              "Forever Conceal, and Never Reveal"
                  The "secrets" of Freemasonry
                   By: Eugene L. Goldman p.m.


While  serving  my Lodge, I had occasion to call on  one  of  our
Entered Apprentices to ask about the reasons for his long absence
from the Work.  Like all too many men who join our Fraternity, he
completed  his  initiation and then disappeared. He  had  several
reasons; the demands of his business had picked up, some personal
issues requiring his attention at home, scheduling problems  with
his Coach, etc.  All these were valid, but there appeared more to
this  than  he was letting on.  After some more conversation  the
truth  was revealed . . .  he was concerned about his obligation,
particularly about the penalties for revealing our secrets.

Our  Brother  is  a  man  who  is very interested  in  Symbolism,
Metaphysics, and (what we call our) Esoteric Work.  The reason he
sought  out  a  Lodge  to join was to write some  papers  on  our
Symbolism!   He explained that he became alarmed when taking  the
obligation.  We never informed him of just what "secrets" he  had
just  vowed to protect! We simply advised him of grave  penalties
for  failing to protect them.  This caused him concern, as it was
his  goal  to bring some light to non initiates in his  writings.
Being a man of much honor, he felt it better to go no further  in
our  mysteries to be free to explain some of our symbolism to non
masons.


                     Symbolic vs. Pragmatic
We   entered  a  discussion  of  the  penalties.   The  need  for
protection of our secrets was, and is, self-evident  .  .  .   if
everyone knows our secrets, we have none.  Having none, we are no
longer  unique, or even special.  Nothing then remains to  induce
men  of  good moral character to want to associate with  us.   We
discussed   the  historic  nature  of  the  penalties.    Without
addressing  the accuracy of our alleged descent from the  Knights
Templar, there have been other times in history when Masons  have
faced  death  simply  for being Masons, and living  according  to
Masonic  principles.   Hitler, Khomeni, and  others  have  issued
death sentences for freethinkers.  We teach our candidates to  be
freethinkers by the nature of our ceremonies.

He  was surprised to learn that, under Masonic Law, the strongest
penalty  a Lodge can impose on a member is simply expulsion  from
the  Fraternity!   Although to most Masons, separation  from  the
Craft  would be far worse than the grisly acts described  in  our
Ritual.   The  term "no less a penalty" applies  here,  in  great
measure.   The thought of revealing our secrets to the unentitled
should cause revulsion in the minds of our membership.

                     The Secrets Themselves
What  are our secrets?  Today, in this country, our existence  is
well  known.   Rose  Parade Floats, published phone  numbers  and
meeting  times, even the jewelry openly and proudly worn by  many
Masons is evidence of this.
That  we use mystic ceremonies, embedded with symbolism to impart
moral  and  ethical lessons to our novitiates is almost  as  well
documented.   Any  interested  person  could  enter  a  specialty
bookstore, purchase a book or two, and learn the essence  of  our
ceremonies.  At the Local Masonic Center in my area  there  is  a
book  store,  well stocked with books on and about  Masonry,  and
writings  by  many  Masons.  Many of these  clearly  explain  our
ceremonies  and the reasons for the manner in which we  exemplify
them.   Within  the  same building there is a library  containing
hundreds  of  volumes of writings by countless Masonic  scholars.
Most  of  these discuss either the history of our Craft,  or  the
Ceremonies and symbolism we employ in our Work.  Who we are, what
we do, and how we do it are clearly not secret.

We  proudly refer to our modes of recognition as the only secrets
in  our  craft  today.   In my library at  home,  I  have   books
describing our ritual in detail.  These books have clear  English
text  and  include  our cherished modes of recognition  (complete
with  diagrams).    These  books were purchased  at  a  wonderful
little  bookstore  in the Business district in  my  neighborhood.
Any  interested  person, with a few dollars,  can  do  the  same.
Though  Masons  treat the modes of recognition  as  secret,  they
could not be considered unknown outside the Craft.

                         Secrets Defined
Well,  what does that leave? It sounds like it's all out  in  the
open.  Our existence, methods, ritual, even the ways we recognize
each  other  are known to any expressing an interest.   The  real
secret  of  our  Craft is the spiritual and emotional  growth  we
encountered  because  of the experiences  we  shared.   The  true
Mysteries of Freemasonry are contained within the acts  of  being
conducted  around  the Lodge Room, kneeling at the  Altar,  first
learning  the  Grips  and  Words  of  the  several  Degrees,  and
participating in the Third Degree Ritual.  Experiencing  this  as
we  do  (first hand) cannot be described in words.  As with  many
other life experiences "you had to be there" to really understand
it.  Words could only confuse the issue,  never explain it.

                What this means to us, my Brother
What  does it mean that we are required to keep all this  secret?
The  prohibition against unlawful disclosure of these secrets  is
meant  to  protect  our  ritual  from  corruption.   It  is   not
prohibited   to  instruct  a  candidate  in  the  Work.    Proper
instruction of Candidates is strongly encouraged by Lodges.
Candidates Coaches (the unsung warriors of our Fraternity ) spend
hour after hour personally instructing candidates in a myriad  of
areas.   The Ritual Work, the history of Freemasonry, even proper
Lodge  etiquette are topics of much discussion.  They spend  many
additional hours sharpening their proficiency in the Work  to  do
this  more  effectively.  They patiently answer the  hundreds  of
questions posed by Candidates.  Officers spend evenings away from
their  families  to attend practices to improve their  Work.   In
California, Coaches and Officers are required to attend  District
Schools  of Instruction, and when proficient, they are  certified
by  District Inspectors.  Inspectors are supervised by  Assistant
Grand Lecturers.  These men come under the oversight of the Grand
Lecturer.   The  Grand  Lodge  of California,  and  most  of  its
constituent Lodges, have active committees on Masonic  Education.
This  elaborate  system exists to insure that Candidates  receive
proper instruction.

Work  is  done  only  in  a tyled Lodge, by  qualified  Officers.
Coaching  is done in private settings, by  skilled and  dedicated
men.   In  this  way  the Ancient Landmarks  are  preserved.   If
Degrees  were  to be conducted by the unqualified,  errata  would
begin  to  seep  in  and  Keystones  would  begin  to  change  or
disappear.   The  essence  of the Work  would  change  and  those
elements that make it what it is would be lost.  Thus, it is easy
to see why the admonition against unlawful disclosure of our Work
exists.

                         The "flip side"
"That  is  it?  All I have to do is leave things to the  Officers
and  Coaches  and I have fulfilled my Obligation?"  Not  at  all!
Remember  promising  never  to reveal these  secrets  unlawfully?
That  promise  contains a hidden injunction to  reveal  lawfully.
Relate the emotions you feel in Lodge to your family and friends,
and  to  the  way  in which you conduct your  life.   Share  what
Masonry  means  to you by your conduct out of the Lodge.   Remind
yourself   why  you  are a Mason.  Let the  world  see,  by  your
actions,  evidence of the growth you experienced.   Promote  your
Lodge's  activities  and invite non-Masons to social  activities.
They  just  might get caught up in the spirit of Brotherhood  and
ask "How may I become a mason?".  Then discuss the membership and
degree  processes with him.  If he asks for a petition, help  him
fill it out.  Introduce him to other members of your Lodge.

                Lawful disclosure of our secrets
Signing  a petition also carries with it a moral obligation.   It
obliges  you  to  support  our new Brother  through  his  Masonic
travels.  Be present at his Degrees and Proficiency examinations.
Patiently  answer his questions, or refer him to his Coach.   Sit
with him at Lodge dinners and in Lodge.  Be to him the friend you
told your Lodge he was to you.

Being a member of a Lodge enjoins you to attend whenever you can,
even  if  you  are  not an officer.  A full  Lodge  room  for  an
initiation expresses the love of the fraternity to the  Candidate
and encourages him to become more active himself.

Doing  these  things  will  go  a long  way  to  fulfilling  your
"unstated"  obligation  to lawfully communicate  the  secrets  of
Freemasonry.   Become a True and faithful Brother  and  encourage
others by your example.

              Meanwhile, back at the Coaching Room
Remember our Candidate?  As this paper is being written,  he  has
actively  resumed meeting with his Coach.  He is looking  forward
to completing his Degrees, and writing many excellent articles on
our  Craft.   I know he will be happy as he forever reveals,  and
never  conceals  much  of the non secret  information  about  our
Fraternity.  He will be happier still as he lawfully communicated
many of our secrets.
Brother  Goldman  is a member of Blackmer Lodge  #442,  Free  and
Accepted  Masons, State of California.  He served  his  Lodge  as
Master  in 1993 and currently serves as Chaireman of it's Masonic
Education  Committee.  He is a member of the Southern  California
Research Lodge, and a 32nd Degree member of the Scottish Rite  of
Fremasonry, Valley of San Diego.
