Background
Initiation into Freemasonry is serious in character, and each Candidate
should direct his attention to the Ritual without any fear of ridicule
or indignity. Freemasonry is "a beautiful system of morality, veiled
in allegory, and illustrated by symbols," a System of Morality, a
Philosophy of Life or a System of Moral Living and it expresses And
requires a belief in God. It uses tools of the builder's trade as
symbols to teach fundamental truths.
The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man are fundamenta1
truths accepted by the organization, and as a Lodge confers the Degrees
these fundamental philosophies are presented to the candidate. His
willingness to study, digest, and apply them to his daily activities
will determine the values and benefits he will derive.
Freemasonry accepts good men, and hopes to make them better-its purpose
is to help the individual improve himself.
Masonic doctrines are presented to each candididate by a Lodge, and in
a Series of Degrees. Each lodge consists of men who learn and practice
the Art; they are bound together by their Masonic obligations and are
governed by Masonic Law. Each Lodge is granted a Charter by the Grand
Lodge when it conforms to certain requirements, and it is confined to
a specified area or community. In this country there are some 16,000
Lodges, with a membership in excess of 4,000,000 men. Masonic Lodges
are found all over the world.
In the 18th Century modern architecture replaced the demand for Gothic
structures, and the need for Gothic builders also declined.
To preserve their organization four Guild Lodges formed a Grand Lodge
in London in 1717 and in 1723 they adopted a Constitution. Their success
lead to the forming of other Grand Lodges-one in Ireland in 1725, and
in Scotland in l736. At one time in the 18th Century there were a total
of four Grand Lodges in England.
Two of these were short-lived but the third influenced the spread of
Masonry throughout the world. It was known as the 'Ancient" Grand Lodge,
while the original body became the "Modern" Grand Lodge.
They were vigorous rivals for a time but united in 1813 into the present
Grand Lodge Of England. From one of these Grand Lodges of England Ireland
or Scotland, are descended all the Grand Lodges of the world today.
Freemasonry came to Ameerica with the colonists and the first Provincial
Grand Master was appointed by the Grand Lodge of England in l733 in
Massachusetts. The first Grand Lodge was formed in 1781 in New York.
Freemasonry influenced the original 13 colonies and contributed much to
the founding of this great Republic. Many signers of the Declaration of
Independence and the authors of our Constitution were Masons. George
Washington was the first of 11 Masonic Presidents, and he still remains
the only one to serve as Worshipful Master of his Lodge and President
of these United States at one and the same time.
Others following Washington were Monroe Jackson, Polk, Buchanan,
Andrew Johnson, Garfield, McKinley, both Roosevelts, Taft, Harding, Truman
and Ford. Jackson and Truman also served as Grand Masters.
In the struggle for independence such wellknown patriots as Paul Revere,
Joseph Warren, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock,
LaFayette, Von Steuben, and many others, were members of the Craft.
Masons take pride in the services these men and Brothers provided for their
country.
Throughout all history generations have learned that - for some things
others can be substituted - but mankind has found no substitute for Brotherhood.
At the time the original Grand Lodge of England was founded, the world was
marked with declining religious beliefs and moral decay. Modern Freemasonry
was born during this period of moral reconstruction," with the hope of
harmonizing conflicting religious beliefs and political oplnions by
uniting men through Brotherhood.
A complete study and understanding of history is necessary to demonstrate
the values which Masonic Brotherhood have provided, but there is no way
to measure its service to mankind.
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