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Chapter 1 · Study

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What Freemasonry Is

Vocabulary · 10

Freemasonry
A worldwide fraternal order of men who profess belief in a Supreme Being. The Fraternity describes itself, in its own published lectures, as a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.
Speculative Masonry
The moral and symbolic Masonry of today, descended from but distinct from the medieval operative craft of building in stone.
Operative Masonry
The actual trade of building in stone, practiced by the medieval guilds from which speculative Masonry inherited its tools, terms, and ceremonial framework.
Brotherly Love
The first of the three Great Tenets. By the exercise of Brotherly Love, Masons are taught to regard the whole human species as one family.
Relief
The second of the three Great Tenets. To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds.
Truth
The third of the three Great Tenets. To be good and true is the first lesson taught in Masonry. Sincerity and plain dealing distinguish a Mason.
Cardinal Virtues
The four classical virtues which Masonry expressly inculcates: Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice.
Society with secrets
How Masonry describes itself when distinguishing its character: it is not a secret society, but a society which preserves certain modes of recognition. Its purposes, its existence, its members' identities, and its published teachings are all public.
Supreme Being
A belief in a Supreme Being is a published requirement of the Fraternity. Masonry does not define which faith, denomination, or theology, only that the candidate professes such belief sincerely.
Tenet
A principle or teaching held to be true by the Fraternity. The three Great Tenets are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.

Sequences · 2

The Three Great Tenets in order

The order in which Webb's Monitor and the published first-degree lecture present the three Great Tenets.

  1. Brotherly Love: regard the human family as one
  2. Relief: assist the unfortunate
  3. Truth: be sincere and plain-dealing

The Four Cardinal Virtues

The four cardinal virtues, in the classical order Mackey adopts.

  1. Temperance: moderation in all things
  2. Fortitude: courage under hardship
  3. Prudence: right judgment in conduct
  4. Justice: giving every person their due

Practice questions · 8

  1. What are the three Great Tenets of Freemasonry, in their traditional order?

    • a.Faith, Hope, and Charity
    • b.Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty
    • c.Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth ✓
    • d.Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice

  2. Which of the following is NOT one of the four Cardinal Virtues taught in Masonry?

    • a.Temperance
    • b.Fortitude
    • c.Charity ✓
    • d.Justice

  3. How does Freemasonry describe its own relationship to religion in Anderson's Constitutions?

    • a.Masonry is a religion
    • b.Masonry requires belief in a Supreme Being but does not define which faith ✓
    • c.Masonry rejects all religious belief
    • d.Masonry is a denomination of the Christian faith

  4. Why is Masonry often called a "society with secrets" rather than a "secret society"?

    • a.Because no Mason ever discusses Masonry outside the Lodge
    • b.Because its existence, membership, and published teachings are open, while only its modes of recognition are reserved ✓
    • c.Because its bylaws are not public
    • d.Because the Grand Lodge prohibits any external mention of the Fraternity

  5. Which Tenet teaches Masons to regard the whole human species as one family?

    • a.Truth
    • b.Relief
    • c.Brotherly Love ✓
    • d.Justice

  6. Which Tenet teaches the Mason "to soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes"?

    • a.Brotherly Love
    • b.Relief ✓
    • c.Truth
    • d.Temperance

  7. Modern speculative Masonry traces its tools and ceremonial framework to which source?

    • a.The Roman legions
    • b.The medieval guilds of operative stone-masons ✓
    • c.The Knights Templar of the Crusades
    • d.The Egyptian mystery schools

  8. Which of the following accurately describes Masonry's published self-description?

    • a.An ancient religion preserved through ritual
    • b.A political society advancing a particular cause
    • c.A peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols ✓
    • d.A charitable foundation chartered by Parliament

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