The Kemetic Origin of Freemasonry: The Signs and Symbols Do not Lie

The Kemetic Origin of Freemasonry: The Signs and Symbols Do not Lie

By Fahim A. Knight-El

The signs and symbols of ancient and modern Freemasonry are rooted in Kemet (Egypt) and the evidence is overwhelmingly obvious that Freemasonry borrowed its allegorical myths and ideological metaphors from more ancient societies that were well advanced in the philosophical mysteries. (Reference: Manly P. Hall; "The Secret Teachings of All Ages"). It all began in Cush (Abyssinia or Ethiopia) were perhaps some of the wisest Nubians toiled and where civilization originated. Thus transmitting their enlightenment in compliment with how the Nile River flows from south to north. Reference Sterling Means in his book titled, "Ethiopia and the Missing Link in African History" and John G. Jackson work titled, "Ethiopia and the Origin of Civilization" .

Drusilla Houston in her book titled the "Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire," stated: "To the Cushite race belonged the oldest and purest Arabian blood. They were the original Arabians and the creators of the ancient civilization, evidences of which may be seen in the stupendous ruins in every part of the country. At the time that Ethiopians began to show power as monarchs of Egypt about 3000 to 3500 B.C. the western part of Arabia was divided into two powerful kingdoms. In those days the princes of Arabia belonged wholly to the descendants of Cushite, who ruled Yemen for thousands of years." (Reference: Drusilla Houston; "Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire").

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad stated: "The Root of Civilization is in the Arabian Desert. We took from them everything except the language and made him walk every step of the way. It was twenty-two hundred miles. He went savage and lived in the caves of Europe. Eu means hillsides and Rope is the rope to bind in. It was six thousand nineteen years ago." (Reference: "The Supreme Wisdom Lessons by Master Fard Muhammad: to His Servant, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad for the Lost-Found Nation of Islam in North America").

The white Shriners called their organization the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. This writer wonders why they alluded to this Masonic House as "Ancient Arabic" Order perhaps they were subtly bearing witnessing to the teachings of Drusilla Houston and teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (both of these visionaries gave us an African origin of Egypt and Saudi Arabia) and did not separate the African continent from the so-called Middle East (man made ditch called the Suez Canal which geographically separated these two land mass). It was once viewed as one homogenous geographical land masses that became victims of conquering and miscegenation. (Reference: John G. Jackson; "Man, God and Civilization" ).

No, scholar makes this case any better than Dr. Wesley Muhammad in his monumental book titled, "Black Arabia and the African Origin of Islam" he debunks this myth that the so-called light skinned Semites were the original occupants of Kemet (Egypt) and Saudi Arabia and furthermore, he geographically and ethnically traces these alleged distinct people and cultures to one original source (a unified African continent with a synthesis culture and knowledge base). The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us, that the earth belongs to the original man and this fact is irrefutable. Dr. Muhammad is perhaps one of the most intelligent young scholars that I have the privilege to read in a very long time. He writes and scholarly defends the black experience, in particular and the Nation of Islam's theology in general. There is no Nation of Gods and Earths (NGE or Five Percenter) nor Nation of Islam scholars of his equal. Dr. Wesley Muhammad is brilliant and we need to pay more attention to his pen. (Reference: Wesley Muhammad; "The Book of God") and "Black Arabia & The African Origin of Islam."

Perhaps this is why there is so much Ancient Kemetic art and artifacts that are associated with the Shrine and may be they understood that the so-called Semitic Arab is a newcomer and a Johnny-come- lately imposter who occupies lands and territories as well as being the modern overseers of cultures and histories that do not belong to them. This writer, a few years ago visited the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angles, California and it was astounding to see, the vast amounts of ancient Kemetic replicas on display outside and inside Shrine Auditorium, it was evident that these Caucasian travelers were clear about the origin of knowledge. The Ankh and Sphinx these were symbols of life, strength and regeneration that have made their way into the Masonic worldview and has been lifted by bandits who have paid little homage to the magnificent culture and people that produced so much of what is accepted in the Esoteric, Gnostic and Occult paradigms. (Reference: Anthony Browder: "Nile Valley Contribution to Civilization) .

This writer, also experience something similar in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania some years ago at a white Shrine Temple named Syria Mosque and it is always mind boggling to see so much of our African history being adorned and ritualized by other people and cultures. Our revolutionary scholar Del Jones called them cultural Bandits and European Freemasonry represents a stolen legacy. (Reference: Del Jones; "The Black Holocaust").

There were no better architects and engineers than those Nubians who constructed and built the Pyramids (the first wonder of the world) that sits on 13 acres of land and in the center of the Earth. Scholars like Dan Brown are using fiction work such as, "The Lost Symbol" to draw attention to the ancient order of Freemasonry and pointing out that the institution has always had the ability to transfer knowledge and secrets for generations (Reference: Greg Taylor; "The Guide to Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol: Freemasonry, Noetic Science, and the Hidden History of America") he has a much better grasp of this subject than Dan Brown.

Masonic historians and New Age writers, perhaps more than ever in our history are starting to publically admit, as well as maintain that Freemasonry has always had the ability to impact individuals and society and even has had the power to transform society into its own image and likeness. This was no more evident, than in the establishment of the United States Government and architectural layout of the United States Capitol. (Reference: Greg Taylor: "The Guide to Dan Brown's The Solomon Key") and (Reference: Mitch Horowitz "Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation").

Knowledge is power and it represents an acquired amount of learning, which the ancient Kemites had tapped into the ability to fully exercise the creative power that exist in the pineal gland (this is the second great mystery relative to human physiology, truly another subject for another time) and this gave them the ability to activate and use 95% of their mental capacity (brain power). The brain still remains a mystery to western man and this phenomenon (possessing the will to activate and used that much of their human mental capacity still remains unprecedented) hasn't been duplicated since and this alone transitioned the Ancient Kemites into being Supreme Deities on Earth (Reference: Erich von Däniken ; "Chariots of the Gods"). The builders of Kemet were not space aliens, but mortal beings who cannot be viewed outside of the concept of Gods on Earth and this is the secret that has separated cultural mediocrity from the highest expressions of historical cultural excellence viewed throughout human history. (Reference: Cheikh Anta Diop: "Precolonial Black Africa".

It was seen in their creative power and their ability to transcend western world thought and evolved into complete harmony with the terrain and cosmos (viewed as Operative Masonry and Speculative Masonry), the above and below paradigm can never be ignored, one can not exist without the other. We use less than 10% of our brain power partially because we have been taught to believe in that mystery god that does not exist and we have relied on him in recent times—over 450 years to do for us, what we should be doing for ourselves (my Blog and articles are designed to resurrect those who were systematically made blind, deaf and dumb to the knowledge of self). The source of the greatness of Kemet is genetically coded in our DNA and no one will be able to duplicate the majesty of Kemet until the original man unlocks the secrets and prove to the doubting world that man is God and only another God could surpassed the creative genius power of our ancient ancestors. (Reference: Sunez Allah and CBS Alife Allah; "Knowledge of Self: A Collection of Wisdom on the Science of Everything in Life").

Freemasonry is only one Path, which is designed to point us to universal truths, the compass is a mathematical tool that guides and gives direction (humanity has lost its way and is in dire need of a moral compass), thus, the traveling man (Freemason) can not go too far without this valuable working tool. This tool was designed to move him from the North East corner (a temporary place of darkness), a place symbolizing physical and spiritual death to the East where warmth and enlightenment originates (symbolic of knowledge and truth). The physical sun rises in the East and the Worshipful Master's knowledge and intellect should energize the lodge; just as the sun puts the earth in motion. (Reference: Allen Roberts; "The Craft and Its Symbols).

My grandfather was from Georgia and a farmer who did not need a farmer's almanac to determine the right time to plant his crops; he understood the movements of the moon and the sun (the greatest star in the universe) and earth's rotation works in conjunction with the Universal Laws (there is no divinity outside of these principles—cause and effect). He learnt how to align his five senses with the natural order of things and his third eye became activated. We all have these powers, they only lie dormant inside of us. This writer a couple years ago on PBS was watching the astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson lecture on theory of the black hole in space (it was a heavy lecture) and Dr. Tyson is a highly intelligent scientist, but my grandfather knew the practical side of the laws that governs mother earth and never had the opportunity to go to school and he was just as equally intelligent as Dr. Tyson about certain scientific principles.

We have lost our ability to master our environment, the original man knew how to communicate by tuning-in and communicated on a mental level without sound, but the vibrations was of such frequency that invisible energy waves could be detected by those ancients who had evolved to certain spiritual levels and possessed the ability see the energy passing back and forward with the naked eye (All Seeing Eye of Heru). But this energy wasn't heard by the listening ear and to the uninitiated vandals they have been seeking an empirical explanation to how these Nubians constructed such a sophisticated society, it represented the highest form of Mental Telepathy (Kemet as an illuminated society has baffled astronomist, physicist, and mathematicians) . Wikipedia defines Telepathy as being, "A person who is able to make use of telepathy is said to be able to read the thoughts and stored information in the brain of others". (Reference: Ra Un Nefer Amen; "Metu Neter Vol. 2: Anuk Ausar, The Kamitic Initiation System").

They could do this outside of the Five Sense of (hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, and tasting) but it is the first three senses that are essential to Craft Masonry (the first three senses of Hearing, Seeing and Feeling typifies your ability to recognize another Mason in darkness as well as in Light) these physical tools gives us the ability to properly identify one giving the signs, tokens and words. Yet, during the second degree (Fellowcraft) of Masonry you were introduced to the importance of possessing a tentative ear and taking in the sound from an instructive tongue, it's this process where Freemasonry has been secured in the breast of men who has gone that way for time immemorial and if this process becomes compromise, it could mark the demise of this Order. The Middle Chamber lecture is full of wisdom and jewels, which symbolizes the various works that were being done in the building of King Solomon's Temple. (Reference: Allen Roberts; "The Craft and Its Symbols).

It was here that you were exposed to the number Three (3)—representing three of the five senses (Hearing, Seeing and Feeling), the number Five (5) representing schools of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan and Composite) and Seven (7) Liberal Arts (Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy, and Music). When we do the math 3+5+7=15 and 1+5=6; now I ask that you put on your Speculative Masonic thinking caps; the Holy Qur'an says that Allah (God) created the earth in six stages or six (6) periods of time and Holy Bible says that God (Yahweh or Jehovah) created the earth in six (6) days. Whether or not we believe these stories of creation to be true, the Masonic numerology when computed also gives us the number six (6) (this is also mankind's number). It is to teach us that we must master the 3, 5 and 7 in order to complete that celestial temple which is not a physical building, but a lofty spiritual attainment. The 3, 5 and 7 are given which to bring to our attention that the above mentioned Masonic steps rest the foundation of Masonry and it's the winding road to discovering God's intelligent design.

The ancients in all reality had no need to communicate with symbols because their nature was in tune with the natural order of things (they observed and mastered universal laws). Tony Brown in his book titled, "Empower the People" is very critical of Freemasonry and argued just the opposite, he stated: "Masonry conveys its belief system through symbols and allegory. The symbol is the lesson. Even words become symbols in Freemasonry. " The ancients had mastered the laws of attraction long before Napoleon Hill's book "Laws of Success" or Eckhart Tolle books titled, "A New Earth Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" and "The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment" these individuals and many others like them were allowed to peep into a body of ancient knowledge and wisdom that was originated by the original man (since we lacked the knowledge of self, we do not even have the ability to detect that the Asiatic Black man was truly the mothers and fathers of civilization and all knowledge originated with them). (Reference: Timothy Hogan; "The 32 Secret Paths of Solomon: A New Examination of the Qabbalah in Freemasonry" ).

They have not even scratched the surface and are ruling over humanity with just 33rd degrees (just above the frozen state) of knowledge under the title "Moslem Sons" Did you not learn in the Lost Found Muslim Lesson No.1 (1-14) "Why isn't Devil settled on the best part of the Earth": Answer: "Because the Earth belongs to the original Black man. And knowing that the Devil was wicked and there would not be any peace among them, he put him out in the worst part of the Earth and kept the Best Part preserved for himself ever since he made it. The Best Part is in Arabia, at the Holy City (Mecca)". (Reference: "The Supreme Wisdom Lessons by Master Fard Muhammad: to His Servant, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad for the Lost-Found Nation of Islam in North America").

The Caucasian Shriners (Moslem Sons) for those who might not know practice the religion of Islam in secrecy and they have kissed the Holy Qur'an and have knowledge of the Sunna; some even have made Hajj and Umrah (minor Hajj) to Mecca and understand the teachings of Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (570-632 A.D.) and in some instances have secretly embraced the tenets of Islam. The Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine has acquired more of a romanticized version of an Islamic connection to its order; more so than a definitive historical fact relative to sharing a legitimate theoretical kinship with Shia Islam and mystical ideology with Sufi Islam. (Reference: Mustafa El-Amin; "Al-Islam; Christianity and Freemasonry" ).

It would be the works of Dr. Malachi Z. York that furthered assisted me in connecting these historical and philosophical dots. Dr. York has written extensively on many topics and no doubt, without his intellectualism and teaching, I perhaps would not be as proficient of a researcher, if were not for me learning so much from the teachings of Dr. Malachi Z. York.

So, I am somewhat in debt to Dr. York and it doesn't mean that there aren't some things that I vehemently disagreed with him on. But it is because of his in depth teachings that led me more toward understanding the connection between Shrine Masonry and Shia Islam, which verified more of what the Honorable Elijah Muhammad called "Moslem Sons" (or my-son) connection. I also, studied the teachings of Father Allah, Clarence 13 X and the Nation of Gods and Earths (here is a good book "Immortal Birth") which gives a credible perspective from the Five Percenters point of view. All knowledge is interrelated and interconnected, which I am more concern with the substance than the divisive labels applied to the various paths.

The Moorish Science Temple of America (MSTA) and the Nation of Islam (NOI) are interdependent upon the Masonic worldview for many of its non-theological and philosophical tenets. These two giant of men, Timothy Drew (Prophet Noble Drew Ali) and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad toiled in the 1920s and 1930s, they found logical and rational meaning in what the Masons had to offer in their historical teachings. It would be their initiations into Freemasonry that gave them a glimpse into viewing the African experience far and wide from the so-called "Negro" experience and immediately made the association, in particular in the upper degrees of Masonry with the historical legacy of a people who were hit in the head and robbed of the knowledge of self (that's none other than the so-called black man in America)—Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Jerusalem, Mecca, Babylon, Medina, etc., lands which are relished in Freemasonry had a greater significance to those who were deemed the "lost sheep" and Noble Drew Ali and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad took the teachings of Freemasonry to the next evolutionary level. (Reference: Keith Moore; "Moorish Circle 7: The Rise of the Islamic Faith Among Blacks in America and it's Masonic origins").

Although, the Masons connected some of the historical and philosophical dots for both the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Prophet Noble Drew Ali, which most of it reaffirmed for them that African people in deed had a profound history and culture that went beyond our political status as Chattel slaves. The Masons had enough in its teachings to intrigue the minds of Elijah Muhammad and Noble Drew Ali to desire to go further in their search for knowledge and the origins of the history of the Asiatic Black man. However, the Masonic teachings and schools of thought did not espouse the type of nationalistic worldviews that Muhammad and Ali advocated for their respective organizations. But Freemasonry jolted their souls enough to search for further truths relative to the black man's history and culture. ( Reference: Zachary P. Gremillion; "African Origins of Freemasonry: Treatise of the Ancient Grand Lodge of Khamet").

It appears that they both literally took the Freemasonic degrees and teachings at face value, in particular the Masonic travel and knowledge expired at 32 degrees so-called ENDING the journey for those who believed that this status had allowed them to attain all there was to know about the mysteries. The NOI and MSTA taught that the Masonic knowledge was partial and incomplete. This in turn, led them to say to their religious constituents that there was no need to pay another dime for this so-called "secret Islamic" teachings that you acquired in the Shrine Temple in which you were not even allowed to let black people know that you were giving the Holy Qur'an and the ritual is based within an Islamic historical theme and an Islamic theological theme. (Reference: Elijah Muhammad; "The Secrets of Freemasonry" ).

But Islam according to Muslims and unlike Freemasonry is a universal teachings that is rooted in 360 degrees of knowledge (it represents itself as completing the circle of truth) that is supposed to be openly proselytized in order to bring humanity to the word of Allah (God) and it has no secret theological doctrines or teachings. Moreover, according to the Islamic worldview, to embrace Freemasonry is a mere acceptance of a partial truth and the adherents to the Masonic fraternal order lacks a clear understanding of what Islam is truly about. The Muslims teach that water freezes at the temperature of 32 degrees (so the Masons are still frozen, as far as knowledge is concerned) and life (knowledge and wisdom are equated to the living) does not germinate until ice thaws out at the room temperature of 33 degrees Fahrenheit in which this initial thawing out gives the Mason (Shriner) baby knowledge—one third of the circle. (Reference: Mustafa El-Amin; "Freemasonry: Ancient Egypt and the Islamic Destiny").

The high degree Freemasons know the true meaning of the kissing of black stone and understand the symbolic meaning of the Kaaba and the true meaning of the circumambulation. We know that Islam goes much further back than Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), it has no beginning or ending. We learned in the lessons: Question: "What is the birth record of the said, Nation of Islam? Answer: "The said, Nation of Islam, has no birth record. It has no beginning nor ending. It is older than the Sun, Moon and Star", but we have been cut off from our history for over 50,000 years.

They have Black man's Nile Valley History buried in a Masonic Museum at The Scottish Rite Temple better known as House of the Temple (United Supreme Council; located at 1733 16th Street, N.W. Washington, DC). They know you, better than you know yourself and my poor brothers of Prince Hall Craft Masonry have adopted this "play house" mentality (drinking liquor, partying, chasing women and men and has cheapened the divine knowledge). Knowledge should make us more responsible, if we have acquired some higher level of understanding than it is incumbent upon us "to show and prove" and become beacons of Light for all of humanity to see. The Bible tells us faith without works is dead.

You can not wear the Holy Fez of Islam whether the tassels are to the left or right of the fez and recite the beautiful prayer of Al-Fatihah (opening book of the Qur'an) and greet each other with Es Salmu Aleikum (the greetings of peace is not just a greeting, it is a prayer). If you do want to be held accountable then you can not call yourselves "Moslem Sons" and wear greatest and holiest flag of Islam and bear no responsibility to the knowledge associated with the universal flag. (Reference: Elijah Muhammad; "Flag of Islam").

Symbols were a corrupt way of making an attempt to convey to the uninitiated and the external world what was difficult to make intelligible otherwise. The ancients had higher methods of communications; the so-called Hieroglyphics (the language of the Metu Neter) that the various priest used to inscribe religious rites, ritual sacraments and historical interpretations on the walls of the pyramids, it gave us somewhat a written record. But in the world of Kemetic symbolism and in many ways the Metu Neter still exceeded the interpretative folklore that met up with the naked eye (these inscriptions for many years where often received by western scholars on a physical level and the spiritual intent was overlooked and negated).

This is why you were given two words (one was given to get you passed Tyler, which was a symbolic substitute word) during the Master Mason Degree raising and you were giving a second word bestowed on you and were instructed that this word should only be giving in ultimate distress. (Reference: Michael R Poll; "The Freemasons Key - A Study of Masonic Symbolism").

The Master Mason is raised from a dead level to a living perpendicular on the square and this is done on the Five Points of Fellowship and a Hebrew word was whispered in a low voice into your ear, it translated to mean "What, the Builder!" This presupposes that a question is being asked and the statement affirms in the same breath with a definite article of "the' which separates this "Builder" from all other would be builders. And you were giving further instruction when to use this word and what physical position you should be in and you even received a token. The original man is the Master Builder, but other nations and tribes have stolen our birth rights. The Master Builder has developed amnesia and these leaders—Martin Delaney, Bishop Henry McNeil Turner, Paul Cufee, Henry Highland Garnett, Marcus Garvey, Hubert Harrison, Noble Drew Ali, Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, etc., were called into action to remind us of our past, present and future. (Reference: Martin Wagner; "Freemasonry Interpreted" ).

The word had NINE (9) Alphabets in which the number nine represents fulfillment and completion and is the most divine number of all numbers it encompasses the base number 3. Although, many truth seekers view the number Seven (7) (this writer love and respects the Universal Flag of the Nation of Gods and Earths) as symbolizing perfection and Freemasonry also relishes the number 7 by placing huge emphasis on the letter "G" in the English alpha-bet. Embracing the seventh (7th) letter of the alpha-bet "G" which in Masonic exegesis exemplified Geometry, which was synonymous with Speculative Freemasonry. Yet, the Grand Architect of the Universe (GAOTU) can not be separated from Geometry (geometry is a right and exact science and the divinity of God is perfection). (Reference: Mark Stavish; "Freemasonry: Rituals, Symbols & History of the Secret Society").

But lets not get spooked out, although many religious oriented Masons (often of the Christian persuasion have become overly partial with the Masonic letter "G" and giving it an overwhelmingly religious interpretation. Perhaps to convince themselves and others (in particular non-Masons) by proselytizing the religious exclusivity of the letter "G" and overzealously maintaining that it stands for God. Some Christian Masons view the order of Freemasonry from the religious context (perhaps this is, because the Bible is one of the prominent working tools in our western based Masonic culture). But this writer has never accepted the religiosity of Freemasonry because religion was too fragile and shallow (religion will only serve to keep the Mason and humanity in the North East Corner). (Reference: Mark Stavish; "Freemasonry: Rituals, Symbols & History of the Secret Society").

This writer is of the belief that organized religion has failed humanity and the true Traveling Man can not allow themselves to become stagnate based on religious dogmas. The spiritual and physical journey started on the ground floor (outer-court) of King Solomon's Temple (this temple was destroyed by vandals three times and was rebuilt three (3) times) and then you were moved to the Middle Chamber (inner court) and you were elevated to the Holy of Holies (the three (3) fold tabernacle) after demonstrating suitable proficiency. Thus, as the neophyte matriculated upward the Masonic ladder through each degree, the most consistent symbols was the three (3) Great Lights—Holy Bible, Square and Compass. Freemasonry is a much broader school of thought than religion and although it implores religion from the 1st degree to 33rd degree, but it is done only to convey a system of morality and to better illustrate the symbolism. (Reference: W.L. Wilmshurst; "The Meaning of Masonry").

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 symbolism 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