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Truth
by Bro Steve Grant

"In passing, it must be stressed that love of knowledge has always been associated with a love of life. Those who continue to learn free themselves from old-fashioned responses and come to respect humanity in general. . . . The partisans of an already defined truth impose their dogmas by force, in order to enjoy the power of ruling others. . . . This dogmatic way of thinking comes from a denial of reality as ever-changing, and thus can be considered to be pathological. But every poison has its antidote and other voices rise up in answer, to remind us of the promise as well as the dangers of reality. . . . This tradition of tolerance and open-mindedness can be traced back even further. It is epitomised by true mystics, that is to say by men who remain open to self doubt and self-criticism. . . . It is within this tradition that Freemasonry takes its place."

Wilmshurst, The Meaning of Masonry:

"The Masonic doctrine of the Centre -- or, in other words, the Christian axiom that "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you" -- is nowhere better stated than by the poet Browning:
"Truth is within ourselves. It takes no rise From outward things, whate'er you may believe. There is an inmost centre in ourselves Where truth abides in fullness; and to know Rather consists in finding out a way Whence the imprisoned splendour may escape Than by effecting entrance for a light Supposed to be without."
Brethren, may we all come to the knowledge how to "open the Lodge upon the centre" of ourselves and so realize in our own conscious experience the finding of the "imprisoned splendour" hidden in the depths of our being, whose rising within ourselves will bring us peace and salvation."

"TRUTH" according to:Pike.

Pike (edited by de Hoyos):, Esoterika

"THE TRUTH. Everyone supposes that "Truth" is the apocryphal account of the answers given to the question, "Which is the strongest?" and in the exclamation "Great is Truth, and Mighty above ale things," means conformity to fact, a reality, that which one says that is not false. . . .Hermes says in Asclepios, "The Intelligence of the Divine Being, the Consciousness of the Supreme God, is the only Truth; and this Truth cannot be discovered -- no, not so much as its Shadow -- in this World full of Illusion, of changeful appearances, and of error, where things are known only in the dimension of time." . . . Elias Ashmole says in "The Way to Bliss," published in 1658, when he had been twelve years a Freemason, "The Minde and Wit of man is but a spark of the Divine and Great Minde." . . . The "Truth is, in the Latin, Veritas; and Cicero in his "De Natura Deorum," says, "Ut, quicqued accidat, id ex aeterna Veritate caussarumque continuatine fluxisse dicatis" -- "That whatever may take place, thou mayest say that it has emanated from the eternal Truth and Continuity of Causes." The Truth that is great and mighty above all things, is Divine Wisdom immanent in the Deity, whereby He was deemed to have created the Universe."

Macoy, A Dictionary of Freemasonry:

"TRUTH. One of the great tenets of a Freemason's profession. It is the foundation of all Masonic virtues; it is one of our grand principles; for to be good men and true is a part of the first lesson we are taught; and at the commencement of our freedom we are exhorted to be fervent and zealous in the pursuit of truth and goodness. It is not sufficient that we walk in the light, unless we do so in the truth also. All hypocrisy and deceit must be banished from among us. Sincerity and plain dealing complete the harmony of a Lodge, and render us acceptable in the sight of him unto whom all hearts are open, all desires, known, and from whom no secrets are hid. There is a charm in truth, which draws and attracts the mind continually toward it. The more we discover, the more we desire; and the great reward is wisdom, virtue, and happiness. This is an edifice founded on a rock, which malice cannot shake or time destroy. In the ancient mythology of Rome, Truth was called the mother of Virtue, and was depicted with white and flowing garments. Her looks were cheerful and pleasant, though modest and serene. She was the protectress of honor and honesty, and the light and joy of human society."

Mackey, Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry:

"TRUTH. The real object of Freemasonry, in a philosophical and religious sense, is the search for truth. This truth is, therefore, symbolized by the Word. From the first entrance of the Apprentice into the Lodge, until his reception of the highest degree, this search is continued. It is not always found and a substitute must sometimes be provided. Yet whatever be the labors he performs, whatever the ceremonies through which he passes, whatever the symbols in which he may be instructed, whatever the final reward he may obtain, the true end of all is the attainment of Truth.
This idea of truth is not the same as that expressed in the lecture of the First Degree, where Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth are there said to be the "three great tenets of a Mason's profession." In that connection, Truth, which is called a "Divine Attribute, the foundation of every virtue," is synonymous with Sincerity, honesty of expression, and plain dealing. The higher idea of truth which pervades the whole Masonic system, and which is symbolized by the Word, is that which is properly expressed to a knowledge of God. There was an Egyptian goddess named in the Hebrew, Thm, or Thme, meaning integritas, or Justice and Truth.
This one of the three great Masonic principles is represented among the Egyptians by an ostrich feather; and the judicial officer was also thus represented, "because that bird, unlike others, has all its feathers equal," Horapollo. The Hebrew word ion, signifies an Ostrich, as also a Council; and the word Rnne, is interpreted, poetically, an ostrich, and also a song of joy, or of Praise; hence, "the happy souls thus ornamented, under the inspection of the lords of the heart's joy, gathered fruits from celestial trees." In the judgment in Amenti, the soul advances toward the goddess Thme, who wears on her head the ostrich feather. In the scale, Anubis and Horus weigh the actions of the deceased. On one side is the ostrich feather, and on the other the vase containing the heart. Should the weight of the heart be greater than the feather, the soul is entitled to be received into the celestial courts. The forty-two judges, with heads ornamented with ostrich feathers, sit aloft to pronounce judgment."