Informed members of the Masonic Fraternity assert that Masonry traces its origin back to the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis. As viewed by Mystic Masons, this statement is true.
From the earliest period of human history there have been two distinct streams of life evolving upon earth. They are known as the positive masculine life stream and the negative feminine life stream. It is by means of a harmonious union of these two streams that all creation takes place upon this plane of manifestation. In the opening chapters of Genesis the formula of creation is set forth succinctly in the statement "And the Spirit of God (the masculine force) moved upon the face of the waters (the feminine potential)."
Prior to the beginning of human evolution these two were united in God. By the evolutionary processes they were divided. But they will once more be united when the race reaches a higher phase of spiritual attainment. These two forces, active and passive, are described in Genesis as Adam, meaning man o red earth, and Eve — or more properly Heva — meaning the mother of all living. From the union of Adam and Eve was born Cain and Abel, in whom we again find the two distinct division: Cain typifying the masculine and Abel, the feminine.
The statement is made repeatedly in our volumes on New Age Bible Interpretation that from the first chapter of Genesis to the final chapter of Revelation the Bible, the great Wonder Book, is the story of man himself. Every biblical character represents some phase of human evolution, past, present or future. Studied from this angle, it becomes the true textbook of life filled from page to page with enthralling interest and enlightenment.
The Hebrew alphabet is a repository of profound cosmic wisdom. Each letter of the name Cain is a masculine letter; and Cain, as previously stated, typifies the masculine life stream. He is a son of Fire, indicative of mind which is the seat of reason. This is not true of the name Abel. A is masculine, B is feminine, E is feminine and L is masculine. In him we see the feminine pointing to a harmonious blending of the two streams of force. As human evolution advanced, Cain slew Abel. In other words, the power of reason overcame the power of love in the thinking, feeling and functioning of mankind. We have only to study conditions now prevailing throughout the world to realize how true this is. If the heart of man were truly awakened so that love was the motivating power of his life, war would automatically cease. There could be no controversy such as the present one concerning the abolition of capital punishment. Awakened man would know that until he possesses the power to create life he has no right to take life. The gas chamber is but little less barbarous than the torture chamber of medieval times. The only legitimate motive for punishment is rehabilitation, not vengeance. So long as we countenance a dispensation which demands an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we are not Christians. Christ came to teach the human race how to transcend that law by following the precept "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." We can never be true Christians until we live the Golden Rule.
As evolution progressed we learn that Adam and Eve gave birth to Seth, a son to take the place of the murdered Abel. Upon analyzing the letters in the name Seth we find that S is masculine, E is feminine, T is masculine and H is feminine. Here again we see that it is the feminine love principle which bears the divine impress of an eventual reunion of the two streams of force, head and heart.
In the world of affairs these divergent streams are represented by masculine Statecraft, with which Masonry is aligned, and feminine Churchcraft. The work of the sons of Cain (Fire) is largely objective, for the light of reason illumines the head center. The work of the sons of Seth is largely subjective; they follow the path of faith and bear the sign of the cross (Water) upon their forehead. It is easy to note the divergent and often antagonistic viewpoints of those comprising the two distinct life streams. Inspiring, however, is the forecast of the exalted state to which man will attain when evolutionary advancement has brought about a merging of these two forces within himself.
As humanity moves ever onward and upward a more harmonious relationship will exist between Churchcraft and Masonic Templecraft. In conformity with this adjustment, the status of man and woman will become more and more equalized until woman is established in her rightful position. Churchcraft does give some recognition to woman, although the place she occupies in it is decidedly secondary to man's. However, Masonic Templecraft ignores the feminine completely. In it woman is not recognized at all. The working tools of the Craft are kept in Jachin (the masculine column) while Boaz (the feminine column) is completely empty.
Not until man and woman walk hand in hand into the innermost sanctuary will the mighty power of a renewed spiritual light shine upon the altars of the Church, and then only will the Masonic Fraternity be found worthy to recover the lost Word and thus become a true shrine of the Sublime Secret. Also, the relationship between the masculine and feminine forces in the body of man, the head and heart centers respectively, will then come into closer attunement with one another. In other words, man will begin to think with his heart and to love with his mind. In the Bible, that incomparable textbook of life, we read: "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." What a day.it will be when people learn to reason with love and to love with reason! No longer will they ask, "What can I get out of this for myself?" Rather, they will seek to learn "How can I give more of myself in loving service to others?" Their every thought, word and deed will be motivated by the ideal of the greatest good for the greatest number. Then, in deed and in truth, will the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man become a reality upon earth.
Strange to say, both Churchcraft and Masonic Templecraft have their origin in the hidden teachings of the Bible. Never through the ages have those teachings been allowed to perish. However, it may have flickered, the Light of Truth has never been wholly extinguished. With each incoming cycle propitious to a renewal of its radiance, an inspired messenger has appeared to trim its wick and replenish its sacred oil. This was true in ancient Israel. It was also true at the beginning of the Christian era. It was true in the time of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, and has continued to be true down to our own day — as is best exemplified in the inspired writings of Albert Pike.
The knowledge conferred by his Morals and Dogma should be in possession of every Thirty-second Degree Mason, and will be when the Lodge forsakes mere Speculative Masonry for genuine Operative Masonry, thus making itself worthy to receive the wages of a true Master. Then, and not until then, will the sublime purpose of Masonry, as visioned by Albert Pike and other real Mystic Masons, be accomplished. When Masonry and the Church unite they will become the two handmaidens of a truly Christed dispensation.
A candidate enters a Masonic Lodge poor, naked and blind. From the very beginning of his study he is questing for the Light. As he reaches the end of his training and passes into the Thirty-second Degree, he should be found worthy to "walk in the light, as he (the Lord Christ) is in the light." This would now be true had not so many of the Fraternity forsaken the spirit to abide in the letter of their instruction.
The two principal texts for study and reverential devotion in all Lodges are the Bible and King Solomon's Temple. The latter is said to be the most perfect structure ever erected on earth. With its magnificent symbology it was a materialized replica of that "house not made with hands" but "eternal in the heavens" — in other words, of that spiritual body which every consecrated and worthy Mason should be endeavoring to build.
King David selected Mount Moriah as the ideal site for the Temple. Moriah is on an elevation overlooking the city of Jerusalem. It was there that Abraham was tested when asked to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. In meeing this test as he did by demonstrating his willingness to give up that which meant the most to him, he was not only saved from incurring the anticipated loss but was rewarded by experiencing a transcendent illumination. Some literal readers of the Bible have rejected this story about Abraham as quite senseless, but it still survives because of the profound spiritual truth which it illustrates.
Renunciation is the key to the highest spiritual attainment. The most important of the Commandments is "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," which means that spiritual life must take precedence over all else. The most subtle of tests is renunciation of the best beloved, whether it be a personality, worldly possessions, fame or social prestige. Whatever it is, there must be willingness to surrender it if it impedes one's spiritual progress.
Abraham's highest illumination followed his successfully passing this test. Hence, he was chosen to serve as the teacher and leader of the present Fifth Root Race at its inception. His name means father of multitudes, and it was promised that if he proved himself worthy his descendents would be as the stars of heaven and as the sands of the seashore. After his trial the heavens were opened to him and he was able to see and commune with angelic visitors. From thenceforth he was a citizen of two worlds. He lived under the guidance of celestial guardians and was protected by them.
To repeat, the Bible is the supreme textbook of life. It is the life of humanity which we study from the opening pages of Genesis, that relate how early mankind (Adam and Eve) forfeited Eden by choosing to follow the desires of the flesh rather than the precepts of the spirit, to the final pages of Revelation, which depict man, purified and transformed, as bearing the mark of the Christ. In other words, a Christed humanity. Every Book of the Bible narrates a story of man's failures and triumphs as he journeys along the Path which leads eventually to this supreme consummation. There is an old cryptic saying to the effect that every place mentioned in the Bible is Here and every time mentioned in the Bible is Now.
When construction of Solomon's Temple began there was a profound significance to the numbering of workmen and the assigning of their labors. (Albert Pike admonishes Masonic candidates to study numbers because they lead to wisdom.) Solomon appointed thirty-three hundred Master Builders to be overseers. Thirty-three is the supreme number relative to a Mason's attainment. Three is the number of the sacred triangle, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Within man three represents body, mind and spirit. Spirit works to purity body and to illumine mind so they may become channels for the divine inflow and outflow; or, as Solomon expressed it, that both wisdom and understanding might be acquired.
The work of the Masters was to be performed within the Holy of Holies. Of the Fellowcraft Degree there were appointed eighty thousand who were to be hewers. Eight is the perfect cube, the Philosopher's Stone. The work of the Fellowcraft was to take place in the inner court, the Holy Place, and it was to transform the rought ashlar into the perfect cube. Of the Apprentice Degree King Solomon appointed seventy thousand who were to be the laborers. The number seven is formed of the square, signifying four, and the triangle, representing three. Four refers to the personality. Three relates to the spirit which works upon the personality to make it a clearer channel through which the spirit can manifest. Apprentice Degree work took place in the outer court before the Altar of Burnt Offering — whereon lower attributes of the personality, such as envy, hatred, jealousy, greed and lust, must be sacrificed.
There have been discovered many important documents dealing with the work of Masonry during the Medieval Age. These refer to the Masonic Path as the Pilgrimage of Perfection. Edinburgh Lodge Number One is the oldest on record. It was followed by other Lodges in England, Vienna, Germany and other European countries.
The Rosicrucian Order and the Masonic Order worked closely together in those early centuries so they have much in common. Proof of this is the Eighteenth or Rose Croix Degree of the Scottish Rite. Rosicrucianism was founded in the fourteenth century by one who bore the symbolic name of Christian Rose Cross. At that time there were prominent men who worked with both Orders simultaneously. Such an one was Elias Ashmole (1617-1692) a foremost writer and philosopher of England. Francis Bacon was another. And modern Masons attest to the fact that Thomas Jefferson was a Rosicrucian.
As they had been from the beginnings of Masonry, the Bible and a plan of Solomon's Temple were the principal texts for study. Between them, however, there were two marked differences: a Lodge could not use a Bible as its main article of furniture. Only a few Bibles were at that time in existence, and the price of those few was prohibitive for the average individual or group. Moreover, these Bibles were written in Latin and rare was the individual who could read the language. To overcome these handicaps reading circles were organized, the reader usually being a learned man of the Church. This practice brought Mystery Plays into vogue, these plays always being based on biblical characters. Another product of the period was the oratorio. Thus, by means of the spoken word and music, the Bible was retained as the supreme source of inspiration for Christian Europe.
That inspiration prompted Masonic hewers and builders to engage in building the Gothic cathedrals that have never been surpassed in the field of architecture. From the magnificent paintings which decorated their walls, the exquisitely carved figures that enhanced the massive columns, and the biblical characters and scenes depicted in the radiant beauty of the stained glass windows, even the most unlearned could familiarize themselves with scriptural lore. A notable example of these cathedrals is the one at Chartres in France, which has been described as a "Bible in Stone."
The invention of the printing press in 1455 brought about a widespread change in manners and customs. The first volume to come from the press was a Bible; and immediately a printed edition was circulated among the masses. But not until 1611 was it placed within the reach of practically everyone by the first edition of the King James version. Soon thereafter it became the most treasured possession of nearly every household.
The old age is passing. Once again many innovations are in the process of materalization. The popularity of radio and television is causing the spoken word to take precedence over the printed page in the life of mankind at large. But no matter how drastic may be the changes or how startling the innovations, for the conservative Freemason or the Mystic Mason, for the orthodox churchman and/or the liberal churchman, the Bible will continue to be the supreme Book of Light.
— Corinne Heline
