Who are the Freemasons? – What d o they do and why –

1. What’s This Thing Called Masonry? Who are the Freemasons? – What do they do and why –

2. 1: What is Freemasonry? Freemasonry is system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols. It is the activity of closely united men who, employing symbolical forms borrowed principally from the mason’s trade and from architecture, work for the welfare of mankind, striving morally to ennoble themselves and others, and thereby to bring about a universal league of Mankind, which they aspire to exhibit even now on a small scale.

3. There is no simple definition… • Freemasons, Masons, the Craft, the Fraternity • A fraternal organization • Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God • Social and moral virtues • Based on symbolism of the tools and language of the ancient building trade • Masons have secret methods of recognizing each other • Handshakes • Signs • Passwords

4. What Freemasonry is Not • Freemasonry is not a “Secret Society” • Rather a society with secrets • Freemasonry is not a religion • But requires a belief in a Supreme Being • It is not a science • But teaches members to value learning and experience. It encourages them to think, but doesn’t teach them what to think • It is not a charity • But it’s members contribute millions of dollars, and countless hours, every day to charity • Freemasonry is not a governmental organization (or New World Order) • But it does encourage citizenship and prompts each member to choose their own means of political expression

5. If they don’t build buildings…what do Masons do? • Regular/business meetings every month • Bills, committees, voting on membership, and often a short educational presentation • Other/special meetings • These are held to initiate new members and perform other ceremonies to advance them to full membership

6. The Public Side of Freemasons • Cornerstone ceremonies • Funeral services • Parades • Open houses • Officer Installations • Web sites and social Media

7. Masonic Orders • Blue Lodge • - The most commonly known • - Three degrees reaching Master Mason • York Rite • - Established 1797 in Boston, Mass • - Oldest and largest rite of Freemasonry • Consists of three orders • - Royal Arch • Considered additional Blue Lodge degrees • - Cryptic Masons • Refers to vaults or crypts under King Solomon’s Temple • - Knights Templar • Based on 11th century Order that originally protected & defended Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem • Called Chivalric Orders • Scottish Rite • - Established (reorganized) 1801 in Charleston, SC • Four bodies • Lodge of Perfection – 4th – 14th degrees • Chapter of Rose Croix – 15th – 18th degrees • - Council of Kadosh – 19th – 30th degrees • - Consistory – 31st & 32nd degrees • The Ancient Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (or just “Shriners” for short) • - Established 1870 in New York City • - Often seen in parades – famous for clowns • - New Mexico Temple is BallutAbyad • Shrine of North America Philanthropy • - 18 Hospitals for children – 4 burn units

8. Ladies and Young Adults Adult York Rite Ladies OrganizationSocial Order of the Beauceant Shrine Ladies OrganizationDaughters of the Nile Shrine Ladies OrganizationLadies of the Oriental Shrine Relative (female) of MasonOrder of the Eastern Star Youth Masonic Girls OrganizationInternational Order of Jobs Daughters Masonic Girls OrganizationThe International Order Of the Rainbow for Girls Masonic Boys OrganizationDeMolay International

9. A Simple View of Masons • Masons are grown-up Boy Scouts • Initiation(degrees) • Oaths (obligations) • Masonry instills responsibility • Serve others in community • Be a better father, husband, son, brother, employer, employee ……..

10. No Girlz Allowed! • “Big” Rascals – He-man woman hater club? • Fraternal (only men) • Cooties to Co-Masonry • 1740, France • No ‘regular’ Lodge allows women to join… cooties and all.

11. 2: The History of Freemasonry From the Quarry to the Lodge The origins of Freemasons

12. Freemasonry Before 1700 • Operative masons built structures like King Solomon’s Temple (around 1000 B.C.) • Masons of the Middle Ages built castles, churches, and cathedrals • The historic origins of Freemasonry can be traced to the stonemason guilds that formed during the 8th century in Scotland, England and France

13. Arundel Castle, England Rosslyn Chapel, Scotland Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

14. Operative AND Speculative • The original Masons were both operative and speculative • Secrets of operative masons • Secrets of speculative masons • They worked in the quarries (for stones), and forests (for timber) • They worshiped the ‘Grand Architect’ of heaven and earth • Great builders of stone work, builders of great men

15. Speculative and a little Operative • Gentlemen and nobles wanted to join, but didn’t know how or want to do the work • Craft guilds ‘accepted’ members who were not stone masons • By the mid 15th century, the ‘secrets’ of Masonry became common knowledge • Printing press and all… • By the 1700’s most guilds weren’t in operation, and the Freemasons became mostly a speculative movement

16. The First Grand Lodge • June 24, 1717 • Rummer and Grapes • Crown • Apple Tree • Goose and Gridiron • These were mostly gentlemen’s Lodges, with a few noblemen, and even fewer stone workers Grand Lodge of England

17. 3: Philosophy of Freemasonry • Understanding what Masons believe and seeking spiritual truth

18. Philosophies • Belief in Supreme being • Volume of Sacred Law is the Great Light in Masonry • a rule and guide to our faith and practice • The spirit of man is immortal • Love of man, next to love of God, is man’s first duty • Prayer is helpful • God can supply endless amounts of wisdom to those who seek

19. Cardinal Virtues • Brotherly Love: to regard the whole human species as one family – as a Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God; to unite men of every country, sect, and opinion into true friendship. • Relief: to exercise compassion and to consider the needs of others as one’s own. • Truth: to be honest, truthful, reliable, and virtuous – living in an honorable and upright manner.

20. Tenets • Temperance: to place restraint on our affections and passions. • Fortitude: to be noble and steady in purpose, even in the face of adversity. • Prudence: to reasonably regulate our lives and actions in all things. • Justice: to render to every man his just due without distinction.

21. Ok, Ok… What are the basics? • A Moral Code • Charity • Education • Religious – not a religion • Social responsibility • Nonpolitical, nonsectarian • Equality among members

22. Oil and Water • Discussion of religion in the Lodge is prohibited • Going to Lodge does not and never was intended to replace going to church • There is no Masonic God – or devil for that matter • There is no Masonic Bible revered above another • Other religious books • There is no plan for spiritual salvation in Masonry • Freemasonry is an invention of man

23. Water and Oil, Cont. • Discussion of politics in the Lodge is prohibited • Serving in Lodge is not a replacement for political duty to one’s nation • There is no Masonic stand on political matters • There is no political party revered above another • There is no plan for world domination in Masonry

24. 4: Organization: who does what and why?

25. What’s a Lodge? And why is it Blue? • The word ‘lodge’ has two meanings to a Mason • A place where Masonic meetings are held • A term for the members who meet there • Blue represents the color of the sky, symbolically the covering of the lodge and also represents ‘friendship’ • Patterned after aspects of King Solomon’s Temple • The modern Lodge room is rectangular facing from East to West • There is an altar where the Bible (or other holy writ) is opened • Three candles are placed in a triangular position by the altar • to illuminate the Volume of Sacred Law • Officers have chairs in specific places in the room

26. Officers of a Lodge • Elected officers: • Worshipful Master ~ President or CEO • Senior Warden ~ 1st Vice President • Junior Warden ~ 2nd Vice President • Treasurer ~ Treasurer or CFO • Secretary ~ Secretary or COO

27. Officers of a Lodge, cont. • Appointed officers: • Chaplain ~ Delivers non-sectarian prayers • Senior Deacon ~ Messenger for Worshipful Master • Junior Deacon ~ Messenger for Senior Warden • Marshall ~ Leader of processions • Senior Steward ~ Chief refreshment provider • Junior Steward ~ Assistant refreshment provider • Tyler ~ Guard at door of the lodge • Musician ~ Pianist

28. Lodge Layout

29. “Worshipful”? “Master”? • The leader of a Lodge is known as the ‘Worshipful Master’. • The term “Master” derives from the term for “leader”, similar to orchestra’s “Concert Master” • “Worshipful” comes from the old English term of respect, not because we worship him • He sits in the East, symbolic of the rising sun, and presides over the Lodge, like a president

30. “Wardens”? Like Prison? • The Senior and Junior Wardens serve as Vice Presidents • ‘Protectors’ that watch over the members and building • The Senior Warden sits in the West (symbolic of the setting sun) • Helps the Master open and close the Lodge • The Junior Warden sits in the South (symbolic of the sun at midday) • Metaphorically supervises the Craftsmen when they are at recess, or refreshment

31. Deacons, Stewards and Other Guys • The Treasurer takes care of the money of the Lodge, while the Secretary keeps record of pretty much everything • The Chaplin is the man who says all the opening and closing prayers • The Deacons are the messengers for the Lodge • The Marshal is in charge of making proclamations and marshaling (or escorting) the Lodge during public events • The Stewards do a lot of the grunt work • The Tyler is the guy who stops everyone who isn’t a member from getting in with his sword… seriously

32. So Who is in Charge of Everyone? • The Worshipful Master is in charge of his Lodge • There is no singular leader of all Masons • Lodges are governed by Grand Lodges • A Grand Lodge jurisdiction is usually an entire state • Specifies rules and regulations for lodges • Provides leadership and help to lodge officers

33. Our Current Grand Master William R. L. Childers Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in New Mexico – 2013-14

34. 5: The Ceremonies of Freemasons • Presented as plays • Candidate participates • Serious – no horseplay • All parts presented from memory • Tools & implements of Masonry used to teach • Spiritual nature of man • Importance of honor & integrity • Importance of being trustworthy and trusting • Importance of self-control • Importance of maintaining confidentiality

35. Getting the ‘Third Degree’ • Entered Apprentice • Harkens to craft guild apprentice phase • The first level of membership • Fellowcraft • Graduate of apprentice • A “Journeyman” in trade • A “Fellow of the Craft” • Master Mason • Exceptional ability • A “Master of the Craft”

36. What’s the Deal with the Square and Compasses and the Letter “G”? • Square • Honor, integrity, truthfulness • Compasses • Well developed spiritual life • Importance of self-control • Keep himself within bounds • Letter G • Stands for God • At center of all thoughts & efforts • Stands for Geometry • Ancients believed science most revealed the glory of God and His works

37. Rituals? • Rituals happen all around us, all the time • Applause • Greetings • Graduation • Funerals • Churches • Courtrooms • Boy Scouts • Girl Scouts • Weddings • Military

38. Origins of Masonic Rituals? – The Master Mason (old age) the overseer • Historic Guild rituals • The Lowly Apprentice (initiation and youth) • One step above a slave • 7 years of service to king or overseer • The Fellow of the Craft (manhood) • Choice: work under contract or become a journeyman

39. Symbols? • A symbol is an object or design or a material that stands in for something abstract or even invisible • Symbols teach the simple philosophies of Freemasonry, not the other way around • The Apron is a symbol of cleanliness and may identify a Mason’s position

40. Where Freemasonry Fits in Today • Is it still relevant? • Making good men better • Good for you… and tastes good too • Timelessnessof being a good man • Reinventing the future by drawing from our past

41. Back to the Future • Something ancient, something mythical, something legendary • A fraternity that has thrived over four centuries • Exists in most free countries • Quietly helping others – usually without fanfare • Many Freemasons were involved in the founding of the United States • A fraternity that claims as its members some of the most imaginative minds and the most successful of men

42. Some Famous Freemasons • Andrew Jackson • Benjamin Franklin • Brigham Young • Buffalo Bill Cody • Charles Lindbergh • David 'Davy' Crockett • Douglas MacArthur • Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin • Franklin D. Roosevelt • George Washington • Gerald Ford • Giuseppe Mazzini • Glenn Miller • H.G. Wells • Harry Houdini • Harry Truman • Heber C. Kimball • Henry Ford • Hyrum Smith • J. Edgar Hoover • James A. Garfield • James Buchanan • James K. Polk • James Monroe • Jean Henri Dunant • Johann Christian Bach • Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe • John "The Duke" Wayne • John Hancock • Joseph Smith, Jr. • Joseph Smith, Sr. • Lewis and Clark • Lorenzo Snow • Louis Armstrong • Lyndon B. Johnson • Marquis de Lafayette • Millard Fillmore • Nat "King" Cole • Norm Crosby • Paul Revere • Peter Sellers • Rev. Jesse Jackson • Sidney Rigdon • Sir Alexander Fleming • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle • Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill • Theodore Roosevelt • Voltaire • Warren G. Harding • William Clark Gable • William H. Taft • William McKinley • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • Yassar Arafat

44. Myth Buster (if you’re gonna lie, start a real whopper) • Freemasons getting away with breaking the law • The All-Seeing Eye and the U.S. $1 bill • The Masonic Bible • Albert Pike and the Scottish Rite • World take-over

45. 10 Reasons to Become a Mason • Confidently trust every person and trust your family with them • Free thought free speech – respect for differing opinions • Meet outstanding individuals from all walks of life • Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth • Self-development opportunities, leadership training and experience, and improve public speaking skills • A place you can go to seek support as well as give it • Moral virtues are taught and practiced • Spend time with a group of brothers, who by acting as good men, make me want to become a better man.  Not better than others, but better than I would have otherwise been. • Become better equipped to serve Church and community • Meet with established members of the community and become a part of the community

46. 2B1ASK1 • New Mexico is home to over 5100 Masons • Over 5 million worldwide (1.3 mil. in US) • How do I join? • 18+ and six month residency • Good moral character • Belief in God (Supreme Being) • You know a Mason – or get to know one • New Mexico permits “selective invitation” • www.nmmasons.org

47. The End… Questions? Answers? More information: www.nmmasons.org