GRAND LODGE OF Discourse
What is it like to be a Freemason?
This is not a surprising question for us. Regardless of the fact that our fraternity is the largest and oldest in the world, and almost everyone knows at least one Freemason or has a relative who is one, it is constantly placed upon us. Many people still have the question - who are Freemasons and what do they actually do?
There is a very simple answer. Freemasons or Freemasons are members of a fraternal organization known as Freemasonry or Freemasonry. A fraternity is made up of members who are together because:
– there are many things to do in the world;
– there are deeds that must be done in "our own consciousness";
- feel satisfaction in being in the company of people they like and respect.
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is arguably the oldest fraternity in the world. Originating more than four millennia ago, in the society of ancient Egypt, it borrows some of its ideas even from ancient times. The thread of its history stretches through the centuries, passing through the ancient Jews, early Christianity, the Knights Templar, the Rosicrucians, until 1717, when it was first officially announced to the world in England.
In that year, the first formal organization was created - the Grand Lodge of England. The Grand Lodge is the administrative formation responsible for the development of Freemasonry in a given geographical area. For example, in the USA each individual state has its own Grand Lodge, and in Germany each province has one. Local organizations of Freemasons are called lodges. There are such in almost every larger city. It is normal practice to have more than one lodge in large cities. There are over 13,000 lodges in the US alone. In Bulgaria they are more than 15.
The parent organization of modern Freemasonry is the Grand Lodge of England. Through it, the ideas of Freemasonry are spread throughout the world and new lodges are organized.
What is a lodge?
In Masonic terminology, the word "lodge" has a double meaning. On the one hand, it is a group of people who meet in a certain place, on the other hand, it is a room or building where the meetings take place. Another common term for a Masonic building is "temple." This is because the symbolism in the study of Masonic ideals is based on the parable of the building of King Solomon's temple. The term lodge is also borrowed from the buildings built by master masons and masons in the Middle Ages in the immediate vicinity of the construction of the cathedral or castle on which they worked. There they lived and processed the stone needed for construction.
Although there are some variations in the details of the furnishings of the lodges, these days they are more or less of the same type.
What happens in a lodge?
Now is the time to recall why people become Freemasons:
– there are many things to do in the world;
- there are deeds that must be done in "our own consciousness";
- feel satisfaction in being in the company of people they like and respect.
The Lodge is the natural center of these activities of theirs.
Freemasonry teaches that each person is responsible for making the world a better place. Many individuals will not be the discoverers of a new cure for cancer, will not be able to eliminate world poverty or establish world peace, but every man, woman or child can do something small to contribute to the creation of a better good world Freemasonry helps a lot of people - it spends more than 1 million dollars a day in the US alone, just to make people live better. And as strange as it may sound to its opponents, the majority of these funds are spent on people who are not Masons. Many hospitals and research institutes are funded by various Masonic organizations. There are also a number of far less visible activities of Freemasonry - helping the elderly, orphanages, creating funds for the education of gifted children, etc. But through all these projects, big or small, Lodge Masons strive to make the world a better place to live. The Lodge gives them the opportunity to complement their ideas and capabilities in their striving for good.
Freemasonry does its work "within" the Masons.
"Evolve or die" - this is a great natural law. Most people feel the need to develop as individuals. They feel that they are not as honest and responsible, as loving and compassionate, as believing and knowing as they would like to be. Freemasonry constantly reminds its members of the importance of these and many other virtues. It enables honest men to unite their efforts in the defense of virtues such as , honesty, compassion, love, faith and knowledge. In its own way, Freemasonry is a support for people trying to make and stand for the right decision and way of life. It is much easier to live in harmony with these virtues when you know that they are of great importance to the people around you. This is one of the main reasons why Freemasons are together.
Freemasons find satisfaction in communicating with each other.
It's nice to spend time in the company of people you trust completely. Freemasons find such people in their lodges. While most of the time inside the lodge, its members are engaged in charity work or self-cultivation work, outside of it they are just friends. The lodges organize for their members picnics, excursion trips and many other activities for the whole family. Simply put, the lodge is a place to spend time with friends.
Lodge members hold two main types of meetings. The first is the working meeting. At its opening and closing, a specific ceremony is observed, the purpose of which is to recall the virtues in accordance with which we should live. This is followed by a part where lectures are given, petitions are read, new members are voted on, charity and family events are planned, or simply information is exchanged between members. The other type of meeting is strictly official - new members are accepted and new knowledge expressed through degrees in Freemasonry is obtained.
Each lodge, however, serves a much wider range of people than its members. Periodically, exhibitions and concerts are organized, public events are held, such as the laying of cornerstones of socially significant buildings, or other activities supporting society and affecting current issues.
What are degrees?
Degrees are a series of levels of membership in an organization. They also represent certain ceremonies that take place upon obtaining the respective level of membership. Masons of the three main degrees are called "Apprentices", "Journeymen" and "Masters". As can be seen, the names of the degrees derive from the organization of craft guilds. In the Middle Ages, when a man wanted to join the blacksmith's guild, for example, he was apprenticed at first - learning the meaning and use of the basic tools. With the accumulation of knowledge and skills in the trade, proving his skills, he became a "journeyman". And when, over time, he acquired deep knowledge and excellent skills, he was accepted as a "Master" and received the right to accept and train his students.
The degrees are a kind of theatrical productions in which the candidate participates. Each degree uses specific symbols through which it teaches participants certain virtues.
Masonic degrees teach the great lessons of life - the importance of honesty, faith, love for people, readiness for self-sacrifice, the path to self-knowledge, etc.
Why is Freemasonry so "secret"?
In reality, the word "secrecy" is quite a stretch. Freemasons certainly do not hide their affiliation with the fraternity. We wear with a certain pride insignia such as badges, tie pins, cufflinks and others with Masonic symbolism. Masonic buildings, around the world, and now in our country, are distinguished by architectural elements defining their affiliation to the brotherhood. The activities of the lodges are also not a secret - they are published in the press in one way or another. However, there are two categories of information that actually constitute a secret.
The first group includes the ways and marks by which a man presents himself in the fraternity and is recognized as a Freemason. The reasons for this are obvious - more than once over the years, different people with different motives have tried to pretend to be Freemasons and infiltrate our gatherings. Sometimes this is caused by simple curiosity, but at other times it is prompted by malicious interests.
The second group of "secrets" is difficult to describe precisely. It includes in itself all the information that is accepted not to be transmitted in writing and reflects in a synthesized form, the changes that occur in the way of thinking of Freemasons. It is the feeling of satisfaction in knowing that you are in charge of your life and that the ultimate happiness lies in giving to others.
It is a wonderful feeling that is difficult to describe. It is comparable to the feeling of a beautiful sunset or the sound of the sea surf. Therefore, the expression that these "secrets" cannot be told is very common.
Secret societies flourished in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of them are modeled after Masonic organizations and claim "secret" or "secret" knowledge and rituals of varying importance. But in reality they have nothing to do with Freemasonry. How could the high moral ideals and values professed by Freemasons and aimed at the good of humanity be compared to the various highly commercialized "secrets" used for personal gain by other organizations?
Is Freemasonry a religion?
The simple and categorical answer is NO !
In fact, we use different rituals in our gatherings. In a certain place in the lodge, the book of the holy law - the Bible - is always present, and this is perhaps the reason why some people confuse Freemasonry with religion. But it is not. This does not mean that religion does not play an important role for us. Anyone who decided to join the brotherhood must believe in the supremacy of God. No atheist can become a Freemason under any circumstances. The religion the members profess is not important, only faith in God is important. Often our meetings begin with prayer, and one of the first and most important lessons we learn is that we must turn to God and seek counsel before we begin any great and important undertaking. But that does not make Freemasonry a religion.
Another common misconception in this regard is the fact that we call our buildings "temples". The use of the word, however, has nothing to do with religion. It is related to the parable of the building of King Solomon's temple, which plays a particularly important role in imparting a number of important life lessons. It is often said that the court is a "temple of justice" - does this make the judiciary a religion?
Freemasons believe in the importance of religion. The Brotherhood encourages its members to be active in their faith. We are convinced that a person without religion has a hard time defending his moral values and is much less useful to society. Belief in God helps people to fully develop their social potential.
However, we do not dictate what religion our members should practice. It's a matter of personal choice. Faith is important to us. This is what defines us as a brotherhood and as a religious sect.
What is the Masonic Bible?
The Bible is a common gift among Freemasons on various occasions. She is invariably present at our official meetings. In addition to the usual text, there are several pages on which it is accepted to sign the brothers who made the gift or to describe the event on the occasion of which it was given. There may also be an index to make it easier to find the more important texts. Usually, deluxe editions are used, with leather binding and special paper. But none of this makes the Masonic Bible any different from any other.
If Freemasonry is not a religion, why does it use rituals?
Many of us think of religion when the word ritual is mentioned. In fact, rituals are used very often in all walks of life. The concept of ritual means that an activity is performed every time more or less in the same way.
If we look at the beginning of the school year, we will see that it always begins with a solemn assembly, the principal's welcome, sometimes the school anthem or other music is played, and then the school crafts are opened. It's a ritual. But school is not religion.
Certain rules are also observed at business meetings – the attendees are introduced, a summary of the work done so far is read, an agenda is adopted and various issues are discussed. It is also a ritual, not a religion.
Rituals are found almost everywhere in our daily activities – when we meet and greet, when we want to engage in conversation or when we part ways.
Freemasonry uses rituals because they teach various life lessons in a particularly memorable way. Certain moral values and virtues are brought up. Rituals also remind us of our history—where our brotherhood comes from and who we are. Masonic rituals are particularly rich, because they are the fruit of centuries-old development and traditions. But they in no way turn Freemasonry into a religion.
Why do Freemasons use symbols?
We all use and encounter symbols every day. This is because they are the easiest way to communicate quickly. When we see a "STOP" sign, we know what he did, even if we can't read the sign. In fact, symbols are the oldest way of communicating and learning.
For the same reason Freemasons use certain symbols. When you see the angle and the plumb line, it's kind of a trademark of Freemasonry just like McDonald's golden arches.
And like all symbols, these have their meaning. The corner symbolizes earthly affairs, but also honor, integrity, honesty and the way we should treat the world and those around us. Libra symbolizes spiritual things - the importance of a well-developed spiritual life, self-control and faith. The letter G (G) comes from geometry - the science that the ancients believed reflected in the most accurate way the glory of God and His works in the heavens, as well as the supreme principle of God.
The meaning of most Masonic symbols is obvious. For example, the hammer symbolizes the importance of self-control and discipline. The hourglass reminds us that time is passing and we should not postpone the important decisions in life.
Does all this mean that Freemasonry is an education?
Definitely YES. Education occupies a central place in Freemasonry. This stems from the fact that during the Middle Ages in the lodges of master masons, members acquired certain practical knowledge necessary in the construction of cathedrals and palaces. In the usual educational institutions, mainly ecclesiastical disciplines were studied and for this a certain verbal origin was required.
In addition to this it may be added that some of the first public schools in Europe and America were established by Freemasons. Freemasonry has contributed and contributes to making education universally available. Today, Freemasons provide significant funds for the development of the educational system all over the world. We encourage our members to support schools and teachers in any way - from buying teaching aids, to giving lectures on various important issues and disciplines. Moreover, we care about the high educational level of our members. For all of us, education and intellectual growth is a matter of particular importance.
What does Freemasonry teach us?
Freemasonry teaches us some particularly important lessons. There is nothing surprising in them, namely:
Since God is the creator, all men and women are his children.
Therefore, all men and women are brothers and sisters, regardless of their feelings or understandings.
Each person must be responsible for their actions.
Regardless of wealth or poverty, education or ignorance, health or sickness, every person should strive to be the best in all circumstances.
No one has the right to tell others what to think or do.
All people have the right to intellectual, spiritual, economic and political freedom. It was given to them by God, not by man. All tyranny is illegal.
Every person must learn self-control.
Every person should strive for spirituality to take precedence over instincts. In other words, even when we are angry, we should not do violence. Even when we are tempted by selfishness, we must be ready for charity. Even when we are ready to "write off" someone, we must remember that they deserve attention. Even when we want to give up, we have to get up and move on. Even when we are hated we return love or at least not hate. This is not at all easy and must be educated!
Faith should be at the center of our lives.
We must seek and find faith in our home and family. Freemasonry teaches that faith, whatever it may be, is the foundation of the good life.
Everyone has a responsibility to be a good citizen and obey the law.
This does not mean that we should not try to change things around us. But this change must be done legally and for good.
It is of utmost importance that we work to change the world for the better.
Freemasonry teaches us that it is very important to do good deeds, not because it will get us a ticket to heaven, that is a matter of religion, but because we have a duty to other people, to help them live their lives to the fullest and good way.
Dignity and honesty are the essence of life. Without them, he is meaningless.
What are the terms of membership?
The applicant must be a free man of good standing, a believer in God and of the minimum age for admission (it is different for each country).
These are the only formal requirements. Along with them there are others - informal, but of particular importance. He must believe in mutual aid, that there are more important things in life than money and pleasures, respect other people's opinions, and last but not least, strive for spiritual growth.
How does a man become a member of the fraternity?
Some men are surprised that no one talks to them and suggests they join the ranks of the fraternity. They may even feel neglected in this regard. But things are not that simple. For many centuries we have accepted the simple rule that we have no right to invite anyone to join us. We can talk about Freemasonry, about our motives for joining it, but we cannot ask anyone to join.
There are good reasons for this. We're not trying to be exclusive. But membership in the brotherhood is a very serious matter, and the aspirant must answer the questions discussed above - can he live honestly and honorably, share and care for others, believe in his brothers and in God. No one can make that decision for him.
Thus, when the candidate is convinced that he wishes to become a member of the fraternity, he must meet with a Mason and write an application for membership. The Mason submits it to the local lodge, and the master of the lodge appoints a committee that meets with the candidate, gets to know him and his reasons for membership, and answers his questions. The committee then informs the lodge of the candidate's answers and he is put to a vote. After his confirmation, he was accepted as an apprentice and gradually passed through the three degrees until he became a full Mason.
So what is it like to be a Freemason?
A Mason is a man who has chosen his path in life - to do good for himself and others. He makes a broad way to a better future without neglecting the past, working with all his soul and heart and with all his energy, alone or with his brothers, for the fulfillment of this goal.
And when we can finally suppress our selfishness and replace it with brotherly love and compassion, when we are ready to share the joys and pains of others as our own, when we can merge with the spirit of nature, when we understand the importance of self-cultivation, only then we will be able to say with an open heart - yes we are Freemasons!