Freemasonry’s ties to the occult

Masonry for the masses

The public face of Freemasonry dances around the spiritual and esoteric nature of the fraternity. Defensive shields and diversions have been constructed to keep the “profane” from attempting to examine its spiritual side. Charity and community involvement build credibility, all the while masking the true “meaning of Masonry.”

The defensive stance is certainly understandable. Masons are constantly attacked with accusations and conspiracy theories. They are called Pagans and even Satan worshipers. The casual onlooker cannot examine Freemasonry on its surface and expect to find answers. We live in a society accustomed to skimming the facts and quickly passing judgment; however, how easily can one judge the beauty of an object that is nearly invisible? A Freemason is sworn to secrecy and although many a Mason have slipped up on this oath throughout history you can be sure that the majority of inner teachings are still far from public viewing. This article assumes that you know the objective meaning of the word occult—“hidden.”

Masters of clever wording and half-truths

Esteemed 33° Freemason Manly P. Hall confirms that Freemasonry contains a secretive inner order in the following:

“FREEMASONRY is a fraternity within a fraternity—an outer organization concealing an inner brotherhood of the elect. Before it is possible to intelligently discuss the origin of the Craft, it is necessary, therefore, to establish the existence of these two separate yet interdependent orders, the one visible and the other invisible. The visible society is a splendid camaraderie of ‘free and accepted’ men enjoined to devote themselves to ethical, educational, fraternal, patriotic, and humanitarian concerns. The invisible society is a secret and most august fraternity whose members are dedicated to the service of a mysterious arcanum arcanorum. Those Brethren who have essayed to write the history of their Craft have not included in their disquisitions the story of that truly secret inner society which is to the body Freemasonic what the heart is to the body human.”

Manly P. Hall 33°, Lectures on Ancient Philosophy and Introduction to the Study and Application of Rational Procedure, p. 397 (Chapter 19 - Rosicrucian and Masonic)

An interesting contrast to this accurate depiction of Freemasonry can be found in a letter the Secretary of Blue Hill Lodge of Canton, Massachusetts sent out to the wives of new members of the fraternity.

“What is the Purpose of Freemasonry?”

“The basic purpose is to make ‘better men out of good men,’ better fathers, better husbands, better brothers and better sons. We try to place emphasis on the individual man by strengthening his character, improving his moral and spiritual outlook and broadening his mental horizons. We try to build a better world...by building better men to work in our communities.”

This dummied-down, politcal definition of Masonry gives the “Mason’s Lady” enough vague information to satisfy a mild level of curiosity and tells her exactly what she always wanted to hear—she will passively get a better husband and father out of the deal. The letter aims to stifle her from asking questions since her spouse is obligated to tell her nothing about what really happens in the lodge.

The United Grand Lodge of England addresses the matter of secrecy on their Web site (www.grandlodge-england.org).

“Secrecy”

“The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with its traditional modes of recognition. It is not a secret society, since all members are free to acknowledge their membership and will do so in response to enquiries for respectable reasons. Its constitutions and rules are available to the public. There is no secret about any of its aims and principles. Like many other societies, it regards some of its internal affairs as private matters for its members.”

Again the statement is carefully designed to divert attention away from Freemasonry’s secret teachings and oaths of secrecy by pointing out the public aspects of the fraternity. “Traditional modes of recognition” refers to the Masonic grips and secret passwords that enable Freemasons to recognize each other as such.

Orgins in “the mysteries”

Freemasonry is indirect descendant of the ancient mystery schools of Egypt and Babylon. The priesthoods of old kept the highest esoteric knowledge confined to their inner circle. Masonry continues this tradition by revealing deeper mysteries as one progresses through the ranks. Author W.L. Wilmhurst claims Freemasonry’s ancient lineage in the following:

“Since the suppression of the Mysteries in the sixth century, their tradition and teaching have been continued in secret and under various concealments, and to that continuation our present Masonic system is due.”

The Meaning Of Masonry by W.L. Wilmshurst

Nearly every esoteric or occult order established since Freemasonry, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Ordo Templi Orientis is based upon aspects of Masonry. The founding fathers of either order, Dr. William Wynn Westcott and Carl Kellner respectively, were Masons. Since the the Golden Dawn and OTO are now openly known to be occult orders, when we consider the following commonalities, it is clear that Freemasonry is indeed also occult in nature:

1. The candidate progresses through a series of degrees or grades and titles
2. Rites and initiation ceremonies contain symbology and lessons that are meant to take on a personal meaning in the initiate
3. Oath of secrecy—even from one’s spouse
4. Personal mottos in a language differing from the initiate’s common tongue
5. Emphasis on ancient teachings such as those of Hermes Trismesgistos and Pythagoras
6. The existance of an inner order and an outer order

Modern Freemasonry’s “front” has given it an identity crisis. Even within its own membership low ranking Masons often do not realize that they are an initiate in an updated version of the western mystery tradition. Only the elite minority have achieved a high rank; What lies at the deepest core of Freemasonry is known only by those that have progressed to the 33°.

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