Lodge Light in Arabia No. 3870
A
History of Freemasonry
The
practice of Freemasonry
goes back many centuries. Its function and purpose was, and
is, to raise funds and undertake charitable work in the
community. It does so in a self-effacing way without the glare
of publicity and in this quiet way ‘modern’
Freemasonry
has evolved from the early cathedral guilds,
most notably since the 18th century.
In a society that is hungry for public acclaim,
and
where
everyone is
‘famous for 15 minutes’,
this modest approach to life has often been misunderstood and
freemasonry has been accused of not being an open
society, so
how has that myth been maintained?
It evolved from the need for ancient stonemasons to prove their
skills and abilities in the days before printed certificates.
They did this by means of various handshakes. On being accepted
into the craft of masonry, an apprentice stonemason was given
unique type of handshake to prove that he was genuinely
qualified to offer his services, albeit as a lowly apprentice.
When he completed his apprenticeship, having proved his skills,
he was promoted and entrusted with yet another handshake and so
on and so on until he reached the pinnacle of his profession.
Freemasons, known as speculative
as opposed to operative stonemasons,
adopted this system of recognition among its members.
History does not record who the earliest exponents of what
later became known as
‘Freemasonry’
but
certainly in the early 1700s groups of men met at the London
pub, the ‘Goose
& Gridiron’,
to initiate members into lodges.
Qualifications
required by candidates for initiation were not recorded
either, but throughout the history of ‘modern’
Freemasonry,
candidates have been expected to have a religious belief. But
Freemasonry does not seek to replace a Mason’s religion or
provide a substitute for it. It deals in a man’s relationship
with his fellow man not in a man’s relationship with his God.
It teaches that happiness and good humour, by facing
challenges and achievements, can lead to a more fulfilled and
contented life, particularly family life. Until recently
membership was open to men over the age of 21 but now, with
special permission, candidates can be admitted from the age of
18.
Today
there are about 400,000 Freemasons
in England and
Wales,
with large numbers in Scotland and
Eire.
Freemasons’ lodges can be found throughout the world and it is
estimated that there are many millions of brethren throughout
the world.
Freemasonry
adheres to three abiding principles that are expressed in terms
that can sometimes be misunderstood, especially at a time in our
society when certain words in the English language are quite
foreign to their original meanings. So it is important to
understand what Freemasons mean when they say that their guiding
principles are, ‘brotherly
love’, ‘relief’ and ‘truth’.
Brotherly
love
is expressed by care for other people, by understanding,
respecting and tolerating beliefs, politics and opinions and by
genuine kindness towards others regardless of their declared
religion. Freemasonry encourages support for the rule of law and
democratic systems of government no matter in which country a
brother may find himself.
Relief
is practiced by the raising of funds for charities. There are a
number of Masonic charities, the best known
are
the various Masonic hospitals around the world. Masons also
support non-Masonic charities. Brethren only give what they
can afford and care is taken to ensure that a brother’s family
does not suffer as a result of his generosity to the
community. In England and Wales alone Freemasons raise more
than £20 million pounds every year. The funds are distributed
quietly, without fanfares from the media. Anyone who wishes to
know which charities benefit and the details can apply to
Grand Lodge at Freemasons Hall in Great Queen Street, London
WC2 or ask the Secretary
of any Freemasons’ Lodge. Details also appear in various
magazines, most notably in the monthly ‘Freemasonry
Today’.
Copies
can often be found in public libraries. Alternatively there
are several web sites that reflect the charitable work that
Freemasons undertake throughout the world.
Truth
demands
integrity in all our actions and thoughts. It demands that we
observe and maintain the highest moral standards in our personal
lives. A Freemason can invite a brother into his home and know
that he can be assured of his good behaviour and friendship. A
confidence given to a brother Freemason will always be kept.
It’s a simple matter of truth and trust.
© Copyright Lodge Light in Arabia No 3870 in the Province of Surrey All Rights Reserved