What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is the worlds oldest and largest Fraternity. Its history and tradition date to antiquity. Its singular purpose is to make good men better. Its bonds of friendship, compassion, and brotherly love have survived even the most divisive political, military, and religious conflicts through the centuries. Freemasonry is neither a forum for, nor a place of , worship. Instead, it is a friend to all religions which are based on the belief in one God. There have been a number of definitions of Freemasonry, though perhaps the most direct is employed by English Freemasons: Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols. The system of morality referred to undoubtedly includes principles with which candidates are more or less familiar before their entrance into Masonry. They, nevertheless, find these principles presented in new ways and under forms different from those which they have known in the past.
Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternal order in the world. It took form several centuries ago and has evolved into a broad based, non-sectarian organization devoted to the principles of caring for others, relief of the distressed, and the power of truth, faith, hope and charity. At present, there are approximately 4 million Masonic family members nationwide who continue the Craft’s commitment to assisting the needy, especially children and the elderly. Over the years, Freemasons have supported research and treatment of a wide range of illnesses and injuries, including multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, retinal disease, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, burns, aphasia and dyslexia, leukemia, diabetes, birth defects, schizophrenia, and language and speech disorders in children. The root causes of many of these health problems and accidents are directly linked to drug and alcohol abuse.
As well as being one of the world’s oldest secular fraternal societies, Freemasonry is an enjoyable association of like – minded men who work towards a common goal of being happy themselves and communicating happiness to others. This is achieved by work in the Lodge, largely based on a series of ritual ceremonies, with much in common with the old passion plays, which follow ancient forms and use stonemasons’ customs and tools as allegorical guides.
Freemasonry (or simply, Masonry) is a fraternal order whose basic tenets are brotherly love, relief (philanthropy), and the quest for philosophical truth. While there probably are some actual stone-workers who are Masons, Masonry does not teach its membership the literal techniques of stonework. Rather, it takes the actual “operative” work of Medieval Masons and uses it as an allegory for moral development. Thus, the symbols of Masonry are the common tools that were used by medieval stonemasons: the gavel, the rule, the compass, the square, the level, etc. Each of these has a symbolic meaning in Masonry. For example, Masons are said to meet “on the level,” meaning that all Masons are brothers, regardless of social status, personal wealth, or office within the Lodge or in the world at large. Similar symbolism exists for other tools, and multiple levels of symbolism have been suggested. Masons affectionately and symbolically refer to their work as “The Craft.” Masonry is distinguished fr
