UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD AND THE FREEFREEMASON
BY.W.Bro.A.SRINIVAS
LODGE MORLAND NO.25,
HYDERABAD.
Brethren,
Come the Twenty Fourth of June, the institution of Freemasonry, observes/celebrates Universal Brotherhood Day. “Why is that Freemasons have been observing it on 24th of June and what is the significance for them?” Technically, Freemasons follow this date, as it was the date adopted in the VIIth World Conference of Freemasonic Grand Lodges, held at Sanitiago, Chile, in May 2004.
HISTORICAL DIMENSION OF UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD:
Coming to the significance of the date, it has got a chequered history. At this juncture it would be necessary to go into the history of Christianity and to a certain extent to the working of the Blue Lodges in England and the U.S.A. Freemasons familiar with the Blue Lodges would know of the phrase “Erected to God and dedicated to the Holy Saints John”. Here the Holy Saints John are: John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Who are these saints and why is that the Freemasons look to them in the Blue Lodges.
Lodges in the United States are dedicated to St.John the Baptist and St.John the Evangelist. Thus, in every well-regulated Lodge, there is exhibited a certain point within a circle bordered by two perpendicular parallel lines representing these two Saints. Originally, in English Lodge, the parallel lines were said to be representing Moses and Solomon. The United Grand Lodge of England changed this allusion in 1812 to eliminate any charge of sectarianism
John the Baptist as told in the four Gospels was considered to be a cousin of Jesus Christ. He was described as “a voice crying in the wilderness” and whose purpose was “to make way of Lord and make his path straight”. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus describes him: “among them that born of women, there has not risen any greater than John the Baptist”. He was called the Baptist, because he baptized believers. He led a simple but a powerful and devout life on the banks of River Jordan. He is said to have preached single minded – righteousness living and change of character. He preached that one must live in a holy manner. And for his devotion to Jesus and for believing in his principles, he was imprisoned and beheaded by King Herod. The heroism, fidelity and integrity of John take the same character of that of Hiram Abif and Jacques the Molay.
John the Evangelist was at some point was known as John the Disciple, John the Epistle, and John the Divine. All the writings of John Evangelist are more or less on the same lines as given in a Freemasonic ritual. For example one of his paragraphs is as under: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness and darkness was comprehended it not”. The concept of “light” is familiar to all Freemasons. Similarly as one joins the higher degrees the concept of “word” assumes significance. The inseparability of Light, Word and the Divine is of much Freemasonic significance.
“Righteousness and Love” –those two words do not fall short of telling the whole duty of a man and a Freemason. And Freemasons around the world could do no better in their choice of a patron and a model for living than they have in John the Baptist, a man whose life continues to shine as an example for all.
From Freemasonry, it is necessary to shift a bit to Pagan history. Pagan priests believed that the holiest days were the summer and winter solstices, i.e., the day when the sun shines the most and the day when the sun shines the least. Early recognized facts must have been the sun’s slow travel from north to south, and back again as the seasons waxed and waned. And, so mid-summers day, the longest, became a festival; it was the harbinger or harvest, the birthday of new life. The winter solstice was significant of the end if the slow decline of the sun, the beginning of a new time of warmth, crop and happiness.
The Christian Church down the line adopted these days as important feast days, and simply redesignated, the summer solstice as the feast of St.John the Baptist and the winter solstice as the feast of St. John the Evangelist. The summer solstice falls on 24Th of June and the winter solstice on the 27Th of December.
This theory was criticized by people who believed that the Freemasonry was an offshoot of Freemasons Guilds of the medieval times. But coincidently there is also a link here. Most of the guilds chose Patron Saints and used the feast days as the day like an annual general meeting. And it is a historically recorded fact that the John the Baptist was the Patron Saint for guilds in northern England and Scotland. Link this with the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England which came to existence on the 24Th day of June, 1717 in London and the circle is complete.
The above theories as such might not give a direct correlation to Freemasons observing 24Th June as Universal Brotherhood day, but only provides a link. One is not sure whether both the Johns were Freemasons. What is known of them is that they were perfect examples of what a Freemason should be: kind, righteous, loving and above all faithful unto death to the trust reposed in them. It has been said that: “They are the Platonic from of Freemasons never to be achieved, but always to be emulated.”
An anonymous author has said that:”Saint John the Evangelist was the Patron Saint of the fellowship and brotherly love, while John the Baptist was the Patron Saint of a newly raised Master Freemason, symbolic of not just a new member, but a new Brother dedicating himself to God and the Fraternity.”
PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSION OF UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD:
Having dwelt on the Historical facts of “Universal Brotherhood” I now turn to the Philosophical Dimension .
The stated ideals of Freemasonry are, Universal Brotherhood, tolerance of diverse religious “denominations and persuasions” and avoidance of political controversy. Brethren, Freemasons have imbibed universal brotherhood into their blood and have made it a part of their life.
You all know that we in Freemasonry believe in the “Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man”. Having said so what does one mean by “universal brotherhood”? A true Freemason is not creed bound, nor he is caste bound nor is he religion bound. It has been said that a Freemason believes only in the Supreme Light and not who carries the light. When he bows at the altar in the Freemasonic temple, he bows at all the religions which the religious books represent. At that juncture I don’t think that anybody would think that he is bowing only at the Gita or only the Koran or only the Bible. For a Freemason it is the thought, not the theatre that is important.
The altar of Freemasonry brings together all people. Inside the Freemasonic temple I am a Freemason, not a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian or a Sikh or a Parsi. If that is the case, then outside the temple also I should behave so. But unfortunately I do not. Outside the temple I again become a Hindu/Muslim/Parsi/Christian. Why is it so? Has not the concept of Universal Brotherhood as contemplated in Freemasonry, percolated into my narrow dogmatic mind?
What should I do? I must transcend the divisiveness of sectarian religion and search for a higher truth, which is based on a perfect understanding that we are children of one god and therefore we have to live in peace, love and harmony.
Scriptures tell us that God “made of one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26). Therefore it is not amiss to assert that there is a physical brotherhood of all men. If there is a physical brotherhood, there should also be spiritual brotherhood because “Universal Brotherhood” has no creeds or dogmas. It is built on the basis of common sense. It teachers that man is divine, that the soul of man is imperishable, and that Brotherhood is a fact in Nature, and consequently takes in all humanity”
Bro.Manly P.Hall in an article titled “The Lost Secrets Freemasonry” has said (quote) “Freemasonry is a structure built upon experience. Each stone is a sequential step in the unfolding of intelligence. The shrines of Freemasonry are ornamented by the jewels of a thousand ages; its rituals ring with the words of enlightened seers and illuminated sages. A hundred religions have brought their gifts of wisdom to its altar. Arts and sciences unnumbered have contributed to its symbolism. It is more than a faith; it is a path of certainty. It is more then a belief; it is a fact. Freemasonry is a university, teaching the liberal arts and sciences of the soul to all who will attend to its words”. (Unquote) If such is the belief, practice of Universal Brotherhood should become a way of life to a Freemason.
The basic tenets of Freemasonry are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Freemasonry provides a philosophy and a fraternity. Brethren in Freemasonry “meet on the Level and part on the Square”. Freemasonry binds all men in a mystic tie of sincere brotherhood and mutual love. Faith and work, soul and body, heart and hand are united as Freemasons.
Brethren, while we are initiating candidates into Freemasonry, we should not confine ourselves to conferring degrees on them. We should imbibe the fundamental principle of brotherly love into them. We are leaving the new Freemason in the wilderness by completing the ceremonies without the person understanding the spirit of Freemasonry and brotherhood. Numbers should not be our sole criteria nor ranks the sole aim. What is required is a perfect understanding of the ritual and the philosophy behind it. Mere memorizing of the rituals does not imbibe into us the spirit of brotherhood. Practice of the ritual will make us understand it better.
Brethren, we say that we will maintain a Freemason’s honor, we will not injure him our self or knowingly suffer it be done by others. We will repel the slanderer of his good name and respect the chastity of those nearest and dearest to him. Brethren ask yourself how many times have we done this? I myself have many times spoken ill of others, but have been trying to reduce and one day I hope that I will stop speaking ill of others. That is Brethren the truth which Freemasonry teaches us. On this day of Universal Brotherhood we should pledge ourselves to follow the tenets of brotherly love as laid down in Freemasonry.
While concluding, I dare say “In the present day world, the fabric of society is being torn, trampled and treated with utter contempt. Caste, creed and religion are being used to crate divide amongst people. Where is this society heading? Are we Freemasons to be mere spectators and allow ourselves to be manipulated by leaders who are not worth their name? Should we allow the society to die? Are we not responsible to the future generations? What is that we should do? The Master while closing the lodge says “Let brotherly love prevail, and every moral and social virtue cement and unite us “. So brethren, let we spread the message of brotherly love through the concept of universal brotherhood, let us cement and unite people around us, whether he is a Freemason or not.
Mark Twain the famous writer said, “The Universal Brotherhood of man is our most precious possession”. Brethren, let us therefore not lose that precious possession and we Freemasons should adopt “Universal Brotherhood” not as a day or as a ritual but as a philosophy.
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(The above article was delivered on the occasion of the celebration of the “Universal Brotherhood Day “ on 24th of June, 2007 at the Goshamahal Baradari Masonic Building , Hyderabad in the presence of W.Bro.A.N.Chidamber and Wor.P.Vijay Kumar, the area Assistant Regional Grand Masters)
SOURCES
- The Holy Bible
- The Craft Ritual Book of the Grand Lodge of India.
- “In Search of St.John the Baptist “by Rev.Jill E. Harvey, First Baptist Church of Lebanon.
- “An Inquiry into the designation of the Saints John as Patron Saints of Freemasonry”. By W.Bro.Harvery L.Ward Jr, P.M of Schafer Lodge No. 350 F & AM, Grand Lodge of Florida.
- “The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry”, by Bro.Manly P.Hall.
- St.John the Evangelist, Patron Saint, by: Phillip G. ”Phil” Elam, Grand Orator, Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Freemasons of the State of Missouri. U.S.A.
- The Internet.
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