The secrets of masonry

Title

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow Volume XXXVIII (No. 3) September 1962

Year

1962

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Editorial. . . THE SECRETS OF MASONRY One of the things about Freemasonry that intrigues non Masons is the secrets of the Order. Because of these secrets, hostile critics denounce it as a secret society, ascribing evil designs to it. These critics ignore the fact that churches have pri vate conclaves, businesses have trade secrets, and that every important association or corporation has closed sessions, not open to the public. They also disregard the fact that the Mahave numerous public functions in and out of their Lodge halls, halls. Further, they fail to consider that many of the world’s greatest and most honored men were Masons and that the Fra ternity flourishes in all enlightened countries. Only where the authorities cannot stand freedom of thought and expression and the independent quest for Truth is our Order suppressed. It is, therefore, unreasonble for anyone to resent the fact that Masonic Lodge meetings are for Masons, any more than they would criticize other associations or clubs for being exclusive. But what are the secrets of Masonry? They are the modes of recognition. All else about the Order, its teach ings, tenets, principles and history can be found in every en cyclopedia, in hundreds of books authored by members of the Order; and its rules and regulations, edicts, activities, mem bership, officers and even its finances are printed in numerous organs or publications of Grand Lodges and of individual Lodges. All these are available for perusal by any interested person. The privacy of Masonic initiations is related to the adop tion of secret signs and passwords, a brief discussion of which will here be presented. Freemasonry has come down to us from antiquity almost untouched by changes in time, tradition and customs. Most 61 of what it is today have been transmitted from the past includ ing its symbolisms and secrets venerated by the years. The fraternities of old were associations of craftsmen called guilds that were largely protective in nature. There were guilds for various trades such as those of tailors, shoe makers, metal workers and carpenters, who enjoyed privileges given by kings to practice their trades under laws peculiar to them. For the perpetuation of their associations, all of them had provisions for the introduction into their guilds of youths who were instructed by Masters and who had to go through periods of preparation as Apprentices. By the nature of their work, however, Masons were dif ferent from members of other guilds. Shoemakers, for ins tance, •worked in the place where they resided, and they had work brought to them. They knew each other well and, be cause of this intimacy, they needed no safeguards against im postors or invaders from other places. On the other hand, Masons had to go to their'work. Their activities were not confined to the locality where they lived. Many times they had to travel to erect buildings in distant lands. Large edifices usually required Masons exceeding in number those who were available locally, and workers had to be secured from other places. Because it was a highly specialized craft, cau tion was necessary to prevent the admission of Masons who were not qualified for employment — impostors without the necessary skill in the art or who had not passed through the apprenticeship as prescribed by the rules of the Fraternity. Writing was almost wholly unknown and Masons then did not have, as we do now, the convenience of carrying letters of introduction or written certifications of proficiency when travelling to engage in their profession. Hence the necessity for adopting modes of recognition, and for this purpose they adopted secret signs and passwords. Thus, the cumbersome and tedious process of examining prospective workers for proofs of their skill were obviated, and in this way, too, legi timate Masons were enabled to recognize easily each other and accord hospitality and necessary assistance to one another. The secrecy of present day initiations and conferral of 62 THE CABLE TOW September, 1962 Editorial . . . Cont. THE SECRETS OF MASONRY degrees also has a historical background. In ancient times the craft was divided into classes or degrees. While initiations do not differ much in all the degrees, a marked advance in skill was re quired to attain a higher one be cause of the differences in the res pective wages earned. Consequent ly, the sign and password of Master Masons were different from those of Fellowcrafts; and Apprentices had their own. For this reason, the ceremonies of initiating and advancing members were protect ed from prying eyes even of Ma sons whose degrees did not enti tle them to witness the particular proceedings. All these have been preserved with relatively minor mutations from the hands of time, making the Order one of truly great antiquity. Even its transition from Opera tive to Speculative Masonry did not produce significant changes; and so to this day Masons keep most of the traditional practices of their predecessors — symbolisms, sec recy and all — even though they no longer work on stones but "build temples in the hearts of men” because they are not only time-honored but also time-tested in the work of converting Rough Ashlars into Perfect ones. SIGN OF CORRECT LUBRICATION Makers and Marketers of Mobil Automotive Products Mobil Industrial Oils and Greases Mobil Oil Philippines Inc. MANILA • CEBU • ILOILO • DAVAO 63

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