Silence, Symbols and Secrets of Freemasonry

by Jacques Huyghebaert  (Brussels Belgum)

Introduction

For the non-Freemason, one common question is to find out 
whether, as often stated, Freemasonry is a secret society and that question is 
often further linked with a pre-existing suspicion that any form of secrecy may 
represent a danger for the government, the society and the individuals. 

Being Freemasons, we know that these fears are unfounded . 

All of us, having been non-Masons until the day we were 
initiated into Freemasonry, we also know that anyone who sincerely wants to 
find out about Freemasonry can do so.  What we did, sure others can do !

We can also assume that the overwhelming majority of all those 
who call themselves Freemasons, would resign and dissociate themselves 
from Freemasonry, if they were ever to find out that Freemasonry is or would 
become incompatible with the moral duties they owe to God, their country, 
their neighbour and themselves.

If Freemasonry was the evil organisation its enemies accuse it to 
be, I have no doubt that Freemasons would be the first to desert the Order.

To those who are not coming with sincere questions but with 
defamatory allegations, Freemasonry has traditionnally responded only with 
silence and disdain.  Not worth, spending any time ...

But when these attacks have been part of a wider scheme to 
crush all liberties, for example under the Nazi and the Communist regimes, 
and when Freemasons have been hunted down, jailed and sometimes 
murdered along with other groups persecuted for various reasons, they are 
known to have readily joined in opposing and fighting the oppressors to 
regain their lost freedom.

In such tragic circumstances, masonic secret, mutual trust and 
brotherly love take a noble signification - which we should be proud of.  

For indeed, in Freemasonry, we are enjoined to follow the 
example of that truly distinguished man, who choose rather to lie down his life 
than forfeit his integrity ...

Yet, in those countries where freedom, lawful authority and 
peace prevail, non-Masons and sometimes even Freemasons question the 
need for secrecy and secrets in Freemasonry  .

The Masonic ritual states that "these secrets allude to 
Freemasonry alone."  What is meant by this sentence can only be discovered 
and fully understood, by becoming a Freemason.  

From the very moment when, he is first led into the lodge, on the 
day of his initiation, to the moment of his solemn obligation, to the moment 
when he is taught the traditional penalty, to the moment he is given the signs, 
grips and words, the candidate is constantly warned and instructed about his 
essential duty to keep inviolate all the secrets of Freemasonry. 

Later, all along his Masonic career and life, regardless of the 
number of degrees and high positions he may receive, every Freemason will 
constantly be reminded on the first and most important of the Masonic virtues.

Secrecy : Why ? Why is it necessary, What does it mean ?

The answer to this important question is to be found not without, 
but within Freemasonry.

To be understood the Masonic concept of secret needs to be 
related to other aspects of Freemasonry ;  they are triple :  

SILENCE, SYMBOLS and SECRETS.

SILENCE

Silence, not secret is what the Entered Apprentice actually 
promises to observe.   What secrets does he know ? 	....  none !

So it is not secret, but instead silence that matters.  

In continental European lodges, the Entered Apprentice Mason 
is informed that Masonic tradition requires that he refrains from speaking while 
the lodge is at work.  By doing so, he is taught his first "secret" in Masonry, 
which is that by being silent while his senior Brothers speak, he may discover 
what is more important : to listen.   By doing so, he will need to submit his 
passions and he will eventually improve himself in Masonry.

Additionnally, it should be remarked that silence has another 
important role, which has been analysed by the French ethnologist, Jean 
Jamin in a work entitled " Les lois du silence" (The laws of silence),  a study 
dedicated to the social importance of secret in African tribal societies

The author remarks that, in the traditional sense, an African 
initiation is much more and admission ceremony rather than an event during 
which where actual secrets are being communicated.  

Those secrets : some mere words and signs, all senseless and 
childish in appearence, are a bitter disappointment after the long and painful 
often physical ordeal the candidates have been going through.  The real 
reward for the neophytes is not being now acquainted with some mysterious 
secrets, but having been admitted into a very respected and small group.

The main purpose of an African initiation, he states, consists 
simply in placing the newly admitted members in a position where only two 
options are possible : to remain silent or to betray. 

Thus, the ethnologist, goes on, the role of the solemn promise of 
silence that is imposed upon all the African initiates, is to create a strong bond 
between the neophytes and the group they now belong.  By doing so, he 
concludes, "secret " has been conferred a real though in fact social existence.

"Secret" is also a topic to be found in "The Imperial Animal" a 
book written by Lionel Tiger and Robin Fox, two American ethnologists.   

Their conclusions are very similar to those reached by Jamin : 

1  initiations are part of a classical pattern of behaviour in all 
primitive societies; 

2  the main activity of groups conferring initiations consist in 
secret but apparently futile ceremonies at the occasion of 
admission of new members and when moving up the ladder 
within a strong hierarchically structured group; 

3  For outsiders the image is that initiation is a high mark of 
favour reserved to only very few and that membership 
includes access to secrets. 

4  Secrecy is considered by the initiates to be a traditional way 
to ensure loyality and  solidarity.  


SYMBOLS

The wole teaching of Freemasonry is said to be symbolic.  

For a Freemason to discover the "secrets" of Freemasonry 
consists mainly in studying the "hidden" sense of symbols and allegories that 
can be observed in the Lodge and during the Masonic ritual and ceremonies.

The young Entered Apprentice may be enclined to believe that 
these ancient symbols are meaningless, that the ceremonies have now 
become antiquated if not simply ridiculous, and he might be tempted to reject 
too hastily that what lies beyond the field of his still profane understanding.

But if the secret teaching behind Masonic symbols is simply to 
convey a moral message, however wise and respectable it may be, why this 
need to keep secret what should be made available for the benefit of all ?

These symbols can be compared to a series of keys, allowing to 
open doors and enter successive rooms.  

These precious keys should not be given to the ignorant man for 
he would not know how to use them,  nor to the intolerant man for he would 
misuse them, nor to the overambitious man for he would desecrate them.

If ever threathened by force or otherwise to give the secrets of 
Freemasonry, the Mason will know that none of these secrets can be unduly 
obtained, for above the solemn obligation to silence, is a material impossibility 
to betray these secrets.  Some words, grips and signs have been published 
over 250 years ago,  they can be repeated by anyone, but one has to be 
prepared to grasp their meaning, to see their significance,  to hear  their 
message.  

It is like the famous Greek Mathematician Euclides, who was 
taken to the court of Pharao in Alexandria and threathened to be put to death 
by Ptolemy Philadelphos, in the 3rd century B.C., if he persisted in refusing to 
give the secrets of Geometry.  To Pharao, Euclides is said to have answered 
that putting him to death would not have made Pharao any wiser,  for the only 
way for him to obtain these secrets was to learn Geometry like he had done.  

SECRETS

Masonic symbols are the keys to a long, difficult but rewarding 
spiritual journey, it is a thorny road which we have to travel by ourselves.  Our 
Brethren can help us,  but at the end of the day, nobody can do it in our stead.

 Initiation does not consist in receiving any type of knowledge 
that can be written or said, or perceived by the five senses of human nature, 
but is an introduction to a type of totally different knowledge, where the Brother 
will learn mainly to use his heart to conceive the beauties of Freemasonry. 

Then nothing will remain neither occult, nor secret, for the 
intention of of the Fraternity has never been to hide, but only to transmit 
through the succession of ages,  the most excellent tenets of our Institution.

The sense of symbols, first very obscure, will progressively 
became clearer, and those words that the young Entered Apprentice can only 
spell with difficulty, will be read later with ease if he patiently perseveres.

He is guided symbolically when he is given the first letter of the 
word.  But he has to discover the second letter himself.  In due time, the third 
letter will be communicated to him in order that he may uncover the next.

This symbolic approach, held in high esteem among the peoples 
of Antiquity, is still used today by Freemasons but has nothing to do with a 
craving for secret or mystery, nor has this method become obsolete.

 Much to contrary, far superior to the confusion of words and of 
languages, Masonic symbols, so expressive, are more fitting than ever to to 
imprint upon the memory wise and serious truths.

Let us hear what Dr. Albert Schweitzer had to say about this : 

" When truth, knowledge or wisdom cease to be understood, they 
do not live any longer in our minds."

"When knowledge is reduced to a mere dogma that is blindly 
accepted, it may appear to survive for some time, while its rules are still being 
slavishly observed.  But as its underlying coherence and justification is being 
lost, truth is soon distorted and breaks into pieces, in the same way that the 
dead body decays and falls apart under the effects of putrefaction."

"When truth is communicated directly, without requiring any effort 
from the recipient, it will not leave a lasting impression, for most human beings 
live day by day and are not capable of forming their own opinions ".

"So, it is necessary that all elevated ideas, be created again and 
again by each one of us in ourselves.  Only when we attempt to follow with 
trust the inner road of our individual thought, can we hope to attain living truth"

"Living and profound reflection does not fall into subjectivism."

"It drives, by the force of its own intellectual power, notions that 
Tradition regards as true and attempts to transform them into knowledge".

Tho this spiritual path the Masonic ritual alludes, when it states to 
the candidate at his initiation that he will need to go the same way as all 
Brothers have done, who have gone this way before him.

By their individual work, Freemasons can contribute to the 
construction of a better world.  By their ideas and the example of their life, 
Freemasons can help in spreading more fraternal human relations.

Being sincerely in search of "that which was lost", enlightened by 
the Wisdom of Silence,  fortified by the Strength of Symbols, each Freemason 
has the inner capability to reconstruct the Beauty of Secrets in his heart.

Klaipeda, Lithuania - May 31, 1993
