"Free masonry" was originaly parented in ancient sumaria around 4000B.C by a group of architects who use sacred geometry and Astronomy to build monolithic structures. This art then found its way to Egypt wear it was attributes to the Egyptian god Toth (and used to build the great pyrimids.) This is wear a special some one comes into play, Pythagoras ( the Grand father of modren day masonery.) Who studied the art of sacred geometry and started a group called the Pythagoreans, who followed 5 basic rules.

(1) that at its deepest level, reality is mathematical in nature,
(2) that philosophy can be used for spiritual purification,
(3) that the soul can rise to union with the divine,
(4) that certain symbols have a mystical significance, and
(5) that all brothers of the order should observe strict loyalty and secrecy.

This group soon split into groups.

1.mathematikoi ("mathematicians"). Or, inner circle.
2. akousmatikoi ("listeners"). Or , outter circle.


This group is still alive to this day ( but that is a differnt post.)

Then in around 1532 ( give or take a decade.) A group of Pythagoreans split from the main stream. Lets break down their name.
FREE- To mean that they were free from the rules Pathagorie.
MASONS- The trade of the original praticers of sacred geometry.

Although they still praticed many of the same rituals as the original Pythagoreans they were now free to change rituals and beliefs as they wished, and to grow greater in numbers than Pythagoreians.( perhaps a clash was to be planed). But as time went on and more and more chapters were added things were lost and soon the free masonery became as dogmatic as the modren day catholic church ( but with less touching of little boys.) So to call modren day free masons a adult version of the boy scouts, you would be right. Im so disapointed.................. : ( All this time i thought they were cool.

Originally posted by aginstitall
Then in around 1532 ( give or take a decade.) A group of Pythagoreans split from the main stream. Lets break down their name.
FREE- To mean that they were free from the rules Pathagorie.
MASONS- The trade of the original praticers of sacred geometry.

More likely, the stonemasons who had the skills necessary to build the cathedrals of Europe were in high demand. They were "FREE" because they could (and did) travel from town to town without any required writs or patents.

So to call modren day free masons a adult version of the boy scouts, you would be right. Im so disapointed.................. : ( All this time i thought they were cool.

What? Boy Scouts aren't cool?

well thats one way of looking at it but many trades and artisans travelled from town to town. its not called the "free carpenters" for a reason.

Originally posted by aginstitall
well thats one way of looking at it but many trades and artisans travelled from town to town. its not called the "free carpenters" for a reason.

Perhaps not. But there were "free lancers" for a reason...

"Free masonry" was originaly parented in ancient sumaria around 4000B.C by a group of architects who use sacred geometry and Astronomy to build monolithic structures.

Free Masonry may have started using it then but it is much much older than 4,000 bc. Look back ALOT further in time.

Originally posted by xoxo stacie
"Free masonry" was originaly parented in ancient sumaria around 4000B.C by a group of architects who use sacred geometry and Astronomy to build monolithic structures.

Free Masonry may have started using it then but it is much much older than 4,000 bc. Look back ALOT further in time.

Masonry is as old as civilization.

FREEmasonry in any recognizable form didn't start until about 1400.

Well mr> low level mason, seams as i am wrong in the information i provided please enlighten me.

Originally posted by aginstitall
Well mr> low level mason, seams as i am wrong in the information i provided please enlighten me.

Not much to enlighten you about, all the scholarship and research agrees that anything resembling freemasonry can be traced back to about 1400 safely (1200 if you'd really like to go out on a limb). And of course what we know of as modern freemasonry did not begin until 1717. What part would you specifically like me to enlighten you on?

Interestingly enough, in the first paragraph of the First Degree Tracing Board lecture (UGLE), Freemasonry claims to pre-date the "Pythagoreans" or "System of Pythagoras," so by inference, even the Masonic ritual itself discredits the claim that Freemasonry stems from the System of Pythagoras.

Originally posted by Saurus
Interestingly enough, in the first paragraph of the First Degree Tracing Board lecture (UGLE), Freemasonry claims to pre-date the "Pythagoreans" or "System of Pythagoras," so by inference, even the Masonic ritual itself discredits the claim that Freemasonry stems from the System of Pythagoras.

But as we know, the ritual is not historically accurate. Otherwise it would pre-date even that and go back to Solomon's temple.

Originally posted by LowLevelMason

But as we know, the ritual is not historically accurate. Otherwise it would pre-date even that and go back to Solomon's temple.

Yes, and this is why Masonic teachings are allegorical and not literal.

I am sure there has been some system of mysticism for most of human civilization. I imagine that the ancient teachings have probably been re-written and re-told in new stories for that period as well.

I would be interested to travel about 200 years into the future to see what Masonic ritual looks like then. (or even see if we are still around)

Since you "new agers" responded to "Biblemaths" like a vampire responds to garlic, I thought I better tell you a bit of what's inside.

" Numerical evidence for the first words in The Bible that reveals a system of mathematical design. "

There may be a lot more related to mathematics than this club of "special folks" we refer to as masons or freemasons have anything to do with it.

And the last I heard, it was a monument built as a hurrah to Shems destruction of Nimrod. Too bad I can't prove that. Oh yeah, the Sphinx is supposed to be Shem, a man with the strength of a lion who brought down Nimrod, it was another tribute.

It is typical of a Kenite [ the secret society who started this cult/organization ] to steal something and pretend it was theirs all along, they have no shame. Like Promethius and Atlas were just rearranged stories of Noah.

I'll bet the masons have no idea it was not originally theirs at all.

[edit on 16-12-2008 by toasted]

[edit on 16-12-2008 by toasted]

[edit on 16-12-2008 by toasted]

[edit on 16-12-2008 by toasted]

Noone has the faintest idea how free masonry came to be.Anyone who says any different is lying plain and simple,i think evidence points to egyptian mystic school but i could be completely wrong,its a mystery and a half that not even free masons have a clue about.

Originally posted by Solomons
Noone has the faintest idea how free masonry came to be.Anyone who says any different is lying plain and simple,i think evidence points to egyptian mystic school but i could be completely wrong,its a mystery and a half that not even free masons have a clue about.

Um, wow. Actually all the historical research on this is quite clear - it can be traced back to stone mason guilds. There is absolutely no evidence for any of the "mystery" school stuff.

I am continually surprised at how masons supposedly know nothing about their own organization, yet everyone else knows all about it.

Originally posted by LowLevelMason

Originally posted by Solomons
Noone has the faintest idea how free masonry came to be.Anyone who says any different is lying plain and simple,i think evidence points to egyptian mystic school but i could be completely wrong,its a mystery and a half that not even free masons have a clue about.

Um, wow. Actually all the historical research on this is quite clear - it can be traced back to stone mason guilds. There is absolutely no evidence for any of the "mystery" school stuff.

I am continually surprised at how masons supposedly know nothing about their own organization, yet everyone else knows all about it.

your simply lying.No one knows where free masonry originated from,thats a fact,many people have theories,but no concrete evidence.I dont think the fact your a mason means i cant read and research for myself and you can thankyou very much.

Originally posted by Solomons
your simply lying.No one knows where free masonry originated from,thats a fact,many people have theories,but no concrete evidence.I dont think the fact your a mason means i cant read and research for myself and you can thankyou very much.

LOL! No, I'm afraid you are a bit out of touch with reality. You need to stop lying to yourself. See:

Stevenson, David (1988). The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland's Century 1590-1710. Cambridge Univ. Press.

Apparently you DO need to do some research because there is absolutely no evidence that freemasonry came from "mystery schools" and its pretty well accepted - as much as any historical fact is - that freemasonry began with medieval stone mason guilds. There is plenty of concrete evidence. Its your own failure that you won't accept this.

sad that this thread couldn't focus on pythagoreans rather than the usual tit for tat. i would be interested to know what their current incarnation is known as.

Originally posted by aginstitall
well thats one way of looking at it but many trades and artisans travelled from town to town. its not called the "free carpenters" for a reason.

Masonry actually applies to the crafts of building in general - which includes carpentry (joinery). A mason is therefore a builder, hence the distinction of Stonemason. The Free only means that they were not indentured (or apprenticed) or were Freemen of a particular town or city. Due to the nature though of masonry, more so at that time, they would not 'journey' in the same way as the merchantile guilds, and were sometimes employed for their lifetimes working on a single construction project, like the great gothic abbeys and cathedrals of europe, from the mid 13th centry onwards. Most of these great cathedrals still have permanently employed 'masons' to maintain the structures.