Origins of Masonry?

[Frater Cliff Porter]

I am looking for a direct, straightforward answer. Gnosticism seems to be promulgated as some mandatory Masonic path by some posters. Is it, or is it just a sideline? It's been flatly stated that Gnosticism is the earliest form of Christianity. Does that mean that non-Gnostic Christians aren't following Christianity as believed by the Apostles? That would have to be the conclusion, if Gnosticism is the earliest form. Gee, I guess that means that all the Evangelicals are wrong, too...

Bryan you have decided to read things into statements that have not been made. Can you show me where Gnosticism was provided as a mandatory path?

And I am not sure anyone historically knows what the "oldest" Christianity is. If you were going to use written text, then yes, what we would call Gnostic Christianity is the oldest.

As to the apostle's, who knows what was in each man's heart? I read what was allegedly written by them or ascribed to them and take them at their word.

But out of curiosity, what does it matter what anyone else believes as long as you have a wonderfully rich walk with Christ? Shouldn't Masonry be strong enough to allow for the difference of opinion on matters of faith? Shouldn't we as people be open to such things? The idea that a man's faith is his own and that we need not worry about their walk as much as our own?

As far as your sarcasm in regards to Evangelicalism, I would provide that if you wanted to demonstrate an Evangelical ideal of a Christ like life was the example meant by the apostles and by Christ you should not be demeaning and argumentative. Being loving, forgiving, and willing to talk (such as Paul in Corinth for example) would set out to show how you believe.

In the end, if you are a Mason and you are an Evangelical Christian how can someone deny you this? Even if the head of some Gnostic order showed up and said, "No Bryan you are not a Mason" or as you put it a "full Mason"...would it change anything? No, of course it would not. You would still be a Mason and whatever your chosen faith.

I was told by the Lutheran church when I was withheld continued membership in the church of my youth because of my Masonic membership that I was in essence, not a good Christian, because I was Mason.

In the end, they couldn't take Christ from me anymore than I could from you.

 

[Traveling Man]

I was told by the Lutheran church when I was withheld continued membership in the church of my youth because of my Masonic membership that I was in essence, not a good Christian, because I was Mason.

In the end, they couldn't take Christ from me anymore than I could from you.

So I took my membership (religious) elsewhere... :001_rolleyes:

 

[Star Mztyk]

.... I would have to vote... Other. The reason being that if we not only look at the ancient civilizations that built equally as old Temples to chart the face of the heavens, fixed stars....and other particular occurances as the Soltices and Equinoxes, they were obviously studying the Blueprint of the night sky for one purpose. To Built upon Earth that which is in Heaven.....and manifest the 4 Square (4 Cardinal Directions) New Jerusalem.


Merry Christmas.... and let us remember the Three Magi ....the scholars of their time.

 

[calo]

What do you guys believe to be the origins of Masonry?

Depends on what you mean by origins. Do you mean the philosophy or the name?

 

[Mac]

I don't think I could ever get behind the idea that the Knights Templar founded Freemasonry or influenced its development. There just isn't evidence to support it. I'm open-minded, but the difference between a crackpot theory on the History Channel and something published in a peer-reviewed journal is simple: evidence.

 

[jwhoff]

Wonder who ever came up with that name ... History Channel!

:blink:

 

[Frater Cliff Porter]

I am honestly not certain if we will ever truly know the origins. One thing is for certain, whatever Freemasonry was or came from, it was heavily influenced at the Enlightenment Era in Europe and from that we find the many of the origins of our common practices.

 

[rhitland]

well heck, there goes my theory that the silent G was a clue to some mystical link to masonry.

 

[Ecossais]

It is hard for anyone to argue with the facts. Shortly after William Schaw, Master of Works for Scotland's King James VI, issued the Schaw Statutes to Scotland's operative lodges in 1598 and 1599, things began to change. Almost immediately, we begin to see non-operatives being "accepted" among the members of Scotland's lodges. By 1630, they had developed "the Mason Word," and there is no record of it prior to that. In 1646, we see the first record of accepted (non-operative) Masons in an English lodge. Prior to that, there is no record of accepted Masons in English lodges, so it appears that speculative Freemasonry is coming into England from Scotland about this time period.

Further, there is no evidence of speculative Freemasonry in England prior to that 1646 record. And, there are no minute books, and no official lodge records from any English lodges prior to 1716-17. However, there are many, many minute books from Scottish lodges dating from the late 1500s and 1600s.

In other words, there is a mountain of evidence that speculative Freemasonry began with the operative lodges of Scotland in the very late 1500s and early 1600s. But, there is no evidence that it even existed in England prior to the mid-1600s.

 

[Ecossais]

BTW: Issues of historical fact are not decided by a popular vote taken by those interested in casting a vote. What if the question was asked: Who was the most influential American Masonic ritualist of the 18th century? And what if the majority "voted" for Ben Franklin? Would that make it so? In questions of historical fact, the majority can be, and often are, dead wrong.

 

[Bro. WattzPHA]

There is no set origin of Masonry but an accumulation of many origins. But it is certain that it started well before the time of Christ. Especially the rituals. They represent something far greater than infancy, manhood and old age.


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[James F Jackson]

Yes Sir

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[krafox]

For this question i recommend two things. The book of hiran (i think that is the name in english) or a documentary called the Scotthish Key.

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[BroBook]

Good stuff ! Thanks my brother!


My Freemasonry HD

 

[BryanMaloney]

Because it's a lot easier to tell the wife "I was down at the lodge with my brothers." than "I was down at the tavern with the guys."

 

[BroBook]

I am currently reading "The History of
Freemasonry " the legendary origins by Albert Mackey


Bro Book

 

[Warrior1256]

I agree with Brother Vanderson that stone masons & the Templars figure into our origins. One thought that occurred to me was who built the castles for the Templars in the Holy Land & elsewhere ??? Could that possibly how the 2 groups originally got together ??? When the persecution of the Templars began and they headed off to the British Isles were they welcomed & taken care with no questions asked due to a previous association?? Some food for thought !!!!

Very good point!

 

[masson]

I wish we were I lodge... Haha no religion no politics