IS FREEMASONRY A SECRET SOCIETY? A "secret society" is an association that is secret. Usually the organization seeks to keep its existence secret, it has secret aims. It uses secret methods to accomplish its purposes, and encourages its members to refrain from admitting their connection with the group. In most cases the association is trying to accomplish something illegal and is therefore trying to hide its existence. For example, one outstanding secret society in the United States was organized for the the purpose of terrorizing certain minority groups. It had a rule that if a member were ever asked the question: "Are you a member of ______", the person being questioned would immediately be expelled form the organization so that he cold truthfully say "No". Freemasonry is not a secret society. The Craft does nothing to hide its existence: its aims and principles are expounded in many books and periodicals; its work is in the open; its meeting places are in buildings that are known to the community, and the members freely admit their membership. Many members wear pins on their coats to proclaim their association with the Craft. In the larger communities periodicals that circulate freely give the news of the Craft and announce the meetings of the various lodges and appendant orders. Some organizations of Masons even have parades on the streets, hold picnics, sponsor circuses, and have public exhibitions that are publicized. In many States Masons maintain hospitals, homes and other buildings that are known to the general public. The secrecy of our ceremonies of initiation are intended to meet a natural human characteristic. What is open is often overlooked, but when is hidden attracts attention. It is hoped that the new member, because of theelement of secrecy and interest in discovering what it is about, will come to the meeting with an alert mind giving the matter greater attention than he otherwise would do if he knew what was about to happen. This smatter of the "secrecy" of Freemasonry has been much overdone. The secrets of Freemasonry are few and are restricted to certian ceremonials, passwords, and signs. The history, aims, amd philosophy of Freemasonry have been printed in jundereds of books that are available for all to read. Much is made of this "secrecy" business because there is a strong implication that anything that is secret is bad. A close analysis of this point of view will show that this is not sound. Communication between attorney and client, physician and patient, priest and confessor are in secret. Yet no one would ever say that these things are bad in themselves. The gossip-monger keeps no secet but yels his information from the housetops; no one would say this is good; rather, silence would be the better course. Every person, every family, every association has some secrets. Not everything in modern society is subjected to public views. The board of directors of most corporations meet in secret. Family councils are in secret. Some religious groups meet in secret. Sometimes the opponents of the Craft seek to make a distinction between these meetings by saying that

they are private and not secret; what is secret is private. There is no difference except in the words and the possible unpleasant connotation attached to the word "secret." In recent years this point has been presented in a different way. Some anti-Masonic literature states that Freemasonry has "secret aims". These opponents go so far as to state that the aims are so secret that most Masons never even know or suspect what these aims are. With the constant change of officers in most lodges each year, with he change of most Grand Lodges, and the publication of a large number of Masonic periodicals and books it is unlikely that such a thing could exist. What would be the purpose of having such a close secret that not even the members or officers know it? Certaily if such "secret aims" exist, it would be for the purpsoe of doing or accomplishing soemthing; success in the accomplishment cold never be realized unless something were done to bring it about, and this would mean that the members (or some of them) would know about it. If there is no evidence of it anywhere the inexcapable conclusion is that there is no such "secret aim". The charge is made merely because there is an odium connected wth the term "secret society". If Freemasonry can be classified as a "secret society" then college fraternities, the Elks, the Moose, the Knights of Columbus, the Jesuits, and numeous other organizations can be so designated and be similarly stigmatized. The real answer is that the closer this point is examined the more it is seen that it is not well taken. The Holy Bible is something used for the purpose of urging this point against the Craft. The following quotation is generally used: "I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." (John 18:20) It is to be observed that these words were spoken by Jesus in reply to the questioning of the high priest relative to his disciples and his doctrines. He wanted to make it clear that He had expressed himself openly as to His doctrines, and He undoubtedly wanted to be sure that after His death claims would not be made that other doctrines have been communicated in private. He did not say, as is implied, that he was opposed to privacy or secrecy. The Holy Bible has many passages that support the advisablity of secrecy in some cases. Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another." (Prov. 25:9). Christ went up to the feast, not openly, "but as it were in secret" (John 7:10). After the disciples had seen some unusual things, Jesus told them "Tell the vision to no man" (Matthew 17:9). He did not suggest these things because they are evil, but He recognized that some things by their very nature must be done in secret. The Last Supper, for example, was especially arranged to take place in an "u pper room" (Luke 22:12) where they could eat in secret. And when they went into the garden, did He not retire by Himself to pray? (Luke 22:41). The conclusion is that Christ believed that some things should be secret. The question is sometimes asked: "If Masonry teaches good things why

keep it a secret?" The answer is a simple one, as stated by Carl H. Claudy: "Men are men the world over. That which is hidden is sought; that which is forbidden is desired; that which is secret is studied; that which is held rare is held valuable." Every Mason knows that the privacy of the Masonic ceremonies lends dignity to them and make them most impressive. The reason for doing some things in secret has been well expressed by Thomss Carlyle as follows: "Like other plants, Virtue will not grow unless its root is hidden, buried form the eye of the sun. Let the sun shine on it, the root withers, and no flower will gladden thee." There is also a psychological reason for secret ceremonies. It creates a feeling of closer unity among the members for they unconsciously feel that they have something in common with the other members which is not shared by others in the community. This makes for a more unified association. Secrecy in itself is not bad. It is only the secrecy for unlawful purposes that is harmful. If Freemasonry had been organized for an unlawful purpose or to accomplish something not in accord with the public good it would not have existed all these many years. And within its fold we would not find men like George Washington, who said about Freemasonry: "To enlarge the sphere of social happiness is worthy the benevolent design of the Masonic Institution, and it is most fervently to be wished that the conduct of every member of the Fraternity, as well as those publications that it discover the principles which actuate them, may tend to convince mankind that the grand object of Masonry is to promote the happiness of the human race." The principles of Maosnry are well known, and the work of Masonry is exposed to the world. Therefore, the fact that Masossnry contains some secrets is not a point that can be urged against the Craft. The objection that Masons take secret oaths is not entitled to much weight unless it is an oath to do evil. Nowehere does the Roman Catholic Church make any specific charge agaisnt Freemasonry in doing anything or encouraging anything bad or illegal. The mere taking of a secret oath in itself is no valid objection, otherwise the Roman Catholic Church would be finding fault with its own practices. For example, a solemn oath binds the eleven Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Holy Office and its staff not to disclose any discussion that goes on at the meetings under penalty of excommunication. The Jesuits and other Rooman Catholic organizations also take secret oaths. There is, for example, a well known Roman Catholic fraternity that meets in secret, the members take a secret oath, and it has a secret ritual. There is no difference between this organization and Freemasonry except one. Freemasonry does not permit the Roman Catholic Church to control it, nor require that its members be Roman Catholic, or that the members perform religious duties in this one church regularly as a requirement for a continuance of membership. The Roman Catholic Fraternity supports this chuch in every way possible. It is sometimes stated in the older anti-Masonic material that the ceremonies of the Freemasons must be terrible because they will not admit

ladies as members. The restriction of membership to men is a relic of the operative days when only men were operative Masons. To change this rule now would be impossible. The few rare instances where ladies have "become Masons", such as the incident of the famous Mrs. Aldsworth, has left neither the Craft nor the lady in question any the worse for the experience. But the wholesale acceptance of the ladies in spurious Masonic organizations has proved generally to be a source of trouble for all concerned. Only one illustration is necessary to be examined: the Egyptian Rite of Masonry established by the charlatan Cagliostro and his wife, who for some years victimized thousands in Europe with their promises and ceremoneis, had women as members. The matters relating to Freemasonry that really count, as far as the world at large is concerned, are not secret. The principles of the Craft are printed in many books, maazines, and newspapers. Anyone who is interested can read them. Those few things that are in fact secret can be of no interest to non-members, and Masonic work is in the open. By: Alphonse Cerza; "LET THERE BE LIGHT" - a Study in Anti-Masonry; Published by The Masonic Service Assn; Maryland; Undated edition.. Submitted by D. Roy Murray King Solomon Lodge, No. 58, GRS Victoria Lodge, No. 13, GRA