Freemason/Overall Speaker?

Question

There are Master Masons with varying degrees. Why is it that no ONE person "speaks" for the whole of freemasonry? and why do lodges have different "codes"? Do you not all sing from the same "Hymn Sheet"

Answer 1

There are two main reasons,



#1, History and tradition.

Freemasonry was formally organized as the fraternity it is today in 1717, the structure of administration was based on that of the labor guilds from which Freemasonry was born.



Each guild was an independent business of sorts, and had its own leadership structure. When many of these guilds were located in the same general area, they would organize regional governing bodies with elected Representatives from each guild. The purpose was to make rules to ensure that the individual guilds could work together when necessary as well as compete when necessary, while maintaining consistent quality as well as limiting bloodshed. Each guild would adhere to these agreed-upon rules, but each was also free to have their own rules based on their own needs and traditions, so long as these rules did not conflict with the agreed-upon rules of the regional body.



In Freemasonry, the agreed-upon rules that apply to all are called "Landmarks", if a Lodge or Grand Lodge does not follow the Landmarks, they are not recognized as legitimate Masonry, otherwise called "irregular".

A Masonic Lodge is similar to an individual guild, and a Masonic Grand Lodge is a regional governing body. There is no authority greater than or over a regional Grand Lodge, and the various Grand Lodges recognize each other as equals so long as they follow the Landmarks. Each Grand Lodge and each local Lodge also has their own rules and traditions that may be unique, but are okay as long as the Landmarks are not violated.



#2, Individuality and liberty

Freemasonry is a very individual kind of thing. The overall destination is the same but each Mason has a different way and means to get there. The lessons are subjective based on the individual.



Masonry is in part philosophy, faith, education, art, morality, reason, etc. studied together and in relation to one another. Many of these things are not subject by nature to the authority or regulation of man, therefore one man is unable to speak for all of Masonry as his experience, opinion, and point of view is unique to him and him alone.

Answer 2

First, all master masons are third degree masons. Anything with a higher number is either York or Scottish Rite (which are appendant bodies and not part of freemasonry proper).



No one person, nor no one body, speaks for all of freemasonry because "absolute power corrupts absolutely"... there is no way that one person or group could speak to what is right for everyone everywhere (in terms of charity, finances, etc...) freemasons believe in individual liberty - hence by not having a central authority you allow people to govern themselves.



Yes, though we do all sing from the same hynm sheet, so to speak, and that is the Holy Bible (or whatever the sacred text of your religion is).



to some others:



* there are no secrets in freemasonry, but that doesn't mean that everyone will talk openly about freemasonry



* hollings (i.e. sgnilloh) his answer shows he knows nothing about freemasonry except what the misinformed anti-masons and conspiracy theorists tout.... freemasonry is not a cult, has no connections to the bildeburg, if he believes this he could not have belonged to a masonic lodge, if you join masonry for personal gain you will be sadly disappointed, freemasonry is not a substitute for the service of god, freemasonry teaches your duty to god comes before all else... he is completely wrong on all points. there is no way he could have belonged to a letigimate lodge and believe these things...







+++++++



i didn't mean to imply that people don't join for personal gain, but those that do are quickly disappointed and often quit; none of the long term masons i know are interested in personal gain through the craft.

Answer 3

Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million (including around 480,000 in England, Scotland and Ireland alone, and just under two million in the United States). The various forms all share moral and metaphysical ideals, which include, in most cases, a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.



The fraternity is administratively organized into Grand Lodges (or sometimes Orients), each of which governs its own jurisdiction, which consists of subordinate (or constituent) Lodges. Grand Lodges recognize each other through a process of landmarks and regularity. There are also appendant bodies, which are organizations related to the main branch of Freemasonry, but with their own independent administration.



Freemasonry uses the metaphors of operative stonemasons' tools and implements, against the allegorical backdrop of the building of King Solomon's Temple, to convey what has been described by both Masons and critics as "a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols."

Answer 4

Freemasonry has no official spokesperson. Freemasonry is not centralized or centrally governed.



Throughout the world, Masons are members of lodges, and these lodges are under grand lodges, each with their jurisdiction. In the USA, for instance, each state is its own grand lodge, including one for District of Columbia.



Freemason lodges are called "blue lodges" or "craft lodges" - the name is interchangeable and without any distinction. In craft lodge, there are 3 degrees:

1 = Entered Apprentice

2 = Fellowcraft

3 = Master Mason



Any other degrees are from other bodies or "rites" in masonry (York or Scottish Rite) but are voluntary and have their own organizational structure (similarly decentralized, however).



There are basic "landmarks" with all regular masons are agreeable to (e.g. Only men can be Masons, cannot be an atheist, etc.)., but each jurisdiction has it's own "code" which governs all teh lodges beholden to it. Each lodge has its own by-laws and can add to (but not take away from) The Code as represented in their jurisdiction. Similar to state and municipal laws.



If you are interested, I highly recommend Freemasons for Dummies (Chris Hodap) and Complete Idiots Guide to Freemasonry (Brent Morris). Both are written by Masons and serve as excellent sources of information for Masons and non-Masons alike.

Answer 5

Freemasonry is a cult disguised as a goodwill organization. They have connections indirectly to the beelderberg group,whose goal is to control the world monentary system.There are many web sites that can help you find this information.I belonged to a masonic lodge but after i found that they were leading me into darkness & not the light i demitted to serve God the way He has instructed according to the holy scriptures.They cant do any more good for others than whats already required to be a good christian.So why become a mason except for personal gain?They cant answer this question correctly.I told a mason that i do the same good works for God that they do for the masonic lodge.This caused me a lot of problems but God has blessed me as a result. There are many men & women being led like sheep to the slaughter thinking all along that they are serving God.Many famous people have bought into this as a substitute for their service to God.But the masonic lodge is a man made organzitation.God's church & instructions in the holy scriptures are not man made.Which one had you rather serve man or the God,who made man?

Answer 6

Freemasons are a fine bunch of upstanding citizens and are respected throughout the world !!!!

Answer 7

my step grandfather is a freemason, and he will not reveal his secrets to me



that stuff is freaky deaky