One
Approach To Studying Freemasonry
The proper study of Freemasonry can become a lifelong labor of love. No other
institution offers its initiates the breadth and depth of ethics, tenents,
morals, dogma and lessons for living in a turbulent world.
Each newly made Freemason is admonished to seek Masonic Light as he proceeds
through each of the succeeding degrees. And even the most senior Past Master has
more to learn about beautiful system of morals offered only in the lessons of
our Beloved Ancient Craft.
So where can you begin? There is no single approach as the interests and
needs of each Brother varies. However, we can offer the following as a starting
point. We strongly encourage each Freemason to customize the following to suit
his requirements. You may even wish to print out this page and save it for your
personal files or share it with another Brother Freemason.
Where do you start your course of study? Why not go to any of the major
Encyclopedias on Freemasonry. You will be able to find information on any of the
topics listed below. There are obvious omissions to the lists shown below, but
you will also find those topics listed in most publications on Freemasonry. And,
of course, checking more than one source will only serve to increase your
knowledge about the world's oldest and largest Fraternity -- Freemasonry.
Foundation Principles
General foundations of Masonic knowledge beginning with the fundamentals may
be obtained by first examining what is said about each of the following:
| Antiquity of
Freemasonry |
Primitive
Freemasonry |
| Definition
of Freemasonry |
Speculative
Freemasonry |
| Ethics of
Freemasonry |
Symbolism,
Science of |
| Mysteries,
Ancient |
Traveling
|
| Origin of
Freemasonry |
Antiquity of Freemasonry
Primitive Freemasonry
Definition of Freemasonry
Speculative Freemasonry
Ethics of Freemasonry
Symbolism, Science of
Mysteries, Ancient
Traveling
Origin of Freemasonry
Ritual
Next, investigate the work performed in Masonic labor as designated by:
|
Degrees |
Ritual |
|
Esoteric Freemasonry |
Secret Societies |
|
Initiation |
Side Degrees |
|
Oral Instruction |
Symbolic Degrees |
|
Rite |
Degrees
Ritual
Esoteric Freemasonry
Secret Societies
Initiation
Side Degrees
Oral Instruction
Symbolic Degrees
Rite
Religion
To understand the religious aspects of Freemasonry, seek out articles and
topics on:
| Apocalyptic
Degrees |
Resurrection
|
| Bible |
Scriptures
|
| Christianity
of Freemasonry |
Speculative
Freemasonry |
| Crusades |
Spurious
Freemasonry |
| Patron
Saints of Freemasonry |
Templar
Origin of Freemasonry |
| Religion of
Freemasonry |
Apocalyptic Degrees
Resurrection
Bible
Scriptures
Christianity of Freemasonry
Speculative Freemasonry
Crusades
Spurious Freemasonry
Patron Saints of Freemasonry
Templar Origin of Freemasonry
Religion of Freemasonry
Related Topics
After examining the above topics, you will next want to investigate:
| Alchemy |
Morality of
Freemasonry |
| Bridge
Builders |
Mysticism
|
| Comacine
Masters |
Philosophic
Degrees |
| Ecossism |
Progressive
Freemasonry |
| High Degrees |
Scottish
Rite |
| Ineffable |
Secret
Doctrine |
| Jacobins |
Stone-Masons
|
| Jesuits |
Strict
Observance |
| Legends |
Stuart
Freemasonry |
Alchemy
Morality of Freemasonry
Bridge Builders
Mysticism
Comacine Masters
Philosophic Degrees
Ecossism
Progressive Freemasonry
High Degrees
Scottish Rite
Ineffable
Secret Doctrine
Jacobins
Stone-Masons
Jesuits
Strict Observance
Legends
Stuart Freemasonry
Degrees, Rites & Ceremonies
A general study of the various rites, ceremonies and ritualistic systems may
now be begun. A list of interesting and very informative topics is shown below.
While the number of these items is large, the study of the introductory
references already given will enable the student of Freemasonry to make a
selection of the topics that most appeal to him.
| Ablution |
Grand
Pontiff |
| Adonhiramite
Masonry |
Harodim,
Prince of |
| Adoption,
Masonic |
Heredom
|
| Alliance,
Sacred |
Hermetic Art
|
| Apocalyptic
Degrees |
Hermetic
Rite |
| Auxiliary
Degrees |
High Degrees
|
| Cumulation
of Rites |
Holy City,
Knight of |
| Detached
Degrees |
Holy
Sepulchre, Knight of |
| East and
West, Knight of |
Honorary
Thirty-thirds |
| Ecossais |
H.R.D.M.
|
| Ecossism |
Ineffable
Degrees |
| Elect, Grand |
Ineffable
Triangle |
| Elect of
Fifteen |
I.N.R.I.
|
| Elect of
Nine |
Intendant of
the Building |
| Elect of
Perignan |
Intimate
Secretary |
| Elect of
Truth, Rite of |
Jurisdiction
of Supreme Council |
| Elect,
Perfect & Sublime Mason |
Kadosh
|
| Elect
Philosopher |
Knight
(numerous references) |
| Grand Orient |
Mizraim,
Rite of |
| Mother
Council |
Sacred
Asylum of High Masonry |
| Mustard
Seed, Order of |
Saint
Germain |
| Napoleonic
Freemasonry |
Scottish
Rite |
| Naochite |
Secret
Master |
| Oath |
Secret Vault
|
| Order |
Select
Master |
| Order of
Knighthood |
Senatorial
Chamber |
| Osiris
Mysteries |
Seneschal
|
| Paschal
Feasts |
Serpent,
Knight of Brazen |
| Patents |
Seth
|
| Patriarch,
Grand |
Side Degrees
|
| Patriarch of
Crusades |
Sovereign
|
| Philalethes,
Rite of |
Step
|
| Philosophic
Degrees |
Stone-Mason
|
| Postulant |
Stone
Worship |
| Practicus |
Strict
Observance, Rite of |
| Preparation
of Candidate |
Stuart
Masonry |
| Priest |
Sublime
Knight Elected |
| Primitive
Rite |
Sun Worship
|
| Prince of
Jerusalem |
Supreme
Council |
| Proofs |
Sword
|
| Reformed
Rite |
Talmud
|
| Robes |
Temple,
Order of |
| Rose Croix,
Prince of |
Teutonic
Knights |
|
Rosicrucianism |
Wardens
|
| Royal Arch
of Solomon |
Watchwords
|
| Royal Order
of Scotland |
Will
|
| Sabaism |
Zadok
|
Ablution
Grand Pontiff
Adonhiramite Masonry
Harodim, Prince of
Adoption, Masonic
Heredom
Alliance, Sacred
Hermetic Art
Apocalyptic Degrees
Hermetic Rite
Auxiliary Degrees
High Degrees
Cumulation of Rites
Holy City, Knight of
Detached Degrees
Holy Sepulchre, Knight of
East and West, Knight of
Honorary Thirty-thirds
Ecossais
H.R.D.M.
Ecossism
Ineffable Degrees
Elect, Grand
Ineffable Triangle
Elect of Fifteen
I.N.R.I.
Elect of Nine
Intendant of the Building
Elect of Perignan
Intimate Secretary
Elect of Truth, Rite of
Jurisdiction of Supreme Council
Elect, Perfect & Sublime Mason
Kadosh
Elect Philosopher
Knight (numerous references)
Grand Orient
Mizraim, Rite of
Mother Council
Sacred Asylum of High Masonry
Mustard Seed, Order of
Saint Germain
Napoleonic Freemasonry
Scottish Rite
Naochite
Secret Master
Oath
Secret Vault
Order
Select Master
Order of Knighthood
Senatorial Chamber
Osiris Mysteries
Seneschal
Paschal Feasts
Serpent, Knight of Brazen
Patents
Seth
Patriarch, Grand
Side Degrees
Patriarch of Crusades
Sovereign
Philalethes, Rite of
Step
Philosophic Degrees
Stone-Mason
Postulant
Stone Worship
Practicus
Strict Observance, Rite of
Preparation of Candidate
Stuart Masonry
Priest
Sublime Knight Elected
Primitive Rite
Sun Worship
Prince of Jerusalem
Supreme Council
Proofs
Sword
Reformed Rite
Talmud
Robes
Temple, Order of
Rose Croix, Prince of
Teutonic Knights
Rosicrucianism
Wardens
Royal Arch of Solomon
Watchwords
Royal Order of Scotland
Will
Sabaism
Zadok
Masonic Law
A study of the unique system of Masonic jurisprudence is suggested for any
Brother seeking a more indepth knowledge of our Fraternity.
| Absence |
Constitution
of Lodge |
| Accuser |
Crimes
|
| Acquittal |
Debate
|
| Active
Member |
Declaration
|
| Adjournment |
Dedication
|
| Admission |
Definition
of Freemasonry |
| Admonition |
Demit
|
| Affiliated
Freemason |
Dimit
|
| Affirmation |
Dispensation
|
| Age, Lawful |
Due
Examination |
| Aid and
Assistance |
Election
|
| Amendment |
Emergency |
| Ample Form |
Equivocation
|
| Annual
Communication |
Examination
|
| Appeal,
Right of |
Expulsion
|
| Arbitration |
Free-born
|
| Arrest of
Charter |
Free-will
|
| Assembly |
Grand Lodge |
| Atheist |
Honorary
|
| Ballot |
Incorporation |
| Ballot-box |
Infringing
|
| Ballot,
Unanimity of |
Inherent
Rights |
| Behavior |
Jurisdiction
|
| Beneficiary |
Landmarks |
| Blackball |
Legend
|
| Book of
Constitutions |
Lewis
|
| Business |
Lodge
|
| By-laws |
Motion
|
| Candidate |
Oath
|
| Casting Vote |
Secret
Societies |
| Processions |
Statutes
|
|
Qualifications |
Trials
|
| Regalia |
Unanimous
Consent |
| Religion |
Vacancies
|
| Revival |
Wives,
Widows & Daughters |
Absence
Constitution of Lodge
Accuser
Crimes
Acquittal
Debate
Active Member
Declaration
Adjournment
Dedication
Admission
Definition of Freemasonry
Admonition
Demit
Affiliated Freemason
Dimit
Affirmation
Dispensation
Age, Lawful
Due Examination
Aid and Assistance
Election
Amendment
Emergency
Ample Form
Equivocation
Annual Communication
Examination
Appeal, Right of
Expulsion
Arbitration
Free-born
Arrest of Charter
Free-will
Assembly
Grand Lodge
Atheist
Honorary
Ballot
Incorporation
Ballot-box
Infringing
Ballot, Unanimity of
Inherent Rights
Behavior
Jurisdiction
Beneficiary
Landmarks
Blackball
Legend
Book of Constitutions
Lewis
Business
Lodge
By-laws
Motion
Candidate
Oath
Casting Vote
Secret Societies
Processions
Statutes
Qualifications
Trials
Regalia
Unanimous Consent
Religion
Vacancies
Revival
Wives, Widows & Daughters
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