What is Freemasonry? One Mason to another...

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Considering, it is on the US dollar, and freemasonry's roots to the US

a reply to: Tangerine

In God we trust

a reply to: Tangerine

In my jurisdiction it is:

'Vouchsafe thine aid and blessing almighty father of the universe to us now in lodge assembled. Enable us to perform every duty with fidelity so that our labors may meet thy divine approbation and to thy name be the glory forever. Amen.'

'So mote it be.'

originally posted by: ThereIsNoHandle
Considering, it is on the US dollar, and freemasonry's roots to the US

The Latin mottos on the Great Seal have nothing to do with Masonry and were not created by a Mason.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

why was the great seal placed on the dollar?

a reply to: ThereIsNoHandle

Because Henry Wallace like the motto, 'new order of the ages' and felt it was a good corollary to Roosevelt's New Deal.

It had appeared on currency several times prior to that so it was not a new application.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

FDR certainly thought it was important

a reply to: ThereIsNoHandle

He obviously agreed with Wallace.

None of this however has anything to do with the Original Post.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Fair enough

Do you think Masonry is heavy on the esoteric and/or mysticism these days?

a reply to: ThereIsNoHandle

Depends on the lodge. They all vary.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I see.

Such as, Scottish or York right?

a reply to: ThereIsNoHandle
Here are the facts with the Great Seal and Freemasonry.

The first mention that the Great Seal was connected to the Freemasons came in 1884, when Harvard Professor Eliot Norton wrote that the reverse of the Great Seal of the US was a “dull emblem of a Masonic fraternity.” It seems the good Professor was a little lacking on knowledge and didn't have all the facts surrounding the creation.

The first committee charged with creating the Great Sea was established on July 4th, 1776, and was composed of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams with Pierre du Simitiere as the artist. Ben Franklin was the only Freemason. Franklin proposed a design a scene similar to Moses at the Red Sea with the Egyptian Pharoah being overwhelmed with the phrase “Resistance to Tyranny is Obedience to God.” Jefferson proposal was Israel being led through the wilderness while Adam’s was of Hercules between the rugged path of Virtue and the flowery meadow of Sloth. These were all rejected. Du Simitiere contributed much to the future design, such as “E Pluribus Unum” , the shield, the Eye of Providence in the radiant triangle.

The Second committee was composed of James Lovell, John Morin Scott, and William Churchill Houston with the help of Francis Hopkinson (Signer of the Declaration of Independence, helped design American flag, and designed many government seals). Hopkinson's first design had a shield with thirteen diagonal red and white stripes, supported on one side by figure bearing an olive branch and representing peace, and on the other an Indian warrior (which later be replaced with a soldier) holding a bow and arrow, and holding a shiver. The crest was a radiant constellation of thirteen stars. The motto was "Bello vel pace paratus", meaning "prepared in war or in peace“ (a theme used later with the Eagle holding the olive branch and arrows). The reverse, in Hopkinson's words, was "Liberty is seated in a chair holding an olive branch and her staff is topped by a Liberty cap. The motto `Virtute perennis' means `Everlasting because of virtue.' The date in Roman numerals is 1776.“ From this committee the following would be incorporated into the final design: the white and red stripes within a blue background for a shield, a radiant constellation of 13 stars, and an olive branch.

The Third committee was composed of John Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Elias Boudinot with the help of William Barton (a heraldic expert). This time, the figures on each side of the shield were the "Genius of the American Confederated Republic" represented by a maiden, and on the other side an American warrior. At the top is an eagle and on the pillar in the shield is a "Phoenix in Flames". The mottos were "In Vindiciam Libertatis" (In Defense of Liberty) and "Virtus sola invicta" (Only virtue unconquered). On the reverse, there was used a pyramid of thirteen steps, with the radiant Eye of Providence overhead, and used the mottos "Deo Favente" (With God's Favor, or more literally, God Favoring) and "Perennis" (Everlasting). The pyramid had come from another Continental currency note designed in 1778 by Hopkinson, this time the $50 note, which had a nearly identical pyramid and the motto "Perennis". Barton had at first specified "on the Summit of it a Palm Tree, proper", with the explanation that "The Palm Tree, when burnt down to the very Root, naturally rises fairer than ever", but later crossed it out and replaced it with the Eye of Providence, taken from the first committee's design. Again, Congress rejected the submitted design. From this committee the following would be incorporated into the final design: eagle and a pyramid of 13 steps.

The Fourth and final committee was composed of only Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Congress, who took elements of the previous committees and added “Annuit Coeptis”, “Novus Ordo Seclorum” and finally came out with the design we have today. Charles Thomson had received classical training and worked as a Latin tutor at the Academy of Philadelphia.

So many theorists believe that "Novus Ordo Seclorum" translates into "New World Order" when in reality it translates to "New Order of the Ages" and America was. With assistance, we had trounced on one of the mightiest empires the world had seen in a long time. The country had limitless potential and we were establishing a "government of the people, by the people, for the people."

Some of the theories include the number 13 which many speculate is a very significant number with Freemasonry. I've read about all sorts of elaborate measures taken to saturate the Great Seal with 13 because it correlates to something within Freemasonry, yet they always seem to dismiss the simple and obvious explanation of the original 13 colonies.

Many point out that because Freemasonry today uses the All-Seeing Eye as a symbol and that the Great Seal has the Eye of Providence above the pyramid that they must be connected. One thing I have learned in my research and time in Masonry is that symbols do not have a singular or exclusive meaning, interpretation, or use. While both interpret to represent God, the Divine, this doesn't constitute a direct connection or that the Masons are somehow involved with the design. Symbols for a long time were the preferred method of non-verbal communication as so many were illiterate.

www.travelingtemplar.com...

a reply to: ThereIsNoHandle

No, the Blue Lodge. Scottish and York Rite perform what would be better described as morality plays and not the same type of degrees we do in the lodge. The Master and the Brethren may opt to invite guest speakers or have members make presentations during the meeting on esoteric subjects.

Also, there is a growing number of Traditional Observance Lodges springing up which focus heavily on this aspect (I happen to belong to one besides being in my home lodge).

While this can happen at a Scottish or York Rite meeting it is far more likely to happen in Lodge.

a reply to: KSigMason

Thanks, that really helped

I certainly agree that symbols don't necessarily have a singular meaning

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Thank you, I didn't realize it varied so much

a reply to: ThereIsNoHandle
Those aren't Lodges. Those are appendant/concordant bodies.

By Lodge he was referring to the Blue Lodge and which AM talks about.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus
I attended a meeting of a TO Lodge a few weeks ago and I enjoyed it very much.

a reply to: ThereIsNoHandle
That's one thing about Freemasonry, every Lodge can have it's own characteristics and personality. I enjoy visiting other Lodges, to see those subtle differences.

In my limited understanding of the "Masonic Craft" if one can call it that is this

The initial question being answered correctly "Yes I believe in a supreme being"
One is guided on an "Inner journey" of discovery as to the true nature of Supreme Being

This can take may paths and each belief or believer is a path
Where that leads is a realisation of the intricate inter connection of all things that spring from and lead back to that Supreme Being

I shall never know what Secret/s you hold but I know enough to consider true Masons as brothers

good post, the need to embrance a religion makes people blind and " a must be stupid person” l see it down here in Curitiba Brasil , people with freemasons stickers on cars not behaving properly


. , of the real mean of life , a reply to: Saurus

originally posted by: CharlieSpeirs

originally posted by: Woodcarver
a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

Satan? Really? Satanists? Come on man. Step out of fairy tale land and get with the times.

LoL that answer always makes me laugh as well!


Do you talk like that to fellow brothers who are staunch Christians who do believe in "the fairy tale of Satan"?

if someone goes out of their way to blame satan for the deeds of less than honorable men, as if men deserve a scapegoat to lay the blame on, then i will make a point to call out the fact that they live in a schizophrenic delusion that allows them to blame fictitious figures for their less than admirable habits.


Then yes i would definitely call them out. Its a fairy tale.

Do you really think that some kind of evil demon makes people think bad thoughts?

a reply to: Woodcarver

if someone goes out of their way to blame satan for the deeds of less than honorable men, as if men deserve a scapegoat to lay the blame on, then i will make a point to call out the fact that they live in a schizophrenic delusion

That would be an injustice to Schizophrenics ... Let us call them what they are ...

a reply to: Woodcarver