Henry Ford once declared that ‘all history is bunk.’
In startling contrast to what is currently held to be fact, the Eastern world actually developed according to a very ancient philosophy encoded into a secret system that has come to the surface at three key moments over the last three thousand years.
The final proof may be the archaeological find of the century. We have located the scrolls of Jesus and his followers.
Sheer Pointlessness
Freemasonry’s mysteries tantalize two large groups: those who are not Masons, who wonder what the secrets of the order are; and those who are Masons, who also wonder what those secrets are! A compelling reason for silence amongst Masons is that they do not understand a word of the ceremonies they participate in, and their only fear is that people would laugh at the apparently pointless and silly rituals they perform.
The complex and obscure rituals are a strange mixture of meaningless words and reenactments of supposed historical events surrounding the building of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, some three thousand years ago.
Freemasonry is called ‘The Craft’ by insiders. The only absolute requirement is a belief in God...any god.
Not only are the origins of Freemasonry no longer known, but the ‘true secrets’ of the Order are admitted to have been lost with ‘substituted secrets’ being used in their place in Masonic ceremonyn - ‘until such a time as they are rediscovered.
A Poor Candidate in a State of Darkness
Only the means of recognition are the protected secrets of the Order.
‘I was interviewed by past masters and ready to be made a Freemason. The only question was “do you believe in God?” I stood with a guard who banged the hilt of a sword on the door to the temple.
‘I was hoodwinked (blindfolded) and dressed in white trousers and top. One foot was in a slipper (slipshod), my left leg exposed to the knee, and the left breast of the tunic drawn aside exposing my chest. A hangman’s noose was around my neck and I had been relieved of all metal. This mode was how a medieval heretic was treated by the Inquisition prior to confession. No one knew this at the time.
‘I felt a cold point press on the skin of my chest.
‘Whispers in my ear gave replies I repeated out loud.
‘The candidate for the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry has to have a desire for knowledge.
‘The dagger was removed. The noose remained. God was described in a neutral way so He is accessible to any monotheistic religion.
‘I was helped around the Temple, passing three times around the perimeter. The centre of the Temple floor was laid out with a central rectangle of black and white squares. On the eastern edge was the Worshipful Master’s pedestal, in the south sat the Junior Warden, and in the west the Senior Warden.
‘My attention was drawn to the “lights” of Freemasonry – explained as being the Volume of Sacred Law (for Christians the Bible), the Square and the Compasses. I attained the rank of Entered Apprentice Freemason – the first of three degrees. I was told that the left-hand pillar that stood in the porchway of King Solomon’s Temple has special significance to Freemasons. The left-hand pillar, called Boaz, was named after the great-grandfather of David, King of Israel.
‘I was presented with a white calf-skin apron and told that Freemasonry is more ancient that the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle, more honorable than the Star, Garter, or any other order. The white apron was the badge of innocence and the bond of friendship. This ritual proved to be constructed from three very different periods of history, from ancient to the modern.
‘Virtues were recommended using architectural analogies, stonemason’s tools, all likened to self-improvement. The next degree was the Fellowcraft Freemason.
‘Question: “What is Freemasonry?”
‘Answer: “A peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.”
‘Question: “What are the three grand principles upon which Freemasonry is founded?”
‘Answer: “Brotherly love, relief and truth.”
‘The mysteries of the Craft were not revealed. Perhaps, I thought, all will become clear at the next ceremony.
‘It did not.’
The Hidden Mysteries of Nature and Science
‘The deacons conducted me around the Temple and a hand-raised posture was revealed that originated when “Joshua fought the battles of the Lord (in the valley of Jehoshaphat), and prayed that the sun be stayed in its course until the overthrow of His enemies had been completed.” This later proved to be highly significant.
‘The right-hand pillar from the porchway of King Solomon’s Temple was described to complement the information given in the previous degree regarding the left-hand pillar. This pillar, identified as “Jachin,” was said to be named after the high priest who assisted at the dedication of this section of the Temple at Jerusalem. The first represented “strength” or “in it is strength”; the second “to establish” and when united “stability.”
A Glimmer of Light
‘I was a Fellowcraft, wearing a white apron with two blue rosettes.
‘I learned that “our ancient brethren received their wages in the middle chamber of King Solomon’s Temple without scruple or diffidence from the great reliance they placed on the integrity of their employer in those days. Careful study of the Bible found no mention of any middle chamber to Solomon’s Temple.
‘I was also given a biblical reference that does not exist in the Bible. “For the Lord has said in strength will I establish My Word in this Mine House that it will stand fast for ever.”
‘I re-entered the Temple in total darkness except for a candle in the east in front of the Worshipful Master and learned the subject of this degree was death.
“The mysteries of human science, minutely analyzed, bind men together by mystic points. The darkness of death and obscurity of the grave is a forerunner of a more brilliant light, which shall follow at the resurrection of the just, when these mortal bodies which have been long slumbering in the dust shall be awakened, reunited to their kindred spirit, and clothed with immortality...”
“...we beseech Thee to impart Thy grace to this Thy servant who seeks to partake with us the mysterious secrets of a Master Mason. Endue him with such fortitude that, in the hour of trial he fail not, but passing safely under Thy protection, through the dark valley of the shadow of death he may finally rise from the tomb of transgression to shine as the stars, for ever and ever.”
‘I was obliged to act out a story which explains the manner in which the true secrets of a Master Mason came to be lost.’
‘The Worshipful Master told the story:
“...nature presents one grand and useful lesson more – the knowledge of yourself. ...she finally teaches you how to die.
“...the unshaken fidelity and untimely death of our Grand Master Hiram Abif, who lost his life just before the completion of King Solomon’s Temple is a glorious example.
“Fifteen Fellowcrafts not yet in possession of the genuine secrets of a Master conspired together to obtain those secrets by any means. Twelve of the fifteen recanted, but three persisted. They placed themselves at the south, west and east gates of the Temple, wither our Master Hiram Abif had retired to pay his adoration to the Most High, as was his wanton custom, it being the hour of high twelve.
“He prepared to retire by the south gate, where he was accosted by the first ruffian, who had armed himself with a plumb rule, and demanded the secrets of a Master Mason. He replied that those secrets were known to but three in the world, and without the consent of the other two, he neither could, nor would divulge them. He would rather suffer death than betray the sacred trust.
“The ruffian aimed a violent blow at our master’s forehead. It only glanced down his right temple, yet he reeled and sunk to the ground on his left knee.
“Recovering himself, he rushed to the west gate. To second ruffian he replied as before. The ruffian, who was armed with a level struck his left temple, which brought him to the ground on his right knee.
“Our Master staggered to the east gate. The third ruffian, receiving a similar reply, struck him in the centre of the forehead with a heavy stone maul, which laid him lifeless”.
‘A funeral shroud was draped around me.
“Hiram Abif lost his life rather than betray the sacred trust.
“...try the Fellowship Grip.
“Known as the Lion’s Paw or Eagle’s Claw grip, which is given by
taking a firm hold on the sinews of the wrist of the right hand with
the points of the fingers and raising him on the five points of fellowship.”
‘The Worshipful Master whispered two peculiar words in my ear. I now knew both parts of the Mason’s word. At the time it was meaningless, but through our researches we have discovered its ancient and fascinating meaning.
“The light of a Master Mason is but as darkness visible. It is that mysterious veil of darkness which the eye of human reason cannot penetrate, unless assisted by that divine light.”
‘As the Worsphiful Master spoke these chilling words he directed my gaze downwards and to my right, where I could just pick out of the darkness the shape of an open grave, with a human skull on a pair of crossed thighbones at it’s head.
‘The Worshipful Master indicated upwards where I could see the small, illuminated shape of a star.
“...to that bright morning star whose rising brings peace and tranquillity to the faithful and obedient of the human race.
“The twelve craftsmen originally came before the King and voluntarily confessed all they knew. He ordered them to search after the master, to ascertain if he were alive, or had suffered in the attempt to extort from him the secrets of his exalted degree.
“The second class found the grave and there found the body of our Master very indecently interred. They covered it again and distinguished the spot.
“The King ordered them to raise our Master, at the same time informing them that by his untimely death the secrets of a Master Mason were lost.
“The third class, on entering a cave, found three men who made a full confession. King Solomon sentenced them to death.”
The three villains who murdered Hiram Abif were identified as Jubela, Jubelo and Jubelum, known jointly as the Juwes; pronounced Joo-ees. King Solomon had them executed in the manner that each had identified for themselves, and they comprise part of the means of Masonic identification.
Some Masons believe the stories to be true, just as many Christians accept the legends of the Old Testament. Very few give any thought at all as to where such strange rituals may have originated.
The key personality is a complete mystery. Hiram Abif is not mentioned in the Old Testament at all, no builder of the Temple is named and no murder of a high priest is recorded. Christian critics condemn the Craft because they claim that it glorifies the resurrection of a man other than Jesus Christ, and that it is essentially a pagan religion. Hiram Abif, once killed, remained dead; there was no return to life nor indeed any suggestion of an after-life existence. There is no supernatural content to Masonic ritual at all and this is why members of many different religions, including Jews, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists, have found it complementary to, rather than in conflict with, their own theological beliefs.
Hiram Abif did die rather than betray his beliefs; but so have countless other men and women, before and since.
The candidate is blindfolded, stripped of money and metal objects, dressed as an accused heretic on his journey to the gallows and finally told that the object of his last degree is ‘how to die!’ The journey from darkness to light is obviously important as are the two pillars called Boaz and Jachin that symbolize ‘strength’ and ‘establishment’ and when united, mean ‘stability.’
Freemasonry claims to be more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle, and has the aim of brotherly love, relief and truth – yet investigating the hidden mysteries of nature and science are presented as very important. The genuine secrets of the Order, we are told, have been lost and substituted secrets are in their place until such time as the true ones will be found.
The central character of Freemasonry is the builder of King Solomon’s Temple who is named as Hiram Abif, who was murdered by three of his own men. The stylized death and resurrection of the candidate is the act that makes one a Master Mason and when raised from his tomb, the bright morning star is on the horizon.
Chapter Two: The Search Begins
