The Role of Religion in Freemasonry

The home page of the Freemasonry website (www.freemasonry.org) states: "Freemasonry is the oldest and largest world wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of a Supreme Being. Although of a religious nature, Freemasonry is not a religion. It urges its members, however, to be faithful and devoted to their own religious beliefs." And as a mason, one is taught from the beginning, "Freemasonry, a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols."

Freemasonry takes its foundation from the ancient masons who originally constructed some of the greatest ancient structures known to man, including and most especially originating with the building of King Solomon's Temple. During this time, the men were very involved with their religious practices, and the formation of the brotherhood included the common practices amongst the various men who came to build that temple. I believe since so many were gathered from the various nations of the period, and the practices of faith varied amongst each to some degree, that it was decided in forming the first "masonic lodge" the three original grand masters did not want to limit any practices amongst the members, but wanted to be sure that those working to build the holy temple were men of faith.

Religion plays a founding role in Freemasonry. Not so much that there is a specific required to follow save one - that the man who asks to join the fraternity believe in a Supreme Being. In the most basic of levels - what is referred to as a "Blue Lodge" one of the first questions asked even before starting the initiation process is whether or not the candidate believes in God. It is not asked what specific religious practice is followed, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or other faith. Only whether one believes in the Divine.

Religion is the foundation of morality - one learns their basic moral conduct based upon the faith in which they were raised. And once again, it matters not which faith one is raised, for they all do contain core similarities which maintain their universality within the framework of Freemasonry. This is the other key role that religion has within the fraternity. For as stated above, Freemasonry is a system of morality.

Finally, religion is a source of symbolism, rich with the history of mankind and the evolution of our race. Although the most recognizable symbols are the square and compasses, there are others utilized in the education and representation of values held in high regard within Freemasonry. Originally passed along only as an oral tradition, symbols were utilized to convey lessons and knowledge as a man gained knowledge and experience within the ranks of the lodge. And even today, the oral tradition continues, as new members are initiated and tested through catechism for each of the three levels, and with each level new symbols and tools are introduced to aid in the further education of our masonic bretheren.

Freemasonry is in many ways the ultimate religion because of it's dedication to brotherhood amongst men without limitation to core beliefs which one man may practice differently from another. It is these differences which define who we are, and it is the similarities of our moral fiber, as taught within our religious practices, which unite us in the fraternal lodge we attend. Religion plays the defining role for freemasons because of this; the moral fiber which is our personal foundation is melded into the greater structure of freemasonry, uniting the lodge into the strongest fraternity known to man, having lasted for generations, and continuing into the next.

Hugh D Fegely, Master Mason
St John's #3 AF&AM New Bern, NC
sources: www.freemasonry.org
North Carolina Lodge Manual, Charles F. Bahnson, (c) 1892, reprinted 1991