Page 33 - Ashlar April - June 2025

N A L G R
I O
G E AND LODGE
Covid-19 R Vol. XX Issue I
The Ashlar
A WINDOW TO VIEW FREEMASONRY FOR THE CANDIDATE
W. BRO. JOSE V CHEMMASSERY.
Every person who aspires to become a tenets are taught and imparted to the
Freemason would like to know what is candidates through rituals and ceremonies
freemasonry. Whether the idea to be a with a clear objective to make a good person
freemason has emanated from undue transform to a better individual to serve the
influence of a senior Freemason, a relative community with love and harmony. Masonic
who is a member of the craft, a relative who is a tools and implements are symbolically
member or from the readings of the subject or converted and used as vehicles of moral
viewing related movies or internet remain in instructions in the ceremonies enlightening
the personal domain of the aspirant. The next t h e c a n d i d a t e s p r o g r e s s i n g i n t o
question is whether freemasonry is a religion Freemasonry. Fatherhood of God and
or a socio-political movement to influence the Brotherhood among men, as the mission
ordinary life of the individual. The answer is in practiced by freemasons facilitates for peace
the negative as there is no ABCD effect on the and harmony among the community
individual as religious postulate to Accept, necessary for growth and prosperity.
Believe, Convert and Devote to be a follower. A generally accepted definition is
Before we analyse what is freemasonry, let us “Freemasonry is an organized society of men
understand who is a Freemason according to symbolically applying the principles of
the contemporary dictionary version. Simply Operative Masonry and architecture to the
stated a mason is a person who works on science and of character building.
stone. According to the English Illustrated Freemasonry is the only organization which
Dictionary, a Freemason is a member of a firmly believes that all are equal and always
fraternity for mutual help and brotherly feeling , meet on the level, whatever may be your
called Free and Accepted Masons , having avocation or station in life. Further
elaborate ritual and system of secret signs( the Freemasonry was defined as a gathering of
original freemasons were probably skilled men who believe in a Single God- Christian,
masons emancipated and moving place to Muslim, Jewish or other monotheistic
place for erection of important buildings in and religions-who wish to work together , despite
after 14th century.)The important the differences in their social origin or political
edifices/buildings include cathedrals, or religious beliefs.
churches, palaces and courts especially in the Every organization has a vision and is
gothic era Western Europe. The accepted reflected in the mission statement which the
masons being honorary members supposed members adhere to actualize the avowed
to be eminent for architectural or antiquarian objectives. Our mission statement is,
learnings who began to be admitted early in “Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of
the 17th century when several changes men”. In Freemasonry we address each other
occurred in the construction activities as Brother. Brothers are borne to same
diminishing the importance of operative parents proclaiming consanguinity. We are
masons and their guilds of organized power. therefore considered to be members of same
To understand Freemasonry better let us turn family. In Sanskrit it is known as Vasudhaiva
to the authoritative definition of the term which Kutumbakam and all belong to one family.
states, “A peculiar system of morality veiled in When we make men brothers, the lodge
allegory and illustrated by symbols”. Morality becomes a family and therefore the adage
implies and provides principles of conduct that should be our hallmark is, “Once a
based on distinction between right and wrong Freemason is always a Freemason”
without being a religion. Moral and ethical Philosophers have considered man as a

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