What is Freemasonry? Ron Blue

What is Freemasonry?What is Freemasonry?

Ron BlueRon BluePast MasterPast Master

Normal Lodge #673Normal Lodge #673Normal, IllinoisNormal, Illinois

What do you think the Freemasons are all about?

Typical perceptions…Typical perceptions…

It’s a secret societyIt’s a secret society It’s a cultIt’s a cult They’re bricklayersThey’re bricklayers I don’t know but I think my Grandfather I don’t know but I think my Grandfather

was one of themwas one of them Don’t they have that secret symbol on Don’t they have that secret symbol on

the dollar bill?the dollar bill?

How I define Freemasonry…How I define Freemasonry…

Freemasonry is an organization whose goals include:

Helping its members improve themselves through education and improved knowledge of themselves and others.

Brotherhood of all people and tolerance of differences among people.

Support of democracy, freedom, individual rights, and the dignity of all people.

Mutual assistance, including helping fellow members' families.

Charity and assistance to the community, especially those in need.

Some facts about Freemasonry…Some facts about Freemasonry…

Masonry is not a religion, nor is it designed or intended to replace (or substitute for) religion in its members' lives. We do not require that members belong to a church, but they may belong to any church they wish. We do ask, however, that each prospective member state that he believes in a Supreme Being. Masonry seeks only to unite men for the purpose of brotherhood, not religion.

Some facts about Freemasonry…Some facts about Freemasonry…

Masonry is not a secret society. We make no secret of our existence. Our Masonic temples are publicly marked; we often advertise or announce, in advance, the times and locations of our meetings. Our ritual books are copyrighted, so the Library of Congress holds copies of them, and since they are thus already public, you will find them in book stores and public libraries everywhere. Masons usually wear Masonic rings and lapel pins in public, and often appear in parades wearing their Masonic regalia.

To summarize: what we teach is not a secret, but how we teach it is. In addition, we try to keep secret our modes of recognition and our obligation for the sake of tradition.

Some facts about FreemasonrySome facts about Freemasonry

Began as a publicly known fraternity Began as a publicly known fraternity almost 300 years agoalmost 300 years ago

Over $2 million dollars a day are given Over $2 million dollars a day are given to charitable and learning organizationsto charitable and learning organizations

Our country was founded by many Our country was founded by many Freemasons on Masonic principlesFreemasons on Masonic principles

Some Freemasons you might knowSome Freemasons you might know

Some Freemasons you might know















OK….So a lot of famous people are Freemasons

But…

How did it all start?

History of Freemasonry

First a deeper definition of the fraternity…Freemasonry, in its broadest and most comprehensive

sense, is a system of morality and social ethics, and a philosophy of life, all of simple and fundamental character, incorporating a broad humanitarianism and, though treating life as a practical experience, subordinates the material to the spiritual… it is moderate, universal, and so liberal as to permit each individual to form and express his own opinion, even as to what Freemasonry is or ought to be, and invites him to improve it if he can.


The fraternity expresses its fundamental ideas with symbols…

… symbols of building materials

… as in building character … and building relationships … and building responsibility


So what has that got to do with History?

King Solomon and the Building of the Temple

… many of the actions of this story teaches us how we can build our own temples to God by making ourselves better people…


The real history more or less begins with the stonemasons of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries

Free and Accepted Masons built Cathedrals in Europe in many towns

They grouped together in craft guilds and housed themselves in lodges


Towards the middle to end of the 17th century, many of the operative guilds or lodges began to accept non-operative or speculative masons into their society

Human rights and the pursuit of higher intelligence were emerging, Enlightenment thoughts were being formulated and discussed, the betterment of oneself using allegorical methods was becoming popular in Northern Europe


Eventually all members of the Freemason lodge were speculative

In 1717, four lodges in London discussed how they could form a higher governing body to oversee the work and teachings for all of its lodges…

It was called the Grand Lodge of England


Over the years many Grand Lodges formed and many lodges spread across the world

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was the first to form in North America… formed in 1733

A Lodge in Illinois was formed from a charter from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania as early as 1805 however…

The Grand Lodge of Illinois was formed in 1823 on December 1st by the assistance of installing officers from the Grand Lodge of Missouri

How does it affect me?

Because Freemasons strive to make themselves better and the community around them…

… we are involved with many types of philanthropies…


A Summary of Current American Masonic Philanthropy

Non-Profit Hospitals, etc. $476,512,844 63.5% Masonic Homes, Hospitals, etc. 225,669,231 30.0% Medical Research 31,472,909 4.0% Scholarships and Youth 7,123,805 1.0% Community Services 5,379,609 1.0% Museums and Public Buildings 3,717,050 0.5%

Total $749,875,448 100%


One example locally…

The Chicago Shriners Hospital is a leading Midwest children's hospital providing high quality pediatric orthopedic surgery, plastic, reconstructive and craniofacial surgery and spinal cord injury care. Located on the northwest side of Chicago, the hospital is a short term, 60-bed facility that combines quality medical care with innovative education and research.

The hospital is one of 22 Shriners hospitals operated in the United States, Canada and Mexico by the Shrine fraternity. At Shriners Hospitals, there is no charge to the patient, parent, or any third party.


Another example…

32° Masonic Learning Centers for ChildrenSince 1994, many children have received free specialized instruction at 32°

Masonic Learning Centers for Children. Our pledge is to continue to offer this service for as many children as we can - free of charge. We also provide guidance and funding for other means to defeat dyslexia, such as teacher tutor programs, research, and scholarships for teachers.

Centers are now open in Bangor, Maine; Nashua, New Hampshire; Newtonville (outside Boston) and Lowell, Massachusetts; Rochester, New York; Pemberton, Scotch Plains and Tenafly, New Jersey; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Toledo and Youngstown, Ohio; Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Chicago, Freeport, and Belleville, Illinois.


And still one more…

The Knights Templar Eye Foundation

To provide assistance to those who face loss of sight due to the need for surgical treatment without regard to race, color, creed, age, sex, or national origin free of charge and to provide funds for research in curing diseases of the eye.


Here’s a list of a few more…Abbott Scottish Rite Scholarship ProgramAmaranth Diabetes FoundationCamp ChicotaCryptic Masons Medical Research FoundationDes Moines Masonic Christmas Day DinnerEastern Star Cancer Research ProjectEastern Star Training Awards for Religious LeadershipGeneral Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern StarGeorge Washington Masonic National MemorialGeorge Washington University GrantsGrotto Dentistry for the Handicapped ProgramIndiana Masonic Home FoundationIndianapolis Scottish Rite FoundationInternational Order of Job's DaughtersInternational Order of Rainbow for GirlsKansas Masonic Oncology CenterKnights Templar Educational Foundation


And more…Minnesota Masonic Cancer CenterMasonic Hospital Visitation ProgramMasonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, New YorkMasonic Memorial Auditorium, International Peace GardenMasonic Services Association of the United StatesNational Masonic Foundation for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among ChildrenOhio Special OlympicsOrder of DeMolayResearch In SchizophreniaRoyal Arch Research Assistance ProgramScottish Rite Children's Medical Center in GeorgiaScottish Rite Museum of Our National HeritageScottish Rite Supreme Council LibraryShepherd ScholarshipTall Cedar Foundation


And more…Tennessee and Alabama Scottish Rite Shoe ProgramBirmingham Scottish Rite BodiesTexas Scottish Rite Hospital for ChildrenMasons Assisting Children (MAC)Scottish Rite Foundation


In addition to these great institutions…

…locally the Masons give more than $50,000 in scholarships to area students, and there is a Children’s Learning Center sponsored by the 32nd Degree Masons (Scottish Rite)


So you see…

Our work contributes to the good of the community and to you greatly!!!

Are you asking me to join?

NO

You must initiate the process. Asking any Mason for a petition will begin you on your fantastic journey.

Masonic Degrees

In Freemasonry, a candidate takes part in 3 distinct ceremonies called degrees

Entered Apprentice Fellowcraft Master Mason

There are no higher degrees than Master Mason

Appendant Bodies to Masonry

There are several related groups for members to participate in such as…

Scottish Rite York Rite Shrine Grotto Lodge of Research Philalethes Eastern Star


There are also several related groups for spouses to participate in such as…

Eastern Star Ladies Oriental Shrine Order of Amaranth


There are also several related groups for children and young adults to participate in such as…

Girls Rainbow Girls Job’s Daughters

Boys DeMolay

Freemasonry is an organization whose goals include:

Helping its members improve themselves through education and improved knowledge of themselves and others.

Brotherhood of all people and tolerance of differences among people.

Support of democracy, freedom, individual rights, and the dignity of all people.

Mutual assistance, including helping fellow members' families.

Charity and assistance to the community, especially those in need.

In summary

Q & A

Documents

What is Freemasonry? Ron Blue