage the lodge from a yeah vote. He followed with, "It only takes one no".

I'm familiar with Rosicrucianism. I wonder if the Masons share the same goal as the Rosicrucians.

Were you actually told that your hispanic surname was the reason for your rejection? Their loss.

He tried not to outright say it but he started asking questions about my last name and whether it's on my mothers side or fathers. Seeing that I'm about as white as one gets. My name doesn't exactly match my appearance haha.

edit on 16-2-2015 by Rosinitiate because: (no reason given)

edit on 16-2-2015 by Rosinitiate because: (no reason given)

a reply to: Rosinitiate

Strange how one's cultural heritage came into play to get your application rejected
When Masons claim their craft is open to all ethnic backgrounds

My only explanation is that this was not the case or that like in any society there are racists or those with closed minds.
But why should one persons opinion sway the vote over the majority

I have come to learn that there is good and bad in all groups of people

I am a freemason.
Freemasonry is more than a lifestyle, is more than just a brotherhood, is more than just social work and philanthropy.
We as freemason are responsible to carry a knowledge, to keep it and to teach it to the ones that deserve it (not necessarily another mason).

originally posted by: PizzaAnyday505

I used my high intelligence mind to realize that these mystery schools are designed to take you AWAY from the architect God and not toward it

You are wrong. Freemasonry instills a deep desire to know God.

Freemasonry recognizes only the Light and not the Bearer. How you come to know God is of no concern, only that you do.

originally posted by: Rosinitiate

I am not a mason but i'd have to disagree. I think the trick is understanding the hidden meaning or the ability to see correlations between humanity and nature. Not unlike Rosicrucianism I'd reckon.

This is my point exactly, which is the reason I say that there is only esoteric Masonry.

To say there is an esoteric side to Masonry misses the point completely in my opinion.

originally posted by: artistpoet
a reply to: Rosinitiate

Strange how one's cultural heritage came into play to get your application rejected
When Masons claim their craft is open to all ethnic backgrounds

My only explanation is that this was not the case or that like in any society there are racists or those with closed minds.
But why should one persons opinion sway the vote over the majority

I have come to learn that there is good and bad in all groups of people

Strange indeed, but as you said there is bad and good everywhere. As far as I can say, that is the only moment that the vote needs to be unanimous.

I work in contracts, forgotten the number of times I have had my knuckle pressed.

What is if to me? An old boys network trying to circumvent fair play at the cost of other decent folk.

Sorry, dealing with me it's the best deal I can get for my customer regardless of your affinity and without screwing you over.

originally posted by: Saurus

originally posted by: Rosinitiate

I am not a mason but i'd have to disagree. I think the trick is understanding the hidden meaning or the ability to see correlations between humanity and nature. Not unlike Rosicrucianism I'd reckon.

This is my point exactly, which is the reason I say that there is only esoteric Masonry.

To say there is an esoteric side to Masonry misses the point completely in my opinion.

All in masonry is esoteric.

originally posted by: Saurus

originally posted by: PizzaAnyday505

I used my high intelligence mind to realize that these mystery schools are designed to take you AWAY from the architect God and not toward it

You are wrong. Freemasonry instills a deep desire to know God.

Freemasonry recognizes only the Light and not the Bearer. How you come to know God is of no concern, only that you do.

By God do you mean that Masonry is Christian?