Whence We Came
WHENCE WE CAME
APRIL 2018 FINAL ISSUE
Whence We Came?
- The Final Answer
Over the past few months we have travelled around the world and throughout time searching for the origins of Freemasonry. We have explored many myths and histories. So whence do we originate? Are we philosophers from the Royal Society? Templar Knights? Mystics of Osiris? Druid warlocks? Stonecutters? Artists of the Roman Collegia?
The truth brethren, is that whence we came is actually irrelevant! We should not focus on the allegory but on the sacred truths hidden behind the veil.
There are ancient truths that have been passed down since the dawn of time. These truths were taught to Adam by God. Adam passed them on to his children from generation to generation until they reached Noah, who preserved them in the Ark. Noah taught them to his children until they reached Malchizedek, who taught them to Abraham, who taught them to the children of Egypt and the children of Israel. Man has designed different allegorical veils to preserve these truths, to ensure their transmission, but the vessel utilized is irrelevant. Yesterday we protected, preserved, and transmitted these truths using the story of Osiris, and when it was no longer useful, the allegory was changed to some other tale, and today we use Freemasonry to tell the truths. While the story may change, the tenets never change.
What are these great truths?
Whence We Came
March 2018 - Templar Knights
"Whence We Came?"
March 2018 Issue
"Whence we came?" is an aged old question. We know the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717, but where did the four lodges that formed the Grand Lodge come from? How far back do our traditions go? Does our ancestry really date only so far back as the age of taverns and bars? Over the next series of articles, we will explore our history and in the process, travel through time to ancient lands and rediscover ancient wisdoms. This month we leave the British Iles and travel to Germany to visit our cousin, Brother Christian Rosenkreutz.
Whence We Came? Templar Knights
In 1095, Pope Urban II calls for a crusade to "liberate" Jerusalem from control of the "infidels". The war would be to defend the Byzantine Empire under Alexis I from the advancing Turks. Politics of course played a key role in the war, as the Pope had also hoped with this crusade to reunite the Eastern and Western Churches after the schism of 1054, which among other issues included the question of the primacy of the Patriarch of Rome (i.e. the Pope) over the other Patriarchs.
Whence We Came
February 2018 - The Rosy Cross
Whence We Came?
"Whence we came?" is an aged old question. We know the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717, but where did the four lodges that formed the Grand Lodge come from? How far back do our traditions go? Does our ancestry really date only so far back as the age of taverns and bars? Over the next series of articles, we will explore our history and in the process, travel through time to ancient lands and rediscover ancient wisdoms. This month we leave the British Iles and travel to Germany to visit our cousin, Brother Christian Rosenkreutz.
Whence We Came? Rosicrucianism
Rosicrucianism is an esoteric organization, long kept secret, until it announced itself to the world in 1607 with the publication of the Fama Fraternitatis RC and in 1616 with the publication of Confessio Fraternitatis. The order professed to be the keepers of certain esoteric Truths that date back to ancient times. These Truths were hidden from the common man, and provided only to the adepts who were ready and prepared to receive, keep, and understand the Truth. They were based on Kabbalah, Hermeticism, and Christianity and provided insight into the physical universe and spiritual realms. They taught a philosophy of knowing God through a study of science and nature.
The Fama Fraternitatis RC introduces us to a German mystic known as Father C.R.C., born in 1378 (more on that later), who lived for 106 years. He travelled the world, studied ancient philosophy in the Middle East (Sufism?), and shared his knowledge with a small circle of friends, eight in all, whose only reference we have are their initials .
Whence We Came
January 2018 - The Royal Society
Whence We Came? New Atlantis
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount of St. Alban was born January 22, 1561, and died of pneumonia on April 9, 1626. He was a statesman, a scientist, a philosopher, and an author. He was a proponent of the "scientific method", which seeked to acquire knowledge (and truth) by experimentation, observation, and continuously testing hypotheses. He is often referred to as the father of empiricism, i.e. using one's senses to observe, study, and to experiment as a way of seeking knowledge. He rejected the ancient methods of broad generalizations and abstract theories, and pushed for building knowledge based on proven facts (Baconian method).
Bacon was a politician, and served a number of years in Parliament. He was known as a liberal reformer, friend of the crown but rejected dictatorial powers, fought in favor of religious freedom, advocated for the union of England and Scotland (which did not happen until 1707 during the reign of Queen Anne) and increased integration of Ireland.
Bacon took an interest in the establishment of colonial North America and published a report "The Virginia Colony", and in 1610 received a charter from the King to establish a colony in Newfoundland, Canada.
There have been theories that Bacon was Shakespeare, a Freemason, and a member of the Rosicrucians. Two books written by Bacon include the "Great Instauration" and the "New Atlantis".
WHENCE WE CAME vol. 5
WHENCE WE CAME - VOLUME 5
Druids
Who were the Druids and what connection could they possibly have to Freemasonry? The Druids were members of the Celtic professional class consisting of religious "clergy", but also politicians, lawyers, doctors, and other professionals. Most Druid practices were passed on from generation to generation "mouth to ear" and not written down. They used veiled allegory to transmit their beliefs.
They worshiped outdoors under the canopy of the heavens. (As you may recall from the Entered Apprentice degree, we describe the lodge with "Its covering no less than the clouded canopy, or star-decked heaven, which constantly reminds us of that heaven which all good Masons hope at last to reach by means of that symbolical ladder which Jacob, in his vision, saw extending from earth to heaven, the three principal rounds of which are denominated Faith, Hope and Charity. " Perhaps, the Druids also met in the "highest hills and in the lowest valleys".
WHENCE WE CAME vol. 4
By: R. W. Michael Neuberger, Grand Historian
WHENCE WE CAME VOLUME 4 AUGUST
"Whence we came?" is an aged old question. We know the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717, but where did the four lodges that formed the Grand Lodge come from? How far back do our traditions go? Does our ancestry really date only so far back as the age of taverns and bars? Over the next series of articles, we will explore our history and in the process, travel through time to ancient lands and rediscover ancient wisdoms. This month we explore Ancient Rome and the Comacine Masters.
Whence We Came? Comacine Masters
The Comacine Masters were Lombard stonemasons, who worked in stone architecture. They were headquartered near Lake Como. The first known mention of this guild was in 643, when King Rothari of the Lombards put out an edict detailing the legal remedies should a house collapse that was built by a Comacine Master. The Comacine Masters formed a secret brotherhood, whereby they would protect and preserve the secrets of stone building, provide mutual protection for each other, fraternalization, engage in lavish banquets, act as insurance brokers for their members, and care for their widows and orphans.
WHENCE WE CAME vol. 3
By: R. W. Michael Neuberger, Grand Historian
WHENCE WE CAME VOLUME 3 JULY
"Whence we came?" is an aged old question. We know the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717, but where did the four lodges that formed the Grand Lodge come from? How far back do our traditions go? Does our ancestry really date only so far back as the age of taverns and bars? Over the next series of articles, we will explore our history and in the process, travel through time to ancient lands and rediscover ancient wisdoms. This month we explore Ancient Persia and the Mysteries of Mithraism.
Mithraism
We began our journey in Ancient Egypt with Osiris, we moved to the Dionysian Artificers of Greece, and now we find ourselves in Persia and the mysteries of Mithras.
Mithras mysteries were first instituted by Zoroaster, the great Eastern Magi. Under this myth, the Supreme Being created Light, and from this light came the God, Ormuzd. In turn, Ormuzd, with the great omnificent word, created the world. He produced superior and lessor genies, who were the guardian angels of the world, whose chief was Mithras. The Supreme being also created Ahriman, or as the western world would refer to him, Satan. Between Ormuzd and Ahriman, we have the principles of light and dark, good and evil. While Ahriman would corrupt man, there was always the belief in the ultimate triumph of Ormuzd and victory of light and good over dark and evil.
WHENCE WE CAME vol. 2
By: R. W. Michael Neuberger, Grand Historian
"Whence we came?" is an aged old question. We know the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717, but where did the four lodges that formed the Grand Lodge come from? How far back do our traditions go? Does our ancestry really date only so far back as the age of taverns and bars? Over the next series of articles, we will explore our history and in the process, travel through time to ancient lands and rediscover ancient wisdoms. This month we explore Ancient Greece and the Mystery of the Dionysian Artificers.
Whence We Came? Dionysian Artificers
In last month's issue, we discussed the similarities between Freemasonry and the Ancient Egyptian mysteries of Osiris. In this month's issue, we will explore the mysteries related to the Dionysian Artificers.
Dionysian Artificers
The ritual was based on civilizing and mastering the inner beast and primal nature that exists within each individual. The ritual consisted of two sets of rites, a public one and an initiatic one. The main festivities of the rites were held during the spring equinox. The ritual included a mourning period over Dionysus' death, and then a rejoicing over his resurrection. Once again, similar to Osiris we see this concept of a ritual for the public to see but then a private ritual for only the select and worthy to see.
Whence We Came vol. 1
by RW Michael Neuberger, Grand Historian
"Whence we came?" is an aged old question. We know the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717, but where did the four lodges that formed the Grand Lodge come from? How far back do our traditions go? Does our ancestry really date only so far back as the age of taverns and bars? Over the next series of articles, we will explore our history and in the process, travel through time to ancient lands and rediscover ancient wisdoms. Our first stop on this trek - Ancient Egypt and the Mysteries of Osiris.
Whence We Came? - Ancient Egypt - May 2017
This year we will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Grand Lodge of England. On June 24, 1717, four London lodges met and formed the first Grand Lodge. Does that mean our fraternity is 300 years old? Presumably it must be at least 300 "plus" years old, for where did the four London lodges originate? We know very soon after, Lodges in Ireland formed the Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1725 and the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1736. Elias Ashmole records in his diary that he was initiated into masonry in 1646. We have lodge minutes of a Scottish Lodge meeting dated July 1599, and the Halliwell Manuscript fancifully suggests masonry came to England from Egypt in the mid 900's.
So whence came us? Over the next several months, we will present different theories on the origins of masonry.