THE GRAND LODGE
OF ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF CROATIA

WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?

Medieval building construction, showing the new work being added to the old

What is Freemasonry?

reemasonry is one of the world's oldest fraternal societies. The lessons Freemasonry teaches in its ceremonies are to do with moral values (governing relations between people) and its acknowledgement, without in any way crossing the boundaries of religion, that everything depends on the providence of God. Freemasons feel that these lessons apply just as much today as they did when it took its modern form at the turn of the 17th century.

Despite what many people claim, Freemasonry is not a secret society. Masonic so-called secrets are solely used as a ceremonial way of demonstrating that one is a Freemason when in lodges meetings. In any case, they have been exposed by the media for almost as long as Freemasonry has existed and are not important informations anyway. The real point of a Freemason promising not to reveal them is basically a dramatic way of promising to keep one's promises in general.

Other reasons why Freemasonry cannot be called a secret society are that freemasons do not promise to keep their membership secret (they can tell anyone they wish), that our society is regularly registered society with its statute and finally - that some Croatian freemasons gave interviews to media presenting the fact of establishing Grand Lodge of Croatia as well as our aims, what we are continuing on this pages.

It is ironic that because freemasons used to be reticent about their membership (because they were and still are taught never to use it to advance their own interests), critics have taken this the wrong way round and think that there is something secretive and nasty going on. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Masonic ceremonies are secular morality plays that are learned by heart by members of the lodges for the benefit of the person who is becoming a Freemason or who wishes to explore Freemasonry further. Each ceremony has a message for the candidate. A further reason why freemasons do not go around broadcasting their contents is simply because it would spoil it for the candidate - exactly as in the same way you would not tell someone the ending of a book or a film.

According to the its Constitution of the Grand Lodge, Croatian Freemasonry belongs to the system called the Symbolic Freemasonry (Craft) and works in a three traditional symbolic degrees. For those who want to explore the subject in more depth it is necessary to mention that there is a host of other systems of Freemasonry.

These three ceremonies (or degrees as we call them) look at the relations between people, man's natural equality and his dependence on others, the importance of education and the rewards of labour, fidelity to a promise, contemplation of inevitable death, and one's duty to others.

Furthermore, Freemasons are not allowed to discuss religion at meetings. Croatian Freemasonry is also strictly non-political and the discussion of politics at Masonic meetings is expressly forbidden. These rules both stem from Freemasonry's aims to encourage its members to discover what people from all different backgrounds have in common. As is all too well known, debate about religion and politics has all too often led, when allowed to run riot, to discrimination, persecution and war.

Although all Freemasons are required to profess and continue in a belief in a Supreme Being (symbolised by a Great Architect of the Universe), and their ceremonies include prayers, Freemasonry is not in any way a substitute for religion. It has and can have no theological doctrines, it offers no sacraments, and it does not claim to lead to salvation.

A Freemason is thus basically encouraged to do his duty first to his, freely chosen, God (by whatever name he is known) through his faith and religious practice, and then, without detriment to his family and those dependent on him, to his neighbour through charity and service.

None of these ideas is exclusive to Freemasonry, but all should be universally acceptable and Freemasons are expected to follow them.

Reviewed by: Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Croatia

Freemasonry

reemasonry, largest and most widely established fraternal order in the world. The medieval masons' guilds had originally been restricted to stonecutters, but in England during the Reformation, they began to admit as members men of wealth or social status. The guilds gradually became societies devoted to general ideals, such as fraternity, equality, and peace, and their meetings became social rather than business occasions.

Four or more such guilds, called lodges, united in London on June 24, 1717, to form a grand lodge for London and Westminster, which, within six years, became the Grand Lodge of England. This body is the "mother" grand lodge of Freemasons in the world, and from it all recognized grand lodges have been derived. The Grand Lodge of All England was formed at York in 1725, that of Ireland by June of the same year, and of Scotland in 1736. The York body came under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge at London later in the century.

As a result of the patronage of the order by members of the nobility, the rising British mercantile class looked upon Freemasonry as an adjunct to social success, and the order became popular. The Masonic ideals of religious toleration and the basic equality of all people were in keeping with the growing spirit of liberalism during the 18th century. One of the basic tenets of the Masonic orders throughout the English-speaking world has been that religion is the concern solely of the individual. Opposition on the part of the Roman Catholic Church has been chiefly on the grounds that Freemasonry, with its binding principles and religious nature, has usurped the prerogatives of the Church. As a result, the Freemasons have never been permitted in some strictly Roman Catholic countries, such as Spain. In France, however, following the atheistic trend of the French Revolution, the order flourished. World membership exceeds 6 million.

Functions

In most English-speaking countries the charitable and protective features of the fraternity have been responsible for the establishment of Masonic homes for the care of dependent aged Masons and their widows, and orphanages and schools for the children of members. The Mason is instructed that his fraternal obligations involving aid to members are to be subordinated to the duty he owes to God, his country, and his family, with full recognition of the duty he owes to humanity. The Masonic fraternity differs radically from the other private benevolent societies, and from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the next largest private, international, fraternal association, in that the relief or charity extended among members is purely voluntary, dependent on the need in each individual case. It is in no way part of a contract or other understanding that the distress of a Brother shall call for specific financial recognition or care. Freemasonry is essentially an educational society, attempting to teach its members a moral philosophy of life.

Major Systems

Scores of Masonic rites have sprung up since the 17th century, but only five of any great consequence survive today. Two Masonic systems are called the York Rite and the Scottish Rite. Neither has any connection, historically or otherwise, with York, England, or Scotland. The York Rite was formed in the late 18th century and is called Capitular and the members Royal Arch Masons (four degrees); the next step is Cryptic and the members Royal and Select Masons (three degrees); and the final step is Chivalric and the members Knights Templar (three orders). The Scottish Rite was formed in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1801 (thirty-three degrees including three Symbolic Lodge Degrees).

In many other groups, loosely attached in some way to the York Rite, members are usually selected but sometimes are elected. They are interested in special aspects of Masonry, including Masonic research. One might say they are offshoots of the main stem. Among them are the Royal Order of Scotland, the Allied Masonic Degrees, the Red Cross of Constantine, the Masonic Rosicrucian Society (SRICF), the Rite of Strict Observance (CBCS), the Grand College of Rites, Knight Masons, Order of Corks, the York Cross of Honour, the Blue Friars, and the Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests. There are also what might be called "fun degrees", such as the Shrine, the Grotto, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, many of which are of considerable size. In addition some very small groups cater to students of special aspects of the Craft.

Reviewed by: General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons