Preface.

This website aims to provide information about traditional, Regular Freemasonry as it exists throughout the world and as practised in Belgium and whose fraternal message has struck a chord in the hearts of millions of men for centuries.

Many others, however, even if they are unaware of it, have strong affinities with Freemasonry: all who look for an existence that is more enlightened by the spirit; and for personal exploration open to others and the world around them, unburdened by any kind of system; and all who feel that their own personal search might be less haphazard in a fraternal community in an Order whose message is conveyed by initiation.

Contrary to any misconceptions, our aim is to try to show what traditional Regular Freemasonry really is.

In fact, for many, the general notion of Freemasonry would seem to imply a secret society largely devoted to fighting the influence of the Church and the Roman Catholic Church in particular, an organisation which launched the ideas of free-thinking and endless anti-clerical and anti-religious campaigning. Otherwise it is thought of as a formidable pressure-group, whose all-pervading influence in politics and the corridors of power is constantly working to gain valuable advantage for Masons.

This a somewhat crass, though widespread, view which has doubtless managed to attract all kinds of opportunists, puerile devotees of fearful secrets and anti-clerical fanatics to certain deviations of so-called Masonry.

Let us be clear, at the risk of disappointing some: Freemasonry, given its spiritual and initiatory nature, offers no philosophy, no psychological recipes, no religious option. It reveals no magical or mystical secrets and possesses no mysterious key to mankind or the world. Its traditional purpose is to pass on to men qualified to receive it a spiritual influence that can evoke in them a deeply felt confidence and their own latent inner strength.

It thereby offers a working method, a way towards personal exploration for to any man capable of freedom of mind, spiritual commitment and a living sense of brotherhood. Whoever wishes to give a new dimension to his life can do just that, in an Order which, in the way it carries out its symbolic ritual work, stands back from the outside world and tries to leave aside its confrontations and ideologies.