Old encyclopedia from Mayville
Freemason, a member of an ancient secret order or fraternity now designated as
Free and Accepted Masons. The order is of such ancient origin that even the
derivation of its name is in doubt. By a majority of the authorities it is held
that the word free is to be taken in the sense of one who is free of the
masons guild. But the most reasonable theory is that the name owes its origin
to the practice of the ancient masons of giving the passed apprentice his
freedom as he was sent forth to seek employment on some great and worthy
structure in process of erection to complete his mechanical education.
It was early in the 17th century that the word
was first used in the sense in which it is now universally understood. At that
time the ancient guilds of practical masons began to admit as a mark of especial
esteem certain worthy persons whom it was intended to honor, not regular members
of the guild through apprenticeship and occupation. To these was given the
appellation accepted. They were afterward given the title of freemasons
also, inasmuch as they were admitted to a full membership in the guild and were
duly acquainted with all its secrets.
In the year 1717 J. T. Desaguliers, a man of
scientific knowledge and attainments, brought a number of scattered lodges or
guilds of London under a single jurisdiction called the Grand Lodge, and it is
to this ancient and august body that all the regular lodges of the ancient craft
today trace their origin. The first Provincial Grand Lodge in America was
established at Boston in 1733 by Henry Price, who, in 1734 was made Grand Master
over all of North America.
The order has attained a remarkable growth
throughout the world, and especially in the United States and Canada, the
returns of the grand lodges of these two countries showing a membership (1932)
of 3,149,872.
Freethinker, a name often assumed by those who,
disbelieving in revelation, feel themselves free to adopt any opinion in
religious or other matters which may result from their own independent thinking.
The name was specially claimed by those who in the 17th and 18th centuries took
the anti-Christian side in the deistic controversy.
True Secrets of Freemasonry
http://beaconofmasoniclight.blogspot.com/2007/12/were-early-freemasons-deists.html
Saturday, December 1,
2007
Deism: a
movement or system of thought advocating
natural religion, emphasizing morality,
and in the 18th century denying the
interference of the Creator with the
laws of the universe.
A brother recently claimed, to support his
activities in the now 5 day old “Grand
Orient of the United States of America” in
that modern “Freemasonry has lost track of
its origins”. Expanding on that, he went on
to claim that Masonic Lodges should have a
blank book representing the volume of Sacred
Law because the “majority of early
Freemasons were Deists”.
He used Benjamin Franklin, PGM Pennsylvania,
Paul Revere, John Hancock and Voltaire as
exemplars to support his conclusions. Its
not possible at this time to determine the
number of men who were Freemasons worldwide
in the late 1700’s. However, it does not
seem unreasonable, given the number of
Lodges in the world to put that number in
the hundreds of thousands. Even if the
numbers were only 100,000, four exemplars is
hardly representative of… even a single
lodge.
Moreover, research indicates that while
Benjamin Franklin did, in fact, have deist
leanings, he was a (infrequently) practicing
Episcopalian(1), Paul Revere was a
Congregationalist(2), John Hancock was
Congregationalist(3), and on his deathbed,
Voltaire declared himself a Catholic(4).
Research shows the claim to be without
foundation, though intellectual honesty
requires the notation that SOME masons,
were, in fact, deists.
As a means of getting a larger sampling, I
used the known 9 masons who signed the
Declaration of Independence, the six men who
Signed the Articles of Confederation, and
the 13 men who signed the U.S. Constitution
(there is some overlap in these lists) to
see what the religions were of these men.(5)
Signers of the
Declaration of Independence
William Ellery, RI Congregationalist
Benjamin Franklin, PA Episcopalian (Deist)
John Hancock, MA Congregationalist
Joseph Hewes, NC Quaker/Episcopalian
William Hooper, NC Episcopalian
Robert Treat Paine, MA
Congregationalist/Episcopalian
Richard Stockton, NJ Presbyterian
George Walton, GA Episcopalian
William Whipple, NH Congregationalist
Signers of the Articles of Confederation
Daniel Carroll Catholic
Henry Laurens Huguenot
John Harvie Protestant
Cornelius Harnett Episcopalian(Deist)
Jonathan Bayard Smith Protestant
John Dickison Quaker/Episcopalian
John Hancock, MA Congregationalist
Daniel Roberdeau Protestant
Signers of the Constitution
George Washington Episcopalian
Gunning Bedford Jr. Presbyterian
Benjamin Franklin, PA Episcopalian (Deist)
John Blair Presbyterian/Episcopalian
David Brearley Episcopalian
Rufus King Episcopalian/Congregationalist
John Dickinson Quaker/Episcopalian
Jacob Broom Lutheran
Daniel Carroll Catholic
Jonathan Dayton Presbyterian/Episcopalian
Nicholas Gilman Congregationalist
James McHenry Presbyterian
As can be seen from the list, only two men
were identified as Deists, and most
documents I have been able to find regarding
the religion of the early colonies indicate
there were VERY few deists. That written, I
wish to refer back to my blog entry A
Peculiar System of Morality, Taught by
Allegory to note that the Peculiar System of
Morality taught by masonry is most likely
the FREEDOM to choose one’s religious
affiliation.
Of course, to the established religion, the
most vile accusation they could make is that
Freemasons were evil and devil worshipers,
and the second worst is that we were all
deists, since the essence of Deism is the
denial of a personal caring g-d. Freemasonry
is a system of morality, not a religion, and
its lessons are acceptable to men of all
faiths, Christian, Hebrew, Muslim, Buddhist,
and yes, Deist.
May the
blessing of heaven rest upon us and
all regular masons. May brotherly
love prevail, and every moral and
social virtue, cement us.
References:
(1) http://www.adherents.com/people/pf/Benjamin_Franklin.html
(2) http://www.paul-revere-heritage.com/landmarks.html
(3) http://www.adherents.com/people/ph/John_Hancock.html
(4) http://www.adherents.com/people/pv/Voltaire.html
(5) http://www.adherents.com/people
There you go. In the end believe what you want. I could really care less at this
point. I am pretty sure this is my last post on this blog.
Have a good life.
Brad (BC 2006)
December 2, 2007 12:13 PM
Masonic Traveler said…
I wonder though what the conception of the divine was then, rather than how we
conceive it today. With the evangelical movement, I think our idea of GOD has
changed, away from a colder more removed idea the GOD head to the more personal,
daily influenced one.
Also, I wonder if the deistic tendancies or “divine providence” was a reaction
to the previous Puritan ideals of the country.
I don’t know if I agree that the 2nd most foul accusation of a Freemason is to
be callde a deist. Really, what’s wrong with that? I think if the established
religion needs to adjudge us on that way, that they need to look to their own
VSL as to what happens to those who make judgements.
December 2, 2007 12:16 PM
Theron Dunn said…
Br. Cofield;
I did not “just disagree with you”, I offered proof of my posiition. You have
done nothing but offer your opinion about what you THOUGHT Br. Washington’s
religion was…
This is a discussion. I offer an opinion and offer supporting citations to
support my argument. Now, you have offered an opinion, now please offer
citations to support YOUR opinion, or it is JUST an opinion offered in a vacuum.
I thought enough of your opinion to go and research it… as I recalled, he was
an Episcopalian, and a very devout Christian at that, offering his prayers for
g-d’s support. That is not the action of a deist, by definition of what a deist
IS.
Pray give ME the courtesy of offering support for your opinion instead of just
making blanket statements. And quit, for the sake of g-d, just tossing up your
hands when you are shown to be wrong and cowboy up and admit you made a mistake.
Masonic Traveler: Good points. I think I meant the second most foul accusation
to a Christian fundamentalist is that someone is a deist.
Sorry about that.
December 2, 2007 3:37 PM
Anonymous said…
To the questions
” Were Early Freemasons Deists? ” maybe the answer is that they were Theists,
Deists, Pantheist and Libertines.
It is easy to find men in all those categories.
Fraternally,
Parisfred
December 3, 2007 2:59 AM
Errol said…
I would like to see Br. Cofields sources. On a visit I just had to Mt. Vernon,
and what I have read, suggests that not only was Washington an Episcopalian, but
was called upon by an Episcopalian late in his life. I would also like to see
the source between Franklin and Washington. Again, I don’t think this is
factual. Washington was not an active Freemason, having visited lodges less than
a dozen times in his entire life. I have seen nothing to say that Franklin and
Washington were more than fellow politicians. I’d like to see the sources from
both. The first quote from Brad was cut and pasted from somewhere on the web.
I’d like to see the entire thing in context.
December 3, 2007 4:47 AM
RickB said…
It appears as if Brad quoted this website for his post:
http://www.deism.com/washington.htm
RickB
www.goldenstatemasons.com
December 3, 2007 3:04 PM
Anonymous said…
I am not a Mason but I think I would like to become one if possible. I have a
question though. Can a Deist become a Mason? I was raised a Christian but I have
started believing more like a Deist. This keeps me from trying to become a Mason
as I know that you have to believe in a Creator/God that watches over us. As a
deist I am not sure I can truthfully say that. Sorry if this is the wrong place
to ask this question but I would really like some guidance.
December 3, 2007 7:21 PM
Theron Dunn said…
Freemasonry does not ask your religion, only that you can state that you have a
faith in god, however you define him for yourself, that you are a man, freeborn,
of good moral character, and under the tongue of good report.
If you are seriously interested in the craft, pick up the white pages in your
area and look under freemason, or, use Yahoo Yellow pages. Enter your city, and
then enter Masonic.
There is a lodge in darn near every good sized city in the United States and
Canada. If you need help, please contact me at theron(at)therondunn.com
This website is the personal site of a Master Mason. The opinions offered on
these pages are solely my own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
any Masonic body or jurisdiction. Opinions expressed herein while referencing
any Masonic laws, rules or edicts from any jurisdiction are solely my
interpretation, based on my understanding, and are not authoritative for or on
behalf of any Masonic body or jurisdiction.
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