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    Stavish - Esoterism and Freemasonry

    Uploaded by

    api-3823319

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    of 7
    a Diamond Fie, Fall 2002 ESOTERICISM AND FREEMASONRY By Mark Stavish Anroauedon The history of Free and Accepted Mascnry isthe history ofan initiate, quast-eacterc onder secking tofind. and in many instances. deny itself While ‘many esoteric organizations panculaly those of Resicrucan, Marinist, and Knights Templar ‘ouraction. chiman esoteric curemt wihin Freema~ -onry, and many coneplacy theories abound Stating the eulstence of eecul teachings inthe 32 and 33" Degrees, Masons themsehes are more ‘often than not ignorant of such claims. While can be suggested that they ste stmply playing some {game ot eroterle possum, Ite more ike thatthe theorists are wrong. and the occultsts ate exhibit- Ing wishial thinking, ‘reemasonry h35 ll ofthe hallmarks of 3n esoteric organization, and many genuine and fraudulen organizations have cought 19 reerall, ‘members from within its ranks fr thet wn purposes, However, within two generations ofthe formation of the United Grand todge of England, was sated that extercism had wanes within the fraternity’ ranks, ving jsiiction in some cinclee tothe formaton ofthe various ites onders and societies that sprang-up i the second hal ofthe 18° century giving re fo the numerous nies, orders, and ascites that would struggle for the control of Freemasonry by offering higher degree Intlatons said to contain the secrets of Alchemy, (abala, Hermetic, and ritual magic. ‘Less than a century later this process woul tepeatitsell but instead of new Masonic rea, Freemasonry became the honing ground for members for the new, revived, and ser-revived ‘Martinis, Roslrucian, Templar, Co-Masonr, the Hermetic Onder of the Golden Dawa, Ordo Templt dente, snd elated societies. Claiming to fer what Freemasonry had promised bat alled 19 alive. thoi ranks swelled wo the breaking point — ‘and break many of them di. from the 1930" ul ls death in 1989, the writings ef Manly P Hall expound the fundamental principle that Free and Accepted Masoary is 3 Society of men dedicated to 3 spiritual deal that ke ‘essentally esate, occult, anddeeply spiritual in 'sbooks are suggested readingin ‘mast ledges inthe United States yet his undamen- tal premiee ie dlemiesed or ite actual implications ‘ulright ignored by Nasonic readers. Atleast ene ‘Masonic source sites that while Mi Hall was 3 Freemasor, he wiote his books before ening the ‘Craft mn a weak atempt te dismiss them a3 being ‘uthortatve It finnportan to nate that he Hale made a Mason by Masoric authorities because of his wetings, and notin spite of ther, [A the davenng ofthe 21" century. Freemasonry te at acritial crossroads With an aging member= ship. the closing and merging of lodges on unprecedented scale, and projected deaths of, Jursdictions within the next 20 years, Masonry must ask self the great existential question of why doce inex? For some the answer is quite obvious. Masonry {sa fraternal, charitable, and philosophic orgaiza- tion that clothes itself in ancient rituals and teaches {3 moral philosophy through the use of symbols 1 Is ter statedthat Masonic chavtes contribute $1 inilion a day wo charty. the Knights Templar Eve ‘Bank, and Shriner's burn centers among the most ‘wel known. As for fraternity, no organization lathe ‘world can ofr the level of Business, sosial. ne polical contate that Freemasonry can Philo- sophical? Well sort of ‘The moral philosophy of Freemasonry that is designed to make good men beter Is wellknown forts honesty and uprightness. Yerthe vast anay ‘of ancient symbolism tha it cloaked in Is oten ‘aid to vel thetrth’ rather than “evel” For ‘obvious reasons, 3¢ well as lang standing histeical, ‘ones, Freemasonry has been misunderstocd by many sutelde the Craft, and unfortunately forthe ‘Same reasons, not understacd a ally most withis Iesranks. ‘The principle reason for this misunderstanding s “simple: wile the teachings speak of moral phiose- Mark Stash may be contacted at The Intute for Hermetic Sues, P.O. Box 13, Wyoming, Penasyivani, 18640-0513, emai: esoteric? 77@2ol.com. Malchtsedek Productions “4 phy born from the Jewish and Christian experience ofits members, and expressed fr the majority of ‘Masone nthe Holy Bie ac the Volume ofthe Ssered Law on thelr altars and upon which they swear thie cath the symbolism is clearly and ‘isintly taken rom the Natura Pilosopay of the Renaissance philesophy born ofthe acre iystica. albeit ‘accal' teachings of Egypt ese Greece, Arabia, and Rone, cloaked under the veneer ofthe prevaling Chistian religons. Ths ‘Natural Philosophy regarding the practical use of symbols mas no beter explained, fri ime. in the Works of Agrippa, Paracelsus. ochme, Khuneath, and cthet luminaries ofthe Hemet revhal, the fountain source of Rosieucan and Masonic “enlightenments" that were follow. “The symbolism of Freemasonry ls purely of an ‘esoteric occult. and deeply mystical nature. is

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