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Freemasonry
is a system of morality, veiled in allegory,
and illustrated by symbols. This
is the classic definition of the Craft - one
in such general use that it has virtually
become the accepted definition. There
are others, however, amplifying the above,
which are worthy of note. Albert
Gallatin Mackey contends that Freemasonry
"is a science which is engaged in the
search for the truth." Joseph
Fort Newton offers a very comprehensive
definition taken from the German Handbuch,
characterizing it as the best definition
given so far: |
| "Masonry
is the activity of closely united
men who, employing symbolical forms
borrowed principally from the
mason's trade and from architecture,
work for the |
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| "welfare
of mankind, striving morally to
ennoble themselves and others, and
thereby to bring about a universal
league of Mankind, which they aspire
to exhibit even now on a small
scale." |
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No
useful purpose would be served by
presenting the many other existing
definitions of Freemasonry, the
majority of which contain common
elements. At best, any
definition can give only a meager
description of the philosophy of the
organization, and amplification is
not only helpful, but
necessary. This is provided by
the Masonic Creed, embracing
the Masonic Belief, and the Masonic
Teaching, |
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| which
may be found in the Masonic edition of the
Holy Bible published by the A. J. Holman
Company of Philadelphia. |
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"The
Masonic Belief |
| There
is One God, the Father of all men. |
| The
Holy Bible is the Great Light in
Masonry, and the Rule and Guide for
Faith and practice. |
| Man
is immortal. |
| Character
determines destiny. |
| Love
of Man is, next to love of God,
man's first duty. |
| Prayer,
communion of man with God, is
helpful. |
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The
Masonic Teaching |
| Masonry
teaches man to practice charity and
benevolence, to protect chastity, to
respect the ties of |
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| blood
and friendship, to adopt the
principles and revere the ordinances
of religion, to assist the feeble,
guide the blind, raise up the
downtrodden, shelter the orphan,
guard the altar, support the
government, inculcate morality,
promote learning, love man, fear
God, implore His mercy, and hope for
happiness." |
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| Some
authorities have differentiated between
Freemasonry as a system and Freemasonry as
an organization. While this is
essential in understanding its historical
background, one must take the logical
position that today the two are
inseparable. This being so, the
following seems to be an acceptable |
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| descriptive
conclusion: Freemasonry is a system
of moral philosophy structured on the
principal of the Brotherhood of Man and a
belief in God and immortality, imparted
symbolically and allegorically through a
coordinated complex of Masonic Lodges. |
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An
allegory is a narrative, frequently
illustrating a moral truth, in which the
true meaning is concealed, thereby requiring
interpretation and permitting the meaning to
be deduced from the story which id
told. That Freemasonry teaches by
allegory is neither new nor unique.
Allegory creates interest in abstract
subjects by presenting them in an attractive
form; it stimulates independent thinking to
discover the veiled context. The use
of allegory is common in Greek and
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Roman
mythology, in the Bible, and in early as
well as contemporary literature. |
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In
discussing the use of allegory in
Freemasonry, J. O. Ball asserts that |
| "in
seeking why Masonry is taught in
allegories, instead of by logical
statements of truth in direct form,
we may answer that in many ages
truth has been taught by allegories
and parables, in order that the mind
may conceive great and fundamental
truths by comparison with simple
things. Some think that
Masonry is taught by types, emblems,
and allegorical figures in order to
conceal thought....On the contrary,
the parable or allegory makes the
thought clear to the thinking mind,
but only after a certain effort in
thinking the thing through." |
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