FREEMASONRY: WHY IS IT SO INTRIGUING?

“FREEMASONRY: WHY IS IT SO INTRIGUING ?”

By Fahim A. Knight

The topic and subject of Freemasonry has always drawn curiosity, suspicion, criticism, and admiration simultaneously throughout human history from its pundits and supporters, both equally holding fervent and credible positions. The Freemasonic detractors view Freemasonry as nothing else but a “secret society” bent on infiltrating every society with an objective of undermining the nations of the world sovereignty and supplanting the worship of God and religion with a non-sectarian universal concept of the Supreme Being, which is in so-called contradictory to Christianity, the dominant religion of the West. But those who are the arch deceivers of humanity use this theory to dismiss any rational debate and/or argument that might arise in opposition to the dominant way of thinking. Religion has always been used as a tool to control and confine people and has always hindered society’s ability to evolve historically and man has been presently made stagnated by myths, misconceptions, half-truths, folklore, tradition, etc., to the detriment of his own spiritual and social progress.(Reference: Ralph Epperson; Masonry: Conspiracy Against Christianity)

This writer does not necessarily share in the belief that visible Freemasonry, meaning the rank and file lodges that you see in cities and towns across the United States and world, are operating behind a sinister and diabolic agenda and is part of a world conspiracy (such as the Order of Illuminati) possessing power and influence to manipulate the political, economic, and social lives of humanity. The type which Carroll Quigley (Tragedy and Hope), William Cooper (Behold the Pale Horse), John Coleman (The Committee of 300), David Icke (The Biggest Secret), Gary Allen and Larry Abraham (None Dare Call it Conspiracy), Manly P. Hall (The Secret Teachings of All Ages) Texe Marrs (The Circle of Intrigue), etc., have so thoroughly written about.

However, that being said, it does not alleviate the notion that there are layers of Freemasonry (an Invisible Caste System) and men who practiced "High Degree" Masonry (scholars and laymen alike have a tendency of lumping these two distinct entities under one umbrella) and I am not referring to the attainable degrees acquired under the Scottish Rite and/or York Rite Orders. These Orders only give the impression of being Elitist, but there are a group of International Bankers and their Dynastic Families who uses Freemasonry to dupe the world and at same time they communicate with signs and symbols to confine both the ignorant and wise. Power is never shared with the masses and this small, but powerful invisible Elitist sector control 99% of the world's resources and wealth. They are only motivated by greed and the quest for more power, unlike the Mason who was first made a Mason in their heart and accepted the call for benevolence--espoused in Morality, Friendship and Brotherly Love.(Reference: Ralph Epperson; The New World Order).

Masonry then poses as a counter system of Ethos to religion, attracting individuals of all religious persuasions and faiths who have the ability to think outside the walls of dogmatic faith traditions in search of universals truths that have been time tested and is in correlation to the universal order of things (Macrocosm and Microcosm). Freemasonry act as a conduit allowing men to possess philosophical thoughts, which might not be consistent with their faith traditions, but are not persecuted for exploring intellectual or the philosophical gamut of ideas, which even might demonstrate inconsistency with one’s faith tradition, but the lessons of tolerance is expected to emancipate and deliver a Masonic brother away from shadowiness and confinement of religion. (Reference: Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas; The Hiram Key: Pharaohs, Freemasonry, and the Discovery of the Secret Scrolls of Jesus).

The Masonic brother entering the Masonic lodge as an Entered Apprentice is divested of all metallic substance and stripped of all their worldly possessions, which is the first step of preparation to transforming man from what he has become in this external world (physical) and what he is expecting or anticipating of becoming in his new internal (spiritual) travel. This symbolic step is not govern by materialism, which has help to lead him astray from the true path of spirituality and is not rooted in man’s relationship with the universal order of things. But to embrace this concept, he ultimately discovers that God is not dead. Masonry in its rituals and teachings has always used allegory and symbolism as the basis of Speculative Masonic philosophy in order to tap into universal truths that is not necessarily associated with organized religion—Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which do have semblance of the “Higher Science” incorporated. (Reference: Robert Lomas; Turning The Hiram Key).

W.L. Wilmshurst in his book titled, “The Meaning of Masonry, “The meaning of Masonry, however, is a subject usually left entirely unexpounded and that accordingly remains largely unrealized by its members save such few as make it their private study; authorities of what in all other respects is an elaborately organized and admirably controlled community have hitherto made no provision for explaining and teaching the ‘noble science’ which Masonry proclaims itself to be and was certainly designed to impart. It seems taken for granted that reception into the Order will automatically be accompanied by an ability to appreciate forthwith and at its full value all that one there finds. The contrary is the case, for Masonry is a veiled and cryptic expression of the difficult science of spiritual life.” (Reference: W.L. Wilmshurst; The Meaning of Masonry).

But these faith traditions only allows Freemasonry to exercise its principles in a quasi independent manner, as long as it does not infringe to much on its core religious dogmas. Religion, in particular western religion is confining and is rigid and do not allow room for deviation—or freethinking, thus, Freemasonry seeks to bring man from “Darkness to Light” by encouraging and inspiring man to search for more light (truth) in Masonry with the understanding that this will be an infinite journey that can not be restricted by religion or its tenets. Although, Freemasonry in the West rely heavily on the Holy Bible in order to justify its ritual and give spiritual meaning to its body of symbolism. (Reference: John Rice; Lodges Examined By The Bible).

Albert G. Mackey authored in the 1850s “Jurisprudence of Freemasonry” and it was later revised by Robert I. Clegg titled, “ Mackey’s Jurisprudence of Freemasonry” and he stated, “Thus in the very instance here referred to, the fundamental law of Freemasonry requires only a belief in the Supreme Architect of the universe, and in a future life, while it says, with peculiar toleration, that in all other matters of religious belief, Freemasons are only expected to be of that religion in which all men agree, leaving their particular opinions to themselves. Under the shelter of this wise provision, the Christian and Jew, the Mohammedan {Muslim} and the Brahmin, are permitted to unite around our common altar, and Freemasonry becomes, in practice as well as in theory, universal. . . The truth is, that Freemasonry is undoubtedly a religious institution—its religion being of that universal kind in which all men agree, and which, handed down through a long succession of ages, from that ancient priesthood who first taught it embraces the great tenets of the existence of God and the immortality of the soul—the tenets which, by its peculiar symbolic language, it has preserved from its foundation, and still continues, in the same beautiful way, to teach.” (Reference: Robert I. Clegg; Mackey’s Jurisprudence of Freemasonry).

The Bible was originally written in the Hebrew and/or Amharic language and this writer will cite the various translations, it has gone through since the original tongue. The New Testament was first translated from Hebrew into Greek; the Vulgate 400 A.D. New Latin version by Jerome using Greek and Hebrew texts; Lindisfarne Gospels—698-721 A.D. Gospels in Latin; Bede 735 A.D. part of John Gospel in Anglo Saxon; Erasmus Greek and Latin New Testament 1516 A.D.; John Wycliffe First Bible in English 1526 A.D.; William Tyndale the first printed English New Testament 1526 A.D. but in 1604 A.D.; Miles Coverdale first printed English Bible 1535 A.D.; The Great Bible 1539 A.D.; The Geneva Bible first small edition 1560 A.D.; The Bishop Bible; The Douai-Rheims Bible Roman Catholic Version 1609 A.D.; King James the authorized version 1611 A.D.; King James English Revised version 1881-1885 A.D.; King James Revised King James version 1609 A.D.; Jerusalem Bible 1966 A.D.; New English Bible 1970 A.D.; Good News Bible 1976 A.D. ; New International version 1979 A.D. (Reference: Malachi Z. York; The Book of Revelations).

King James 1 of England at the Hampton Court Conference commissioned forty-seven (47) biblical scholars to transliterate the Bible from Hebrew, Greek, and Latin too English, which was completed in 1611 A. D. It was during this translation process that the Bible was altered and changed to satisfy the imperialistic interest of the ruling class. King James also had all forty-seven (47) scholars put to death after they completed the translation because King James did not ever want this information revealed. A secret evolved from this act of religious deception and some scholars have determined that there were some “Lost Books of the Bible”. What did these books contain? Why were they removed from the Bible? How has this affected Christianity as a religion? These are intriguing questions, which I am quite sure have been investigated by theologians and religious scholars. This researcher will not be seeking to answer these questions because our focus is on Freemasonry. (Reference: Tim C. Leedom; The Book Your Church Doesn’t Want You to Read).

The Bible is held in high esteem in Western Masonic lodges and is viewed as the “Great Light” but unlike the Christian Church it is not accepted in the Masonic lodge as the only and final word of God given to humanity. Yet, many Christian critics have argued that a true Christian can not be a Mason because the Masonic “theology”, which is not an accurate depiction or characterization of Masonic philosophy; however, according to the Christian critics, most of the Masonic exegeses are not consistent with the Christian religious creed. Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the three world great religions, all share principles that are compatible and in direct correlations to the Masonic worldview, but true association is seen even further in the Gnostic, esoteric and occult interpretations of these faith traditions. (Reference: E. M. Stroms; Should A Christian Be a Mason?)

For example, Judaism was practiced by the Hebrew Israelites long before the Khazars and the Ashkenazi (European Jews) migrated from Eastern Europe and Asia to modern day Israel (Palestine) or before Theodore Hertzl echoed the call for a Zionist movement in the 1880s or the Balfour Declaration Treaty in 1917 that culminated in 1948 with the establishment of the State of Israel. The original Hebrew Israelites were of African origin and all biblical evidence verify this contention and the wise and learned from this nationality were initiated in the Egyptian Mystery Schools. The first Masonic styled school of initiation where as scholars and intellectuals came from around the world to be initiated into what later became known as Speculative Freemasonry (Philosophical High Science) espoused in ancient Egypt (Kemet). There is a High Degree Masonic Rabbinical class that functions in and outside the Jewish Synagogue. (Reference: Ella J. Hughley; The Truth About Black Biblical Hebrew Israelites (Jews) )

The Egyptians (Kemities) had been teachings immortality long before the allegorical legend of Hiram Abiff was introduced into Freemasonry as a biblical prototype of the Egyptian Osirian Myth (birth, death, resurrection and ascension), which predated even the story of Jesus. Scholars like Wallis Budge in his monumental book titled “The Egyptian Book of the Dead” and the “Egyptian Coffin Text” that eloquently investigate the importance of immorality within the Egyptian perception of the schemes of nature—life and death is synonymous (rise and fall of the summer and winter solstice). (Reference this author’s article titled, “Christmas: Jesus--The Sun God, Lies, Deceptions and the Truth.” Jesus the Christ (Yeshua Ben Yosef) of 2000 years ago was taught in the Egyptian Mystery Schools and this is why from age twelve (12) to the age of thirty (30) there is a void in the Bible and lack of historical continuity of Jesus (Yeshua Ben Yosef) life and ministry. (Reference: Zachery P. Gremillion; African Origins of Freemasonry).

Moreover, for eighteen (18) years Jesus (Yeshua Ben Yosef) was being initiated into the Egyptian Mystery Schools (Jesus had reached priesthood after his 18 years of study). Also, ironically Jesus (Yeshua Ben Yosef) was a carpenter (interpret to mean he worked with the 24 inch gauge, common gavel, square, level, plumb line, etc) and had the tools to raise man from a “dead level to a living perpendicular on the square, 90 degrees upright.” Jesus (Yeshua Ben Yosef) was student of Operative and Speculative Freemasonry. The numerology plays out like this 1+8=9, nine (9) is a Masonic number, which represents completion; 1 + 2 =3; Jesus (Yeshua Ben Yosef) reappear at age 30, the three (3) occurs again and Jesus Ministry ends at age thirty-three (33). And on the third (3) day Jesus (Yeshua Ben Yosef) was resurrected from the grave. He represented the Trinity (3 divine entities the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost). (Reference: Manly P. Hall; The Secret Teachings of All Ages).

The number Three (3) is a spiritual number and is highly recognized in Masonic numerology (the 33rd degree, is a honorary conferred and terminal degree in Freemasonry bestowed by the United Supreme Council ordinarily in an elaborate four day to a week long initiation ceremony held in Washington, DC). The attendees at these 33rd degree conferment ceremonies could be classified as a Who’s Who amongst the movers and shakers in the world—attended by U.S. presidents, foreign presidents, supreme court justices, ambassadors, top level politicians, business executives, etc. It took Jesus just three years to enact a historical legacy that has shaped human history for the last 2,000 years and those that direct the world today are doing it on just thirty-three (33) degrees of knowledge.

Dr. Malachi Z. York (Formerly known as Imam As Sayyid Issa Al Haadi Al Mahdi) stated that, “The Dead Sea Scrolls of the Qumran Caves, which were discovered in 1947 A.D., are the oldest surviving records of the Old Testament, some of them were written in the Aramaic language while others in the Hebrew language. These scrolls are associated with the Essenes who founded a strict religious community off the Northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. The Prophet/Messiah Jesus was a member of the Essenes and it is a fact that he and his disciples spoke Galilean, a dialect of Aramaic.” (Reference: Malachi Z. York; The Book of Revelations).

This writer in March 2008 was in Barnes and Nobles looking to purchase another book that was out of print and looked over and saw this thick reference book written by John Michael Greer titled, “The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Hidden History” this reference books is a very good resource for those who are engaged in this type research. This writer believes that Essenes, a fraternity of wise men whom Jesus belonged had all the makings of an early styled Masonic organization. Greer Stated: Essenes a sect of Jewish mystics active in Palestine around the beginning of the Common Era, the Essenes were known only from scattered references in a handful of ancient books until 1947, when the Dead Sea Scrolls came to light in a cave near Qumran in Jordan. As with most of the secret traditions of the ancient world, the Essenes were woven into many theories of the history of secret societies, and turned into the ancestors of several nineteenth- and twentieth-century secret societies in the western world. Much of the misinformation still circulating about the Essenes in popular culture comes from this source. . .Between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the references in Josephus and other ancient writers, a fairly clear history of the Essenes can be pieced together. They emerged out of the tangled religious politics of the kingdom of Judea in the second century BCE, as a group of puritanical Jews convinced that Judaism of their time had gone astray.” (Reference: John Michael Grier; The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Hidden History).

Freemasonry has always coexisted quite well with Judaism, as well as with the teachings of the Torah and the Talmud, but it found more of a comfort zone in embracing the esoteric principles represented in the Jewish Kabbalah tradition and the teachings of the Jewish Kyballion was more of a liberal teachings than the rigid theology associated with traditional Judaism. The same for Islam, it would be Sufi Islam and its paths to Allah (God) that would be the spiritual sanctuary that the teachings of Freemasonry has always found compatibility, which to express its spiritual teachings beyond traditional organized religion. Shia Islam and Freemasonry allegedly share some historical roots (this slant or propaganda is put forth by the Mystic Shrine and is not wholeheartedly embraced by Shia Islam). Also, Islam provided the Masons with the Ismailism and unlike Sunni Islam, which for the most part has always viewed Freemasonry as being anti-Islam and its teachings as heretical (refer to this authors article titled, " Freemasonry and Islam: What do They Share?"). The Sunni Islam in some circles teaches that Freemasonry is a Zionist inspired organization bent on destroying Islam and in some Islamic societies like Saudi Arabia the teachings of Freemasonry is outlawed and one could be punished under the strict Islamic laws advocated under the Sharia. (Reference Arkon Daraul: Secret Societies: A History).

However, in other so-called Middle Eastern nations such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, etc., Freemasonry has not met the opposition in these nations and Masonic lodges were allowed to flourish with little state resistance. The majority of the Islamic aristocracy actually have membership in Western based Masonic Lodges and sit in lodges with the likes of George W. Bush, Dick Chaney, Ben Shalom Bernanke, Paul Wolfowitz, Paul Bremer, etc., and it is they who determine what OPEC oil pricing should be on the daily markets (presently 120.00 USD per Barrel), they determine the gold standard value, devaluation of nations currencies (including the United States Dollar), the next war agenda, etc. (Reference: Ashahed M. Muhammad; The Synagogue of Satan).

The legendary Hiram Abiff, the so-called Master builder of King Solomon’s Temple who left his unfinished work on the Trestle Board due to a conspiracy, these present day low level operatives will not be deceived by any Ruffians and they have been ordained to complete the Temple (the building blocks for the New World Order and the one World Government). Most Americans, in particular and people the world over in general, have no clue that the United States economic recession, the Subprime mortgage scandal, inflation, the astronomical gas prices, weaken of the U. S. Dollar, the forging ahead of the unjust war in Iraq, rising cost of agriculture—food commodities, etc., are not coincidental or unpredictable political, economic and social phenomena--many are unaware of the true cause and effect that drives these so-called crisis, which is at the finger tip and pulse of a small, but powerful Elitist group of men and it is they who determines all international monetary systems and in a soft way they have called for the international debt. (Reference: Gary Allen and Larry Abraham None Dare Call it Conspiracy)

President George W. Bush and the United States Congress are active participants of the Elitist agenda and have helped in the last eight (8) years to further financially empower these invisible men to the detriment of the United States citizens and the citizens of the world. Bush is now borrowing money from the Chinese (so-called Communist nation) to stimulate the United States economy and it is mere insult to injury to be offering the American people $600.00 to $1,200.00 tax rebate checks as a form of economic relief to resolve their long term economic misery.

These issues are often discussed even outside our elected officials. This Inner Circle are often initiated into various Freemason styled Orders, which most of the Islamic Nations leadership are card carrying members and have taken Masonic obligations outside of their confession of faith-- Shadaah (where Muslims utter in presences of Muslim witnesses that he/she “bears witness there is no God, but Allah and Muhammad Ibn Abdullah is his Messenger”). But money and power has led to Many high profile Muslim leaders embracing the West in order to continue receiving the crumbs that fall from the rich man's (America and Great Britain) table. Freemasonry is a brotherhood that extends the ends of the earth and it wields more power than governments. The Mason is only placed in the Northwest corner temporarily where there is no Light (sun is equivalent to knowledge) and it has been Masonic light that has set the world into motion and this notion alone is intriguing to humanity. (Reference: David Icke; The Biggest Secret).

Lastly, this writer has constantly challenged Prince Hall Masons, the African American fraternity to pursue Masonic research and scholarship in order to have a larger voice in the arena of Freemasonic ideas. Freemasonry is a vast and complex subject with many turns—pros and cons that is begging for students of Prince Hall Masonry to offer an interpretation and stop looking to be led intellectually by outside scholars and researchers. No, one person or group of persons have a monopoly on Masonic knowledge and it is open to all who seek to engage. The black Masons uses the obligations they swore to honor and uphold as a weak and lame excuse for not writing Masonic history because the obligations (Enter Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason) forbade and instruct the Freemason not to write, carve, print, mark, utter, speak—a word, sign, symbol, etc., of Freemasonry to the non-initiated or communicate the same to a person you know that has not been “ Tried, Never Denied and is Ready to be Tried Again.” This creates fear relative to what is permissible, which most Freemasons do not desire to be in violation of the solemn oaths because the old arcade penalties given and recited during the ceremonies strikes fear in the initiated Neophyte. This writer does respect such honor, but we must rise above these fears and find the proper balance which to explore and critique this age old Craft. “Whence came you?” “From the Lodge of the Holy Saint Johns of Jerusalem”; what came you here to do?”; to improve myself in Masonry.”

Fahim A. Knight Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of good will of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolisms and reinterpret the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlighten world will be better prepared to throw off the shackles of ignorance and not be willing participants for the slaughter. Our MOTTO is speaking truth to power. Fahim A. Knight can be reached at fahimknight@yahoo.com.

Stay Awake Until We Meet Again, Fahim A. Knight