The Square will teach you to regulate your life and actions according to the Masonic line and rule. The Compass remind you to limit your desires in every station of life, that rising to eminence by merit you will live respected and die regretted. IM as ME rises: Rise Wheels Master Elect backwards so that he is at South side facing across Lodge, releases hands, and steps back a few paces. IM facing ME: It is traditionally reported that when the Temple at Jerusalem was completed, King Solomon, attended by a numerous retinue, went to view it.
On entering the building, observing Adoniram at a distance, he beckoned him thus indicates to Master Elect that he should copy and gives Bowing Sign thrice with right hand by extending right arm horizontally sideways and bending at the elbow moping the hand to the right shoulder as if bowing, at the same tune turning his head to the right.
Ensures Master Elect copies and then drops right arm to side. IM: The signification of the word is ex mason. When the royal party were about to retire, he saluted them thus indicates to Master Elect that he should copy and gives Sign of Hy by moving right foot slightly back and bending body slightly forward, at the same time making a sweeping gesture with right hand from left shoulder to behind and outside right leg.
Ensures Master Elect copies and then stands as before in token of humility. Hence are derived the G and word Obligations are those elements of ritual in which a candidate swears to abide by the rules of the fraternity and to keep the "secrets of Freemasonry" , which are the various signs, tokens and words associated with recognition in each degree, [20] as well as to perform certain duties and to avoid doing those things which are prohibited by his Obligation. In regular jurisdictions these obligations are sworn on the aforementioned Volume of the Sacred Law and in the witness of the Supreme Being and often with assurance that it is of the candidate's own free will.
Details of the obligations vary; some versions are published [20] while others are privately printed in books of coded text. Still other jurisdictions rely on oral transmission of ritual, and thus have no ritual books at all. The obligations are historically known amongst various sources critical of Freemasonry for their so-called "bloody penalties", [31] an allusion to the apparent physical penalties associated with each degree. This leads to some descriptions of the Obligations as "Oaths".
The corresponding text, with regard to the penalties, does not appear in authoritative, endorsed sources, [20] following a decision "that all references to physical penalties be omitted from the obligations taken by Candidates in the three Degrees and by a Master Elect at his Installation but retained elsewhere in the respective ceremonies". The descriptive nature of the penalties alludes to how the candidate should feel about himself should he knowingly violate his obligation.
Whilst no single obligation is representative of Freemasonry as a whole, a number of common themes appear when considering a range of potential texts. Content which may appear in at least one of the three obligations includes: the candidate promises to act in a manner befitting a member of civilised society, promises to obey the law of his Supreme Being, promises to obey the law of his sovereign state, promises to attend his lodge if he is able, promises not to wrong, cheat nor defraud the Lodge or the brethren, and promises aid or charity to brethren and their families in times of need if it can be done without causing financial harm to himself.
The Landmarks of Masonry are defined as ancient and unchangeable precepts; standards by which the regularity of Lodges and Grand Lodges are judged. Each Grand Lodge is self-governing and no single authority exists over the whole of Freemasonry. The interpretation of these principles therefore can and does vary, leading to controversies of recognition.
The concept of Masonic Landmarks appears in Masonic regulations as early as , and seem to be adopted from the regulations of operative masonic guilds. In , Albert G. Mackey attempted to set down 25 Landmarks. The fraternity is widely involved in charity and community service activities. In contemporary times, money is collected only from the membership, and is to be devoted to charitable purposes.
Freemasonry worldwide disburses substantial charitable amounts to non-Masonic charities, locally, nationally and internationally.
In earlier centuries, however, charitable funds were collected more on the basis of a Provident or Friendly Society, and there were elaborate regulations to determine a petitioner's eligibility for consideration for charity, according to strictly Masonic criteria.
A candidate for Freemasonry must petition a lodge obtain an introduction by asking an existing member, who then becomes the candidate's proposer. In some jurisdictions, it is required that the petitioner ask three times, however this is becoming less prevalent. Regardless of how a potential candidate receives his introduction to a Lodge, he must be freely elected by secret ballot in open Lodge.
The usual though not universal methodis to vote with white favourable vote or black unfavourable vote balls in a voting box. Adverse votes will exclude a candidate.
The number of adverse votes necessary to reject a candidate, which in some jurisdictions is as few as one, is set out in the governing Constitution of the presiding Grand Lodge. Generally, to be a regular Freemason, a candidate must: [17]. Deviation from one or more of these requirements is generally the barometer of Masonic regularity or irregularity. However, an accepted deviation in some regular jurisdictions is to allow a Lewis the son of a Mason , to be initiated earlier than the normal minimum age for that jurisdiction, although no earlier than the age of Under UGLE, the only distinction enjoyed by a Lewis is that if there are two or more candidates to be initiated on one occasion, the Lewis takes precedence.
Some Grand Lodges in the United States have an additional residence requirement, candidates being expected to have lived within the jurisdiction for certain period of time, typically six months. Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is neither a religion nor a substitute for one. Regular Freemasonry requires that its candidates believe in a Supreme Being , but the interpretation of the term is subject to the conscience of the candidate.
This means that men from a wide range of faiths, including but not limited to Christianity , Judaism , Islam , Buddhism , Sikhism , and Hinduism can and have become Masons. Since the early 19th century, in the irregular Continental European tradition meaning irregular to those Grand Lodges in amity with the United Grand Lodge of England , a very broad interpretation has been given to a non-dogmatic Supreme Being; in the tradition of Baruch Spinoza and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — or views of The Ultimate Cosmic Oneness — along with Western atheistic idealism and agnosticism.
Freemasonry in Scandinavia, known as the Swedish Rite , on the other hand, accepts only Christians. In October a Californian court ruled that Freemasonry may rank with Christianity, Judaism and Islam as an official form of "religious exercise.
Anti-Masonry consists of radically differing criticisms from sometimes incompatible groups who are hostile to Freemasonry in some form. They include religious groups, political groups, and conspiracy theorists. These often lack context, [43] may be outdated for various reasons, [29] or could be outright hoaxes on the part of the author, as in the case of the Taxil hoax.
These hoaxes and exposures have often become the basis for criticism of Masonry, usually religious mainly Roman Catholic and evangelical Christian or political usually Socialist or Communist dictatorial objections, but also the historical Anti-Masonic Party in the United States in nature.
The political opposition that arose after the "Morgan Affair" in gave rise to the term " Anti-Masonry ", which is still in use today, both by Masons in referring to their critics and as a self-descriptor by the critics themselves. Freemasonry has attracted criticism from theocratic states and organised religions for supposed competition with religion, or supposed heterodoxy within the Fraternity itself, and has long been the target of conspiracy theories, which see it as an occult and evil power.
Although members of various faiths cite objections, certain Christian denominations have had high profile negative attitudes to Masonry, banning or discouraging their members from being Freemasons.
The denomination with the longest history of objection to Freemasonry is the Catholic Church. The objections raised by the Catholic Church are based on the allegation that Masonry teaches a naturalistic deistic religion which is in conflict with Church doctrine. The Code of Canon Law explicitly declared that joining Freemasonry entailed automatic excommunication. In , the Church issued a new Code of Canon Law.
Unlike its predecessor, it did not explicitly name Masonic orders among the secret societies it condemns. It states in part: " A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; one who promotes or takes office in such an association is to be punished with an interdict.
The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion. For its part, Freemasonry has never objected to Catholics joining their fraternity. Those Grand Lodges in amity with UGLE deny the Church's claims and state that they explicitly adhere to the principle that "Freemasonry is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion.
In contrast to Catholic allegations of rationalism and naturalism, Protestant objections are more likely to be based on allegations of mysticism , occultism , and even Satanism. However, Pike, although undoubtedly learned, was not a spokesman for Freemasonry and was controversial among Freemasons in general, representing his personal opinion only, and furthermore an opinion grounded in the attitudes and understandings of late 19th century Southern Freemasonry of the USA alone.
Indeed his book carries in the preface a form of disclaimer from his own Grand Lodge. No one voice has ever spoken for the whole of Freemasonry. In recent decades, however, reservations about Freemasonry have increased within Anglicanism, perhaps due to the increasing prominence of the evangelical wing of the church.
The current Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, appears to harbour some reservations about Masonic ritual, whilst being anxious to avoid causing offence to Freemasons inside and outside the Church of England. In he felt it necessary to apologise to British Freemasons after he said that their beliefs were incompatible with Christianity and that he had barred the appointment of Freemasons to senior posts in his diocese when he was Bishop of Monmouth.
Regular Freemasonry has traditionally not responded to these claims, beyond the often repeated statement that those Grand Lodges in amity with UGLE explicitly adhere to the principle that "Freemasonry is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion. There is no separate 'Masonic deity', and there is no separate proper name for a deity in Freemasonry".
Many Masonic websites and publications now address these criticisms specifically. Many Islamic anti-Masonic arguments are closely tied with Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism, though other criticisms are made such as linking Freemasonry to Dajjal. Regular Freemasonry has in its core ritual a formal obligation: to be quiet and peaceable citizens, true to the lawful government of the country in which they live, and not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion. Nevertheless, much of the political opposition to Freemasonry is based upon the idea that Masonry will foment or sometimes prevent rebellion.
The preserved records of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt the Reich Security Main Office show the persecution of Freemasons. While the number is not accurately known, it is estimated that between 80, and , Freemasons were killed under the Nazi regime.
The small blue forget-me-not flower was first used by the Grand Lodge Zur Sonne , in , as a Masonic emblem at the annual convention in Bremen, Germany. In the forget-me-not badge — made by the same factory as the Masonic badge — was chosen for the annual Nazi Party Winterhilfswerk , a Nazi charitable organisation which collected money so that other state funds could be freed up and used for rearmament.
Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not govern this Lodge, or any other over which I may be called to preside, in a haughty and arbitrary manner; but will, at all times, use my utmost endeavors to preserve peace and harmony among the brethren.
Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will never open a Lodge of Master Masons unless there be present three regular Master Masons, besides the Tyler; nor close the same without giving a lecture, or some section or part of a lecture, for the instruction of the Lodge. Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not sit in a Lodge where the presiding officer has not taken the degree of Past Master Mason. To all of which I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a fixed and steady purpose of mind to keep and perform the same; binding myself under no less penalty than in addition to all my former penalties to have my tongue split from tip to root, that I might forever thereafter be unable to pronounce the word, should I ever prove wilfully guilty of violating any part of this my solemn oath, or obligation, of a Past Master Mason.
So help me God, and make me steadfast to keep and perform the same. The obligation having been administered, the candidate rises, when the Master proceeds to give him the sign, word, and grip of this Degree, as follows:. The Master now steps off with his left foot, and then places the heel of his right foot at the toe of the left, so as to bring the two feet at right angles, and make them the right angle of a square. He then gives the sign, placing the thumb of his right hand fingers clinched upon his lips.
It alludes to the penalty of having his tongue split from tip to root. See Fig. The Master then gives a second sign by placing his right hand upon the left side of his neck, and drawing it edgewise down-ward toward the right side, so as to cross the three former penalties. Places a large cocked hat on his head, and seats him in a chair in front of the Master's chair That wise king, when old and decrepit, was attended by his two friends, Hiram, King of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff, who raised and seated him in his chair by means of the Past Master's grip.
The Master and Senior Warden now take the candidate by this grip, and raise him on his feet several times, each time letting him sit back in the chair again. The Senior Warden then goes back to his seat, the candidate rises, and the Right Worshipful Master instructs him in the grip and word of a Past Master Mason.
They first take each other by the Master Mason's grip see Fig. At that moment they slip their right hands so as to catch each other just above the wrist of the left arm, and raise their left hands, catching each other's right elbow, the Master saying, and the candidate repeating in union with these motions , "From a grip to a span, from a span to a grip," afterward almost at the same instant letting the left hand slip up the right arm to the back of each other, the Master saying, "A threefold cord is strong," and the candidate prompted replying.
The Right Worshipful Master seats the candidate in the Master's chair, places a hat on his head, and then comes down in front, and says:. Worshipful brother, I now present you with the furniture and various Masonic implements of our profession; they are emblematical of our conduct in life, and will now be enumerated and explained as presented.
The Square teaches to regulate our actions by rule and line, and to harmonize our conduct by the principles of morality and virtue. The Compasses teach to limit our desires in every station; thus rising to eminence by merit, we may live respected and die regretted.
The Rule directs that we should punctually observe our duty, press forward in the path of virtue, and neither inclining to the right nor to the left, in all our actions have eternity in view. The Line teaches the criterion of moral rectitude; to avoid dissimulation in conversation and action, and to direct our steps to the path that leads to immortality. The Book of Constitutions you are to search at all times; cause it to be read in your Lodge, that none may pretend ignorance of the excellent precepts it enjoins.
Lastly, you receive in charge the By-laws of your Lodge, which you are to see carefully and punctually executed.
I will also present you with the Mallet; it is an emblem of power. One stroke of the mallet calls to order, and calls up the Junior and Senior Deacons; two strokes call up all the subordinate officers; and three, the whole Lodge.
All the brethren present, headed by the Master, now walk in front of the chair, give the sign of an Entered Apprentice, and pass on. This is repeated, with the sign of each Degree in Masonry up to that of Past Master. Master takes his seat with the brethren.
The Senior Warden now steps forward and delivers up his jewel and his gavel to the new Master, and each of the other officers of the Lodge does the same, taking his turn according to rank.
Presently the retired Master rises. Retired Master addressing the Chair. It is necessary you should have Wardens to assist you in the government of your Lodge. I presume the brethren who have held these stations will continue to serve, if you so request. The new Master requests the Senior Warden to resume his jewel and gavel, when the other officers who had left their places also resume their seats.
Retired Master--Right Worshipful, I would respectfully suggest to you, that as the office of Treasurer is one of considerable. This has been customary, and if you order a nomination to be made in this manner, I have no doubt that we shall select some one who will be satisfactory to you. Here a scene of confusion takes place, which is not easily described.
The newly installed Worshipful is made the butt for every worthy brother to exercise his wit upon. Half-a-dozen are up at a time, soliciting the Master to nominate them, urging their several claims, and decrying the merits of others with much zeal; crying out, "Order, Worshipful! One proposes to call from labor to refreshment; another makes a long speech, advocating the reduction of the price of the Chapter Degrees from twenty dollars to ten, and recommending that it be permitted to pay for them in flour, or any other produce.
His motion is seconded, and the new Master is pressed on all sides to put the question. If the question is put, the brethren all vote against it, and accuse the new Master of breaking his oath, when he swore he would support the Constitution of the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter, which establishes the price of the four Chapter Degrees at twenty dollars.
If the blaster attempts to exercise the power of the gavel, it often has the contrary effect; for if he gives more than one rap, and calls to order, every one obeys the signal with the utmost promptness, and drops on the nearest seat. The next instant, before the Master can utter a word, all are on their feet again, and as noisy as ever.
Some brother now proposes that the Lodge be closed; another one hopes it will be closed in a short way. Retired Master to candidate.
You can close it as you please. You can merely declare the Lodge closed, or in any other way. The candidate, being much embarrassed, will often attempt to close the Lodge by rapping with his gavel, and declaring it closed.
Should he do so, the retired Master stops him as follows:. Retired Master--Right Worshipful, you swore in your obligation, that you would not close this or any other Lodge over which you should be called to preside, without giving a lecture or some part thereof. Do you intend to break your oath? A brother goes and whispers to the candidate, telling him that he can resign the chair to the old Master, and have him close the Lodge, if he so prefers.
The candidate is very glad to do this, and cheerfully abdicates his seat. The Master now delivers the lecture in this Degree. It is divided into five sections. The first treats of the manner of constituting a Lodge of Master Masons. The second treats of the ceremony of installation, including the manner of receiving candidates to this Degree, as given above.
The third treats of the ceremonies observed at laying the foundation-stones of public structures. The fourth section, of the ceremony observed at the dedication of Masonic Halls.
The fifth, of the ceremony observed at funerals, according to the ancient custom, with the service used on the occasion. The lecture is usually read from a Monitor, which is kept in every Lodge. See Lecture, page
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