What is the purpose of Freemasonry?

"The purpose of Freemasonry is not charity nor is it a fraternal society. These are but attributes which have developed. The real purpose of Masonry is the eternal search for truth, the truth about God, and the immortality of the soul. The various degrees represent the different levels through which the human mind passes while moving from ignorance to knowledge. The collecting of all the symbols and mysteries throughout the ages is but man's search for the divine truth. As we say in our ritual, 'from darkness to light.'" — Rt. Ex. William Adrian Brown (Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Virginia), "Facts, Fables and Fantasies of Freemasonry," Missouri Lodge of Research, 1968

The above quote is the basis for an excellent article titled "From Darkness to Light," on one of my favorite Masonic blogs, Three Ruffians.


Masons | Masonic Philosophy | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Audio podcast of 'A Tour of the Masonic Lodge'

I've been asked by a couple of readers to produce some of my Masonic lectures and articles as audio podcasts. I began that project last night.

You can now listen to "A Tour of the Masonic Lodge," which is a lecture based on W. L. Wilmshurst's book The Meaning of Masonry, discussing some of the symbols in a lodge, including the great and lesser lights, the officers' stations, and the checkerboard floor. I originally delivered this talk to my blue lodge in April, 2005, and posted it on The Burning Taper in February, 2006.

I'll be adding more podcasts as time allows. Keep your eye on the righthand menu bar for new audio material.

Masons | Masonic Trial | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Georgia | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com