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Fellowcraft Email 2

We hope you’ve had a chance to look into the materials that were provided to you at your degree and spent some more time with your mentor. Try to attend a fellow craft or entered apprentice degree and observe from the sidelines if you can. If you haven’t had a chance to see one at your lodge or one nearby, please make plans to do so soon. Your lodge brothers will be able to let you know what degrees are being conferred in your area.  

Today, we’ll touch on the letter “G” which forms an important aspect of masonic philosophy. As a reminder, your fellow craft booklet and your mentor are also great resources for any questions you may have along your journey deeper into our fraternity.  

By now you’ve no doubt noticed the letter “G” hanging in your lodge room. This takes various forms across the world, but in Indiana, it is generally displayed in the East above the Worshipful Master’s chair in some fashion. This, as you were instructed, refers to both “God” and to “Geometry”, which forms the basis of our fraternity. 

 

Because of the nature of the teachings of freemasonry, we require a man’s acknowledgment of a belief in the existence of a supreme being of some kind. There is no requirement that one belongs to a particular religion, however. As a rule, we do not allow atheists, (defined as ones who do not hold a belief in the existence of a supreme being or beings) to be members. Otherwise, the ceremonies of our degrees would be largely meaningless to them. As an entered apprentice, you professed faith in a supreme being before being initiated. One’s choice of religion is a deeply personal decision that is not to be taken lightly. 

 

Masonically, we often refer to God as the “Supreme (or Grand) Architect of the Universe” as a kind of catch-all term. Your concept of God and what you call him/her/it may differ from the brother sitting next to you in lodge and this phrase forms a useful substitute whereby we may all meet as equals. Tolerance of differences in religion is a core aspect of freemasonry. You are not to mock or condemn another brother for his choice of faith, nor are you to imply that your faith and concept of God is superior to his. You are also not to condone this behavior if observed. This is considered to be both extremely improper and deeply un-masonic. 

 

Although we often refer to the “holy bible” in our ritual, masonry is not a Christian organization in any way. Masonry endorses no religion in particular and a lodge could easily swap religious texts on the altar as desired. Taken as a whole, masonry is Abrahamic in focus, and this root forms the basis of the three great monotheistic faiths of the world -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Regardless, masonry welcomes all good men of ALL faiths equally. Our philosophy teaches that membership in our fraternity will only enhance a man's experience in whatever religious community he chooses to belong. 

 

Geometry, aside from its mathematical attributes, can be defined as the basis of freemasonry. During the degree a full explanation for this importance is not immediately forthcoming. You were simply told that it is very important to undertake the study of it. Aside from cracking open an old high school geometry textbook, it has a deeper meaning.  

 

Classically, the Supreme Architect of the Universe was believed to be a geometrician and various examples exist of our divine master depicted as a human figure holding a compass and circumscribing creation. Geometric shapes exist throughout nature as an extension of this philosophy. Honeybees creating perfect hexagons in their hives is one of many examples. Commentary over the centuries also supports this philosophy. Pythagoras and later Plato raised geometry to a sacred science of discovering the nature of reality and through it discovering the nature of the divine being. In his Republic, Plato is famously quoted as saying, “Geometry rightly treated is the knowledge of the eternal.” Geometry and this concept of “sacred geometry” is strongly encouraged for your study.  

 

The brothers of your lodge and the thousands of other masons here in Indiana are glad you’re here and we celebrate your progress. Continue working with your mentor and strive to become as active in your lodge as your schedule allows. Follow your lodge and the Grand Lodge of Indiana on the various social media channels if you haven’t already. See you next time!  

Fraternally,
The Grand Lodge of Indiana Education Committee

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