more light #282
The Secrets Of Masonry
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
THE SECRETS OF MASONRY
Every Entered Apprentice should be informed of the following basic principles
and information.
What You Can Discuss With a Non-Mason
Masonry is not a secret society. Members of our lodges are not in any way
forbidden from telling others that they are Masons. While every Mason should
remember his obligations to secrecy, yet we want to inform non-masons about who
we are, what we are, and what we do. Therefore it is important that every Mason
understand clearly which things he can talk about and which things he cannot.
What is a Masonic Secret
What are the things we call the secrets of Masonry? The first secret is the
ballot of a Mason. No one can know how a Mason votes, unless that Mason tells
him, and that is
Considered un-Masonic conduct. The right and privilege of casting a secret
ballot is universally respected in this country by Masons and non-masons alike.
Other secrets are:
The modes of recognition (signs and words);
The obligations or vows of each degree;
The manner of conferring the degrees, and;
The legend of the third degree.
These four items are usually considered to be the real Masonic secrets. But
we should all realize that any interested party can go to the public library or
bookstore [or Internet] and obtain books which reveal all these things. Clearly
we cannot consider these to be secrets in the true sense of the word. There is
no way we can keep these books from the public. What then is the meaning of our
obligation to secrecy?
Our Obligation to Secrecy
The obligations of Masonry, as well as all other teachings and laws of our
Craft, are not things that Masons impose upon other people. These obligations,
teachings, and laws
are things that each Mason agrees to accept for himself and to apply to
himself. Thus when we agree to keep a Masonic secret we only agree that we will
not discuss that matter with a non-mason. This agreement is then binding upon
the Mason, but it is not and cannot be binding upon a non-mason. Masons should
not be disturbed by this. If a non-mason learns what he considers to be our
secrets, we are under no obligation to take action of any kind. But if the same
person comes to us and asks us to affirm or deny that
certain things are our secrets, then we must neither confirm nor deny what
they have learned. We are best advised to simply change the subject. If that
fails, then let the person read this page.
From the Masonic Manual of Minnesota; 1998 Revised edition, pages 34 & 35
back to top | 
