FREEMASONRY: THE AMERICAN DILEMMA; POWER AND MYSTERY

Freemasonry: The American Dilemma; Power and Mystery

By Fahim A. Knight-EL

Who is running the United States Government and the world? This writer briefly wrote about the Freemasonic connection to the White House and the United States Capitol (edifice, architecture, art, geometric lay out, etc.) in the last half of his article titled, "The Domino Effect: Don't Believe the Hype".

This writer constantly receives queries about whether or not he knew if President Barack Obama belongs to the Order. Thus, ordinarily inquirers have a predetermined suspicion based on President Obama’s ascension to "power" that he might be an Oath Taker, but this notion is inconclusive and it is shrouded in nonfactual conjecture but at least they have the sense to seek some external independent source for validation. This writer has no independent and/or substantiated evidence proving that President Obama was raised (meaning initiated in the ancient Masonic ritual of symbolically being brought from a dead level to a living perpendicular on the square) in Masonic Lodge.

No United States Grand Masonic Lodge of either of the two most prominent Masonic bodies—Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (AF&AM) or perhaps the most influential body of Masons relative to African Americans who called themselves Prince Hall Masons of the Free and Accepted Masons (F&AM) body have issued any public documentation confirming and/or denying whether President Obama is a member of a Freemasonic Order. But he is a member of three of the most powerful and influential organizations the world over—Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission and the Bilderberger these three organizations functions on the same lines of Freemasonry and often the network is interwoven into Freemasonry and in that sense, it is difficult to view these three powerful groups separate and apart from High Degree Freemasonry because they at times share a cross membership.(Reference: Gary Allen and Larry Abraham; "None Dare Call it Conspiracy").

However, this writer does not think President Obama would have opted to be Masonic initiated by some clandestine group (a Masonic group that is not duly chartered and does not have a legal Masonic Dispensation to function as body of Freemasons). The label of "irregular" or better yet "clandestine" has even been applied to the predominately African American Prince Hall Masons. Although, their founder, a free slave named Prince Hall received a legitimate charter from the Grand Lodge of England in 1784 recognizing the Black Masons as a duly constituted lodge. There are eleven (11) southern states that are part of the Ancient Free and Accepted (AF&AM) Masonic Order who still in 2009 do not recognize nor accept the Black Prince Hall Masons as legitimate Masons. (Reference: Paul M. Bessel and Alton G. Roundtree, “Out of the Shadows: The Emergency of Prince Hall Freemasonry in America").

This writer authored an article titled, "There is No Brotherly Love Between Black Masons and White Masons" and he submitted his thesis to both AF&AM (white Masons) and F&AM (black Masons). This writer challenged the racist hypocrisy and took them both the task on the principles of Masonry. This writer has personally met the North Carolina Prince Hall Grand Master Milton "Toby" Fitch who is a prominent Superior Court Judge on the State bench in North Carolina. Thus, up until November 2008 with all his civic and professional awards and educational achievements he would have been denied Masonic entry into the white body AF&AM within state of North Carolina because of race and skin color. (Reference: Joseph Walkes, Jr,: Black Square and Compass 200 Hundred Years of Prince Hall Freemasonry").

However, I wrote the article titled,” There was No Brotherly Love Between Black Masons and White Masons" sub-titled, "Let There be Light" perhaps last years early 2008 with an objective to socially agitate. The article was written because after having many conversations with Prince Hall Masons who were dismayed with how the AF&AM body was treating them. But many of them were unwilling to openly challenge AF&AM un-Masonic conduct and did not have the intestinal fortitude to confront the wrongs of Caucasian Masonry in the United States. It was at that point that I had truly committed myself to becoming a student of Masonry and allowing myself to go far beyond the established reading list in order to research and study the historical and philosophical principles of Freemasonry. I saw hypocrisy and racism as being in contradiction to the tenets of Freemasonry. (Reference: Fahim A. Knight-EL;"Let There Be Light: There Is No Brotherly Love Between White Masons and Black Masons").

Thus, many Masons that I had converse with was satisfied and had become complacent after being raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason (third and final degree in Masonry) and thought at that point they had arrived to some great place within the Divine Scheme of things and there was no need to continue the search for knowledge. It is this type of ignorance that is so pervasive amongst Masons (high degree Masons and Master Masons) that has led to intellectual stagnation. Many do not have a clue that historically the United States Government polity structure was built on Freemasonic ideological premises and the outward Masonic symbolism is not coincidental, but it still remains the guiding force and the language of communication amongst our world decision makers. This writer understands that all acquired Masonic knowledge had a root much deeper than the symbolic introduction that most Freemasons received in their Masonic training.

This writer had read the works of great Caucasian scholars such as Albert Churchward, Gerald Massey, Sir Godfrey Higgins, George Frazer, etc., who pointed to Kemet (Egypt) as being the cradle of civilization from which all knowledge sprung. I had also, read a book written in 1954 by George G.M. James titled, "Stolen Legacy" in which James attributes Greek Mythology as being stolen Egyptian philosophy and since Freemasonry is built on these scientific and mathematical principles this led me to investigate Kemet (Egypt) further and this is where I found the root of all Masonic teachings in Kemet (Egypt). (Reference: George G.M. James; "Stolen Legacy").

Manly P. Hall and Albert G. Mackey and all the great Masonic writers pointed us to Kemet (Egypt) where this great craft received its origin. On the walls of the great pyramids it was inscribed "Man Know Thyself" and as a people of African descendant we had been made blind to the knowledge of self and Freemasonry or Speculative (philosophical) Masonry had enough in its teachings to verify that this society had an ancient origin that went much further back than 1717. The origin gave us a Nubian African reality and all the Masonic schools of thought came from African people. (Reference: Ra Un Nefer Amen; “Metu Neter: The Great Oracle of Tehuti and the Egyptian System of Spiritual Cultivation”).

Most of your United States Presidents from George Washington forward were Freemasons (over 20 United States Presidents were Freemasons) and the early architect and the symbolism from the statues on the Mall—the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, White House and the Capitol architect being spoken beyond the naked eye were Masonic in its symbolism without a doubt. Masons communicate and recognize each other by a Word, Sign, and/or Token (handshake grip) and the Washington DC is full of these unrecognizable symbols. Some historians maintain that the Mall is arranged geometrically to how the pyramids are setup in Kemet (Egypt). (Reference: David Barton; "The Question of Freemasonry and the Founding Fathers”).

This writer does not have any independent or verifiable information that President Barack Obama is a Prince Hall Freemasonry, but I believe that he might belong to a sister group called the Black Boule where some of the most powerful and influential Blacks and mostly 33rd degree Masons are members and some argue that the Black Boule was founded by Prince Masons as an elitist group. (Reference: Charles H. Wesley; “History of Sigma Pi Phi, first of the Negro-American Greek-letter fraternities”).

If we started from that premises of what the Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught, which was that Freemasonry was for Caucasians and not the Asiatic Black man. He taught of all the knowledge one could acquire; thus there was none greater than attaining theknowledge of self. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad then stated my teachings can be summed up in six words "accept your own and be yourself." The African Nubians are the true originators of the knowledge based on the Egyptian Mystery Schools—architect, mathematics, medicine, and the Seven Liberal Arts originated in Kemet (Egypt). The Black man was robbed of the knowledge of self and he doesn't even know, he is from the East and when he answers that Masonic question from a standpoint of "which way you are traveling?" (east to west) his answer reflects historical ignorance. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad stated: "of all our studies, history is the most attractive and best qualified to reward our research, as it develops the springs and motives of human actions and displays the consequences of circumstances which operates most powerfully on the destinies of human beings” (Reference: Elijah Muhammad; “The Secret Teachings of Freemasonry”)

Muhammad equated this hitting in the head (the Hiram Abiff myth) with the European Nations of France, England and America who robbed and kidnapped the original man from his land. So the first three degrees is a reenactment of the Caucasian man's history. Elijah Muhammad stated we allowed him to come amongst us, but when he started causing confusing; we ran him out of the Holy Land 2,200 miles across the hot Arabian Desert (Turkey would be the Islamic Nation responsible for keeping him in the hills and cave sides of Europe; take a close look at the national flag of Turkey and look at symbol of the Mystic Shrine). The Shrine ritual talks about the hot burning sands and how difficult it is to cross. Also, most of your college fraternities and sororities make reference to the hot burning sands. Thus, for him he did traveled from East to West and when people of African descendent join the Lodge, it is his history and culture that we adopt. In all reality, Masonry was not meant for Asiatic black man. We are the originators of the knowledge. This writer abhors racism and has fought against racism for all his adult life. So he went on a personal crusade which to heighten the contradiction and agitate this good ole boy Masonic fraternity who had after two hundred (200) year was still practicing racism in 2008 and even to this very day. (Zachary P. Gremillion; "African Origins of Freemasonry").

Does Freemasonry possess an inordinate amount of power and influence over the governments, politicians, policy makers and do they determine the political, economic, and social course of humanity? Yes they do; because the Power Elite set up Freemasonry as an Order that would shield their inner workings (power, greed and their teachings of Godhood status). The Dynastic Families and Invisible Emperors were themselves inspired and magnetized by the principles and teachings of harmony, justice, equilibrium, reciprocity , etc., that were offered by the Ancients. Most of the greatest Masonic writers such as Manly P. Hall, Albert Mackey, Albert Pike, Albert Churchward, Sir Godfey Higgins, etc., had tapped into a body of esoteric and occult wisdom and knowledge that have been around since the ancient of days. (Reference: Nesta H. Webster; “Secret Societies and Subversive Movements”).

The ancient writings in the Kabala trace this knowledge back to Kemet (ancient Egypt ) and all other ancient wisdom seekers have traced the origin of this knowledge and principles back to Kemet. However, we must understand this knowledge represented a source of energy and the embracing of the principles led ordinary men to do extraordinary deeds. Thus, for the most part both the Scottish Rite and the York Rite Masonic bodies corrupted those pristine ancient lessons that were originally taught in the Egyptian Mystery School; this is how the writers of the Kabala describe that school of thought this way:

“From old Egypt have come the funda­mental esoteric and occult teachings which have so strongly influenced the philosophies of all races, nations and peoples, for sev­eral thousand years. Egypt , the home of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, was the birthplace of the Hidden Wisdom and Mystic Teachings. From her Secret Doc­trine all nations have borrowed. India, Persia, Chaldea, Medea, China, Japan, Assyria, ancient Greece and Rome, and other ancient countries partook liberally at the feast of knowledge which the Hiero­phants and Masters of the Land of Isis so freely provided for those who came prepared to partake of the great store of Mystic and Occult Lore which the master­minds of that ancient land had gathered together.” (Reference: By Three Initiates; “The Kybalion: A Study of Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece” pg 15-16).

The Kabala continued: "In ancient Egypt dwelt the great Adepts and Masters who have never been sur­passed, and who seldom have been equaled, during the centuries that have taken their processional flight since the days of the Great Hermes. In Egypt was located the Great Lodge of Lodges of the Mystics. At the doors of her Temples entered the N neophytes who afterward, as Hierophants, Adepts, and Masters, traveled to the four corners of the earth, carrying with them the precious knowledge which they were ready, anxious, and willing to pass on to those who were ready to receive the same. All students of the Occult recognize the debt that they owe to these venerable Mas­ters of that ancient land. (Reference: By Three Initiates; “The Kybalion: A Study of Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece” pg 16-17).

These modern philosophers tried to convey in words what the ancient Sages and Scribes conveyed in symbolic ritual and resonated spiritually with its neophytes, which went far beyond the external lessons that were being dispensed and it enlightened and illuminated the internal spiritual soul of man, which allowed him to transcend the mundane external confinements of the physical world. (H.P. Blavatsky; "Isis Unveiled").

The ancient masters of Kemet ( Egypt ) in one sense had evolved to the point that they did not see themselves separate from "God" in fact they accepted and understood that they were "God". This view had very little correlation to western thought; it was not based on a duping or used in an imperialistic manner to create an imbalance in the natural order of things, but just the opposite, it served as a model of human potential. Western Freemasonry without doubt, perhaps could not exist with the mythological and the mystic teachings that evolved out of Kemet ( Egypt ) and the Freemasonic ascension over other schools of thought and Orders is a direct result of someone tapping into occult and esoteric wisdom of Kemet (Egypt). They borrowed the ancient symbols and have even incorporated the ancient language in their modern Masonic rituals. The blind, deaf and dumb has no idea that as they move about in this physical world that what is driving the direction of the national and global political, economic and social orders is high degree Freemasonry (now lets not be foolish this writer is not referring to those who are raised in the Blue Lodge nor those who have ascended up the York Rite and Scottish Rite ladder) in which there are orders that functions separate and apart from these visible Masonic Orders. (Reference: Manly P. Hall; "The Secret Teachings of all Ages").

This writer had the opportunity in 1990 and 1991 to visited the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angles and was blown away by the overt Kemetic symbolism that has been adopted by western Masonic Orders; thus every direction I turned in the auditorium there were Egyptian architecture, art, statues, relics and various inscriptions, perhaps designed to make every attempt to connect Speculative Masonry to a mystique Ancient Order where knowledge flowed as readily as the Blue and White Nile. President George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and founding fathers built a philosophical and political system that would be rooted in the Ancient esoteric wisdom of ancient Kemet. They took a portion of what Akhenaton, Imhotep, Ramasee, etc., taught and simultaneously built two governmental societies side by side—one would function as a visible entity and other would be cloaked in secrecy and possessing much more power than the latter. (Reference: Anthony Browder; "The Nile Valley Contribution to Civilization").

The majority of your United States presidents were initiated into the Scottish Rites and/or York Rite Freemasonry and they understood that signs and symbols provided them with a tool and knowledge base that had the power to transcend religion and politics (this led them to embracing the metaphysical). The Europeans were both intrigued and fascinated by the lessons the mystics left us in the realm of symbolism. Although, they corrupted the lessons that were being taught in the Egyptian Mystery Schools—Buddha, Confucius, Zoroaster, Jesus, Muhammad, etc., were able to create universal movements because they too had tapped into that higher power and embraced the lessons in what the Rosicrusicans called mental alchemy. How could one be traveling from East to West in search of more light in Masonry and fail to pay homage to Kemet? The West borrowed their light (wisdom and knowledge) from the East. But England, France and the United States became the citadels of learning because unlike other European societies Freemasonry was allowed to flourish, which the Elite and aristocrat even before 1717 had come in contact with the ancient writings of Kemet (Egypt). (Reference: Ralph M. Lewis; "Mental Alchemy").

Thus, even the African Moors under Tarik Ibn Zaid in 711 A.D had come in contact with the ancient knowledge of Kemet (Egypt). For example, maritime science, cartography, architecture, philosophy, engineering (electrical and mechanical), etc. were first taught in Kemet (Egypt). Although, Alexander in 333 BCE had pillaged and destroyed the libraries at Alexandra (which stood as the true citadel of learning and education), it was still remnants of knowledge that remained in tact because the pyramids led the seekers to the power of Amen Ra and Osiris. (Reference: Edward W. Blyden: "Christianity, Islam, and the Negro Race").

Most historians like to focus on the Moors and their relationship to Islam and make every attempt to elevate Saudi Arabia and Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (pbuh) as an enlighten society above Kemet, where political, social and economic progress sprouted in Africa, Asia, and Europe was a so-called direct relations to these societies involvement with Islam. No, doubt Islam as religion and political institution was able to flex its muscles from the 8th Century to the 15th Century (conquered all of North Africa, part of the Asian Pacific, West Africa and even made its way to the boarders of Southern France). The Moors took what they had learned in Egypt (Kemet) and civilized Spain (You can still see the Moorish Islamic influence in Spanish cities such as Cordova, Seville, Barcelona, Madrid, etc.) and led to a renaissance in Europe; lifting Europe out of the Dark Ages. (Reference: John G. Jackson & Willis N. Huggins; "A Guide to Studies in African History).

I have been presented with this question over and over again by Muslims of all persuasions relative to how Islam and Freemasonry (Mystic Shrine Masonry) differ. This writer always points out that Islam is a religion (or a way of life) and it is a serious faith tradition beginning with Prophet Muhammad 570-632 AD (PBUH) and the revelation of the Qur'an, and there is no compulsion in Islam. Islam does not have a "secret" theology and it is open to all who desire to investigate this faith tradition and to become a Muslim it only requires a prospective believer to take the Shahadah and by bearing witness "there is no God, But Allah and Muhammad Ibn Abdullah is his Messenger". There is no elaborate rituals like you would find associated with Masonry. (Reference: Muhammad Husayn Haykak; "The Life of Muhammad").

But I believe that Muslims have distorted and mis-characterize Freemasonry as being a "secret society" and in my estimation, they have a tendency of mixing truth with falsehood. Freemasonry is not a "secret society" but it is an organization that possesses secrets and there lie the difference. The other misnomer is that Freemasonry claim to be a religion; it is a fraternity, brotherhood and function separate and apart from religion; yet religion is used to explain and exemplify ethical and moral lessons. (Reference: E.M. Storms; "Should A Christian Be A Mason).

However, Muslims believe that Freemasonry teachings are anti-Islamic and the organization is Zionist inspired aimed at destroying Islam and it teachings are heretic. I have met many Sunni, Shia, and of course some Nation of Islam members who are active Prince Hall Masons and we have had some engaging conversations relative to Islam and their involvement into Freemasonry. There are good arguments on both sides and how Muslims view Freemasonry varies, but many do not take the time to the research they only echo what the Imam or cleric may have stated. There are few who do a complete study course and research in order to determine whether or not becoming a Mason would compromise one's Islamic beliefs. I can assure you this, Islam like all three major world religions (Abrahamic faiths) are accepted into the philosophical the body of Freemasonry. (Mustafa El-Amin; "African-American Freemasons: Why They Should Accept AI-Islam").

There is overwhelming evidence that perhaps suggest that Prophet Noble Drew Ali, leader and founder of the Moorish Science Temple of America in 1913. The first organized Islamic group founded in America; He was a Prince Hall Mason and was elevated to the Mystic Shrine 32nd degree (pseudo Islam organization). Now! this is where it gets a little sticky; the full name of the Shrine is the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. You can kind of discern from that name that at least in theory somebody was perhaps working with some real knowledge. The Black Shriners were formulated in 1893 and in most jurisdictions until recently black Masons and White Masons still had separate and apart Masonic lodges. So you can assume that Prophet Noble Drew Ali was initiated in an African American Shrine Temple based on the segregation and racism during that volatile period in American history. He was born around 1886 and was murdered around 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. (Reference: Peter Lamborn Wilson; "Sacred Drifts: Essays on the Margins of Islam").

There is no doubt that the Shriners taught a generic form of Islam and was it perhaps this teachings that inspired Prophet Drew Ali to search for greater truths after coming in contact with the Masonic teachings. But the Shriners used the Holy Qur'an, make references to Islam, and make a lot of mention of Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (PBUH) in their body of liturgy and was this Ali's first subtle orientation to Islam (the origin of Shia Islam rest on the controversy posed by Caliph Ali ibn Talib ).(Reference: Charles Eric Lincoln; "The Black Muslims in America").

Some rightly argue, that the Moors history goes back to the 8th century in North Africa and these black men had one of the greatest and significant reins ever recorded in human history, relative to Tarik Ibn Zaid and how the Moors enlightened all of Europe and brought a high civilization and culture. Some historians maintain that Prophet Drew Ali worked on the railroad and met perhaps Ahmadiyyah Muslims while working on the train and they began to expose him to an oriental Islam and others believe that he traveled to North Africa; in particular Morocco and Egypt and was initiated in the Egyptian Mystery Schools; where he learned the esoteric sciences and Islam and was given instructions to come back to North America and teach the lost-found Asiatic black man and woman in America Islam. But those of us who study Speculative Masonry can trace Masonry back to the Egyptian Mystery Schools and in recent times back to the date of 644 A.D. to the linage of Muhammad's (PBUH) son-in-law Ali Ibn Talib (may Allah be please with him). (Reference: Mustafa El-Amin; "Freemasonry: Ancient Egypt and the Islamic Destiny").

Yes. Newton, Galilee, Copernicus, René Descartes, etc., great European thinkers and theoretician were only standing on principles that were being taught in Kemet (Egypt) long before these theoreticians would make their mark on humanity. The Moors built magnificent structures based on Eastern architect and later European Freemasonry would erect Masonic lodges resembling the Islamic Moorish architect styles. The Freemasons were able transcend religion and saw the secular value in the Qur'an, Bible, Vedas, etc., which the compass and square took on a universal meaning and any "Holy Book" could serve as the Great Light on the alter, it would be depended upon the nation and the faith tradition of the land. This allowed Freemasonry to attract men from various religious, social, political, and educational status—they believed that it is "a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols". For example, this notion of being a "system of morality" has undergirded the intellectual and jurisprudence basis of the United States being raised from the rubbish heat over 200 years ago to become one of the greatest modern world powers of all time. (Reference: Robert Lomas; "Freemasonry and the Birth of Modern Science").

The United States greatness can not be viewed outside of its relationship to the Masonic worldview and almost at every turn in American history there is Freemasonry. Its philosophy and ideology gave the U.S. Government teachings that would alter the world's power dynamic and create a paradigm shift that has been in existences for over two centuries. Thus, for the most part, until perhaps the last twenty years historians and social scientist have ignored the Masonic influence in shaping our democracy. Yes, as I stated above some of the early Masonic writers had documented this reality, but oftentimes their research were dismissed as mere conspiracy theory and this further allowed Freemasonry to cloak it-self and remain under the radar. But let’s be clear those that embraced Freemasonry have stood shoulders above their uninitiated brothers. (Reference: Nicholas Haggar; "The Secret Founding of America").

Fahim A. Knight-EL Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of goodwill, of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolisms and reinterpreted the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlightened 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-EL can be reached at fahimknight@yahoo.com.

Stay Awake Until We Meet Again,
Fahim A. Knight-EL