Freemason.si — the Craft, its symbols & its history

Freemason.siFreemason.si — a study console for the Craft, its symbols, its history and its teaching.This console answers questions on every subject below. It needs JavaScript to run; each link opens that subject.Craft

Entered Apprentice — The Three Degrees

Fellow Craft — The Three Degrees

Master Mason — The Three Degrees

The progressive nature of the degrees — The Three Degrees

Proficiency and catechism — The Three Degrees

The obligations — The Three Degrees

The apron — The Three Degrees

The rite of destitution — The Three Degrees

Raising — The Three Degrees

What the degrees teach — The Three Degrees

The Worshipful Master — Lodge Officers

Senior Warden — Lodge Officers

Junior Warden — Lodge Officers

Treasurer — Lodge Officers

Secretary — Lodge Officers

Senior Deacon — Lodge Officers

Junior Deacon — Lodge Officers

Stewards — Lodge Officers

Chaplain — Lodge Officers

Marshal — Lodge Officers

Tyler — Lodge Officers

Past Master — Lodge Officers

The line and progression — Lodge Officers

Opening and closing — Lodge Work

The three lesser lights — Lodge Work

The three great lights — Lodge Work

Due form — Lodge Work

Business of the lodge — Lodge Work

Balloting — Lodge Work

Petitions and investigation — Lodge Work

Degree conferral — Lodge Work

The lodge of instruction — Lodge Work

Ritual memorisation — Lodge Work

Ritual variation by jurisdiction — Lodge Work

Exemplification — Lodge Work

The lodge room — The Temple

Orientation east to west — The Temple

The altar — The Temple

The pedestals — The Temple

The checkered pavement — The Temple

The Tyler’s door — The Temple

Aprons and regalia — The Temple

The gavel — The Temple

Working tools on display — The Temple

Addressing the Master — Etiquette & Custom

Entering and retiring — Etiquette & Custom

The dress of the lodge — Etiquette & Custom

No politics or sectarian religion in lodge — Etiquette & Custom

Visiting another lodge — Etiquette & Custom

The examination of visitors — Etiquette & Custom

Toasts and the festive board — Etiquette & Custom

Mourning and Masonic funerals — Etiquette & Custom

Courtesy between jurisdictions — Etiquette & Custom

The Grand Lodge — Governance

The Grand Master — Governance

Constitutions and by-laws — Governance

Landmarks of the Order — Governance

Regularity and recognition — Governance

Charters and warrants — Governance

Masonic discipline — Governance

Dues and arrears — Governance

Demits and affiliation — Governance

Amalgamation and closure — Governance

The square and compasses — The Central Emblems

The letter G — The Central Emblems

The all-seeing eye — The Central Emblems

The blazing star — The Central Emblems

The point within a circle — The Central Emblems

The beehive — The Central Emblems

The hourglass — The Central Emblems

The scythe — The Central Emblems

The anchor and ark — The Central Emblems

The forty-seventh problem of Euclid — The Central Emblems

The 24-inch gauge — Working Tools

The common gavel — Working Tools

The plumb — Working Tools

The level — Working Tools

The square as a tool — Working Tools

The trowel — Working Tools

The chisel — Working Tools

The mallet — Working Tools

The compasses as a tool — Working Tools

Applying the tools to life — Working Tools

The rough ashlar — Architecture & Stone

The perfect ashlar — Architecture & Stone

The trestle board — Architecture & Stone

The three pillars — Architecture & Stone

Doric, Ionic and Corinthian — Architecture & Stone

The winding staircase — Architecture & Stone

The two great pillars — Architecture & Stone

The Temple of Solomon — Architecture & Stone

The unfinished temple — Architecture & Stone

Operative craft to speculative art — Architecture & Stone

The reception of light — Light & Darkness

Darkness and preparation — Light & Darkness

The east — Light & Darkness

The lesser lights — Light & Darkness

Cable tow — Light & Darkness

The hoodwink — Light & Darkness

Circumambulation — Light & Darkness

The rite of discalceation — Light & Darkness

What a tracing board is — Tracing Boards

The first degree board — Tracing Boards

The second degree board — Tracing Boards

The third degree board — Tracing Boards

Jacob’s ladder — Tracing Boards

The ornaments of the lodge — Tracing Boards

The furniture of the lodge — Tracing Boards

The jewels of the lodge — Tracing Boards

Reading a board — Tracing Boards

The legend of the third degree — Allegory & Legend

Hiram Abiff — Allegory & Legend

The lost word — Allegory & Legend

The sprig of acacia — Allegory & Legend

The five points of fellowship — Allegory & Legend

The winding stairs as a journey — Allegory & Legend

Death and rebirth in ritual — Allegory & Legend

Symbolism versus superstition — Allegory & Legend

Operative stonemasonry — Origins

The medieval guilds — Origins

The Regius Poem (1390) — Origins

The Cooke Manuscript — Origins

The Old Charges — Origins

Scottish lodge minutes — Origins

Elias Ashmole — Origins

Speculative Masonry emerges — Origins

Theories of origin — Origins

What the evidence supports — Origins

The 1717 Grand Lodge — The Grand Lodge Era

Anderson’s Constitutions (1723) — The Grand Lodge Era

The Antients and the Moderns — The Grand Lodge Era

The 1813 Union — The Grand Lodge Era

The Premier Grand Lodge of England — The Grand Lodge Era

Grand Lodge of Ireland — The Grand Lodge Era

Grand Lodge of Scotland — The Grand Lodge Era

Spread through Europe — The Grand Lodge Era

The Continental split — The Grand Lodge Era

The Grand Orient de France — The Grand Lodge Era

Colonial lodges — Freemasonry in America

Freemasonry and the Revolution — Freemasonry in America

George Washington as a Mason — Freemasonry in America

The Morgan affair — Freemasonry in America

The Anti-Masonic Party — Freemasonry in America

Freemasonry in the Civil War — Freemasonry in America

The nineteenth-century boom — Freemasonry in America

Fraternalism in America — Freemasonry in America

Twentieth-century decline — Freemasonry in America

Membership today — Freemasonry in America

Prince Hall — Prince Hall Freemasonry

African Lodge No. 459 — Prince Hall Freemasonry

The founding of Prince Hall Masonry — Prince Hall Freemasonry

Growth in the nineteenth century — Prince Hall Freemasonry

Prince Hall and the Black church — Prince Hall Freemasonry

Prince Hall and civil rights — Prince Hall Freemasonry

Recognition between jurisdictions — Prince Hall Freemasonry

Prince Hall Grand Lodges today — Prince Hall Freemasonry

Notable Prince Hall Masons — Prince Hall Freemasonry

The literature on Prince Hall — Prince Hall Freemasonry

Papal condemnations — Persecution & Suspicion

Freemasonry under fascism — Persecution & Suspicion

Freemasonry in Nazi Germany — Persecution & Suspicion

Freemasonry under communism — Persecution & Suspicion

Bans in the modern world — Persecution & Suspicion

The Taxil hoax — Persecution & Suspicion

Conspiracy theories examined — Persecution & Suspicion

Antisemitic conspiracy myths — Persecution & Suspicion

How Masons have answered critics — Persecution & Suspicion

Transparency in the modern craft — Persecution & Suspicion

Benjamin Franklin — Notable Masons

George Washington — Notable Masons

Voltaire — Notable Masons

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Notable Masons

Simón Bolívar — Notable Masons

Giuseppe Garibaldi — Notable Masons

Booker T. Washington — Notable Masons

W. E. B. Du Bois and the fraternities — Notable Masons

Thurgood Marshall — Notable Masons

Winston Churchill — Notable Masons

Buzz Aldrin — Notable Masons

Separating fact from claim — Notable Masons

What the Scottish Rite is — The Scottish Rite

The Lodge of Perfection — The Scottish Rite

The Chapter of Rose Croix — The Scottish Rite

The Council of Kadosh — The Scottish Rite

The Consistory — The Scottish Rite

The 32nd degree — The Scottish Rite

The 33rd degree — The Scottish Rite

Northern and Southern Jurisdictions — The Scottish Rite

Albert Pike — The Scottish Rite

Morals and Dogma — The Scottish Rite

Scottish Rite charities — The Scottish Rite

What the York Rite is — The York Rite

The Royal Arch — The York Rite

The Mark Master — The York Rite

The Council of Cryptic Masons — The York Rite

The Knights Templar — The York Rite

The Order of the Red Cross — The York Rite

Commandery — The York Rite

York Rite in Britain and America — The York Rite

Royal Arch as completion of the Craft — The York Rite

The Shriners — The Shrine & Fun Bodies

Shriners Hospitals — The Shrine & Fun Bodies

The Grotto — The Shrine & Fun Bodies

Tall Cedars of Lebanon — The Shrine & Fun Bodies

The role of levity in the fraternity — The Shrine & Fun Bodies

Criticism of the fun degrees — The Shrine & Fun Bodies

The Order of the Eastern Star — Allied & Invitational

The Order of Amaranth — Allied & Invitational

The Daughters of the Nile — Allied & Invitational

Job’s Daughters — Allied & Invitational

Rainbow for Girls — Allied & Invitational

DeMolay — Allied & Invitational

The Royal Order of Scotland — Allied & Invitational

The Masonic Rosicrucian Society — Allied & Invitational

Research lodges — Allied & Invitational

Quatuor Coronati Lodge — Allied & Invitational

Prince Hall Scottish Rite — Prince Hall Affiliated Bodies

Prince Hall York Rite — Prince Hall Affiliated Bodies

The Order of the Eastern Star (PHA) — Prince Hall Affiliated Bodies

Prince Hall Shrine — Prince Hall Affiliated Bodies

Youth orders in Prince Hall Masonry — Prince Hall Affiliated Bodies

Degrees are not ranks — Understanding the System

Why the Master Mason degree is the summit — Understanding the System

Choosing a body to join — Understanding the System

Time and cost — Understanding the System

Honours and their meaning — Understanding the System

Titles and how to use them — Understanding the System

Brotherly love, relief and truth — The Moral Teaching

The cardinal virtues — The Moral Teaching

Temperance — The Moral Teaching

Fortitude — The Moral Teaching

Prudence — The Moral Teaching

Justice — The Moral Teaching

Faith, hope and charity — The Moral Teaching

Making good men better — The Moral Teaching

The plumb line of conduct — The Moral Teaching

Squaring one’s actions — The Moral Teaching

The seven liberal arts — The Liberal Arts

Grammar — The Liberal Arts

Rhetoric — The Liberal Arts

Logic — The Liberal Arts

Arithmetic — The Liberal Arts

Geometry — The Liberal Arts

Music — The Liberal Arts

Astronomy — The Liberal Arts

Why the craft prizes learning — The Liberal Arts

The lodge as a school — The Liberal Arts

Belief in a Supreme Being — Religion & the Craft

Why sectarian religion is excluded — Religion & the Craft

The Volume of the Sacred Law — Religion & the Craft

Freemasonry is not a religion — Religion & the Craft

Christian objections answered — Religion & the Craft

The Catholic Church and Freemasonry — Religion & the Craft

Islam and Freemasonry — Religion & the Craft

Judaism and Freemasonry — Religion & the Craft

Masonry in a secular age — Religion & the Craft

The Hermetic reading — Esoteric Readings

The Kabbalistic reading — Esoteric Readings

The alchemical reading — Esoteric Readings

Rosicrucian influence — Esoteric Readings

Initiation as transformation — Esoteric Readings

Symbolism and psychology — Esoteric Readings

Carl Jung and initiation — Esoteric Readings

Where interpretation outruns evidence — Esoteric Readings

Anderson — Masonic Writers

William Preston — Masonic Writers

Thomas Smith Webb — Masonic Writers

Albert Mackey — Masonic Writers

Albert Pike as a writer — Masonic Writers

Joseph Fort Newton — Masonic Writers

W. L. Wilmshurst — Masonic Writers

H. L. Haywood — Masonic Writers

Harry Carr — Masonic Writers

Modern Masonic scholarship — Masonic Writers

Reading critically — Masonic Writers

Relief as an obligation — Charity & Service

Masonic homes — Charity & Service

Scholarship funds — Charity & Service

Disaster relief — Charity & Service

Hospitals and burn care — Charity & Service

Blood drives and community work — Charity & Service

Charity without publicity — Charity & Service

Measuring the good done — Charity & Service

Who may petition — Joining

To be one, ask one — Joining

Finding a lodge — Joining

The petition — Joining

The investigation committee — Joining

The ballot — Joining

Fees and dues — Joining

What to expect at initiation — Joining

Preparing for a degree — Joining

Learning the work — Joining

Bringing your family along — Joining

Attending regularly — Being a Member

Taking an office — Being a Member

Committee work — Being a Member

Mentoring a new brother — Being a Member

Serving the festive board — Being a Member

Lodge finances — Being a Member

Building maintenance — Being a Member

Recruiting responsibly — Being a Member

When you cannot attend — Being a Member

Returning after years away — Being a Member

Declining membership — The Fraternity Today

One-day classes — The Fraternity Today

Traditional observance lodges — The Fraternity Today

Younger members — The Fraternity Today

Online lodges and their limits — The Fraternity Today

Diversity in the lodge — The Fraternity Today

Women and Freemasonry — The Fraternity Today

Co-Masonry — The Fraternity Today

Recognition disputes — The Fraternity Today

The future of the craft — The Fraternity Today

The Masonic family — Family & Community

Widows and their care — Family & Community

Youth orders — Family & Community

Public ceremonies — Family & Community

Cornerstone layings — Family & Community

Open houses — Family & Community

Working with the local community — Family & Community

Masonry and civic life — Family & Community

Is Freemasonry a secret society? — Common Questions

What are Masons sworn to? — Common Questions

Why the secrecy at all? — Common Questions

Does Masonry conflict with faith? — Common Questions

Are the rituals dangerous? — Common Questions

What do dues pay for? — Common Questions

Can I tell my family? — Common Questions

Why do jurisdictions differ? — Common Questions

What is a landmark? — Common Questions

How do I leave? — Common Questions

What is genuinely private — Ethics of Discretion

What is freely published — Ethics of Discretion

Exposés and their history — Ethics of Discretion

Speaking about the craft publicly — Ethics of Discretion

Social media and the lodge — Ethics of Discretion

Respecting other jurisdictions — Ethics of Discretion

Discretion versus secrecy — Ethics of Discretion

Language

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