True Secrets of Freemasonry

Those who become Freemasons only for the sake of finding out the secret of the order, run a very great risk of growing old under the trowel without ever realizing their purpose. Yet there is a secret, but it is so inviolable that it has never been confided or whispered to anyone. Those who stop at the outward crust of things imagine that the secret consists in words, in signs, or that the main point of it is to be found only in reaching the highest degree. This is a mistaken view: the man who guesses the secret of Freemasonry, and to know it you must guess it, reaches that point only through long attendance in the lodges, through deep thinking, comparison, and deduction.

He would not trust that secret to his best friend in Freemasonry, because he is aware that if his friend has not found it out, he could not make any use of it after it had been whispered in his ear. No, he keeps his peace, and the secret remains a secret.

Giovanni Giacomo Casanova, Memoirs, Volume 2a, Paris, p. 33

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Acknowledgement Vs. Recognition

On Thursday, September 20, 2007, I wrote the article, Regularity vs. Recognition, discussing how we should all recognize each other as Masons, regardless of what lodge/Grand Lodge we were raised in. I want to modify my position slightly here. Recognition is a Masonic term and carries with it definitive meanings.

At this point, I would like to state that all masons should ACKNOWLEDGE each other as masons, men, women, co-masonic, regular, irregular, clandestine, whatever. If someone claims to be a mason, regardless of provenance, I plan on acknowledging them as a type of Mason. I won't invite them to lodge, or sit in lodge with them, because that is a matter of Masonic jurisprudence and my obligation.

How can we NOT acknowledge a man as a Mason when he makes the claim? What difference does it make to our obligation, and truth to tell, our obligation can be argued to REQUIRE us to acknowledge someone a mason just based on the claim. So while I cannot recognize a woman or a co-mason as a regular mason, I am firmly of the opinion that I can acknowledge these brothers and sisters as types of masons.

It seems the Masonic thing to do.
May the blessing of heaven rest upon us and all regular masons. May brother love prevail, and every moral and social virtue, cement us.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well said Brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Excellent perspective on a universal masonic philosophy,
brother!
Bro. Tom Coste
Halcyon

PS: should easy to implement, no?

Anonymous said...

A superb clarification and great addition to your earlier blog!

Anonymous said...

Shortly after I was raised in Alabama, I was told by brothers that should a black Mason walk up to me and extend his hand in a Masonic manner that I was to walk away and not acknowledge him. I have instead chosen to extend the hand of friendship to all Masons, irregardless of obedience, race, or gender. I have to say that even though most Masons still plays the recognition game, admiting to the fact that other types of Masons do exist is a step in the right direction.

Sincerely,
Masked Mason

Anonymous said...

Yes very well said Brother!!!

Anonymous said...

I feel better now :)

BC 2006

 
/* Blog Catalog Code ----------------------------------------------- */ Philosophy Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory /* End Blog Catalog Code ----------------------------------------------- */