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An insider's explanation: The Masons build buidings . . . and better men By
Greg Johanson Look around Cache Valley and it does not take a genius to recognize that there is a great deal of construction occurring. Buildings that differ in sizes and shapes and made of brick and mortar are commonplace. These buildings are constructed to last for a very long time against all elements of nature. Today's construction is no different then that of stonemasons of ancient times. Design and construction were to create an edifice that would last a lifetime. The difference between the ancient construction and today's is the craft that labored to fulfill the dreams of the creator. Stonemasons were divided into groups of men, each with different levels of talent and ability. From the days of King Solomon, this craft of stonemasons established a fraternity of men known as Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Today in most corners of the world this craft is better known as Free and Accepted Masons (F&AM). A brief history of F&AM leads in two distinct directions. Operative Masonry, the art of working with stone and the workers, were the actual stonemasons of King Solomon's day. These Masons labored until day's end and were divided into groups according to their abilities to carve stone to fit the designers' blueprint. An Entered Apprentice is the very heart of stonemasons, and the youngest and least experienced, seen as the worker. Fellow Craft were given more responsibility to ensure that the Entered Apprentice followed the directions accurately. The Fellow Craft was seen as a supervisor of the Entered Apprentice. The Master Mason was the manager of both the Fellow Craft and the Entered Apprentice, together known as the 'Craft'. Speculative Masonry is the building of a man to be a better man. This work is most important in the eyes of the Lord in that separate we are but one man, but together we are men of God. An Entered Apprentice begins the art of Masonry, pausing to reflect on the meaning of his life and those around him. Once he has learned to subdue himself and his passions, he is given the lessons of a Fellow Craft and again pauses to reflect upon the knowledge given. Finally as a Master Mason he has learned that which is needed to begin a life of service to himself and his fellow man. He has earned the tools of his trade and now can apply the knowledge of his trade. Lodges are the buildings in which Masonic lessons are taught, business is conducted and general good of mankind is revered. Lodges that are found within cities are most commonly known as "blue lodges." There is normally one Masonic Temple in each state capital. Masons in a blue lodge perform speculative masonry work -- that is, charitable work, helping and assisting a brother in need -- and other related functions to keep the lodge operating as a separate entity from the Temple. Masons in a blue lodge are educated through the degrees of Masonry, reaching the 3rd degree, known as a Master Mason. Master Masons receive a lambskin or white leathern apron as a badge of honor and recognition. When and where did Masonry begin is a question of much speculation and debate. Brother Michael Beltzer gave his perspective on the origin of current-day Masonry: "The Grand Lodge of England, organized in 1717, considers itself (and is thought of) by most Freemasons as the initial (or First) Grand Lodge of Freemasons. It was the first to organize a number of independent Lodges into an organized structure that established certain rules of structure and ritual." There are as many different points of view on this topic as there are Masons. Because the length of his own cable-tow holds each brother, each brother will learn from different perspectives and documents written. A new initiate into the Craft, Michael Lewis, stated his knowledge of the historical beginnings of Masonry: "There is at least one document, dating from 1390, that claims Masonry was brought to the British Isles during the rule of "good King Aethelstan" in the sixth century. Freemasonry is not a secret society, but we are a society with secrets. These secrets are only in symbolic definition and their meanings. We use the plumb, for instance, to measure ourselves against what we have done and what we wish to accomplish. The best-known symbols are the square and compasses. The square is used to square us against our actions. The compass is used to make straight our direction in life. Freemasonry also has a structure of leadership and guidance. The three leaders of a lodge are the Worshipful Master and the Senior and Junior Wardens. The names suggest a tightly controlled organization, but a look into the day-to-day operations of a blue lodge defines the necessity of a CEO and directors of an organization. A Masonic lodge is no different then any other corporation in its endeavor to run a business. As with all organizations, there are some naysayers out there that do not have the most optimistic opinions of the Craft. According to Jessica Garrett, a Pagan-rite minister whose father is a Pentecostal minister, there can be and often are differences with a male-dominated fraternity. Masonic records indicate the historical fact that both Brigham Young and Joseph Smith were brothers in lodges of Free and Accepted Masons. "Some churches and the lodge haven't really gotten along for a variety of reasons. Though as a brother of mine, and old running buddy of his from their days in the Order of DeMolay said, 'I think a lot of it is jealousy and control issues,'" said Garrett. "These men are banding together with men from outside of the church and doing well in their community. Good works that glorify no church, but glorify the creator of us all. I think that there can be a very powerful source of jealousy. We also have to look at the fact that these churches want the ability to control that you associate with. The churches in question like you to keep it all in the "church family," said Garrett. Freemasons are misidentified and not known as their more publicized brethren of the Shrine Clubs, known as Shriners, or those funny guys who ride on the small mini-bikes in parades. Shriners are Master Masons who have worked and educated themselves to the 32nd degree of Masonry or beyond. Although women are not allowed to join a lodge, there are again many differing points on this subject. Alberto Vallini, owner of an Internet-based Masonry list, said this: "In my personal view (let me stress I said personal) there would be no reason not to allow women, although I'd prefer separated Lodges for men and women: I like to see brothers/sisters in a Lodge to devote their time to Masonry." Many other organizations are related to Masonry such as Knights Templar, York Rite, Order of DeMolay for young men, International Order of Job's Daughters for young women and Eastern Star for adult men and women with Masonic heritage. Each step in a staircase is a step towards the top, just as a step in Masonry symbolizes a Mason's knowledge of the sciences, and growth as a man. Once a Mason has reached the top of the stairway, his learning is not over, but rather just beginning. His limitations of knowledge are his own, known as the length of a cable-tow. Each Mason is different as to his ability to shorten or lengthen his own cable-tow, but secure in the knowledge and understanding that his fraternal brothers are always behind him in his pursuits. No man is every asked to needlessly stretch his cable-tow. For those that may be wondering just what type of man asks to be a Mason and receives the rewards of walking a Masonic lifestyle, history tells us some significant men who have been enlightened through the teachings of Masonry. If men like George Washington, Andrew Jackson, George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dave Thomas, Andrew Young, Alex Haley, Rudyard Kipling, Mark Twain, Wolfgang Mozart, Hans Schuler, John Phillip Sousa, Duke Ellington, Al Jolson, Ernest Borgnine, Cecil B. DeMille, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Charles Correll (Amos), Freeman Gosden (Andy), John Wayne, Jonathan Winters, Ty Cobb, Jack Dempsey, Willie Mays, Arnold Palmer, Sugar Ray Robinson and Cy Young interest you, then visit famous Masons. The next time you notice construction going on around the valley, this insight just may provide a different perspective as to the origin and history surrounding the brick and mortar of masonry we normally see.
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