Is Freemasonry a secret society?

Proverbs 11:13, "a tale bearer revealeth secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter."

Secrets
H. L. Haywood, ". . . there is nothing objectionable or unfamiliar about secrecy; it is a human necessity found everywhere, and often where it is not apparently in evidence it will be found on examination to equal or even exceed that which lies about the gateways of our Fraternity." (The Great Teachings of Masonry, page 32)

Alphonse Cerza wrote, "This matter of the 'secrecy' of Freemasonry has been much overdone. The secrets of Freemasonry are few and are restricted to certain ceremonials, passwords, and signs." (Let There Be Light, page 39)

Joseph Newton, "What is secret in Masonry? The method of its teaching, the atmosphere it creates, the spirit it weaves between man and man; in other words, the lodge and its ceremonies and obligations, it signs, tokens, and words -- its power to evoke what is most secret and hidden in the hearts of men. No one can explain how this is done. We only know that it is done, and guard as a priceless teasure the method by which it is wrought." (Short Talks on Masonry, page 59)

Jim Tresner, "The 'secrets' in Masonry are personal insights. They are secret not because we are pledged to conceal them, but because they cannot be truly communicated from one person to another.
It is for each individual Mason to discover the secret of Masonry, by reflection upon its symbols and a wise consideration and analysis of what is said and done in the work." (Albert Pike, The Man Beyond The Monument)

Although symbolism, passwords, and rituals are used in Freemasonry, many books in academic and major public libraries detail the meanings and practices of Freemasonry. The passwords and rituals have not been changed in Freemasonry, even though they can easily be learned by non-Masons. To a casual observer, changing these would appear essential to a secret society, just as passwords are changed on computers when the passwords are compromised. Secret groups are popular among large numbers of people, from boys' clubs with passwords and rules (such as, "no girls allowed" is usually at the head of the list of rules) to men's clubs for purely worldly ambitions. Initiation ceremony, oaths of secrecy, and sometimes to awe of relgions and oral elements are often included.

Joseph Newton, "The secret of Masonry, like the secret of life, can be known only by those who seek it, serve it, live it. It cannot be uttered; it can only be felt and acted. It is, in fact, an open secret, and each man knows it according to his quest and capacity. Like all the things most worth knowing, no one can know it for another and ono one can know it alone. It is known only in fellowship, by the touch of life upon life, spirit upon spirit, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand in hand.
For that reason, no one need be alarmed about any book written to expose Masonry. It is utterly harmless. The real secret of Masonry cannot be learned by prying eyes or curious inquiry. We do well to protect the privacy of the lodge; but the secret of Masonry can be known only by those who are ready and worthy to receive it. Only a pure heart and an honest mind can know it. Others seek it in vain, and never know it, though they be adepts in all the signs and tokens of every rite and rank of the Craft." (Short Talks on Masonry, page 61)

Christopher Haffner, "Our Lord taught that secrecy was very desirable, equivalent almost to genuineness of feeling, the opposite of outward show. In the Sermon on the Mount, He gives three examples in quick succession: 'When you do some act of charity, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing; your good deed must be secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you openly.' (Mat. 6:3-4)
'When you pray, go into a room by yourself, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is there in the secret place; and your Father, who sees what is secret will reward you.' (Mat. 6:6)
'When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that men may not see that you are fasting, but only your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees what is secret will give you your reward.' (Mat. 6:17-18)
In contrast to this, it is quite clear that there are no permanent secrets. Jesus taught, 'There is nothing hidden that will not become public, nothing under cover that will be made known and brought into the open.'
These concepts are by no means foreign to Freemasonry. . . . Belief in an omniscient deity is also promulgated in the Craft. The closing prayer in the second degree reads: 'Brethren, let us, remember that wherever we are, and whatever we do, He is with us, and His all-seeing eye observes us, and whilst we continue to act in conformity with the principles of the Craft, let us not fail to discharge our duty to Him with fervency and zeal' (Hannah, p. 93)" (Workman Unashamed, page 81)


Anti-Mason L. James Rongstad wrote, "A contradiction exists within the lodge. It claims to have purer truth than an of the religions, yet its 'truth' is steadfastly kept secret. Should not the lodge open its closet doors and proclaim tis truth openly?" (How to Respond to the Lodge, page 25)

H. L. Haywood wrote, ". . . he is not sworn to keep secret that which Freemasonry really is! Its principles, its history, its spirit, its ideals, its purposes and programmes, he may publish to the world, and the more he publishes them the better." (The Great Teachings of Masonry, page 35)

Joseph Newton, "Indeed, so far from trying to hide its secret, Masonry is all the time trying to give it to the world, in the only way in which it can be given, through a certain quality of soul and character which it labors to reate and build up. To the making of men, helping to self-discovery and self-development, all the offices of Masonry are dedicated. It is a quarry in which the rough stones of manhood are polished for use and beauty." (Short Talks on Masonry, pages 61-62)


A Secret Society?
Anti-Mason Charles Madden, ". . . Freemasonry is a secret society . . ." (Freemasonry: Mankind's Hidden Enemy, page 1)

Anti-Masonry Charles Madden, "The Freemasons are still a secret society; they still continue to conceal their mysteries and designs, even from their own members." (Freemasonry: Mankind's Hidden Enemy, page 6)

Freemasonry is a secret society in name more than fact. When a secret becomes known, it is no longer a secret to the person who has learned the secret. Its constitution and rules are available to the public. There isno secret about any of its aims and principles. Membership rosters are kept at every lodge and it is not difficult for non-Masons to learn who are Freemasons. All members are free to acknowledge their membership. In fact, Masons are quite eager to let non-Masons know of their Masonic membership. Names of lodge officers are readily available. The Masonic symbol appears on Masonic lodges with no attempt to conceal their existence from the public. The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with its traditional modes of recognition.

Joseph Newton, "Yet, strictly speaking, Masonry is not a secret society, if by that we mean a society whose very existence is hidden. Everybody knows that the Masonic Fraternity exists, and no effort is made to hide the fact. Its organization is known; its temples stand in our cities; its members are proud to be known as Masons. Anyone may obtain from the records of Grand Lodges, if not from the printed reports of lodges, the names of the members of the Craft." (Short Talks on Masonry, page 58)

Alphonse Cerza wrote, "Freemasonry is not a secret society. The craft does nothing to hide its existence, its aims and principles are expounded in many books and periodicals; its work is in the open; its meetings places are in buildings that are known to the community, and the members freely admit their membership." (Let There Be Light, page 38)

Rex Hutchens, "Rather than being a secret society, Freemasonry is a revealor of secrets. The great truths of ancient man were, in their time, also great secrets and few were admitted nto the sanctuaries where these truths were taught. Today the Craft teaches the great truths to all worthy men who ask to learn them." (A Bridge to Light, page 1)

Alphonse Cerza wrote, "Some anti-Masonic literature states that Freemasonry has 'secret aims.' These opponents go so far as to state that the aims are so secret that most Masons never even know or suspect what these aims are. With the constant change of officers in most lodges each year, with the change of most Grand Lodge officers every year or two, with the detailed printing of the 'Proceedings' of Grand Lodges, and the publication of a large number of Masonic periodicals and books it is unlikely that such a thing could exist. What would be the purpose of having such a close secret that not even the members or officers know it? Certainly if such 'secret aims' exist, it would be for the purpose of doing or accomplishing something; success in the accomplishment could never be realized unless something were done to bring it about and this would mean that the member (or some of them) would know about it. If there is no evidence of it anywhere the inescapable conclusion is that there is no such 'secret aim'." (Let There Be Light, page 39)

Stephen Knight wrote, "Freemasonry is not a worldwide secret society. . . ." (The Brotherhood, page 3)


October 28, 2007