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The royal order of devine light5/30/2023 ![]() ![]() Its seldom-mentioned God was the Great Architect of the Universe, reachable by reason alone. But avoiding sectarian disputes inevitably pushed Freemasonry towards mere Deism. Haydn, Mozart, and many other luminaries joined. The Lodge’s initial appeal was as a place for men of different faiths to socialize and speculate in peace, for discussing religion and politics was forbidden. Exiled Scottish supporters of the Catholic Stuarts brought the Craft to France, where it proved especially popular among aristocrats and men receptive to the Enlightenment. Spreading throughout the world, Freemasonry reached the Continent by 1721 and America by 1730. ![]() In 1717, four London Lodges united as the Grand Lodge of England, which issued constitutions in 1723 and became the Mother Lodge of all regular Masons. Lodges of “nonoperative” Freemasons appeared in England in the 1640s, attracting gentry and intellectuals of varying religions to the Craft. Professor David Stevenson has amply documented this transformation in The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland’s century 1590-1710 (Cambridge University Press, 1988). These fellowships had just been turned into permanent organizations by the king’s chief builder, a Catholic named William Schaw. Spurred by interest in the symbolic possibilities of architecture, men who were not professional stonemasons (“non-operatives”) began joining workmen’s lodges in Scotland in the 1590s. Their foremost modern commentator, Henry Wilson Coil, describes Freemasonry as “a system of morality and social ethics, a primitive religion, and a philosophy of life.”īut the real origin of the Craft, as Masonic historians now admit, lies in Renaissance esotericism, injected into the guild traditions developed by medieval stoneworkers. ![]() The Craft claims to offer “Light” unobtainable elsewhere that will perfect the initiate and improve society. Some have even identified Adam, Noah, and St. Freemasons pretend to preserve ancient secrets handed down from Solomon’s builders and pagan mystery cults via the medieval Knights Templar. To see why the Catholic Church has strongly and repeatedly condemned membership in Freemasonry or any of its allied movements requires a glance at Masonic teachings and history. Prince Hall Lodges, originally for black men, are generally considered “irregular” by American Masons. Many fewer still practice forms of “fringe Masonry” such as Co-Masonry, which enrolls both men and women. Far fewer men in Latin countries belong to the separate Grand Orient system, whose components are not usually recognized by the Mother Lodge. According to the Masonic Service Association, there are about 1.2 million Freemasons in the United States, down from a high of 4 million in 1958. The Craft originated in the British Isles and the overwhelming majority of its members still live in English-speaking countries. ![]() Holders of the highest degrees in either Rite are eligible to join the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners) for philanthropy and fun. These are the York Rite (10 more grades) and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (30 more grades) which is subdivided into Northern and Southern Jurisdictions. Master Mason’s wives can join the Order of the Eastern Star, their daughters Job’s Daughters or the Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and their sons the Order of the De Molay.Ī fervent minority of Anglo-American Masons acquire additional degrees teaching more sophisticated symbolism in separate organizations called Appendant Bodies that are not controlled by the Mother Lodge. With one exception, American local Lodges are grouped in state Grand Lodges that are recognized by the Mother Lodge in London. They re-enact their central myth, the death and resurrection of Hiram Abiff, legendary builder of Solomon’s Temple. Initiation is the main business of a local Masonic Temple. The basic unit of “regular” Freemasonry is the Blue (or Craft) Lodge, which “works” (imparts) the three traditional degrees-Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master. But the Lodge has many suites, annexes, and outbuildings whose inmates are not necessarily fraternal towards each other, much less filial towards God. On the other hand, the Craft likes to present itself as “an ancient Order dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of God.” Some of the “Brethren” may take that description seriously, depending on which room of the Masonic edifice they inhabit. Many Catholics view Freemasonry as a dangerous-even Satanic-conspiracy founded to destroy the Faith. ![]()
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