It is inherent in man to seek a religious belief to which he can
subscribe with wholehearted faith. I was seeking such faith and was
sincere in my desire to find a religious belief. But intellect demanded it
be consistent with such knowledge as I possessed of natural history and
material science.
In this search I studied every religion with which I came in contact.
As a singer in various churches, I was afforded opportunities to hear the
creeds of the principal faiths expounded. I did not exclude Roman
Catholicism or Buddhism. Both contain much to commend, particularly the
latter in its esoteric form. The study was far from time wasted.
None of these creeds provided a satisfying meaning of life; the answer
to "WHY AM I HERE?" which, at some time, every individual asks from the
depth of his being. The answer, to my entire satisfaction, finally came
with a fuller understanding of Freemasonry.
Most of the truly great Masonic writers have deplored the lack of
esoteric Masonic knowledge among the craft in general. Mackey speaks of
the "Parrot Mason," describing him as: "One who commits to memory
questions and answers of the catechetical lectures, and the formulas of
the ritual, but pays no attention to the history and philosophy of the
institution; called a Parrot Mason because he repeats what he has learned
without any conception of its true meaning." He also ironically describes
as "Bright Mason s" those who are letter-perfect in the ritual and
continues: "but the progress of Masonry as a science now requires
something more than a mere knowledge of the lectures to constitute a
Masonic Scholar."
Long ago J. D. Buck stated: "In its ritualism and monitorial lessons
Masonry teaches nothing in morals, in science, in religion, or in any
other department of human knowledge or human interest, not taught
elsewhere in current forms of thought, or by the sages of the past. In
these directions it has no secrets of any kind. It is in the ancient
symbols of Freemasonry that its real secrets lie concealed, and these are
as densely veiled to the Mason as to any other, unless he has studied the
science of symbol ism in general, and Masonic symbols in particular.
* * *
THE MOST PROFOUND SECRETS OF MASONRY ARE NOT REVEALED IN THE LODGE AT
ALL. THEY BELONG ONLY TO THE FEW."
Buck also made the statement, which is as true today as when he first
uttered it, years ago: "There was never a greater need than at the present
time; never so great an opportunity as now for Masonry to assume its true
place among the institutions of man and force recognition by the simple
power of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, based upon philosophy, as
nowhere else exists outside of its ancient symbols. If the majority of
Masons do not realize the true significance and value of their possessions
ther e is all the more need for those who do to speak out, in the face of
discouragement and detraction, and do their utmost to demonstrate the
truth."
Albert Pike writes in Morals and Dogma: "A few rudimentary lessons in
architecture; a few universally admitted maxims of morality; a few
unimportant traditions whose real meaning is unknown or misunderstood,
will no longer satisfy the earnest inquirer after Masonic truth."
In Pike's Legend 4 o to 14 o Scottish Rite, he states: "In the United
States, the Blue Degrees teach morality only, refuse to intermeddle with
questions political or religious, and require only a belief in God, and,
faintly, in the immortality of the soul; except so far as they declare the
Holy Bible to be the rule and guide of man's conduct, and the inspired
word of God; which, if it were not evaded in practice, by the admission of
Hebrews, would make the Masonry of the United States a strictly Christian
association. In the early part of the 18th century, Freemasonry was, for
many of its initiates, the teaching of the Hermetic philosophy."
In one of his most vehement bursts of sarcasm, of which Pike was a
master when he deemed the occasion demanded, he refers to the Blue Lodge
lectures in these words: "It has been objected to us, that in our lectures
we undervalue that which is absurdly called 'Symbolic Masonry,' as if any
Masonry could be not symbolic. It is quite true that we should not value
it, if we saw nothing in the symbols of the Blue Lodge beyond the imbecile
pretences of interpretation of them contained in the ordinary sterile
instruction which we owe to Webb and his predecessors."
There is truth in all these charges. The average Mason is lamentably
ignorant of the real meaning of Masonic Symbology and knows as little of
its esoteric teaching. On the other hand one must admit the existence of
mitigating circumstances. This is a busy world and few are blessed with
the time, even though they have the inclination, to acquire such
knowledge. There is no one source where a general knowledge may be
acquired, as most writers deal with specific phases of Masonry. Frankly
speaking, Pike, M ackey and even Waite, are too recondite for the average
Mason to gain much enlightenment from their writing. Unless he approaches
their work with a considerable background of metaphysical and
philosophical knowledge, they will profit him little.
It is to place as much of this teaching AS IS SEEMINGLY ADVISABLE in a
more accessible form that this book has been undertaken. The writer has
earnestly endeavoured to write as simply as the profundity of the subject
itself permits. The reader is asked to be mindful of the fact that in a
work of this nature there is included the no small handicap of being
forced to allude but vaguely, at times, to those things which cannot be
committed to writing. I have taken the various printed manuals as my
precederic assuring no objection can be offered for printing herein such
ritual as the Grand Lodges have authorized to be printed in these manuals.
Where it seems advantageous I have therefore taken the liberty of quoting
freely there from.
The only motive for this book is the fulfilment of the writer's
obligations, both moral and Masonic, to assist others to such light as he
has been so generously allowed to attain. The reader is asked to approach
the subject matter with the words of Herbert Spencer as his guide: "There
is a principle which is a bar against all information and which cannot
fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. That principle is
condemnation before investigation."
When I petitioned the Masonic Order I believed in a Supreme Being,
therefore my application was not a misrepresentation insofar as claiming a
belief in a "one living and true God." My principal reason for seeking
admission was that many of my associates were members of the Order;
observation satisfied me that most of the better class of business men I
contacted were Masons, and my superior in the organization with which I
was connected, and whom I greatly admitted, was "high in the Order."
These, I confess, are not the most worthy of motives, but are probably
on a level with those of most persons seeking membership in the Masonic
Lodge.
In retrospection I realize that at first I obtained very little benefit
from Freemasonry; nor does one become a swimmer after the first few times
in the water. It takes constant practice to attain proficiency in either
art. Later I was requested to organize a lodge quartet and as a member
thereof I was called upon to attend and assist in initiations. Hearing the
degrees repeatedly conferred, many of the beautiful phrases of the ritual
impressed themselves on my mind. It was but natural that I should pon der
over their meaning.
Because of an inquisitive disposition I attained whatever progress I
have made in Masonry. The first serious thinking I recall devoting to
Masonry was stimulated by the instructions to the candidate at a certain
time to pray for himself, coupled with the reminder that previously the
Lodge had prayed for him. This appeared to be significant, as it was the
first time the candidate was not prompted to give a specific reply, or
told precisely what to do.
The obvious answer occurring to one is that if prayer is to be most
effective one should pray for oneself, but that seemed too apparent and
not entirely satisfying. The answer to this question is the raison d'etre
of Masonry. However, like all of Masonry's secret lessons the reason is so
concealed that only he who sincerely seeks will ever discover it.
When the truth of this lesson has been realized one discovers the most
important facts of existence itself; then, too, he learns that Masonry is
religion as well.
