What is Freemasonry - An E-Book on the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity compiled by Greg Stewart.pdf - Literatura - Nick_4

What is

AN E-BOOK

ON THE ANCIENT

AND HONORABLE

FRATERNITY

Compiled by Greg Stewart

http://www.freemasoninformation.com

Why This E-book

Today many books exist on the subject of Freemasonry available at a variety of

retail outlets and libraries. In those volumes are a variety of specific details and

research that delve to great depths on the subject matter, often looking to find

its historical or symbolic roots lost in the passage of time. These books are

important, and a great resource to anyone who is looking to round and develop

his or her interest in the gentle craft.

Missing from that collection however are works that speak of the fraternity in a

more modern context. Absent is the present day goings on, of how and why

someone would want to become a Freemason. Often, the acronym of 2B1ask1

is the favored way to communicate the idea that to become a Freemason an

interested party simply needs to ask another Freemason how. And, as the reach

of the fraternity has diminished over the years, interested men are finding it

increasingly more difficult to find someone even to ask.

How can you ask one to be one, when you don’t know one?

In that question rests the reason for this e-book. For the fraternity to enter into

the 21st century digital age, it needs to be approachable and available, and be

so in a way that those interested can find them. Many web sites exist on-line,

catering to a variety of reader types, from veteran members researching the lat-

est paper topics to social discussion boards where the finite points of symbols

are discussed. Some of these sites have some degree of information. None of

them however focus specifically on the present tense idea of what Freemasonry

is, today, right now.

So, to address that absence, this e-book was created to help address the ques-

tion “What is Freemasonry?” In its present tense, and not in a manner that ne-

cessitates a long detail of the past.

I hope, in some small measure, this book answers some of the questions that

someone new to the fraternity would ask. And, in answering them, I hope it

compels them to learn more.

Introduction

Freemasonry has a long and active history in North America. Its origins can be

traced into England, and the organization of the United Grand Lodge in 1717,

which coalesced out of several existent lodges into one governing body. Its true

and exact age, however, is lost in the sands of time.

Some have posited a connection to the Knights Templar, some to the Temple

Builders of the Renaissance, and others to the Christian Mystics whose study of

the Cabala was shunned by the Catholic, Anglican, and later Protestant churches

that dominated Europe. Many historians, Masonic or otherwise, study Freema-

sonry and its roots in the past looking for its connections and links to the

modern age.

Outside of that historical quest the regular practice of Freemasonry continues

on everyday around us.

I’ve heard said, and repeated on many occasions, that the practice of Freema-

sonry is about the journey and not the end destination. That it is not about

how we arrived at where we are today but rather a culmination of our history

and philosophy that equates to the modern practice. To that end, Freemasonry

is at its heart the study and practice to encompass all perspectives, so that in

our time as Masons through the liberal arts and sciences, we can better serve

and contribute to the society in which we exist.

This short volume is meant to be a tool to inform the reader on the fraternity of

Freemasonry as a free resource on the web. It’s value is in the hands of those

unfamiliar with the fraternity or to those who simply asks the question “What is

Freemasonry?” The answers to the questions within grew out of personal cor-

respondences over the course of several weeks. They are by no means the only

answer to and represent my own perspective as no one man can speak for the

fraternity, these are only one mans perspective on them.

I encourage the reader to reach out and ask a Mason about Freemasonry.

Greg Stewart - Masonic Traveler

masonictraveler@gmail.com

http://www.freemasoninformation.com

http:/twitter.com/masonictraveler

http://www.facebook.com/MasonicTraveler

Table of Contents

Forward........................................................................................i

Introduction..............................................................................ii

Table of Contents..............................................................iii

How much does Freemasonry cost?..................23

Does membership offer family activities?........24

Are lodges diverse?.........................................................25

What is the lodge experience like?.....................26

Are meetings manditory? What is expected/

hoped for new members?...........................................27

What does “making good men better” mean?.

.....................................................................................................28

How does it make you better?...............................29

Are their any subjects not discussed

in a lodge?...........................................................................30

Is there a racial divide in Freemasonry?.........31

Are there other functions or clubs?...................32

What is Esoteric Masonry?.........................................33

My Father, Uncle, Grandfather, Great

Grandfather, was a Freemason. How do I

find out more about his Masonic history?

.....................................................................................................34

Why is there a decrease in membership?

Can you leave the organization once you

become one?......................................................................35

How is Masonry Organized?.....................................36

List of U.S. Grand Lodges..........................................37

Major books on Freemasonry..................................38

Famous Freemasons.............................................39, 40

Quick symbolism guide.......................................41, 42

More info on the web...................................................43

What is Freemasonry? What is a

Freemason?..............................................................................4

How old is Freemasonry?..........................................5,6

Why are Freemason’s so Secretive?......................7

Is Freemasonry a patriotic body?............................8

Why does Freemasonry not admit

women?................................................................................9,10

Why does Freemasonry say it is a ritual

practice?..................................................................................11

Why is “Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth” so

important to Freemasonry?.......................................12

Why does Freemasonry use such odd

symbols?..................................................................................13

Is Masonry Practical?.....................................................14

Does Freemasonry promote drinking

alcohol?....................................................................................15

Why do so many Masonic Lodge buildings

look old?................................................................................16

How does one become a Mason?....17, 18, 19

How do I find a suitable lodge?...........................20

Is every lodge different? What are Masonic

Lodge Hours?......................................................................21

What are the requirements of becoming a

Mason? How long does it take to become a

Freemason?...........................................................................22

About the author..............................................................44

iii

What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry is a post-collegiate male fraternity dedicated to

the spiritual development of the initiate into a broader sense

of the self, how he relates to the Divine, and his contribu-

tory role in the world. It conveys this message through a

series of progressive degrees initiating the candidate into a

deeper level of understanding and membership. Ultimately,

the raised Master Mason is given the allegorical tools to fur-

ther work on and develop their Masonic intuition.

What is a Freemason?

A Freemason is a man who, in searching for life’s ineffable

questions, finds his way into the company of fellow seekers.

Comprised of men from every nation, races, social and eco-

nomic level, all hold similar ideals and beliefs. The uniting

idea is a faith in the divine founded in the certitude in an

afterlife. This “belief” is grounded by certain landmark ten-

ants and virtues which ultimately lead in exploration of those

invisible questions, leading ultimately to the betterment of all

mankind.

Alchemical Transformation

The dual nature of alchemy in the trans-

mutation of lead into gold and the material

man into the spiritual being.

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