In the chambers of a newly consecrated Freemason lodge, tradition and modernity converge into an intricate dance. The echoes of centuries-old rituals reverberate through the walls, resonating with the ideals of freedom, equality, fraternity, humanity and tolerance. Yet, despite the age-old customs, the journey of founding a Freemason lodge in today’s world is one of both ancient wisdom and contemporary challenges.
I sat down with a Master Mason from Austria who recently embarked on the formidable task of establishing a new Freemasonry lodge in Vienna. Because of security concerns, both his identity and that of the lodge remain concealed, adding an air of mystery to this revealing glimpse into one of the world’s most enigmatic fraternities.
The meaning and origins of Freemasonry
“Freemasonry means, for me, working on one’s personality within a community of like-minded people, following the Masonic rituals, to gradually approach a human ideal that aligns with Masonic ideals such as freedom, equality, fraternity (brotherhood/sisterhood), humanity and tolerance,” the Master Mason began. “However, this path requires constant reflection on one’s own actions and deeds.”
The origins of Freemasonry are as mysterious as the order itself, shrouded in the darkness of history and myth.
“Well, I think the true origin of Freemasonry, or should I rather say the ‘Masonic idea,’ is hidden in the darkness of history,” he explained. “Personally, I find some merit in the theory that, during the persecution and near-total destruction of the Templars by King Philip IV of France, some Templar knights managed to flee to Scotland. The former Templars, now living underground, had to use certain signs and words to ensure that no outsiders could disrupt their meetings. Even before the time of the first songs, people used symbols to explain the world and everything connected to it. Freemasonry still does this today. Therefore, it is quite possible that the Masonic idea has always been embedded in human society. As G.E. Lessing said: Freemasonry has always existed!”
Becoming a Freemason in the 21st century
Today, becoming a Freemason is a process steeped in tradition, yet adapted for the modern age.
“Fundamentally, all lodges feel committed to the ‘old duties’ from 1723 by James Anderson,” he stated. “The core of your question can be answered as follows: … a free man of good report. Now, more than three centuries have passed, and thus the term free man must be redefined. In my opinion, the text should read a free human of good report. My lodge is a member of a liberal Grand Lodge that admits both men and women into its lodges. For me, it is incomprehensible to deny more than fifty percent of humanity the blessings of Freemasonry just because they are women. Today, when we discuss the term free, we do not mean the unfree, the serf, but rather the freedom to make decisions independently. To move freely and openly through life, to have the freedom to build bridges between people regardless of origin or status.”
The process of admission into Freemasonry is both selective and deeply introspective.
“Here [in Freemasonry] it applies: Whoever truly seeks will find what they are looking for,” he remarked. “In the age of the internet, contacting a person interested in Freemasonry has become much easier. Almost all Grand Lodges have their own websites listing the respective member lodges. Usually, a brief email to one of the lodges is sufficient for the initial contact. Freemasonry does not proselytize, meaning that not everyone who wishes to become a Freemason will ultimately succeed. Freemasonry carefully selects its members. Considering that membership in a lodge, in the best case, is a lifelong bond, this careful selection is understandable. If the contacted lodge believes that it is more than mere curiosity, a meeting will be arranged with the person interested in Freemasonry.
From this point on, the person is considered a seeker in the Masonic sense. Usually, there are three meetings between the seeker and various members of the lodge. The results of the conversations with the seeker are presented to the lodge. After careful consideration, a vote is held to decide whether the seeker should be admitted to Freemasonry. The lodge’s Master Masons make this decision through a ballot, where each Master Mason has the choice between a white and a black ball. If only white balls are found in the ballot box after the vote, the result is shining brightly, and nothing stands in the way of admission to the fraternity.”
Why people join Freemasonry – hidden motivations
The reasons for joining a lodge are deeply personal and varied.
“I think ultimately it is the search for oneself and one’s place in the universe. But it is also the search for security, the search to be an equal among equals. It is the search for spirituality apart from superstition, and it is the search for trust. The traditional awareness inherent in Freemasons also exerts a certain attraction,” the interviewee explained.
However, he cautioned against common misconceptions.
“The greatest myth is probably that which claims Freemasonry is a secret society. It is not,” he stated, “Freemasonry is a society with secrets, which reveal themselves to the initiated over time through participation in temple work and work on one’s rough stone. Moreover, most lodges are subject to the association law to obtain legal status (important for rental agreements, etc.). Freemasonry does not pursue a world conspiracy in its lodges; a golf course would be better suited for that. The secrecy inherent in Freemasonry also serves self-discipline.”
The experience of joining a lodge
For those who do join, the experience is both profound and transformative.
“A place where the following motto should apply: Here I am human, here I may be. Siblings who, in the spirit of Freemasonry, work on themselves and the temple of humanity. The preparation can be varied; whether one reads a book or becomes knowledgeable on the internet is, in my opinion, secondary. Much more important is to approach the day of admission into a lodge with an open heart and an alert mind,” I was told.
Reflecting on his own journey, my interviewee shared:
“My path into Freemasonry probably doesn’t differ much from that of other seekers. Since my early adulthood, I have asked myself whether the profane world around me, with all its confusions and distortions, has more to offer than a society focused solely on power, wealth, opportunism, and material values. I found what I was looking for in Freemasonry, but that does not mean that there are no other ways besides Freemasonry to bring one’s search for a happy, fulfilling life to a positive end.”
Reflecting on his initiation, he recounted his intense emotions.
“I was terribly tired, not so much physically, but mentally. The next hours passed me by in the circle of my new brothers and sisters. I felt that I had arrived and was filled with deep gratitude. And yes, I was also a little proud. Only at breakfast the next day did I slowly begin to understand what the admission to the fraternity meant to me. A new journey to myself had begun.”
Understanding the structure of a lodge
The structure of a lodge is both hierarchical and democratic, with various degrees of responsibility.
“The blue lodges in their rituals work on the first three degrees: Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. These first three degrees are not a prelude to the red or high-grade lodges, but rather they fully cover the content of Freemasonry! High-grade systems may offer a deeper understanding of certain content. One cannot apply for these high-grade systems; one is proposed. This fact underscores the above argument about the independence of the blue lodges. Thus, one is not a ‘worse’ Freemason if one only belongs to a blue lodge. A Freemason who lives by the Masonic ideals does not define themselves by the degree conferred upon them, but by their personal progress on the path to becoming a true human being,” our interviewee explained.
As I asked him about the possibility to visit other lodges as a freemason, he mentioned a necessary level of acclimatization in one’s lodge before being visiting others:
“Freemasonry is slow-moving, a fact I quite appreciate. Everything takes its time, everything wants to be well thought out, nothing is rushed. Therefore, it also requires a certain acclimatization period to the customs of Freemasonry to be able to visit other lodges alone as a brother or sister. Hence, only Fellow Crafts [masons in their second degree] are allowed to visit other lodges ‘on their own.’ This procedure, however, must be coordinated with one’s own lodge in advance. In the company of a master, apprentices are also allowed to visit other lodges or obediences, but only during work that corresponds to the degree of the Apprentice or Fellow Craft. We still find these fellow journeys in the secular craft today. Even today, journey craftsmen go on the ‘Wanderjahre’ and return to their workshop after three years and a day to report to their master what they have learned in other workshops. It is similar with the Fellow Craft’s journeys in Freemasonry. They serve to broaden horizons and better understand the various facets of Freemasonry.”
Masonic secrecy in the digital age
Maintaining Masonic secrecy in the digital age is very challenging, if not impossible.
“Anyone interested in rituals will find them through the internet; there are also plenty of books, both good and bad, and even on Facebook, more is being revealed about Freemasonry than I ever thought possible. None of this bothers me or distracts me from my path. The secret of Freemasonry lies for me in the experience of the rituals and the preservation of tradition. This secret can be compared to the magic of a night of love; only those who have experienced it will be able to comprehend its magic,” our interviewee explained.
Challenges within lodges
Despite its sublime goals of personal development, brotherhood, and the pursuit of higher ideals, Freemasonry is not immune to the complexities and darker aspects of human nature that can sometimes lead to significant internal challenges. The structures of influence and control within lodges, while intended to maintain order and uphold traditions, can occasionally give rise to dynamics that stifle the very principles of equality and fraternity that Freemasonry seeks to promote.
“Power structures within Freemasonry? Yes, unfortunately, they exist, and I must admit, not infrequently,” our interviewee candidly shared. He pointed out these dynamics often stem from individuals within the lodge who have, over time, come to dominate the conversation, believing that only their perspective is valid.
“In my opinion, it has to do with the fact that for too long, those siblings who believe that only their word is true have held sway. A bit of fresh air would not harm Freemasonry and might loosen the ‘power structures’ a bit. Can such power behavior by individual members lead to problems within a lodge? Of course, at some point, one notices that something is not going well, that opinions are no longer sought and instead are misunderstood as criticism. The consequence is that trust in certain siblings diminishes, leading to the formation of groups within the lodge. One of the reasons why lodges split and go separate ways.”
Moreover, when certain members wield their influence in ways that contradict the Masonic ethos, it can lead to actions that many would find excessive or unjust. “Reprisals, such as banning visits to other lodges or threatening not to be promoted for a long time against siblings who do not praise the ‘elders’ at every opportunity, I find exaggerated and not in line with the Masonic ethos,” he explained.
These issues, while challenging, also highlight the importance of continual reflection and reform within Freemasonry. Injecting “a bit of fresh air,” as our interviewee suggests, might help in loosening these entrenched dynamics, allowing for a more inclusive and open environment where all voices are heard, and the true spirit of freemasonry can flourish.
*Part one of a two-part series
Edited by: Steven London & James Sutton
