A few weeks ago I made note of Masonic Traveler's recent interview with the blog TruthLoveFreedom.org, which was posted as a podcast. My article was titled "Masonic Traveler gives anti-Masons an earful."The next day, the blogmaster of TruthLoveFreedom.org posted an entry decrying my having called him an anti-Mason.
His denial of being an anti-Mason included these words: "I have and will continue to treat the topic of Freemasonry with fairness by allowing rebuttals to my claims, but I won't pretend that the organization is benevolent in any way."
I noticed his denial post at the time, but didn't really consider his denial noteworthy enough to post about it.
Another blogger, Bro. Robert Fischer, did find it worth discussing. His posts, and the responses by Karl, the deny-er and podcaster who interviewed Masonic Traveler, make for interesting reading. Click on over to Enfranchised Mind and join the conversation.
Image: Baphomet, for no real reason other than it scares the willies out of the anti-Masons
Masons | Anti-Masons | Blogs | Freemasonry | Podcasts | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com
Ewww, why at the end of that did I envision Mason and Anti Mason hugging and sharing free spaghetti dinner?
ReplyDeleteI think I mentioned it on the Truth, Love, Freedom post you either are, or are not, unless you say you truthfully have no opinion at all. But to say you don’t like it because you think it controls the world is just plain lame.
"But to say you don’t like it because you think it controls the world is just plain lame."
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I understand what this means. Did I say that freemasonry controls the world or that I did not like it? Maybe you are not referring to me but I had to check
God gravey I love these blogs. How I love to read a few lies, a few more lies, and a few more lies.
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy of Hiram Abif is the climax of the Master Mason degree, the essence of Freemasonry, the foundation of its philosophy. To understand its symbolism is to understand Masonry; to miss its significance is to remain forever in outer darkness. Officers' Manual of Lodge Organization and Operation' - Nevada, p. 95
The candidate never really dies - it is Hiram who dies. The ritual states that it is the body of Hiram in the grave for 15 days. Hiram is raised with the real grip of a Master Mason from a dead level to a living perpendicular. Since it is Hiram who dies, if it is not Hiram who is raised, then resurrection could not be the correct interpretation of what is portrayed in ritual. From examining Grand Lodge documents such as monitors, we can know that resurrection is indeed what is being portrayed in ritual. Consider these words from the Grand Lodge of Nebraska:
The small hill near Mount Moriah can be clearly identified by the most convincing analogies as being none other than Mount Calvary. Thus Mount Calvary was a small hill; it was situated west from the Temple, and near Mount Moriah; it was on the direct road from Jerusalem to Joppa, and is thus the very spot where a weary brother, traveling on that road would find it convenient to sit down to rest and refresh himself; it was outside of the gate of the Temple; and lastly, there are several caves, or clefts in the rocks, in the neighborhood, one of which, it will be remembered, was subsequently to the time of this tradition. The Master Mason will readily perceive the peculiar character of the symbolism which this identification of the spot on which the great truth of the resurrection was unfolded in both systems--the Masonic and the Christian-- must suggest. Nebraska Monitor & Ceremonies, 1962, p. 54.
Not only does the Grand Lodge of Nebraska state that it is resurrection which is "the great truth" which is unfolded in the Masonic system, they go out of their way to draw parallels between Hiram Abif and Jesus Christ - attempting to make them equivalents - by the following:
1.) They state that Mount Moriah can be clearly identified as Mount Calvary.
2.) They speak of the "very spot where a weary brother stopped to rest" . . . caves, or clefts in the rocks, . . . one of which. . . was used as the sepulchre of Jesus.
3.) They speak of "identification of the [single] spot on which resurrection was unfolded in both the Christian and Masonic systems."
The Grand Lodge has made a determined effort to explain the "peculiar symbolism." Clearly, they are favorably comparing Hiram Abif to Jesus Christ."
Other Grand Lodges have explained that the Legend of the Third Degree deals with salvation and redemption. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina explains that the Legend was borrowed from the (pagan) Ancient Mystery Religions:
The idea of the legend was undoubtedly borrowed from the Ancient Mysteries, where the lesson was the same as that now conveyed in the third degree of Masonry. Book of Constitutions, Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 1965.
The teachings of the Ancient Mystery Religions have been explained in a number of excellent references. One of the best is by Angus. The following two quotes are from his book:
A Mystery-Religion was a religion of Redemption which professed to remove estrangement between man and God, to procure forgiveness of sins, to furnish mediation. 'The Mystery-Religions', p. 50, S. Angus
A Mystery-Religion was thus a divine drama which portrayed before the wondering eyes of the privileged observers the story of the struggles, sufferings, and victory of a patron deity, the travail of nature in which life ultimately triumphs over death, and joy is born of pain. This was impressed on the beholder by a solemn mimic representation. 'The Mystery-Religions', p.59- 60, S. Angus
So that there would be no doubt that redemption or salvation is the intended meaning of the teachings of the ritual, a number of Grand Lodges have included much of the following text (which came from Mackey's Manual of the Lodge) in their monitors:
It was the single object of all the ancient rites and mysteries practiced in the very bosom of pagan darkness. . .to teach the immortality of the Soul. This is still the great design of the third degree of Masonry. This is the scope and aim of its ritual. The Master Mason represents man, when youth, manhood, old age, and life itself have passed away as fleeting shadows, yet raised from the grave of iniquity, and quickened into another and better existence. By its legend and all its ritual, it is implied that we have been redeemed from the death of sin and the sepulchre of pollution. . . .and the conclusion we arrive at is, that youth, properly directed, leads [us to the honorable and virtuous maturity, and that] the life of man, regulated by morality, faith, and justice, will be rewarded at its closing hour by the prospect of eternal bliss. . . The important design of the degree is to symbolize the great doctrines of the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soul; and hence it has been remarked by a learned writer of our order, that the Master Mason represents a man saved from the grave of iniquity, and raised to the faith of salvation. Book of Constitutions, Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 1965 pp. 141-2
No, that passage in the Nebraska Monitor does not mention Hiram by name. However, the target audience for the monitor consists of men who are familiar with the Hiramic Legend. In the ritual, they have seen no one but Hiram raised from a dead level to a living perpendicular. In order to have resurrection UNFOLD as stated in the text, you have to start with someone who is dead. Since no one other than Hiram is found dead in a grave on Mt. Moriah, it is obviously Hiram they are referring to.
The ritual does state that Hiram is to be buried again in the temple, but it does not happen in the ritual. The Legend of the Third Degree is an allegory. Masons are supposed to make an attempt to understand the symbolism behind it. Everything which is stated in the ritual is not literally true. In order to help new Masons come to a correct interpretation, Grand Lodges produce educational materials such as monitors which explain the meaning of the symbolism.
The Grand Lodge monitors use various methods to tell you guys that Hiram was not actually physically reburied. Text found in Ahiman Rezon, or Book of Constitutions provided by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina explains that reburial within the temple could not have occurred, based upon Jewish law:
The Mosaic law which related to defilement by dead bodies, rendered it necessary that none should be buried near sacred places, nor even within the limits of cities, except in the case of kings and very distinguished men. The strictness of the religious code against pollution would, however, forbid that even these should be interred in the neighborhood of a temple or sanctuary. Book of Constitutions, Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 1965, p. 152
The Grand Lodge of Kentucky, speaks of various world religions and many different saviors, including Hiram and Jesus:
All believed in a future life, to be attained by purification and trials; in a state or successive states of reward and punishment; and in a Mediator or Redeemer, by whom the Evil Principle was to be overcome and the Supreme Deity reconciled to His creatures. The belief was general that He was to be born of a virgin and suffer a painful death. The Hindus called him Krishna; the Chinese, Kioun-tse; the Persians, Sosiosch; the Chaldeans, Dhouvanai; the Egyptians, Horus; Plato, Love; the Scandinavians, Balder; the Christians, Jesus; Masons, Hiram. Kentucky Monitor, 5th - 15th editions, pages XIV-XV)
Possibly you have not studied the literature from the various Grand Lodges enough to know that they are all teaching essentially the same things. Some reveal more detail in one area, while another Grand Lodge will be more explicit in another area of Masonic teaching.
The same thing can be done with Grand Lodge documents. The rituals and documents provided to Masons by the Grand Lodges represent the authoritative body of teachings for the Masonic religion.
As do other Grand Lodges, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania teaches that Hiram Abif was resurrected. The materials they are circulating today show that Hiram is viewed by Freemasonry as a savior.
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania does things a little differently than some of the other Grand Lodges. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania does not publish a monitor. They do however publish educational materials and have an extensive library which they urge Pennsylvania Masons to use. Because Pennsylvania is a large state, they maintain a circulating library which contains educational materials which you may order on- line. You can find information about the circulating library on the Grand Lodge web site. They explain the purpose of the circulating library as follows:
One of the features of The Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania has been the Circulating Library, established in 1952. This service was designed to promote Masonic education and inspiration by the dissemination of Masonic literature among the members of lodges in the Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.
http://www.pagrandlodge.org/mlam/clc/index.html
The circulating library catalogue has a section on Symbolism. That page has a list of educational materials they recommend for those wanting to understand Masonic Symbolism. The second book on the list is:
The Lost Word: Its Hidden Meaning - George H. Steinmetz
A correlation of the allegory and symbolism of the Bible with that of Freemasonry. http://www.pagrandlodge.org/mlam/clc/symbolsm.html
I have provided a few quotes from The Lost Word: Its Hidden Meaning so that you might better understand that which you are defending. The source documents which contain these quotes have been placed on our web site so that you may view them in context.
Pennsylvania Freemasonry teaches that there have been many world saviors. This teaching meshes closely with what the Grand Lodge of Kentucky has said. We read the following in the chapter entitled World Saviors:
Research has revealed the stories of many saviors in the legends and myths of the world. Space prohibits a discussion of even a majority of them, and we have therefore chosen three as most representative. We shall briefly review the legends of Krishna, Osiris and Jesus, preceding the discussion of the Hiramic Legend and the Messiah Concept, and passing reference will be made to such others as it seems desirable to mention. The Lost Word: Its Hidden Meaning, pp. 98-99
There have been numerous prototypes of the perfect man, forerunners of the perfected race which is to come; In some way, for some unexplainable reason, these prototypes came to be looked upon as "Saviors" rather than EXAMPLES. It is of course true they are "saviors" in the sense that they exemplify what man CAN BE and what he is to BECOME, but they do not so much "save men" as to point the way to salvation. The Lost Word: Its Hidden Meaning, pp. 124-125
All believed in a future life, to be attained by purification and trials; in a state or successive states of reward and punishment; and in a Mediator or Redeemer, by whom the Evil Principle was to be overcome and the Supreme Deity reconciled to His creatures. The belief was general that He was to be born of a virgin and suffer a painful death. The Hindus called him Krishna; the Chinese, Kioun-tse; the Persians, Sosiosch; the Chaldeans, Dhouvanai; the Egyptians, Horus; Plato, Love; the Scandinavians, Balder; the Christians, Jesus; Masons, Hiram. Kentucky Monitor, 5th - 15 editions, pp. XIV-XV.
Then let us imitate our G[rand] M[aster] H[iram] A[biff], in all his varied perfection. Let us emulate his amiable and virtuous character, his unfeigned piety to God, and his inflexible fidelity to his trust, that, like him, we may welcome the grim tyrant, Death, and receive him as a kind messenger sent by our Supreme Grand Master to translate us from this imperfect to that all-perfect, glorious, and celestial Lodge above, where the Great Architect of the Universe presides, forever reigns. Kentucky Monitor, 19th Ed., p. 152.
Ken, the Grand Lodge of Kentucky still tells its members that they should imitate Hiram to get into heaven. That is a plan of salvation.
Oh yeah plans of salvation. Maybe you should change the name of your religion to...The Church of Freemasonry.
Jean
Maybe you should change the name of your religion to...The Church of Freemasonry.
ReplyDeleteToo late - I already started the religion of Freemasonarianism.
Besides, "Jean", in all the cutting and pasting of various web articles you've done, you still haven't explained why this is such an issues for you.
Are you going to actually discuss this, or is your intent simply to paste things from other web sources?
Tom Accuosti
http://masonictao.blogspot.com
Exalted Keeper of the Secrets of Freemasonariansim
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No, Brother Accousti, he's just going to cut and paste. He can't even answer my question in his/her own words.
ReplyDeleteTraveling Man
Sure I can answer all your questions Traveler. Look I just answered 100% of your questions below.
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy of Hiram Abif is the climax of the Master Mason degree, the essence of Freemasonry, the foundation of its philosophy. To understand its symbolism is to understand Masonry; to miss its significance is to remain forever in outer darkness. Officers' Manual of Lodge Organization and Operation' - Nevada, p. 95
The candidate never really dies - it is Hiram who dies. The ritual states that it is the body of Hiram in the grave for 15 days. Hiram is raised with the real grip of a Master Mason from a dead level to a living perpendicular. Since it is Hiram who dies, if it is not Hiram who is raised, then resurrection could not be the correct interpretation of what is portrayed in ritual. From examining Grand Lodge documents such as monitors, we can know that resurrection is indeed what is being portrayed in ritual. Consider these words from the Grand Lodge of Nebraska:
The small hill near Mount Moriah can be clearly identified by the most convincing analogies as being none other than Mount Calvary. Thus Mount Calvary was a small hill; it was situated west from the Temple, and near Mount Moriah; it was on the direct road from Jerusalem to Joppa, and is thus the very spot where a weary brother, traveling on that road would find it convenient to sit down to rest and refresh himself; it was outside of the gate of the Temple; and lastly, there are several caves, or clefts in the rocks, in the neighborhood, one of which, it will be remembered, was subsequently to the time of this tradition. The Master Mason will readily perceive the peculiar character of the symbolism which this identification of the spot on which the great truth of the resurrection was unfolded in both systems--the Masonic and the Christian-- must suggest. Nebraska Monitor & Ceremonies, 1962, p. 54.
Not only does the Grand Lodge of Nebraska state that it is resurrection which is "the great truth" which is unfolded in the Masonic system, they go out of their way to draw parallels between Hiram Abif and Jesus Christ - attempting to make them equivalents - by the following:
1.) They state that Mount Moriah can be clearly identified as Mount Calvary.
2.) They speak of the "very spot where a weary brother stopped to rest" . . . caves, or clefts in the rocks, . . . one of which. . . was used as the sepulchre of Jesus.
3.) They speak of "identification of the [single] spot on which resurrection was unfolded in both the Christian and Masonic systems."
The Grand Lodge has made a determined effort to explain the "peculiar symbolism." Clearly, they are favorably comparing Hiram Abif to Jesus Christ."
Other Grand Lodges have explained that the Legend of the Third Degree deals with salvation and redemption. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina explains that the Legend was borrowed from the (pagan) Ancient Mystery Religions:
The idea of the legend was undoubtedly borrowed from the Ancient Mysteries, where the lesson was the same as that now conveyed in the third degree of Masonry. Book of Constitutions, Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 1965.
The teachings of the Ancient Mystery Religions have been explained in a number of excellent references. One of the best is by Angus. The following two quotes are from his book:
A Mystery-Religion was a religion of Redemption which professed to remove estrangement between man and God, to procure forgiveness of sins, to furnish mediation. 'The Mystery-Religions', p. 50, S. Angus
A Mystery-Religion was thus a divine drama which portrayed before the wondering eyes of the privileged observers the story of the struggles, sufferings, and victory of a patron deity, the travail of nature in which life ultimately triumphs over death, and joy is born of pain. This was impressed on the beholder by a solemn mimic representation. 'The Mystery-Religions', p.59- 60, S. Angus
So that there would be no doubt that redemption or salvation is the intended meaning of the teachings of the ritual, a number of Grand Lodges have included much of the following text (which came from Mackey's Manual of the Lodge) in their monitors:
It was the single object of all the ancient rites and mysteries practiced in the very bosom of pagan darkness. . .to teach the immortality of the Soul. This is still the great design of the third degree of Masonry. This is the scope and aim of its ritual. The Master Mason represents man, when youth, manhood, old age, and life itself have passed away as fleeting shadows, yet raised from the grave of iniquity, and quickened into another and better existence. By its legend and all its ritual, it is implied that we have been redeemed from the death of sin and the sepulchre of pollution. . . .and the conclusion we arrive at is, that youth, properly directed, leads [us to the honorable and virtuous maturity, and that] the life of man, regulated by morality, faith, and justice, will be rewarded at its closing hour by the prospect of eternal bliss. . . The important design of the degree is to symbolize the great doctrines of the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soul; and hence it has been remarked by a learned writer of our order, that the Master Mason represents a man saved from the grave of iniquity, and raised to the faith of salvation. Book of Constitutions, Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 1965 pp. 141-2
No, that passage in the Nebraska Monitor does not mention Hiram by name. However, the target audience for the monitor consists of men who are familiar with the Hiramic Legend. In the ritual, they have seen no one but Hiram raised from a dead level to a living perpendicular. In order to have resurrection UNFOLD as stated in the text, you have to start with someone who is dead. Since no one other than Hiram is found dead in a grave on Mt. Moriah, it is obviously Hiram they are referring to.
The ritual does state that Hiram is to be buried again in the temple, but it does not happen in the ritual. The Legend of the Third Degree is an allegory. Masons are supposed to make an attempt to understand the symbolism behind it. Everything which is stated in the ritual is not literally true. In order to help new Masons come to a correct interpretation, Grand Lodges produce educational materials such as monitors which explain the meaning of the symbolism.
The Grand Lodge monitors use various methods to tell you guys that Hiram was not actually physically reburied. Text found in Ahiman Rezon, or Book of Constitutions provided by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina explains that reburial within the temple could not have occurred, based upon Jewish law:
The Mosaic law which related to defilement by dead bodies, rendered it necessary that none should be buried near sacred places, nor even within the limits of cities, except in the case of kings and very distinguished men. The strictness of the religious code against pollution would, however, forbid that even these should be interred in the neighborhood of a temple or sanctuary. Book of Constitutions, Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 1965, p. 152
The Grand Lodge of Kentucky, speaks of various world religions and many different saviors, including Hiram and Jesus:
All believed in a future life, to be attained by purification and trials; in a state or successive states of reward and punishment; and in a Mediator or Redeemer, by whom the Evil Principle was to be overcome and the Supreme Deity reconciled to His creatures. The belief was general that He was to be born of a virgin and suffer a painful death. The Hindus called him Krishna; the Chinese, Kioun-tse; the Persians, Sosiosch; the Chaldeans, Dhouvanai; the Egyptians, Horus; Plato, Love; the Scandinavians, Balder; the Christians, Jesus; Masons, Hiram. Kentucky Monitor, 5th - 15th editions, pages XIV-XV)
Possibly you have not studied the literature from the various Grand Lodges enough to know that they are all teaching essentially the same things. Some reveal more detail in one area, while another Grand Lodge will be more explicit in another area of Masonic teaching.
The same thing can be done with Grand Lodge documents. The rituals and documents provided to Masons by the Grand Lodges represent the authoritative body of teachings for the Masonic religion.
As do other Grand Lodges, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania teaches that Hiram Abif was resurrected. The materials they are circulating today show that Hiram is viewed by Freemasonry as a savior.
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania does things a little differently than some of the other Grand Lodges. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania does not publish a monitor. They do however publish educational materials and have an extensive library which they urge Pennsylvania Masons to use. Because Pennsylvania is a large state, they maintain a circulating library which contains educational materials which you may order on- line. You can find information about the circulating library on the Grand Lodge web site. They explain the purpose of the circulating library as follows:
One of the features of The Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania has been the Circulating Library, established in 1952. This service was designed to promote Masonic education and inspiration by the dissemination of Masonic literature among the members of lodges in the Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.
http://www.pagrandlodge.org/mlam/clc/index.html
The circulating library catalogue has a section on Symbolism. That page has a list of educational materials they recommend for those wanting to understand Masonic Symbolism. The second book on the list is:
The Lost Word: Its Hidden Meaning - George H. Steinmetz
A correlation of the allegory and symbolism of the Bible with that of Freemasonry. http://www.pagrandlodge.org/mlam/clc/symbolsm.html
I have provided a few quotes from The Lost Word: Its Hidden Meaning so that you might better understand that which you are defending. The source documents which contain these quotes have been placed on our web site so that you may view them in context.
Pennsylvania Freemasonry teaches that there have been many world saviors. This teaching meshes closely with what the Grand Lodge of Kentucky has said. We read the following in the chapter entitled World Saviors:
Research has revealed the stories of many saviors in the legends and myths of the world. Space prohibits a discussion of even a majority of them, and we have therefore chosen three as most representative. We shall briefly review the legends of Krishna, Osiris and Jesus, preceding the discussion of the Hiramic Legend and the Messiah Concept, and passing reference will be made to such others as it seems desirable to mention. The Lost Word: Its Hidden Meaning, pp. 98-99
There have been numerous prototypes of the perfect man, forerunners of the perfected race which is to come; In some way, for some unexplainable reason, these prototypes came to be looked upon as "Saviors" rather than EXAMPLES. It is of course true they are "saviors" in the sense that they exemplify what man CAN BE and what he is to BECOME, but they do not so much "save men" as to point the way to salvation. The Lost Word: Its Hidden Meaning, pp. 124-125
All believed in a future life, to be attained by purification and trials; in a state or successive states of reward and punishment; and in a Mediator or Redeemer, by whom the Evil Principle was to be overcome and the Supreme Deity reconciled to His creatures. The belief was general that He was to be born of a virgin and suffer a painful death. The Hindus called him Krishna; the Chinese, Kioun-tse; the Persians, Sosiosch; the Chaldeans, Dhouvanai; the Egyptians, Horus; Plato, Love; the Scandinavians, Balder; the Christians, Jesus; Masons, Hiram. Kentucky Monitor, 5th - 15 editions, pp. XIV-XV.
Then let us imitate our G[rand] M[aster] H[iram] A[biff], in all his varied perfection. Let us emulate his amiable and virtuous character, his unfeigned piety to God, and his inflexible fidelity to his trust, that, like him, we may welcome the grim tyrant, Death, and receive him as a kind messenger sent by our Supreme Grand Master to translate us from this imperfect to that all-perfect, glorious, and celestial Lodge above, where the Great Architect of the Universe presides, forever reigns. Kentucky Monitor, 19th Ed., p. 152.
Ken, the Grand Lodge of Kentucky still tells its members that they should imitate Hiram to get into heaven. That is a plan of salvation.
Oh yeah plans of salvation. Maybe you should change the name of your religion to...The Church of Freemasonry.
So masonry is a religion. And Hiram is the great masonic saviour. Nice try though Tom.
Jean.
As I wrote, just another cut and paste job.
ReplyDeleteJean can't even get my screen name right. I've just stopped paying attention.
TM