THE SECRETS OF FREEMASONRY
Nothing is more misunderstood by Masons and
non-Masons alike than identifying exactly what the secrets of Freemasonry
actually are. Truth is there are two and only two secrets for each degree in
Masonry:
-
The Password for that order or degree
-
The secret grip for that order or degree
There are no other secrets.
For every Masonic degree and order conferred by
the A:.A:.& E:.F:. there is a ritual, a description of the degree, a discussion
of the meaning of the ritual and one or more lectures. Some degrees also have
an apron, a cordon and a jewel. Others have different paraphernalia. All of
them have one or more passwords and one or more secret grips. Each person
advancing to a degree is entitled to learn all these things. All of this
information except the passwords and secret grips may be communicated to any
other person without violating any obligations the Mason may have taken.
In Esoteric Freemasonry there are three and only
three secrets for each degree:
-
The password for that order or degree
-
The secret grip for that order or degree
-
The secret lecture for that order or degree
The Secret Lecture is communicated as such during
and after the ritual. It contains esoteric information about the degree
intended to assist the Mason on his or her spiritual path. While this
information is secret as it pertains to the Masonic degree in question, the
information may be shared in any other way except as a Masonic secret. In other
words, the Mason may talk about the information contained in the Secret Lecture,
but he or she may not indicate it is a Masonic Secret nor attribute that secret
to any Masonic order or degree.
The passwords and secret grips of any Masonic
order or degree are never to be discussed outside the Lodge or with any person
who is not a Mason entitled to know or learn that knowledge. This is not unique
to A:.A:.& E:.F:. but is true of all Masonic bodies.
The Secret Lecture is unique to A:.A:.& E:.F:.
and in this lecture is imparted secret information for the initiate only.
Granted, some of these "secrets" may be obtained in other places and openly
discussed by others. Any Esoteric Freemason may discuss these things and raise
important issues but only as "personal opinion" and not as a "Masonic Secret."
This means you may be placed in the situation
where you cannot communicate a Masonic Secret to support your opinion and must
merely substantiate your opinion as "based on my personal meditations and
internal communications." The point here is that not everybody is ready to
accept and integrate the knowledge they'll learn in Esoteric Freemasonry. We
don't want a bunch of people rushing to become members just to discover the
"secrets" of Freemasonry. We seek to serve only serious spiritual travelers
ready to learn what they must learn to advance on their chosen spiritual path.
These are the secrets of Esoteric Freemasonry.
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