Gaming

Books on Freemasons – Fraternity in Freemasonry

“Neither will your name ever be called Abram,

but your name will be Abraham; for a father

I made you of nations. “

Gen. 17: 5

From the moment he is initiated as an entered apprentice, the Mason is instructed on the importance of remaining free. The initiate quickly learns that freedom is a quality of life that the Craft takes very seriously. Every Mason is informed at some early point in his Masonic career that he must strive for the rest of his life to be the sole sovereign over his earthly destiny. It also learns that from a political perspective, while Freemasonry refrains from expressing preferences in general, the Office emphatically endorses freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, and a free public education for all citizens. .

In his Books on Freemasons, Albert Pike wrote that where two or more of these sovereignties associate, the State begins, requiring each to renounce a part of their personal sovereignty. (Morals and Dogma). However, even in the act of resignation, the individual wins, because he participates in the establishment of a union whose ties will never be dissolved. That union is called brotherhood, a word that conveys both a definition of unity and an understanding of how to achieve human unification.

It is very likely that the Masonic meaning of fraternity is very different from the meaning it acquired while attending school. At universities across the country, campuses abound with fraternities that offer male students social acceptance, camaraderie, companionship, and a central place or home to sleep, study, and play. Women are not left out, as most of those campuses offer the same environment to female students through a variety of sororities. Many of those who join Freemasonry have also been members of such fraternities, as well as other fraternal social organizations, such as the Moose or Elks lodges. While it certainly does not denounce or demean any of those fraternities that render many valuable services to the societies in which their members live, the meaning of fraternity for the Office is deeply philosophical.

Lamenting over how communities of seemingly good people could quickly transform into fierce and deadly armies, Manly P. Hall wrote Books on Freemasons and a new brotherly order that he hoped would eventually sweep the world. In his book Lectures on Ancient Philosophy, Hall called his new order the gospel of identity. The premise of his new gospel was that all forms of life are manifestations of one God. Using that premise, Hall expanded his thinking to include the notion that all people were evolving toward an identity, a government, and a new world order. Such thinking heralded a new era and, indeed, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite titled its publication The New Age. He predicted the fulfillment of a Masonic hope: a brotherhood of men under the fatherhood of God.

Hall’s identity gospel, while subject to denunciation as fanciful thought, at best, or, at worst, dangerous in its promotion of abandoning individual liberties, is relevant to each of us. when considered in light of the lessons set forth in the Holy Bible. As a teaching drawn from the First Great Light of Freemasonry, its importance in shaping individual conduct must be carefully considered. In the book of Genesis, God calls Abram from among the masses and, finding him worthy, changes his name and promises that “in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 17: 5). That covenant was not with many people on behalf of many nations, but with a holy and worthy man on behalf of all men.

The meaning of brotherhood for Freemasons at least includes the notion that, as members of the nations mentioned in Scripture, we are also inheritors of the benefits that God has promised: all nations on earth will be blessed. But what does Freemasonry teach us about how we should be blessed? What if we are going to do something? Cain killed his brother Abel and, as we are informed, he was sentenced to wander the world. The sons of Jacob through his brother Joseph to a well and let him die. As a consequence, they suffered the ravages of hunger and death. On the contrary, the men described in the Holy Scriptures who treated their brothers well were, in turn, well treated by God and Nature. For us as Freemasons, the lesson is clear: treat your brother as you would like him to treat you, then you will be blessed.

But the concept that one Abraham is the father of all nations also teaches us a valuable lesson in how man is expected to live, especially compared to the lessons nature taught us. We believe as men that equality is the basis of human freedom. But, true equality in all things leads to chaos and disorder where jealousy and personal interests put justice, compassion and love aside. The equality Freemasonry taught us holds that all men of all abilities will have equal opportunities in life. Freemasonry teaches tolerance of other opinions; it does not teach that harmony and freedom are achieved when the presence of all opposing opinions pushes humanity into moral stagnation. If, as has been said, Hermeticism is the true philosophical ancestor of Freemasonry, then we must listen to the lessons of that creed: different ideas and opinions must be synthesized into a cohesive structure in which all men are free to pursue equally. each and every one of the things. opportunity that providence has placed at our disposal.

If you want to be wise, as King Solomon was, you must know the thoughts and desires of your brothers, as well as the thoughts of your family members, neighborhoods, houses of worship, and workplaces. As human beings, we meet first to differ, then to hear the difference, and then to make a difference by reaching an agreement. It is sad that the word compromised has fallen into such disgrace in our world today. Compromising a position means for some the same abdication of all that is correct in favor of all that is false. The arrogance of such an assumption is obvious: no one has the right to assume that their point of view is correct and theirs incorrect. However, we have the right and, indeed, the obligation as human beings to defend the position that we believe to be the most correct. But once the defense ceases, as the fraternity of children of God, we have the obligation to reach a peaceful agreement, to achieve a compromise, to comply with the teachings of our hermetic philosophy, to synthesize and harmonize.

Freemasonry does not free us as men from the responsibility of embracing the difficult task of discovering the right path that will lead us from chaos to confusion. Suffice it to say that there is no magic formula or magic potion that makes the way easier. Adjusting for mutual rights and mutual mistakes is as difficult for us as it is for nations around the world who disagree on almost nothing. Freemasonry teaches us that the difference lies in how we feel about human beings with whom we have different opinions, and that is a feeling about others that must be learned, as we are naturally a very selfish group and enjoy pleasing our own. own interests. . How natural is it for a whole body of men to work diligently all their lives and then give that wealth so that crippled boys can be healed at no cost to them? Isn’t it more natural to spend what you’ve earned on yourself and also punish the poor for being poor? Freemasonry teaches us that fraternity is not about self-interest. Rather, it is about someone other than you, a lesson that can take a lifetime to learn, if ever really learned.

If the truth were told, humans would find it extremely difficult to place their faith in other humans. When a doctor recommends a specific course of medical action, we generally want a second opinion. Before hiring someone to handle our money, we look for guarantees that they are ethical, honest and, above all, united! Freemasonry does not ask us to leave our common sense at home; asking for a second opinion and seeking guarantees of honesty are courses of prudent behavior. The fact that we are forced to take them into courses of prudent conduct proves precisely the truth about the difficulties we have, the faith in others. Freemasonry offers you the tools to enhance that faith through understanding and working on behalf of the fraternity.

Not all the works of the fraternity are benign and harmonious. Threats to freedom exist and are very real even in today’s society. Wherever there is light in the world, darkness lurks in a corner waiting for its chance to absorb the light. Demagogy and despotism, two evils that Freemasonry has fought for centuries, still demand the attention of the Office. Where they exist, the pen of Masonry is expected to bring them to light; to accuse them; to process them; and eliminate them as best as possible.

By nature, man is cruel. But brotherhood replaces cruelty with justice, compassion and love. By nature, man likes to see others suffer. Fraternity builds hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics for children who need to learn to speak. History reveals that man kills man for pleasure and political gain. Fraternity encompasses all men, not only those who think or resemble us, all men. The fraternity builds Freemasons by providing the network within which the gospel of identity can be preached and put into practice. Masons build brotherhood by forging a brotherhood of men under the fatherhood of God, following in the footsteps of Abraham so that all nations are truly blessed.

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