Myths & Metaphors
A Brother Asks: Coach, you’ve used the term, “Freemasonic Mythology” several times. Are you saying Freemasonry is a myth?
Coach: I am not.
Brother: Then to what
are you referring?
Coach: Freemasonry has a mythology
entirely its own.
Brother: Mythology? Isn’t mythology the study of myths?
Coach: Yes. And it is also a collection
of myths, especially ones belonging to a particular religious or cultural
tradition. In this case, Freemasonic
Myths are those peculiar to Freemasonic circles.
Brother: But aren’t
myths widely held but false beliefs or ideas.
Coach: Yes, some are. And some myths are also traditional stories,
especially ones concerning the early history of a people or explaining some
natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or
events.
Brother: And in respect
to Freemasonry?
Coach: These are the stories members
tell each other to communicate what can be expected in life and what is
required to improve oneself as a man.
Brother: Are you
referring to our allegories?
Coach: Yes. And I am also referring to all the supporting
lore and traditions that the organization uses to support those allegories.
Brother: Supporting lore
and traditions?
Coach: Yes. Freemasonic lore is not history; it’s
supporting stories, definitions and tidbit of information, provided with the
intention of helping members understand the truth trying to be conveyed by
Rituals and Lectures. It’s usually not
factual. However, it’s treated as factual by many members.
Brother: And the
traditions?
Coach: They too support the
organizational structure, very much like a wine bottle holds the wine and helps
preserve it so it doesn’t turn to vinegar.
Brother: Wait? Brothers
actually think this information is historical and factual?
Coach: Yes. There’s a cross-section of the Craft who
accept everything they are provided as historically accurate and indisputably
factual.
Brother: That’s scary.
Coach: Yes. And it’s indicative of how little
foundational education is actually provided to our Brothers.
Cowans
Brother: What are some
examples of Freemasonic Mythology?
Coach: One that stands out is the use
of the word “Cowan”.
Brother: Ah! A pretender!
Coach: Yes, in Freemasonic Mythology
that is what we are taught - you have not heard the hole story!
Brother: The hole story, not the whole story?
Coach: Both! However, in Masonic history, they were and are members of Stone-Craft; they apprentice under Master Cowaners and are paid master’s wages when they prove themselves masterful.
Brother: But why are we
told differently?
Coach: It’s to communicate symbolically
what we must be aware of when dealing with Brothers, not just pretenders. When you evaluate the difference between
rough masons and square masons and convert that into symbolic form, it communicates
very clearly what we must be aware of as men and masons in our dealing with
others.
Free & Accepted
Brother: Wow! What about another example of freemasonic
mythology?
Coach: Sure! The term “Free & Accepted” is often
explained as Operative and Speculative respectively.
Brother: Well, isn’t
that the case?
Coach: It is not. That’s the mythical lore we are told through
Freemasonic literature and conversations with members who picked it up from
others.
Brother: What’s the
reality?
Coach: Historical documents show that
the term actually means “Superior & Entered” and alludes to “Master &
Apprentice” members.
Brother: This light
opens a can of worms.
Coach: How so?
Brother: You’re
indirectly telling me there’s more behind the word “freemasonry”.
Coach: I am.
Brother: So, tell me!
Coach: Well, for one, it did not appear
once in Anderson’s constitutions.
Brother: Not once?
Coach: Not once!
Brother: What else?
Coach: Like the first word in the term
“Free & Accepted”, the basis of the compound word comes from the French
words “Franc Maçon” which meant at that time, “Superior-Excellent-Masterful
Builder”.
Brother: Wait? Does that
mean the word “free” as it applies to this word does not mean “unrestrained”?
Coach: Yes. Superior is exactly what it meant at that
time the word “free” was first used to indicate Free Masons.
Brother: Does that mean
the terms “freeborn” and “freestone” also denote “superior-excellent” rather
than “unrestrained”?
Coach: Yes.
Brother: Wow! When you don’t know your root histories,
you’re going to be misled by the mythical lore.
Coach: Exactly! And generations of
members have gone to their graves not knowing any better.
Brother: For sure! Does
this also mean that all the other guilds that prefixed their professions with
“franche/franc” or “free” were letting the market place know they were the
masters of their individual crafts?
Coach: Yes. It had nothing to do with their being unrestrained. They were excellent, superior at their crafts
and they let the market place know by using the precursor word “Free”.
Brother: This is great
stuff. How about another myth?
Coach: Here’s a simple but profound
one.
Brother: Go ahead!
Coach: The majority of the membership
believes there is an actual word involved when it comes to the lost master’s
word.
Brother: Wait!? There
isn’t?
Coach: There isn’t.
The Master’s Word
Brother: Then what is
the master’s word?
Coach: It’s a metaphor for specific
skill development that brings about Mastery.
Brother: So, there’s no
actual word involved?
Coach: Yes. That’s the myth!
Brother: Do you mean
there’s no actual word that anyone can say or write?
Coach: Yes.
Brother: Is that why
it’s ineffable?
Coach: Absolutely!
Brother: Wait! Skill development… is this why it can’t be
handed over to you or anyone else?
Coach: Yes! Think about it. Is it
possible to hand over to another person all the skills required to be
masterful?
Brother: Well, no. One must develop these for oneself.
Coach: Precisely!
Brother: That makes a
lot of sense, although I know a few members who would argue differently.
Coach: Of course they would! And by
doing so, they would be the antithesis of everything for which that metaphor
stands.
Brother: Okay, I’m
getting a feel for this mythology stuff.
Coach: Good!
The Substitute
Brother: What about that
substitute word? What’s its mythology?
Coach: As in?
Brother: What does it
mean?
Coach: It doesn’t mean what we are told
in ritual. That’s the myth to get you seeking further light.
Brother: What do you
mean?
Coach: Well, for starters, it’s not
Hebrew; it’s Arabic.
Brother: Arabic?
Coach: Yes. And the sad part of all
this is that Brothers really should know what it means, where it comes from,
what it actually conveys and when it should be used.
Brother: And the
mythology?
Coach: By studying Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric, you can better understand the myth surrounding it and eventually
bring to bloom the beauty behind it so that the intent behind it can be
realized.
Brother: Such as?
Coach: When Brothers know what’s truly
behind the substitute word, rather than just accepting verbatim the myth they
are handed, they better understand how to use it within their lives.
Brother: Are you
implying that it was never meant to be kept within ritual?
Coach: Yes. That is exactly what I am implying and I
further recommend members seek out what is behind it, find it and apply it
daily!
Cement
Brother: What other
mythology can you direct me toward?
Coach: How about Cement?
Brother: Cement? Are you referring to the cement of Brotherly
love and affection?
Coach: Exactly!
Brother: That’s a myth
too?
Coach: Are we not instructed to spread
this cement with a speculative trowel to unite our Brothers.
Brother: Yes. So?
Coach: That’s a metaphor and sets the
stage for deeper understanding of the offered myth.
Brother: And?
Coach: Did you know the first degree
points to the actual operative materials Brothers must use to create operative
cement and, once understood, symbolically create that within our lives?
Brother: No! I did not!
That’s news to me. It sounds like
there’s a lot within ritual that’s not so obvious upon superficial inspection.
Coach: A whole bunch is hidden from
Apprentices. Not deliberately! But because they simple have a superficial Grasp
of what is offered.
Brother: Just the
surface stuff… got it. There’s a lot to this mythology stuff.
Coach: Indeed! And when you don’t dig deeper into what’s
offered, beneath the surface, you miss out on the very core of its intent.
Brother: What’s that?
Coach: To communicate what must be done
to improve, mature, live well and prepare for age.
Ruffians
Brother: What can you
tell me about ruffians? Are they a myth too?
Coach: That’s a great question! They
are part of the mythology for sure.
Brother: Thanks! Yes. Please,
tell me more.
Coach: Okay. The first thing that needs
to be known about the myth is that their names first appeared in 1760.
Brother: Whoa! Doesn’t
that mean they were an innovation?
Coach: Yes. And to add to this innovation, their names
were phonetic approximations of statements made in a dialect of French that now
only exists in Quebec Canada. Only no
one figured this out until recently.
Brother: Yikes! The names are not names? They’re statements?
Coach: Yes.
Brother: Is there a
paper trail backing this up?
Coach: Indeed there is and the story
behind their names is as exciting to hear as the meaning they convey.
Brother: But don’t their
names also allude to other things?
Coach: They sure do. And understanding their
symbolism helps explain the deeper truths trying to be communicated by the third
degree myth.
Brother: Myth?!
Coach: Yes. It’s also referred to as the
third degree drama and tragedy.
Ritual
Brother: What other myths
are found within or about ritual?
Coach: The first is that ritual
transforms men?
Brother: Doesn’t it?
Coach: No. It points to what must be
transformed within men and directs men toward the Work that must be undertaken
to have this occur.
Brother: Like?
Coach: Okay. Here’s an example: The first degree points to
the Apprentice Work.
Brother: Apprentice
Work? You capitalized the “W” in “Work”.
Coach: Yes. It indicates the actual Work
that Transforms Youths to Adult. It is
not the work of putting on or participating in ritual.
Brother: Thanks, that’s
good to know. Do the other Blue Lodge degrees do similar?
Coach: Indeed. The Fellow Craft degree points to the Work that
Prepares Adults to deal with the universe. And, just as the first degree, the
actual degree work is not the improvement Work.
Brother: And the
Master’s degree?
Coach: It points to the
Work that prepares men for Age.
Brother: But the degrees
are not the actual Work itself?
Coach: Yes. The degrees only point to the Work. They are
not the actual Work.
Brother: What is ritual
based upon? Is there a myth involved here as well?
Coach: Yes. Great question too! The myth is that they are handed down from time
immemorial. The fact is, they are Morality
plays, all created about 1717 or afterward, that use the backdrops of
Stonecraft lore, its symbols as props and its lexicon and manuscripts for
scripts.
Brother: But some of
these plays can be traced back to manuscripts that predate 1717.
Coach: Yes. The manuscripts exist. However, the actual ritual itself is based
upon these manuscripts. The manuscripts
were used to create the rituals we have today.
Brother: And it all fits
together for a Moral Purpose?
Coach: Absolutely. And it uses hidden codes, meanings and
allusions to communicate even deeper knowledge to those who have taken the time
to learn how to decode them.
Obligations & Compass Points
Brother: Would you
provide another example?
Coach: Sure. The flanked Circumpunct
capped with the Volume of Sacred Law actually means something specific that a
Candidate does within each degree. Astute
observers make the connection quickly.
Others may realize it once it is pointed out.
Brother: Within each
degree?
Coach: Yes and it also becomes clear where
this symbol is found acted out within ritual each time it is done. It’s pretty
impressive.
Brother: Is there
anything more you can tell me about the Circumpunct?
Coach: Yes. It alludes to the first
practitioner of Freemasonry; where he practiced and even his first initial.
Brother: You’re teasing
me into researching these things aren’t you?
Coach: But of course. These things can be found if you take the
time to make the connections.
Brother: What about the
legs of the Compasses?
Coach: Are you asking which leg of the
Compasses should be lifted first?
Brother: Yes!
Coach: If it were to be consistent with
the Work pointed toward by Ritual, the answer is easily obtained. Just observe which side of the body is
referred to during each degree and the Work that must be completed to raise it.
Brother: Ah! So tying the points back to what ritual directs
us toward provides the answer?
Coach: Absolutely!
Other Stuff
Brother: That makes
sense. What can you tell me about the due guards? Are there any myths involved there?
Coach: Yes. And first off, they are not universally used
within Freemasonic circles and, when used, they allude to the Fellow Craft
working tools.
Brother: Interesting! How about the term “perpendicular parallel”? Does it have any mythological background?
Coach: It sure does. There are at least two entirely differ things
that are referred to by this term. The
first can be clearly seen when candidates’ eyes are opened for the first time
and the second when the candidates complete the Work of the first two degrees.
Brother: What does the
Work of the first two degrees transform?
Coach: In a nutshell, the human
soul.
Brother: That’s
deep! Please expand on that theme.
Coach: The Apprentice Work brings order
to the chaos of the Heart; the Fellow Craft the Mind. These two aspects constitute
the human soul. Keep in mind, once
again, this isn’t the degrees themselves; it’s the Work the degrees point
toward.
Brother: Understood.
What about the Master’s Work?
Coach: It transforms the Spirit.
Brother: Not the soul?
Coach: No. The two are not synonymous.
Brother: You know, I’ll
want to revisit this later.
Coach: I figured you would when I
mentioned it. Let me know when you are ready to start.
Brother: Okay, I will. Are
the Square and Compasses symbolic for anything more than the Fraternity?
Coach: Yes. If you know how to decode them, you can
obtain at least 5 distinct messages. All
based upon the mythology that surrounds them.
Brother: What about the seven
liberal arts and sciences? Are they mentioned just because it’s part of our
myth? Why are we encouraged to study them?
Coach: So many questions! Let me say that it’s an important part of Freemasonic
mythology. Their study is based upon the
fact that this Work dramatically improves your ability to understand the volume
of sacred law, improve your morality and boost your immunity to sophists.
Brother: This explains so much!
Coach: What do you mean?
Brother: It explains why
there is so much inconsistency in Freemasonic lore, practice, and history. The myths were never meant to be taken as
fact. They were supposed to be taken as
hints that there is further light to glean, if one does the Work!
Coach: Yes. And, realizing that there
is a difference, how to reconcile all of it and ultimately how to seek out and
apply the lessons ritual was intended to communicate in the first place signals
the start of one’s Masonic journey.
Brother: Okay, I have my
answer!
Coach: To?
Brother: Freemasonic
Mythology is not actual history; it’s a map.
Coach: Yes. Like a bread crumb trail to
enrich the soul and spirit?
Brother: Yes! Absolutely!
And I can tell you that I want to explore all these things you point out
further.
Coach: Good! Each of these things can be expanded upon
further. Light Works that way.
Brother: You’ve given me
a lot to think about and quest for… thank you!
Coach: You’re most welcome my good
Brother. Now, I have a question for you?
Brother: What’s that?
Coach: What’s your takeaway from all
this?
Brother: That’s a great
capstone question.
Coach: Thanks! Well?
Brother: Mythology
communicates Truths, but they are not true in themselves.
Coach: How so?
Brother: Myths are
cleverly designed stories conveyed to communicate deep truths but these truths
are below the surface of each story and can only be found when one knows how to
unmask them.
Coach: Excellent Takeaways my
Brother! And this related to Freemasonry
how?
Brother: Freemasonry has
many stories that have many truths communicated below the surface, when you do
the Work to discover them.
Coach: Yes! Kudos!
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