"Masonry labors to improve the social order by enlightening men's minds, warming their hearts with the love of the good, inspiring them with the great principle of human fraternity, and requiring of its disciples that their language and actions shall conform to that principle, that they shall enlighten each other, control their passions, abhor vice, and pity the vicious man as one afflicted with a deplorable malady." [Albert Pike]
"Freemasonry itself anciently received, among other appellations, that of Lux, or Light, to signify that it is to be regarded as that sublime doctrine of Divine Truth by which the path of him who has attained it is to be illuminated in his pilgrimage of life." [Albert G Mackey, 1807-1881]
"But the great commandment of Masonry is this: "A new commandment give I unto you: that ye love one another! He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, remaineth still in the darkness."
"Such are the moral duties of a Mason. But it is also the duty of Masonry to assist in elevating the moral and intellectual level of society; in coining knowledge, bringing ideas into circulation, and causing the mind of youth to grow; and in putting, gradually, by the teachings of axioms and the promulgation of positive laws, the human race in harmony with its destinies." [Morals and Dogma, page 14, 1950 edition]
Basically, my interpretation, the below quote is the same as "cast not pearls before swine" or something like that.
"Masonry, like all the Religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled; to conceal the Truth, which it calls Light, from them, and to draw them away from it. Truth is not for those who are unworthy or unable to receive it, or would pervert it. So God Himself incapacitates many men, by color-blindness, to distinguish colors, and leads the masses away from the highest Truth, giving them the power to attain only so much of it as it is profitable to them to know. Every age has had a religion suited to its capacity.
The Teachers, even of Christianity, are, in general, the most ignorant of the true meaning of that which they teach. There is no book of which so little is known as the Bible. To most who read it, it is as incomprehensible as the Sohar." [Morals and Dogma, page 104-105, 1950 edition]
"Freemasonry is not a material thing: it is a science of the soul; it is not a creed or doctrine but a universal expression of the Divine Wisdom. The coming together of medieval guilds or even the building of Solomon's temple as it is understood today has little, if anything, to do with the true origin of Freemasonry, for Masonry does not deal with personalities. In its highest sense, it is neither historical nor archaeological, but is a divine symbolic language perpetuating under certain concrete symbols the sacred mysteries of the ancients. Only those who see in it a cosmic study, a life work, a divine inspiration to better thinking, better feeling, and better living, with the spiritual attainment of enlightenment as the end, and with the daily life of the true Mason as the means, have gained even the slightest insight into the true mysteries of the ancient rites." [Manly Palmer Hall]
“A Mason is not necessarily a member of a lodge. He is any person who tries every day to live the Masonic life, and to serve intelligently the needs of the Great Architect.” [Manly Palmer Hall - The Lost Keys of Freemasonry]
"Freemasonry is not a Material thing; it is a Science of the Soul, it is not a Creed or a Doctrine but a Universal expression of the Divine Wisdom." [Manly Palmer Hall]
"A Mason cannot be ordained or elected by ballot. He is evolved through ages of self-purification and spiritual transmutation. There are thousands of Masons who are brethren in name only, for their failure to exemplify the ideals of their Craft makes them unresponsive to the teachings and purpose of Freemasonry. The Masonic life forms the first key of the Temple and without this key, none of the doors can be opened. When this fact is better realized and lived, Freemasonry will awake, and speak the Word so long withheld. The speculative Craft will then become operative, and the Ancient Wisdom so long concealed will rise from the ruins of its temple as the greatest spiritual truth yet revealed to mankind.” [Manly Palmer Hall]
"All Freemasonry should be disbanded in America because our organization has been infiltrated by the Illuminati and they have bad intention for America and the World." [George Washington]
MASONRY IN A NUTSHELL
You may have heard of “the world’s oldest profession.” But the world’s oldest organized profession was stone masonry. Ancient civilizations realized you had better know what you are doing if you are going to build with stone. This gave rise to ancient stone masons’ guilds, which required mandatory education, training, and rankings. Stone masons became known for their high levels of morality and ethics in building.
A novice was entered into the craft as an apprentice. Although only an apprentice, he was still entered into, or associated with, the craft. After years of training, he could be passed to the level of a fellow of the craft, or Fellowcraft. With more years, he could become a Master Mason.
Over the centuries, men joined the craft, not necessarily to be operative stone masons, but for the education in ethics, morality, and the arts and sciences. In time, more men joined for this academic and moral education and social interaction than to be actual operative stone masons. By the late 1600’s, most were not operative masons, but what were call Speculative or Accepted Masons.
In the year 1717, Masons joined together to form the Grand Lodge of England in London. This is considered the birth of Modern Freemasonry as we know it today, although our history and traditions go back much farther.
Fast forward to 1776, and the questions on American’s lips were, “Who is going to be our new king? What will be our system of royalty and nobility? What will be our class structure? What will be our official religion? After all, every country has these things (and many still do, even today).
Masons like Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and George Washington said to the other Founding Fathers, “Many members of royalty and nobility around the world are Masons. But in our lodges, we all meet on the level, as equals. What if we have a country without royalty or nobility, where all are equal under the law? And what if we elect our leaders, as we do in our lodges, for specific times, then they return to the ranks? We Masons require a belief in God, but each man’s religious opinions are his own. What if this new country had no official religion? Masons have long advocated education for everyone. What if we have free public education?”
These things were radical ideas at the time. There had never been a country like that in the history of the world. At a time when everyone recognized and accepted class, caste, and social divisions, Masonry taught Equality (represented by the level). While many taught that one should be satisfied with his lot in life, Masonry encouraged self-improvement.
While some institutions promote differences between men, Masonry promoted Brotherly Love, Relief (charity) and Truth (honest and moral behavior towards all, represented by the square). We advocate harmony in society. We stand for the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God.
Masonic tools and ideals permeate our society: A “square” deal. Are you on the “level?” The police gave him the “third degree.” Our modern educational system is based upon the Masonic education system of ancient times. The Three Degrees of Masonry are Entered Apprentice (Associate of the craft), Fellow (Bachelor) of the Craft, and Master Mason. Masons use the geometric term, raised by “degrees.” What are the three college degrees? Associate, Bachelor, and Master’s Degree. Did you ever wonder why they call it a college “degree”? From Masonry! And what do they call that flat square hat you wear when you graduate? A mortar board, yet another mason’s tool. Speaking of mason’s tools, almost all presiding officers and judges use a mason’s gavel.
Now-a-days we have diplomas to prove our educational achievements. In ancient times, a mason’s apron, made of lamb or sheepskin, was his diploma. Did you ever hear of a diploma called a “sheepskin”? A mason was free to travel, hence a Freemason, or “journeyman.” He could prove membership by certain secret signs, words, and modes of recognition, universally recognized by masons around the world, and still used today. These are the “secrets” you hear about. We are not a “secret society.” We are a society with secrets. Fifteen U.S. presidents have been Masons.
Masonry takes good men and makes them better. We practice self-control, act ethically, practice charity, speak the truth, and help each other and ourselves to improve. We practice age-old ceremonies-the same ceremonies experienced by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Clark Gable, John Wayne, and many, many, famous and historic men through the ages.
As a Mason, your reputation and conduct will reflect upon the entire fraternity. If you would like to join like-thinking men of good character to improve yourself, all you have to do is ask. [anon]
"Freemasonry is "veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols" because these are the surest way by which moral and ethical truths may be taught. It is not only with the brain and with the mind that the initiate must take Freemasonry but also with the heart."
― Carl Harry Claudy
“The true Mason is not creed-bound. He realizes with the divine illumination of his lodge that as a Mason his religion must be universal: Christ, Buddha or Mohammed, the name means little, for he recognizes only the light and not the bearer. He worships at every shrine, bows before every altar, whether in temple, mosque or cathedral, realizing with his truer understanding the oneness of all spiritual truth. All true Masons know that they only are heathen who, having great ideals, do not live up to them. They know that all religions are but one story told in diverse ways for peoples whose ideals differ but whose great purpose is in harmony with Masonic ideals. North, east, south and west stretch the diversities of human thought, and while the ideals of man apparently differ, when all is said and the crystallization of form with its false concepts is swept away, one basic truth remains: all existing things are Temple Builders, laboring for a single end. No true Mason can be narrow, for his Lodge is the divine expression of all broadness. There is no place for little minds in a great work. The great work of the Master Mason can be called the art of balance. To him is given the work of balancing the triangle that it may blaze forth with the glory of the Divine Degree. The triple energies of thought, desire, and action must be united in a harmonious blending of expression. He holds in his hands the triple keys; he wears the triple crown of the ancient Magus, for he is in truth the King of heaven, earth, and hell."
― Manly P. Hall
Albert G. Mackey in his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, writes:
“The religion of Freemasonry is not sectarian. It admits men of every creed within its hospitable bosom, rejecting none and approving none for his particular faith. It is not Judaism . . . it is not Christianity. It does not meddle with sectarian creeds or doctrines, but teaches fundamental truth. At its altar, men of all religions may kneel; to its creed, disciples of every Faith may subscribe.”
Modern Freemasonry includes many Rites and Degrees, all the so-called higher degrees being based upon the three fundamental craft degrees — 1) Entered Apprentice; 2) Fellow Craft; and 3) Master Mason — which degrees alone comprise true Masonic secrets and have any valid claim to descent from ancient Masonry.
The lessons or keynotes of these three degrees are respectively 1) ethical, to subdue the passions; 2) intellectual, the training of the mind, the seven liberal arts and sciences, and the mounting of the stairway of wisdom; and 3) spiritual, the conquest of death. The lessons in each degree are enforced and illustrated by appropriate symbols and allegories.
The central theme of modern Masonry is the building of King Solomon’s Temple; the death of Hiram Abif and the consequent loss of the Word; the raising of Hiram Abif, and the communication of a Substitute Word.
“Much is said concerning the loss of the Master’s Word and how the seekers go out to find it but bring back only substitutes. The true Master knows that those who go out can never find the secret trust. He alone can find it who goes within. The true Master Builder has never lost the Word but has cherished it in the spiritual locket of his own being. From those who have the eyes to see, nothing is concealed; to those who have the right to know, all things are open books. The true Word of the three Grand Masters has never been concealed from those who have the right to know it nor has it ever been revealed to those who have not prepared a worthy shrine to contain it. The Master knows, for he is a Temple Builder. Within the setting of his own bodies, the Philosopher’s Stone is placed; for in truth it is the heart of the Phoenix, that strange bird which rises with renewed youth from the ashes of its burned body. When the Master’s heart is as pure and white as the diamond that he wears, he will then become a living stone — the crown jewel in the diadem of his Craft. The Word is found when the Master himself is ordained by the living hand of God, cleansed by living water, baptized by living fire, a Priest-King after the Order of Melchizedek, who is above the law.”
— Manly P. Hall - The Lost Keys of Freemasonry or The Secret of Hiram Abiff
“Modern Masonry is undeniably the dim and hazy reflection of primeval Occult Masonry, of the teaching of those divine Masons who established the Mysteries of the prehistoric and prediluvian Temples and Initiation, raised by truly superhuman Builders.”
— Helena Petrovna Blavatsky - Collected Writings
Madame Blavatsky comments in Isis Unveiled:
“The Temple was the last European secret organization which, as a body, had in its possession some of the mysteries of the East. True, there were in the past century (and perhaps still are) isolated ‘Brothers’ faithfully and secretly working under the direction of Eastern Brotherhoods. But these, when they did belong to European societies, invariably joined them for objects unknown to the Fraternity, though at the same time for the benefit of the latter. It is through them that modern Masons have all they know of importance; and the similarity now found between the Speculative Rites of antiquity, the mysteries of the Essenes, Gnostics, and the Hindus, and the highest and oldest of the Masonic degrees well prove the fact. Freedom of intellectual thought and the restoration of one and universal religion was their secret object. The simple truth is that modern Masonry is a sadly different thing from what the once universal secret fraternity was . . .” and “the time has come to remodel Masonry and restore those ancient landmarks, borrowed from the early sodalities, which the eighteenth century founders of speculative Freemasonry meant to have incorporated in the fraternity.”
— Helena Petrovna Blavatsky - Isis Unveiled - Volume II
Freemasonry in fact was started as a minor Theosophical movement as also were the original Order of the Temple, and the Rosicrucian Order, each of which was designed with the purpose of keeping alive in the outer world as far as the times permitted a knowledge of the ancient wisdom-teachings.
Grand Architect of the Universe, the Masonic term for the maker of the universe; “the Greeks gave this Third or formative Logos the title Demiourgos, a word mystically signifying the supreme cosmic Architect of the universe. This same idea always has been held by the Christians as well as by modern speculative Freemasonry.”
— Fountain-Source of Occultism, by G. de Purucker
"Theosophically this Grand Architect is a collective way of presenting the forces of nature, the Cosmocratores or cosmic builders, acting on the ideation laid down by still higher beings — Dhyani-Buddhas, referred to collectively as Mahat or cosmic mind — rather than a personal god or entity; “but now the modern Masons make of their G. A. O. T. U. a personal and singular Deity.”
— Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge by Madame Blavatsky