Post by wolfy on Mar 29, 2007 19:49:29 GMT
The below is a little paper I have written tonight, It is only my own personal ramblings and is not exactly quick reading! please do not simply rubbish it as it is the product ove nearly two years reading, however CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is gratfully accepted ;D
OK a deep breath and I begin!
After having read a fair few books on the possible history of Freemasonry, I thought I would try to set out some personal ideas. The thoughts written down here may not be right, probably will be far from the mark, but at the same time, it places me on a path that I am ever walking and getting closer to the version of the truth that others have painted. For is that not all we can achieve? A version of the truth that others have created?
About 18 months ago, I became seriously interested in Freemasonry. I had petitioned a friend and was told that the ball had been set in motion. It would be a further year before I was initiated, but because I am an inpatient fellow at the best of times, I dove into my study with greater zeal that I had done for anything before.
From several books, such as those from Knight and Lomas, I was given the wondrous ideal that modern Freemasonry was started with the fall of the Templars in 1307. The stories were of such a noble class and backed up with lots of evidence that I fell in love.
The Templars, when disbanded in 1307 fled and hid, as would any sane man being persecuted to death by what was at the time the most powerful force on earth and backed by the guidance of God. The story goes that some fled to Scotland and as it had been excommunicated by the Pope, he had no hold over the locals. These Templars then sank beneath the horizon and immersed themselves in the Masons Guild. Forever altering it from a skilled trade union, into a philosophic and peculiar brotherhood. This new brotherhood had been shaped by the Templars and their secrets that had in turn come down throughout the ages from ancient Egypt and beyond.
What a wonderful story. But after a few months I had read a few more books that had a different view. The Masons were nothing more than a Guild that took a great care to educate those they trained to a high level of moral and civil uprightness. As there were no certificates of courses in those days, their skills were vouched for by what are now called the ‘modes of recognition’. And when they started to admit non operative masons into their gatherings, these ‘gentlemen’ slowly altered the fabric of the institution into the one we have today.
This was possibly one of the more plausible theories I had read, but rather than being a wonderful and colourful story that could have truth hidden in finery, as I had experienced before, this felt bland and only half the tale. Surely it could not be this simple and no more than a few gents playing with ceremonies?
I then came to another viewpoint. A relatively new book has been published that places the origins of the Craft as we know it, with that of the ancient wisdom of astronomy merged with the complex and thorough knowledge of geometry.
This book, as I have read so far, claims that as far back as megalithic times, mankind has studied the sun and has relied upon it for survival. Over time more knowledge has been gained about the heavenly bodies and as understanding grew, so did the variety of uses that this knowledge was put to. Medieval Masons that built the great gothic cathedrals certainly had a great grasp of the uses of geometry in the construction of fabulously artistic projects, but when you align certain churches with the rising or setting of the sun on specific dates they line up perfectly, not necessarily on an east/west line. The author states that this must show how the knowledge of heavenly bodies must have also been known by the masons of the era, making them both Mason and Astrologer. The knowledge of the special bodies went as far back as the before the roman era to “pagans” and druids or specific priests, who were the keepers of this knowledge. And that this is where the ceremonial side of the Craft originates.
Yet still I am not convinced. I have come to my own conclusions that I will now share, though I am convinced in myself that they are far from correct and that only time will temper them to bring them closer to that truth.
In ceremony there is indeed reference to the sun and heavenly bodies, and Geometry is a major part of the belief structure, The Great Architect of the Universe being just one example. Therefore I am willing (for now) to accept that ‘Ancient Masons’ had an understanding of a high degree of such information, after all it is their trade!
I am also willing to believe that Freemasonry as we know it had a root in the Trade Guilds of Medieval Europe. It would have provided a perfect inception ground with the organisation that kept secrets hidden.
I am even willing to believe that the Templars may have aided in the current version of Freemasonry as we know it. The following is my woefully young theory;
All the previous theories tend to discount the others for some reason, claiming that they are highly improbable. But why? To my young mind it is more likely that parts of each are true rather than one being correct with the others false. To that end here is another option to consider.
The medieval Guilds that kept their training secret, taught young apprentices moral and civil virtues and did this through plays much like as in the Old Testament if you are a Christian. These Guilds also had an understanding of the movement of the sun at least and as such they taught what they knew, hence the sun came into their plays.
Come 1307, the Templars were suppressed and tortured, those that escaped would have wanted to stay out of the sights of the pope and if they had the opportunity I’m sure they would have apprenticed into a guild that they might have an aptitude for. They would have been intelligent, and educated. Christian in faith they would have thrived in the creation of Gods houses. As they were warriors, they would have been strong. Would not a Masons guild be perfect for them to hide in? yes they would have been old, for apprentices, but they would be alive. All it would take was a couple of sympathetic Masters. In doing so some of their rituals would eventually have slipped into the plays given by the Masons to educate their apprentices.
Over time the Guild started to accept ‘Gentlemen’ into their numbers. As I believe, by this time the plays had become ceremonies, the gentlemen would have been enthralled by what they witnessed and fallen in love with the ancient way of imparting wisdom and in turn they added their own brand of theology and ideas. Thus beginning the brotherhood of Freemasonry, that would evolve overtime by new generations joining and adding their own marks on the society, until we arrive at the present day, with a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.
Bro James K
29th March 2007
OK a deep breath and I begin!
After having read a fair few books on the possible history of Freemasonry, I thought I would try to set out some personal ideas. The thoughts written down here may not be right, probably will be far from the mark, but at the same time, it places me on a path that I am ever walking and getting closer to the version of the truth that others have painted. For is that not all we can achieve? A version of the truth that others have created?
About 18 months ago, I became seriously interested in Freemasonry. I had petitioned a friend and was told that the ball had been set in motion. It would be a further year before I was initiated, but because I am an inpatient fellow at the best of times, I dove into my study with greater zeal that I had done for anything before.
From several books, such as those from Knight and Lomas, I was given the wondrous ideal that modern Freemasonry was started with the fall of the Templars in 1307. The stories were of such a noble class and backed up with lots of evidence that I fell in love.
The Templars, when disbanded in 1307 fled and hid, as would any sane man being persecuted to death by what was at the time the most powerful force on earth and backed by the guidance of God. The story goes that some fled to Scotland and as it had been excommunicated by the Pope, he had no hold over the locals. These Templars then sank beneath the horizon and immersed themselves in the Masons Guild. Forever altering it from a skilled trade union, into a philosophic and peculiar brotherhood. This new brotherhood had been shaped by the Templars and their secrets that had in turn come down throughout the ages from ancient Egypt and beyond.
What a wonderful story. But after a few months I had read a few more books that had a different view. The Masons were nothing more than a Guild that took a great care to educate those they trained to a high level of moral and civil uprightness. As there were no certificates of courses in those days, their skills were vouched for by what are now called the ‘modes of recognition’. And when they started to admit non operative masons into their gatherings, these ‘gentlemen’ slowly altered the fabric of the institution into the one we have today.
This was possibly one of the more plausible theories I had read, but rather than being a wonderful and colourful story that could have truth hidden in finery, as I had experienced before, this felt bland and only half the tale. Surely it could not be this simple and no more than a few gents playing with ceremonies?
I then came to another viewpoint. A relatively new book has been published that places the origins of the Craft as we know it, with that of the ancient wisdom of astronomy merged with the complex and thorough knowledge of geometry.
This book, as I have read so far, claims that as far back as megalithic times, mankind has studied the sun and has relied upon it for survival. Over time more knowledge has been gained about the heavenly bodies and as understanding grew, so did the variety of uses that this knowledge was put to. Medieval Masons that built the great gothic cathedrals certainly had a great grasp of the uses of geometry in the construction of fabulously artistic projects, but when you align certain churches with the rising or setting of the sun on specific dates they line up perfectly, not necessarily on an east/west line. The author states that this must show how the knowledge of heavenly bodies must have also been known by the masons of the era, making them both Mason and Astrologer. The knowledge of the special bodies went as far back as the before the roman era to “pagans” and druids or specific priests, who were the keepers of this knowledge. And that this is where the ceremonial side of the Craft originates.
Yet still I am not convinced. I have come to my own conclusions that I will now share, though I am convinced in myself that they are far from correct and that only time will temper them to bring them closer to that truth.
In ceremony there is indeed reference to the sun and heavenly bodies, and Geometry is a major part of the belief structure, The Great Architect of the Universe being just one example. Therefore I am willing (for now) to accept that ‘Ancient Masons’ had an understanding of a high degree of such information, after all it is their trade!
I am also willing to believe that Freemasonry as we know it had a root in the Trade Guilds of Medieval Europe. It would have provided a perfect inception ground with the organisation that kept secrets hidden.
I am even willing to believe that the Templars may have aided in the current version of Freemasonry as we know it. The following is my woefully young theory;
All the previous theories tend to discount the others for some reason, claiming that they are highly improbable. But why? To my young mind it is more likely that parts of each are true rather than one being correct with the others false. To that end here is another option to consider.
The medieval Guilds that kept their training secret, taught young apprentices moral and civil virtues and did this through plays much like as in the Old Testament if you are a Christian. These Guilds also had an understanding of the movement of the sun at least and as such they taught what they knew, hence the sun came into their plays.
Come 1307, the Templars were suppressed and tortured, those that escaped would have wanted to stay out of the sights of the pope and if they had the opportunity I’m sure they would have apprenticed into a guild that they might have an aptitude for. They would have been intelligent, and educated. Christian in faith they would have thrived in the creation of Gods houses. As they were warriors, they would have been strong. Would not a Masons guild be perfect for them to hide in? yes they would have been old, for apprentices, but they would be alive. All it would take was a couple of sympathetic Masters. In doing so some of their rituals would eventually have slipped into the plays given by the Masons to educate their apprentices.
Over time the Guild started to accept ‘Gentlemen’ into their numbers. As I believe, by this time the plays had become ceremonies, the gentlemen would have been enthralled by what they witnessed and fallen in love with the ancient way of imparting wisdom and in turn they added their own brand of theology and ideas. Thus beginning the brotherhood of Freemasonry, that would evolve overtime by new generations joining and adding their own marks on the society, until we arrive at the present day, with a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.
Bro James K
29th March 2007