Reason Number Ten: Freemasonry contains material shared by esoteric, or occult, groups

It is generally recognized that Freemasonry identifies itself within the western esoteric tradition. Statements found in some monitors suggest a clear identification with the esoteric belief systems of the past.  It is not difficult to find past or president leaders of the Craft alluding to this aspect of the Lodge.

This study has already identified in the McCleanachan monitor of the Scottish Rite groups or concepts that have historically been associated with the occult.  This list would include the Gnostics, the Mystery Religions, the Kabbala, the Templars, the Holy Vehme, Magism, Pythagoras, Alchemy, and Hermeticism.  Of these esoteric, mystical streams, the most pervasive appears to be the Kabbala.  The desire to delve into the world of esoterism is not hidden in the McCleanachan monitor.

As an initiate approaches the 18th degree, Rose Croix, he is greeted with this statement:

“In these degrees, it is readily perceivable that we have now fully entered upon a long course of instruction into all the mysteries of the esoteric doctrine.”  (Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, McCleanachan, 1885, p. 244)

This degree, as written in the late 19th century, introduces the initiate to the next level of understanding.  It teaches a comprehensive course of esoteric, or occult, training.  Glancing through the McCleanachan monitor, the level of esoterism appears to accelerate in the 18th degree and beyond.  Since Grand Historian Art de Hoyos has stated in the fourth chapter of Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry? that this monitor does represent the Scottish Rite in this period, it is obvious that esoterism, or the occult, is linked to the Lodge at some level.

In the degree Prince of the Tabernacle, we read an allegorical section describing various items to be in the possession of a Mason.  Notice the inclusion of the word occult.

"The lamp is reason enlightened by science; the cloak is liberty, or the full and entire possession of oneself, which isolates the sage from the currents of instinct; and the staff is the assistance of the occult and eternal forces of nature.”  (Prince of the Tabernacle, p. 353)

The assistance of the occult is likened to a staff as the Mason walks through life.  In addition, we read that a great symbol of Freemasonry, the keystone, is actually a hidden symbol of the occult.

“The cross, that key of the mysteries of India and Egypt, the law of the Patriarchs, the divine symbol of Osiris, the stauros of the Gnostics, the keystone of the Temple, the symbol of occult Masonry...”  (Book of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of Freemasonry, McCleanachan, 1885, p. 366)

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Keystones hold things in place.  Keystones hold an arch in place by influencing the entire structure through pressure.

Freemasonry explicitly states that Magism, or magic, finds a home within the Craft:

“Magism was made for kings and priests alone.  He who dreads to lose his own ideas, and fears new truths, and is not disposed to doubt everything, rather than admit anything at random, should not seek to learn the teachings of this degree, for they will be useless and dangerous to him; he will misunderstand them and be troubled with them, and yet more troubled should he chance to comprehend them.”  (Book of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of Freemasonry, McCleanachan, 1885, p. 400)

The initiate is told that the world of magic is the realm of kings and priests.  In order to arrive at this understanding, a Mason must let go of old ideas, and not be afraid of new ones.  The teachings of this degree could be dangerous to him, and troubling whether he understands them or not.  The McCleanachan monitor includes a phrase that comes from the Sohar, the occult book of the Kabbala.  It reads:

“The understanding of the occult is the knowledge of the equilibrium.”  Book of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of Freemasonry, McCleanachan, 1885, p. 403)

The monitor holds out to initiates the goal of arriving at the Holy Empire of magical omnipotence:

“This is what those have had to do, what they have always done, who have aspired to the Holy Empire of magical omnipotence.”  (Book of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of Freemasonry, McCleanachan, 1885, p. 415)

The Holy Empire is a place of power:

"We now approach the Holy Empire, which signifies the attainment of the science and power of the Magi."  (Book of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of Freemasonry, McCleanachan, 1885, p. 437)

The power of the Magi is Magic.  Magic was best defined by Sir James Frazer, who stated at the beginning of the 20th century that it consists of practices seeking to bring spiritual and supernatural forces under the control of human agents. (Triumph of the Moon, Ronald Hutton, Oxford Press, 1999, p. 66)

In his work, Triumph of the Moon, Hutton suggests that neo-paganism and witchcraft found secret societies of the Renaissance to be the ideal means for creating mystical structure throughout Europe.  (Triumph of the Moon, Ronald Hutton, Oxford Press, 1999, p. 65)

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Hutton outlines a number of practices that are involved with ancient magical systems.  The following are generally found in ancient magical systems:

1. Concentrated circles
2. Cardinal points of the compass
3. Four elements (fire, water, earth, and air)
4. Belief in supernatural agencies
5. The use of sacred geometry (pentagrams, hexagrams, triangles)
6. Drawing forces into one’s being

As magic moved into the Renaissance, according to Hutton, it added these features:

1. Adoption of complex rituals to gain power over the supernatural
2. Circles were completed with use of tools, signs, and invocations

Obviously, one can readily find similarities within the practices of Freemasonry that might fit many of these magical concepts.  The reason is clear; Freemasonry contains material shared by esoteric groups.

In closing, one may genuinely ask why Freemasonry with its occult overtones takes time in include biblical material in its degrees.  This is an interesting question.

First, an examination of the biblical references will soon note that often the material is generally taken out of its original context.  The fact that the Bible is a great light of Freemasonry really means very little.  The Bible serves as the VSR, the Volume of Sacred Law.  It is considered only a symbol of the will of God, not the actual words.  But more importantly, the use of biblical material in an esoteric organization is not unusual at all.  If the reader takes time to study occult material, he or she will soon discover that biblical references are easy to find.  Many western magical systems are highly interested in topics that surround early Judaism.