| Home Page
Custom Page
Custom2 Page
Contact Page
Guest Book Page
Favorite Links Page
|
|
|
This is yet another one of my pages with Masonic articles.
Some very interesting topics are on this page and I have written informative articles over them.
|
| |
What is the difference between AF&AM and F&AM?
After the foundation of the first Grand Lodge in England in 1717, a rival Grand Lodge arose less than two decades later, calling itself the Antients (Ancient), whereby it intended to assert greater authenticity than the rival "modern" Grand Lodge. The Antients were also known as the Athol Masons, from their first Grand Master, the Duke of Athol. Some authors say the Antients were schimatic -- ie, had split off from the "modern" Grand Lodge; other authors say that the Antiens were founded independently by Lodges deriving from Scottish and Irishtraditions who were excluded by the English "moderns."
These competting English Grand Lodges, along with Grand Lodges established in Scotland and Ireland, issued charters for Lodges in the American colonies into the latter half of the 18th century, until the American Revolutionary War led to the ties between the colonies and the mother country being servered. Long after that event, in 1813 (when the two colonies were again at war, infact), the rival English Grand Lodges amalgated to form the United Grand Lodge of England, which is the governing body of English Freemasonry to this day. Meanwhile, in the New United States of America, Grand Lodges were organized sperately in each state, some as offspring of Provincial Grand Lodges and some as self-declared independent Grand Lodges (ie - Virginia). These Grand Lodges comprised Lodges whose charters had been issued by both the Antients and 'modern' Grand Lodges in England. The designation of whether a Grand Lodge was Free and Accepted or Ancient Free and Accepted was therefore almost an arbitrary choice, based upon perhaps on who had a bit more political power when the new Grand Lodge was formed.
In particular, one cannot conclude anything significant about the nature of the ritual used by a Grand Lodge as to its Antient or " modern" conent, based only on the designation as F&AM or AF&AM. Many Grand Lodges use an amalgamation of the forms, and it would take detailed study to determine the precise provenance of each American Grand Lodge's ritual contents. It does appear that Pennsylvania may adhere most closely to the work of the Antients, whole a northern tier of states running from Connecticut through Minnesota and perhaps farther west, preserves the "modern" ritual most closely. In those states where a ritual cipher is premitted, which seems to be more a characteristic of the moderns, the incorporation of changes to the ritual occur with more lower frequency. An example is the phrase "any be due," which is synonymously rendered "aught be due" in the apparently "modern" jurisdictions: The substitution of a common word ("Any") for an archaic one ("Aught") is a natural evolution of an oral tradition, while the reverse substitution virtually never occurs in oral transmission. The states with a printed cipher book have maintained "aught," while "any" has appeared in those states eschewing such written aids.
Incidently, there are two jurisdictions which use neither F&AM nor AF&AM: The District of Columbia uses FA AM and South Carolina uses AFM. Various suppositions are made about "four-letter" Lodges vs. "three-letter" Lodges and relationships to Prince Hall (PHA) Masonry and issues of recognition, but these are entirely unfounded.
Masons' Greatest Light Revealed.
FreeMasonry as a Cornerstone
The Masonic ceremony of laying conerstones is very important in Freemasonry. It is a tradition that has been practiced for many generations. We learn in the Entered Apprentice degree that the first stone of a building is usually laid in the northeast corner, whereupon to erect the future super-structure. While the Masonic conerstone ceremony is today largely symbolic, our operative predecessors would first lay a conerstone when beginning the task of erecting their buildings. The conerstone was vital to the stability and strength of the building, since all vertical and horizontal measurements for erecting the structure were made from the corner. If the cornerstone was not properly laid as a reference point, the other foundation stones would be laid incorrectly, and the building was in danger of collapsing. Freemasonry at the founding of the American Republic was vital to enduring strength and stability of this nation. Had this nation started with a weak foundation stone, the experiment in republican government would have failed. Indeed, many of the founding fathers were themselves fearful that the new republic was a precarious experiment. Republics had existed before 1776, but all were confided to cities or very small states, and ended in either tyranny or anarchy. Never before in history had men attempted to create a republic of such geographic extent and such a large and varied population. The republic needed solic foundation stones to have even a chance at survival. Freemasonry was, and remains, such a foundation stone. As a channle of transmitting the social and politcal ideas of the 17th century england and the 18th century enlightenment to the 13 colonies, Freemasonry's cosmopolitan view of the world played a significant role during and after the American Revolution. Freemasonry had an extraordinary unifying effect socially, polically and culturally on the new republic. As a foundation stone of the American Republic, Freemasonry continues to hold a powerful vision for the United States. The founding fathers laid a straight and true foundation, and 226 years later we have been entrusted to continue the work. May the Great Architect give us the strength and wisdom to follow in HIS GRAND DESIGN.
|
Missouri Grand Lodge! |
| |
FreeMasonry and Women
Masonic Lodges have maintained a long-standing tradition of restricting membership in Freemasonry to men. This is based on the historical make-up of the guilds during the Middle Ages. At that time men traveled far from home and lived in Lodges while constructing the great cathedrals throughout Europe.
However, in Freemasonry, as in all other areas of life, women play an important role. The opportunities for women to participate in Freemasonry are widespread and meet a variety of needs, from social interaction in the Orders for both men and women, to the unique needs met in the "women only" Masonic organizations. The moral and ethical values that Freemasonry encourages are universal and not gender-based.
In the middle 1800's, the fraternity took the then radical step of creating organizations for women so that men and women could share Masonic fraternalism. The Order of the Eastern Star (the largest of these Masonic-related groups) was established in 1855, the Order of the Amaranth in 1873, and the White Shrine of Jerusalem in 1894. These groups are open to both men and women.
Two national Masonic-related youth organizations are for young women:
the International Order of Job's Daughters, founded 1920, and the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, rounded in 1922. Rainbows and Job's Daughters are involved with local charities, community services, and educational programs.
Three national Masonic-related organizations limited to women only include the Daughters of the Nile, the Daughters of Mokanna, and the Social Order of Beauceant. These Masonic-related organizations, like many organizations in the United States, both social and professional, base their membership on gender. For instance Junior League, P.E.O. National Association of Female Executives, and even Girl Scouts, are organizations created exclusively for women, established to fulfill their unique interests and specific needs.
All Masonic groups--for men, for women, and for both--are organized for fraternal, educational, and charitable purposes. No Masonic organization allows its members to use their membership to advance their business, social or religious interests. |
|
|
| |
FreeMasonry and Race
The Fraternity of Freemasonry has members from every race and every continent in the world. Brotherhood is a primary teaching of Masonry--that each person must be judged as an individual, on his own merits, and that such factors as race, national origin, religious creed, social status or wealth are incidental to the person's character.
The exact racial make-up of Freemasonry is impossible to
determine. No petition for membership in Masonry asks a petitioner's race, and racial breakdown statistics are not kept by any Grand Lodge because collecting such information is considered as inappropriate as collecting information about a Brother's financial standing.
When visiting Lodges in various parts of North America, it is obvious that the racial mixture of the Brothers varies within geographical areas and tends to reflect the demographics of the general population.
No Lodge is permitted to exclude a candidate on the basis of his race or national origin. To petition for membership, the petitioner must be "a man of legal age, good reputation, and possess a belief in God." While election to membership in the fraternity is a matter for the local Lodge to decide, the qualifications for membership are standard and all Masons are required to observe them.
Freemasonry began in North America in the 1700's. Unfortunately, this was a time in the newly created United States when racial attitudes were very different than today. As a result, and as happened in many churches, Freemasonry for black men and white men developed independently from each other. The original Black Lodges, called Prince Hall Grand Lodges also trace their history back to the 1700's, and their members are predominately African-American. Today, there is now far more interchange between the two groups of Freemasons and a strong trend toward mutual recognition is well underway.
The Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God is a basic and essential teaching of Freemasonry. Every effort is being made to make sure that it is not just a teaching but a full reality! |
|
|
|
|
