THE BUILDER JULY 1915

WHENCE CAME FREEMASONRY? WHO KNOWS?

THE BUILDER

BY BRO. J. W. NORWOOD, KENTUCKY

GREATLY to my surprise as a charter member of the National Masonic
Research Society and a subscriber to "The Builder," I find in the
April issue a broadside attack upon "The School of Natural
Science," none he less unfortunate because cloaked with the
language of ridicule and irony.

That it comes from the pen of so distinguished a Masonic journalist
as Past Grand High Priest Dr. Wm. F. Kuhn of Missouri, associate
editor of the Kansas City Freemason, surprises me still more. But
supposing Bro. Kuhn to be a philosopher, he should not think it
discourtesy if I paraphrase Shakespeare and suggest that there are
more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in his
philosophy.

Not having the honor to be a member of the "Great School of Natural
Science" any more than of Bernard Shaw School of Dramatists, or the
Futurist School of Music, though proud to call myself a Friend of
Man and of the Work, like Abou Ben Adhem, perhaps Dr. Kuhn will not
consider me so biased as to ignore the following suggestions. [The
editorial remarks concerning "TK" and the remarkable book "The
Great Work" in the May issue of The Builder are much more in line
with the spirit animating those engaged in Masonic research than
Dr. Kuhn's article, and because of the disposition to be fair,
evinced by the editor, I am emboldened to make these suggestions.]

First, how much real knowledge have we of the origin of
Freemasonry? What does Dr. Kuhn or any of the Masonic writers he
quotes, actually KNOW of the matter ? Do they not all confess the
origin of Freemasonry to have been before their day and generation?
How then, can he consistently assert so dogmatically that "no one
will deny that the so-called philosophy was engrafted into Masonry
with the evolution of the Royal Arch," in answer to the claim of
the Great School that the Guilds of "Operative Masons" were but the
refuge and not the origin of the Masonic system ?

If an historical discussion embracing the various legends of
Masonry were entered into, probably many would be found to deny
what Dr. Kuhn so positively asserts. Of late years, not even the
historians of the Guild system, now almost extinct, have been able
to prove their case to the satisfaction of all scholars. And then
it is a matter of definition as to the meaning of Freemasonry,
whether it is a mere social club or a system of morality. Also one
might ask when or where the "Royal Arch" had its rise. There have
been many degrees of the name, extending back thousands of years
before the Christian era to the "Holy Royal Arch" of ancient Egypt.

Second, without knowledge of the subject, is it fair to condemn? Is
it Masonic?

The reading of the "Great Work" and its companion books of the
"Harmonic Series"--the text books of the Great School, gave the
present writer unalloyed pleasure. They also challenged his belief
in many statements contained therein.

Not desiring to deny matters of which he had no knowledge, there
was only one course to pursue, without deliberately turning away
and refusing to investigate what had been offered in the way of
light upon some very dark subjects. As a Master Mason pledged to
the search for Truth, he would have been false to his obligations
not to have made some effort to prove or disprove matters of such
alleged vital importance.

The result, so far, has been, that I have been unable to prove one
single assertion made by the author of "The Great Work," false in
any particular. Nor have I ever found any one else who has. I
should be greatly pleased to discover any man or set of men who can
do so.

On the contrary, a somewhat careful excursion into the realms of
history, archaeology and comparative religion, has indicated the
truth of those brief statements connecting the Great School with
the origin of Freemasonry, so sneeringly flouted by Dr. Kuhn.

The author of the "Great Work" is a Freemason, a member of the same
rites of which Dr. Kuhn is a member. He has not sought to impress
the philosophy of the "Great School" upon Freemasonry nor to force
the two into a companionship. In the sense the term is commonly
used, the "Great Work" is not even regarded as a "Masonic Book."

Yet no more beautiful exposition of the Masonic tenets could be
imagined than that contained in the works of this true friend of
humanity. The very spirit of all that relates to Freemasonry, might
be paraphrased in the words of Dr. Kuhn himself:

"I have always believed that Freemasonry was a very practical
thing; a something that manifests itself, chiefly in a man's life;
that it is a life and not a theory; practical living and doing, not
dreaming and philosophizing. That it was a beautiful, every day
practical system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by
symbols; not veiled to confuse or hide, but to make plain; not
buried in symbols to obscure, but to fix indelibly, some plain,
possibly homely truth."

The value of individual effort and personal responsibility is made
plain without even the aid of symbols and ritual which beautify and
make impressive the Fellowcraft degree. The living of a life in
conformity to a "practical system of morality," is insisted upon as
forcibly as ever done in a Masonic lodge. Dreaming and
philosophizing are certainly not the basis of "The Great Work."

The Masonic beliefs in a Supreme Being and in a life after physical
death are asserted to be scientifically true and proof is offered
to all who will take advantage of it. And here comes the rub.
Science hesitates and Religion denies. It almost seems as though
Material Science will investigate before Religion is willing to
admit the possibility that the "miraculous" is only "natural" after
all.

But however strong the disbelief of the searcher after Truth, no
true Freemason will ever dogmatize over his own assumed knowledge.
There is but one road to Truth. Wherever it leads, whatever
cherished delusions it overturns, the true Builder will follow it.
If a thing is True, it cannot be otherwise and all the ridicule in
the world will not make it so.

Every member of the National Masonic Research Society owes it to
himself and to his membership in the Society, to investigate the
claims of the "Great School," regardless of his prejudices or
desires. If he can find one thing in the entire philosophy set
forth in its text books, contrary to the principles of Freemasonry,
he may be excused for dropping the matter and warning his fellows
against it. If he should discover that the friends of the work are
the truest friends of Freemasonry in this hard and cynical world,
at a time when friends are most needed, he may find himself entered
upon a road to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," that
many have dreamed of, but few
realized.



(Perhaps it will clear the air somewhat if we state, once more, the
position of Dr. Kuhn and the Editor with regard to the Great Work,
which Brother Norwood and some others seem to misunderstand.
Several facts must be kept in mind if we are not to fall into
hopeless confusion in our criticism and appreciation of the book,
such facts as these:

First, the Great Work professes to be an exposition of the
teachings of an ancient School of Natural Science which has existed
from the beginning of time, having in its keeping records reaching
back beyond the days of Moses, if not further, which school was the
inspiration of Buddhism, early Christianity, and Freemasonry.
Surely these are amazing statements, and yet not one item of
evidence is offered in support of them. Some of us cannot accept
such statements without facts to justify them on the authority of
an anonymous author, and therefore we make request for proof. Truly
that is reasonable if we are to seek for the truth, much less find
it.

Second, the Great Work purports to tell us the origin of
Freemasonry in its chapter on the Lineal Key--and this is really
our only interest in the book as students of the history of
Masonry. Masonry, we learn, is, or was, until it turned out
abortive, one of the efforts of the said Great School to instruct
mankind and lead it into the light. Here again no evidence is set
forth but only bare affirmation of a man who does not even sign his
name--and many Masons seem willing to accept anything he says over
against the labors and researches of their own historians. Brother
Norwood says he has not proved the statements of TK false in any
particular. Why not ask TK to prove that they are true, and save
himself the logical difficulty of trying to prove a negative? If
the origin of Masonry is obscure that is no valid reason for
accepting the theory of TK, which is still more obscure.

Some of us, because we love Freemasonry, flatly refuse to accept
any such account of its origin when no facts are forthcoming to
prove it. No consider! This book calmly tells us that Masonry is
only a makeshift substitute for something withheld by a mythical
Great School, a faded sham, an echo, an imitation, if not a
counterfeit--not the real truth that makes men free and fraternal,
but a thing almost worthy of contempt alongside the alleged Great
School. Indeed, Masonry is only used in this book as a kind of tail
to fly the kite of the Great School in which the author is,
apparently, an instructor. Seldom have we seen a book which so
belittles the noble order of Freemasonry--not intentionally so,
perhaps, but actually so none the less--and some of us resent it.

In these despites, we find Masons accepting the whole book as if it
were a revelation. It is indeed strange. And this, too, without any
evidence save the dicta of a man whom they never saw and whose name
they do not know. If this is what is meant by Masonic Research,
then we might as well set fire to our libraries and set sail into
fairyland, the while we make contest as to who can spin the most
extravagant fancy and call it history.

Third, the Great Work teaches a very noble and inspiring system of
moral philosophy, and emphasizes the necessity of practicing it.
With most of its ethical teaching we agree, though we would use
different words to express it. (For example, much is said about
"the constructive principle of the universe"--a large remark,
truly--which we take to mean the principle on which the universe is
constructed; since no one ever heard of a principle constructing
anything, not even a sewing machine.) The reading of the moral
thesis of the book will do a man good. It will bring him to pause
and think if he is living a careless and unworthy life. It will
compel him to realize that intelligent righteousness is the only
solid basis of character, and inspire him to do justly and love
mercy. But the value of its moral teaching does not prove that its
historical statements are true--not at all. The two things are
different, and the one does not prove the other.

Fourth, the author of the Great Work claims to have found, or
rather learned, a process by which he not only can, but actually
has, demonstrated scientifically the fact of life after physical
death. The formula is not disclosed in the book, it being deemed
indiscreet and dangerous to make it known; but the author offers to
teach it to any one who approves himself worthy to receive it--
making himself, in this way, a kind of keeper of the keys to a
knowledge of a future life. It may all be true. For ourselves, we
are content to live by the ancient, high and heroic faith which
Masonry teaches in her great and simple drama, and face the future
as brave men have faced it before us.

Now surely Brother Norwood can understand, from this statement of
our case, why we suggested that the Great Work should be read with
discrimination and care, like all other books. He agrees that it is
not a Masonic book, albeit written by a Mason, it is said, and
professing to tell us the origin, or rather the decay, of Masonry.
If we have dealt with this part of the book sharply, and not
without satire, it is because it is an injury to the cause of
Masonic Research. If we have not made the matter plain in this
statement, then it is because we are hopelessly stupid and will not
try it again.--The Editor.)

THE SECRET

A sunbeam fell across the way I trod.
"Whence do you come?" I asked; it said, "From God."
"Where do you go; what is your mission here ?" With radiant head
The sunbeam brighter shone. "I am the love Of life," it said.

"Death has no existence for the wise man: it is a phantom made
hideous by the ignorance and weakness of the crowd. Change is the
evidence of movement, and movement is life. The very corpse would
not decompose were it dead; all the molecules which form it remain
alive and are in motion to disintegrate. And you think that mind is
the first to be dissipated and lives no more! You believe that
thought and love can cease when the grossest matter never
perishes!"
--Eliphas Levi

