From
The East
The
history of Masonry dates
back to the time before
the Christian era. In
the middle of the Seventeenth
Century, a group of
skilled architects banded
together for the protection
of their craft and the
prosperity of their
skills. They were the
first “Master
Masons”, creators
of the magnificent edifices
of the medieval period
of Cathedral building
in Europe. They worked
under their own government,
traveling from place
to place as work required.
Some years later, in
1702, a London, England,
lodge decided to open
the doors of Masonry
to men unskilled in
architecture. As the
demand for operative
skill decreased, the
lofty moral principles,
noble deeds and manly
virtues of those who
were already members,
attracted to this society
men of prominence in
Church and State, whose
higher character and
fine attainments had
made them distinguished.
This is the origin of
Free Masonry as we know
it today.
Persecuted by Church
and State because of
its successful effort
to promote free thinking
and lofty ideals, its
history pages are smeared
with the blood of martyrs
who gave their lives
that this Order survive.
Its history also has
many gilded pages covered
with the records of
deeds well done, of
bonded men set free,
and of mercy and good-will
to all mankind.
A writer of authority
on the subject of Masonry
tells us that the great
secret of this Order
is that it makes men
aware of the divine
within them. A Mason’s
whole life takes its
beauty and meaning form
this diving spark and
inspires him to follow
and obey it. This same
writer says, “a
man is a Mason, when
he can look out over
the rivers, the hills,
and the far horizon
with a profound sense
of his own littleness
in the vast scheme of
things, and yet have
faith, hope and courage
which is the root of
every virtue.”
This quotation form
“The Veil of Isis”
by Winwood Reade, is
a revelation of the
high ideals of this
great Masonic Order
that we revere and honor.
“The doctrines
of Masonry are the most
beautiful that are possible
to imagine. They breathe
the simplicity of the
earliest ages, animated
by the love of a martyred
God. That word which
Puritans translated
charity, but which is
really love, is the
keystone which supports
the entire edifice of
this mystic science.
Love one another, teach
one another, help one
another. This is all
our doctrine, all our
science, all our law.
We have no narrow-minded
prejudices; we do not
debar form our society
this sect or that sect’
it is sufficient for
us that man worships
God no matter under
what name or in what
manner. It is impossible
to be a good Mason without
being a good man.”
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