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Danny
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Posted 05/06/2010 11:23:47
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Posted a question a while ago which was why was freemasonry started, no real answer for that as to be fair no one could really answer it, next question is has freemasonry changed through the years or is it basically the same as when it was formed.
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sojourner
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Posted 05/06/2010 13:22:51
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I think Danny that you probably received so few replies because nobody really knows the true answers. There are many theories about how it started, ranging from operative stonemasons in the middle ages to a continuation of the ceremonies of the Knights Templar. I doubt very much if the Masonry of today bears much resemblance to the original. As I understand it, Masonry of old consisted of questions and answers (catechisms), the remenants of which we have in the opening and closing of each degree, the questions and answers posed to candidates for the second and third degrees, and in the symbolical lectures (again in catechism form). It also had only two Degrees, namely Entered Apprentice and Fellow of the Craft. Even where it started is subject to debate. It is generally put out by UGLE that Masonry started in the operative stonemasons' guilds in England in the middle ages (I am an UGLE Mason now resident in Scotland). Owing to the age of documents appertaining to Scottish Lodges (ie., Mother Kilwinning No 0), there is certainly evidence that Freemasonry in Scotland predates any proveable Masonry in England. (Puts on Kevlar helmet and Bodyarmour and retreats to his fire trench). As to why it started, again theories range. In the days of yore, operative Masonry was hardly a 9 to 5 job. Building something like a Church or Cathedral might take more than one generation to complete. You didn't just get on a bus each day to go to work, you moved to the job and remained there, possibly for your working life and brought up your family. Teaching and passing on skills from one generation to another would have been part of your life. As few people outside of the Clergy could read or write, having a certificate to say that you were a fully qualified "gargoyle carver" were not of much use. Thus it is logical thet you could only prove your level of skill by S...T...and W...s. if going on to another project. The whole history of Freemasonryhas expounded many theories, books and "lectures" by many "learned and expert" Brethren in the past and doubless will continue to do so. The truth is .... no one really knows.
Roy L."SELUME PROFERRE"
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lauderdale
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Posted 05/06/2010 14:02:46
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Yes it certainly has but your question is too broad. Can you narrow it down a bit? Has it changed since Speculative Freemasonry emerged in the 1660s, if not before that in Scotland? Has it changed since WW2? Is it changing now to meet the challenges of a changing Society?
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Danny
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Posted 05/06/2010 18:16:26
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Yes Exactly that, has freemasonry changed to be more in line with the time period, what i mean without trying to be disrespectful or too ignorant have things been left out or added in to suit how life is at the time, is freemasonry something that is ever changing to blend in with society or is it more not exactly static but more set in its ways?
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Russell Holland
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Posted 06/06/2010 01:27:34
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Danny
Your questions are complicated by the general determination that our current civilisation is the most sophisticated ever. This requires us to denigrate previous knowledge.
The origin of Masonry (in my view) may be linked symbolically to Genesis 6:1-8
"when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. "
It might seem obvious that the sons of God should have taught their children some of the higher knowledge and that might well have been passed on down the generations. And of course in many cultures there is a tradition of the divine descent of kings.
PSALM 82 Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men,
If you research this you will discover much.
For example consider the bread of life and the water of life - who used it and why? How does it appear in Masonry?
Cheers
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Danny
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Posted 06/06/2010 13:43:00
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I will do, thanks
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lauderdale
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Posted 06/06/2010 15:04:04
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To try to answer your question Danny. Freemasonry has obviously changed over the years, everything does. Has it changed as it is run here in the UK sufficiently to adapt to the different type of Society we now have compared to that of 1945? I'd personally say from experience, no. Others may well disagree with me on this. I am not of course saying that the key principles and tenets of Freemasonry have to be changed, but approach, emphasis, governance, the externals of Freemasonry may need to adapt to meet the societal changes of the second decade of the 21st Century.
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dp
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Posted 07/06/2010 10:08:01
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Freemasonry has changed over time. A 17th century ceremony was very different in appearance to the ceremonies we work today.
Also there are different orders that practice different ceremonies and some of them seem quite different.
However the message that these ceremonies put across is the same and does not change. Although the number of degrees that are worked has changed over the centuries.
Now. I would suggest that whilst the way the teachings of Freemasonry are transmitted remains fairly constant the way they are received would over time change radically.
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Mike Martin
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Posted 07/06/2010 18:42:39
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Apprentice
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Danny
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Posted 07/06/2010 20:41:00
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If i have read correctly wasn't there only two degrees originally, then a third was added and the royal arch degree is an extension of the third degree. And that there was two fractions to freemasonry until a compromise was met in 1813.Again i do stress i am not a member yet and that this is just things i have read and not sure if this is correct or not. If anyone can help i would be grateful
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