Vague interpretations about Freemasonry seem to be perpetual.
That is the claim. A group of people show their messages in public, yet they are called a secret society. In The Lost Symbol, a novel written by Dan Brown, Robert Langdon, the protagonist, while he is giving a lecture, says “Freemasonry is not a secret society. It is a society with secrets”. It is not surprising that the public is aware of some of mason’s fundamental symbols, such as the point within a circle and the Star of David. In addition, the novel suggests that if the star of David is drown upon the pyramid on the back of a one-dollar bill, in which one of the star’s two big triangles is completely based on the pyramid, including the eye, one can clearly notice that the star’s angles, excluding the eye, point at four letters, M A S O N. Such intriguing claims raise many questions about this organization; what is Freemasonry? what are their beliefs? when did they start?
Freemasonry, as Albert G. Meckey describes it in his book The Symbolism of Freemasonry, is a science of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols. Moreover, the word “symbol” is a Greek word that literally means comparing one with another. The common understanding about masons is that they do not have a particular religion. In fact, the freemasonry welcomes anyone who believes in an extreme power, regardless of what the power is. In an interview with Dan Brown about The Lost Symbol, which sets freemasonry as its primary subject, says “… they are fascinating because we live in a world where different cultures are killing each other over whose version of God is accurate, and here you have a global organization that is spiritual and yet they bring Muslims, Jews, Christians…etc”. they get together to perform their peculiar ceremonies.
One of these ceremonies is the Rite of Discalceation, where they gather in a certain place worshiping while they are barefoot. Discalceation is a Latin word that means barefoot. Meckey explains that this practice was common in the days of Moses because it is mentioned in the second book of the Old Testament, Exodus. It says “Draw not nigh hither: loose thy sandals from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground”. Similarly, a story is mentioned in the Quran, the primary source of the Islamic teachings, in which Mosa, the Arabic name of Moses, got a command from Allah to take off his shoes. In the 12th verse of 20th Sorah, it says “Verily I am thy Lord! Therefore (in My presence) put off thy shoes: thou art in the sacred valley Tuwa”. Both texts reveal that the reason behind taking off the shoes is the sacredness of the ground. Meckey analyzes this action by comparing it to a modern attitude, where people take off their hats as a sign of respect.
The beginning of this society is largely disputable. Whereas many profess that the 18th century was the very beginning of freemasonry, Meckey goes further to the days of Noah. He claims that during the Noah era there was only one God to worship. Then, years after Noah died; his descendents gradually started to lose their values. Consequently, polytheism emerged and there were many gods and goddesses. As a result, few people, who were adhered to the teachings of Noah, laid out the formation of freemasonry.
Perhaps, the combination of science, which is expressed by the symbols, such as triangles and circles, and multitude of religious practitioners gives this organization a unique appearance among other secret societies. As a matter of fact, the abstruseness of the freemasonry contributes to the endless debates over what the freemasonry is. Demystifying such a public secret might be impossible, because it is more likely to involve some pointless exaggeration.
Sources:
- The Lost symbol ( a novel )
- Dan Brown’s interviews
- the symbolism of freemasonry, written by Albert G. Meckey ( borrowed from Marcel )
