FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Freemasonry is a peculiar system of morality veiled in alegory and illustrated by symbols. A worldwide philosophical, progressive and philanthropic organization that aims at the moral and spiritual improvement of its members through self-knowledge, the pursuit of Truth, Solidarity and the application of Masonic Morality.
Freemasonry works ceaselessly for progress and the moral and spiritual restoration of Humanity through the peaceful and gradual elevation of the Individual.
We are not a secret organization, but we participate in lodge meetings that are private and open only to members, in very much the same way as many other social groups and clubs. The rules and goals of Freemasonry are available to the public. The meeting places are known and the members, namely the Freemasons, can if they so wish, openly discuss Freemasonry.
No. Freemasonry uses the concept of ceremony to describe a collective experience that its members share together. Participation in the dramatic demonstration of myths, allegories and symbols is impressed better and more permanently in the mind of each candidate through the proceedings, than to be simply conveyed to him through a simple read through.
It is not true. Charity is at the core of masonic morality and constitutes the most important pillar of Freemasonry since its very foundation, as it is actually self’defined as a charitable institution.
The charitable work of Freemasonry as a whole, as that of Freemasons individually, constitutes a most significant contribution to society. In Freemasonry actually the term Relief is a core value superseding charity, and including aid to anyone, inspired by a true brotherly love toward all mankind.
The only “secrets” in Freemasonry are the traditional modes of recognition among its members. And these are not used indiscriminately, but simply as confirmation of membership status, e.g. during a Freemasons’ visit to a lodge where he is not known.
A Lodge meeting is separated into two parts.
In the first part, as happens in any organized body, there is certain administrative work, namely approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, proposals and voting for new members, discussion and voting on the financial matters of the Lodge, elections for the formation of new Lodge councils, reading of correspondence etc.
In the second part and depending on the scheduling, there are either ceremonies for the initiation (admission) of new Freemasons or their progressive advancement, or speeches/lectures that are related to subjects of interest to Freemasons.
Absolutely not. This would constitute a mercenary use of membership status and would bring about severe administrative sanctions. During admission to Freemasonry each candidate declares emphatically that he expects no material gain from membership to the Craft. No Mason is to be treated more favourably. On the contrary, criteria will be far more austere for a Mason as opposed to an uninitated person, who has not had the opportunity to be better acquainted with a higher sense of Morality, aiming to advance his character and behavior.
It is always reminded that any attempt to gain material benefits from ones’ status as a Freemason constitutes misuse of membership that Freemasonry does not tolerate. The Book of Constitutions that each candidate is obliged to be well versed in, contains the exact rules that govern the abuse of membership status that can lead to administrative sanctions ranging from temporary suspension of his status to expulsion from the Brotherhood.
Freemasons do not swear oaths, but affirm with gravity on their honor, as free men of strict morals, that they will practice the virtues and follow the values of Freemasonry, as these have been formed through the centuries, and will abide by the rules detailed in the Constitutional Charter and the General Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Greece. This, of course, is customary in every organized public or private collectivity that is governed by rules of participation, administration and ethical behavior.
Traditionally Freemasonry accepts only men as members. The stonemasons, the forefathers of modern Freemasonry, had only men in their ranks. In the beginning of the 18th century, when Freemasonry was organized in its present form, the position of women in society was quite different from today.
Out of respect for tradition, men only can become members in the Grand Lodge of Greece. This does not mean that women are excluded from Freemasonry, given that other Masonic organizations do in fact accept women as their members.
Freemasonry embraces all individuals who believe in God. Faith in God is a necessary condition to be accepted into the ranks of Freemasonry, regardless of the Faith they practice; thus Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews etc. and generally people who believe in a religion can become Freemasons.
The use of the moniker “Great Architect” by Freemasonry constitutes the highest rendering of respect toward the God that each member believes in, avoiding the provocation of any religious debate. Individuals of different religions collectively declare their faith in God referring to Him as “Great Architect”, an term first encountered in Plato’s dialogue “Timaeus”. Also, it should be emphasized categorically that religious discussions are not permitted inside lodges.
Emphatically no. Each Freemason, as a free man, has his political convictions and exercises his civil and political duties according to his absolute free will. Freemasonry, however, as a body will never express any opinion on political matters, and willalso never proposes any political position. Besides, any political discussion in masonic meetings never has been, and will never, at any time be permissible. It is also noted that among the serious duties of a Freemason is obedience to the laws of the Country he resides in.
The Grand Lodge of Greece has approximately 5,000 active members and approximately 10,000 inactive. The Global estimate for Masonic Membership is estimated at approximately 8,000,000.
The emergence of Freemasonry is lost in the depths of history. The oldest recorded initiations of a freemason in a lodge are those of Sir Robert Moray, and Elias Ashmole in 1641, and 1646 respectively, in England. Freemasonry in its current form and organization was established with the founding of the Grand Lodge of England on June 24, 1717. The Grand Lodge of England is also the first Grand Lodge founded in the world. Ireland followed in 1725 and Scotland in 1736. All other regular Grand Lodges founded in the world afterwards have founding their roots from these Lodges known as the Tripatriate. Regarding the origin of Freemasonry there are two prevailing theories:
According to the first, the stonemasons who built great cathedral churches and castles in the middle ages had their living quarters near their work places in which they held their gatherings and called them lodges. They had simple initiation (admission) ceremonies and, given that then there was no kind of guild certificate, membership cards or union membership cards, they adopted secret signs and words to recognize each other as trained craftsmen, when they moved from area to area and from project to project. Around 1600 AD, these Lodges, had started making a name for themselves as places of thought exchange, drawing and accepting non-stonemasons who came to be known as free masons. Gradually these free masons took over the administration of the Lodges and transformed them from stonemason Lodges into “free and accepted” or “speculative” Lodges.
The second theory on the origins of Freemasonry maintains that toward the end of the 15th and at the beginning of the 16th century, there was a movement that was interested in promoting religious and political tolerance and independence in an era of feudalism and great oppression, a time when differences of opinion in matters of religion and politics had led European peoples to bloody wars. Through the formation of Freemasonry, they strived to improve human character, human morals and build a better world. Given that the teaching methods of that era included allegories and symbolism, they took the idea of the Lodge as a central allegory, upon which the formation of their system was based. The main source of allegories was the Bible, the content of which was known even to those who did not know writing and reading – illiteracy was prevalent at the time. The only building described in detail in the Bible is King Solomon’s Temple, whose erection became the central to masonic allegory. The old masonic guilds provided the basic administrative structure of a Lodge ,and the tools of the operative mason provided a plethora of symbols, which Freemasonry adopted for the purpose of explaining its moral teachings.
Freemasonry consists of three degrees. The degree of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason.
However, there are many “subsequent,” progressive masonic degrees, which belong to other Freemasonic Orders independent from Grand Lodge, and which have no administrative relationship among them. Some of these subsequent degrees may appear numerically greater than the degree of Master Mason, but this has no substantial significance as it is strictly nominal.
A Freemason has absolute freedom to pursue any subsequent freemasonic systems that satisfy him, or none at all. These however, have never actually been considered to be “superior”. The two main systems of subsequent degrees in the majority of Masonic jurisdictions internationally, are the York Rite and the Scottish Rite.