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What is Freemasonry?
A Peculiar System of Morality, Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated by Symbols.
This is one common description which was penned in the 19th century and although a little antiquated in terms of language is still a powerful and valid description.
Peculiar System of Morality
Today we tend think of the word 'peculiar' as describing something odd or strange but its 19th century meaning was 'special and unique', and that accurately describes Freemasonry then and now. For a discussion of Morality in a Masonic sense click here.
Veiled in Allegory
Veiled in allegory refers to the methods by which Freemasons are taught the system of morality. Allegory has, for many centuries, been an accepted and useful teaching method. Even today we often communicate by means of allegory. It is often used to convey abstract ideas or concepts that plain language has difficulty in describing or which would take a long time to communicate. A brief discussion of Allegory can be seen by clicking here.
Illustrated by Symbols
A symbol is intended to assist in understanding an idea or concept. It is not necessary to use a symbol to assist someone to visualise what a car looks like as ordinary language, and their own knowledge, can do that readily enough but in trying to describe abstract concepts, ideas and beliefs plain language can fail. Symbols, therefore, can help one person to understand another's explanation of something 'nebulous'. Because Freemasonry explores an enormous range of intangible notions symbols are use as 'visual aids' which in a very similar way religions use symbols for the same purpose. For a discussion of Masonic Symbolism please click here.
Within Scottish Freemasonry the modern term 'Freemasonry' was originally two words: Free Masonry. The word Free was substituted for the word 'stone' in order to differentiate between those who were working stonemasons and those who were not. Free meaning here, free of the duties and responsibilities of a stonemason and today that means the vast majority of those are Freemasons but not stonemasons. This is similar to Free Gardeners, Free Potters, Free Fishermen, Free Colliers and Free Carpenters but Free Masons appear to be the only group who amalgamated the two words to create 'Freemasons' and 'Freemasonry'. There was no such amalgamation of words to create 'Freegardeners' or 'Freegardenery' for example.
No man can, nor does, speak for Freemasonry. This is one reason why there is not, nor ever will be, a common system of understanding, interpretation and meaning (in other words a Dogma - an essential element of a religion which Freemasonry is not) of all aspects of the Craft. It also ensures that there is a diversity across the world matching as it does the aspirations of all creeds, colours, nationalities and beliefs. Other organisations have agendas whereas Freemasonry has none other than to improve individuals and therefore society as a whole.
When one thinks of Freemasonry, or Free Masonry, a Masonic Lodge immediately comes to mind. However, it is important to bear in mind that, to the Scottish way of thinking at least, a Lodge is not a place but is a gathering of like-minded men who come together for the purposes of Freemasonry. Originally, in Scotland, Masonic Lodges could be anywhere and indeed the earliest records show that most Lodges were not tied to a certain place. Some even met outdoors in fields when the weather was good (it also meant that those Scots had no rent to pay! - Ed.) and it was only much later when there were sufficient funds that a property was rented or purchased. Today the majority of Scottish Lodges are not encumbered by owning property.
When discussing Freemasonry it has become clear to several Rosslyn Templars that many authors who publish in the public domain have no idea of the differences between Freemasonry in Scotland and that practiced elsewhere. This suggests, although we have no way to confirm it, that such authors are not Freemasons, or at least that they are not Scottish Freemasons. (Why not just ask the author if he or she is a Freemason or is that too simple? - Ed.)
This means that such authors write at their own peril least they be discovered as deficient in their understanding of, and research into, Scottish Freemasonry. Where such deficiencies become apparent we shall endeavour to point out in our BOOK REVIEW PAGE.
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