Background music - "Minuet in G" - by Brother Ludwig Von Beethoven

About Freemasonry

Freemasonry's Origin

Freemasonry is ancient, having existed in some form for so long that many serious students have differed as to the time and place of its origin. There is evidence of a basic type of craft association which antedates the Christian era. It survived various transitions which took place during the Middle Ages. It was during this period that the word "Free" was prefixed to the word Mason, because these builders were one of the very few classes of persons allowed to travel from country to country and to practice the builder's art wheresoever they went over the face of the globe. It was these companies of Masons who constructed the beautiful cathedrals and other stately structures which dot the plains of Europe and the English countryside. These men differed from the main from others of the working crafts because they, possessing knowledge and skills not found elsewhere, were free men rather than bond servants.

The Regius Manuscript
(sometimes called the Regius Poem)
-Circa 1390-

Hic incipiunt constituciones artis gemetriae secundum Eucyldem.

Here begin the constitutions of the art of Geometry according to Euclid.

Whose wol bothe wel rede and loke, He may fynde wryte yn olde boke Of grete lordys and eke ladyysse, That had mony chyldryn y-fere, y-wisse; And hade no rentys to fynde hem wyth, Nowther yn towne, ny felde, ny ryth: A cownsel togeder they cowthe hem take;

Whoever will both well read and look He may find written in old book Of great lords and also ladies, That had many children together, certainly; And had no income to keep them with, Neither in town nor field nor enclosed wood; A council together they could them take,

To ordeyne for these chyldryn sake, How they myzth best lede here lyfe Withoute fret desese, care and stryge; And most for the multytude that was comynge Of here chyldryn after here zyndynge. (They) sende thenne after grete clerkys, To techyn hem thenne gode werkys;

To ordain for these children's sake, How they might best lead their life Without great disease, care and strife; And most for the multitude that was coming Of the children after them. They sent then after great clerks, To teach them then good works;

And pray we hem, for our Lordys sake, To oure chyldryn sum werke to make, That they myzth gete here lyvnge therby, Bothe wel and onestlyche, ful sycurly. Yn that tyme, throzgh good gemetry, Thys onest craft of good masonry Wes ordeynt and made yn thys manere, Y-cownterfetyd of thys clerkys y-fere; At these lordys prayers they cownterfetyd gemetry,

And pray we them, for our Lord's sake. To our children some work to make, That they might get their living thereby, Both well and honestly full securely. In that time, through good geometry, This honest craft of good masonry Was ordained and made in this manner, Counterfeited of these clerks together; At these lord's prayers they counterfeited geometry,

And zaf hyt the name of masonry, For the moste oneste craft of alle. These Lordys chyldryn therto dede falle, To lurne of hym the craft of gemetry, The wheche he made ful curysly;

And gave it the name of masonry, For the most honest craft of all. These lords' children thereto did fall, To learn of him the craft of geometry, The which he made full curiously;

Throzgh fadrys prayers and modrys also, Thys onest craft he putte hem to. He that lerned best, and were of oneste, And passud hys felows yn curyste; Zef yn that craft he dede hym passe, He schulde have more worschepe then the lasse. Thys frete clerkys name was clept Euclyde, Hys name hyt spradde ful wondur wyde. Zet thys grete clerke more ordeynt he To hym that was herre yn thys degre, That he schulde teche the synplyst of (wytte) Yn that onest craft to be parfytte; And so uchon schulle techyn othur, And love togeder as syster and brothur.

Through fathers' prayers and mothers' also, This honest craft he put them to.  He learned best, and was of honesty, And passed his fellows in curiosity, If in that craft he did him pass, He should have more worship than the less, This great clerk's name was Euclid, His name it spread full wonder wide. Yet this great clerk ordained he To him that was higher in this degree, That he should teach the simplest of wit In that honest craft to be perfect; And so each one shall teach the other, And love together as sister and brother.

Forthermore zet that ordeynt he, Mayster y-called so schulde he be; So that he were most y-worschepede, Thenne sculde he be so y-clepede:

Furthermore yet that ordained he, Master called so should he be; So that he were most worshipped, Then should he be so called;

But mason schulde never won other calle, Withynne the craft amongus hem alle, Ny soget, ny servant, my dere brother, Thazht he be not so perfyt as ys another; Uchon sculle calle other felows by cuthe, For cause they come of ladyes burthe.

But masons should never one another call, Within the craft amongst them all, Neither subject nor servant, my dear brother, Though he be not so perfect as is another; Each shall call other fellows by friendship, Because they come of ladies' birth.

On thys maner, throz good wytte of gemetry, Bygan furst the craft of masonry: The clerk Euclyde on thys wyse hyt fonde, Thys craft of gemetry yn Egypte londe.

On this manner, through good wit of geometry, Began first the craft of masonry; The clerk Euclid on this wise it found, This craft of geometry in Egypt land.

Yn Egypte he tawzhte hyt ful wyde, Yn dyvers londe on every syde; Mony erys afterwarde, y understonde,
Zer that the craft com ynto thys londe,

In Egypt he taught it full wide, In divers lands on every side; Many years afterwards, I understand,
Ere that the craft came into this land.

Until about the Sixteenth Century Masons were strictly an operative craft, bond together by the close ties found in the constructive craft guilds of the day. Early in the Seventeenth Century, men of prominence were admitted, not as craftsmen, for they were not skilled in the builders art, but rather as patrons. Gradually these men came to be known as "accepted" Masons. Thus, by the time the Seventeenth Century came to its end the accepted or speculative Masons were predominant in many of the older Lodges of Freemasons. Today the Masonic Lodge is termed speculative because its emphasis is on the moral philosophy which is its foundation, rather than the operative art of the Sixteenth and earlier centuries. The tools of the stonemason are used to symbolize moral virtues rather than to build cathedrals.

Freemasonry means many things to many people. This is true not only of the person who is not a Mason, but applies as well to Masons themselves. Some of those who have been members of the Masonic Craft for may years are afraid to mention even the things which almost everyone knows about the fraternity. Others amongst us are convinced that Freemasonry is a secret society and they, as members, are forbidden to talk about it to others whom they do not know to be Masons. Most of this is far from the truth and a word of explanation concerning this Fraternal organization may not be amiss.

Freemasonry is a Fraternity

Freemasonry is the oldest, and by far, the largest fraternal order in the world. Its Lodges stretch around the globe and, like the British Empire, it might well be said that the sun never sets upon the Masonic Lodge. Fraternity means as association of brothers and that is exactly what Freemasonry is -- a society of friends and brothers. It is not a benefit society in the sense that one becomes a member of it because of the insurance benefits which he may receive or which may inure to his family at his death. It is not an eleemosynary institution, founded to collect and disburse charity or founded on the giving of alms. Although through Masonic Organizations and their various related bodies, an estimated $1.5million a day is donated.

It is not a secret society in that its Temples or Centers are openly marked and almost everyone in the community knows where they are located. The Grand Lodge publishes a list of the members of every Lodge in South Carolina. Many of the Lodges have individual bulletins which carry the names of the officers and of members as well. Thus it is, in the strictest sense of the word, a society with secrets and these are limited to its obligation, it modes of recognition, such as pass-words and grips, etc. and certain parts of its ritual.

It is religious in character, but it is not a religion. It is founded upon the basic principle of the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God, and everyone who comes into its Lodges must express a belief in God. No one is asked to express a particular belief about God, for this is the privilege of each individual and is not infringed by our Fraternity.

Freemasonry practices a selective charity, founded on the principle of brotherly need which is not applicable in all cases that have a surface likeness. No member has a specific claim upon the society for its charity, for this is not a right acquired by becoming a member of the society; rather, it is a privilege.

 The Teacher Freemasonry

One of Freemasonry's objectives is the making of better men. This it endeavors to do by teaching. It aims to inculcate in the minds of those who come into it some of those virtues which are recognized as prerequisites for a better life. Its teachings include brotherhood, morality, justice, tolerance, citizenship, educations and freedom of ideas, of religious choice, of expression.

The worth of the individual in society is another of its prime objectives, but it believes that this worth is only achieved by the recognition of the corresponding responsibility which must accompany each privilege the individual enjoys. Upon this premise, right may be exercised properly only as long as they do not infringe those belonging to one's neighbor. This principle finds its highest expression in the term "brotherly love" which teaches us to regard the whole human race as one common family, who are sent into the world to aid, support and protect each other.

Freemasonry's Organization

Just as the individuals are the foundation of our Society of Friends and Brothers, so is the Masonic Lodge the fundamental organization of it. This basic unit of the organization is sometimes called the "Blue Lodge," sometimes, the Craft Lodge, but it always operates under standards prescribed by a Grand Lodge. There is no higher Masonic authority than a Grand Lodge, and each Grand Lodge is the sovereign authority within the State or Country over which it claims jurisdiction. The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina is the supreme governing authority over every Lodge in South Carolina. Its chief officer has the title of Grand Master, but he is known as the Grand Master of Masons in South Carolina, signifying his election by the Masons of South Carolina whose votes are cast by their duly elected representatives. He acts for all of the Masons collectively who live within the State and are members of its Lodges.

The Officers of the individual Lodge are the Worshipful Master (the term worshipful being used after the old English manner, meaning respected); the Senior and Junior Wardens. The term warden means "watcher" or supervisor, taken from the old English term as used by the stonemason of the eighteenth century. In addition, the Lodge has a Treasurer and Secretary as well as two deacons. Both of the latter are messengers who carry messages at the direction of the Master or the Senior Warden to others about the Lodge, as the occasion may require. These two brethren also see to the accommodation of visitors when the Lodge is assembled. There are also Stewards, who see to the preparation of food, its service, and perform other duties. There is a Chaplain, charged with offering prayers and reading the Bible at certain times. The officer without the door is the Tiler or Tyler, who guards the Lodge from intrusion.

The Grand Lodge System

On June 24, 1717, this being St. John the Baptist Day, the members of four old Lodges in London, England, met together in Grand Assembly to form the Grand Lodge of England. That this was a speculative Lodge is evidenced by the election of one styled "Anthony Sayer, gentleman," as Grand Master. All modern Freemasonry traces its beginning under the Grand Lodge system of government to this Grand Lodge.

Freemasonry came to America about the third decade of the Eighteenth Century when Lodges were established in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. American Freemasons can take pride in the part which the members of this Fraternity played in the history of our country.

Many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Masons and the same statement is true of those who signed the Constitution of the United States. Famous men such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, Lafayette, James Monroe and many others whose names awaken memories of the founding of our country and state. Since our country's beginning thirteen of its President's have been Masons.

Masons have also won laurels in other field of endeavor and we find them prominent in government, in science, in sports, in entertainment, and finally in man's newest field, that of space exploration with Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper, Virgil Grissom and the second man to set foot on the moon -- "Buz" Aldrin, all bound by the mystic tie of Freemasonry.

A Partial List of FAMOUS Freemasons

Abbott, Sir John J.C. - Prime Minister of Canada 1891-92
Aldrin, Edwin E. - Astronaut
Arnold, General Henry "Hap" - Commander of the Army Air Force
Austin, Stephen F. - Father of Texas
Autry, Gene - Actor
Baldwin, Henry - Supreme Court Justice
Balfour, Lloyd - Jewelry
Bartholdi, Frederic A. - Designed the Statue of Liberty
Baylor, Robert E. B. - Founder Baylor University
Beard, Daniel Carter - Founder Boy Scouts
Beethoven, Ludwig Von - Composer
Bell, Lawrence - Bell Aircraft Corp.
Bennett, Viscount R.B. - Prime Minister of Canada 1930-35
Berlin, Irving - Entertainer
Black, Hugo L. - Supreme Court Justice
Blair, Jr., John - Supreme Court Justice
Blatchford, Samuel - Supreme Court Justice
Bolivar, Simon - "Liberator" of South America
Borden, Sir Robert L. - Prime Minister of Canada 1911-1920
Borglum, Gutzon & Lincoln - Father and Son who carved Mt. Rushmore
Borgnine, Ernest - Actor
Bowell, Sir Mackenzie - Prime Minister of Canada 1894-96
Bowie, James - Alamo
Bradley, Omar N. - Military leader
Brant, Joseph - Chief of the Mohawks 1742 - 1807
BuBois, W.E.B. - Educator/scholar
Buchanan, James - President of the U.S.
Burnett, David G. - 1st President of the Republic of Texas
Burns, Robert - The National Poet of Scotland
Burton, Harold H. - Supreme Court Justice
Byrd, Admiral Richard E. - Flew over North Pole
Byrnes, James F. - Supreme Court Justice
Calvo, Father Francisco - Catholic Priest who started Freemasonry in Costa Rica 1865
Carson, Christopher "Kit" - Frontiersman, scout and explorer
Casanova - Italian Adventurer, writer and entertainer
Catton, John - Supreme Court Justice
Chrysler, Walter P. - Automotive fame
Churchill, Winston - British Leader
Citroen, Andre - French Engineer and motor car manufacturer
Clark, Roy - Country Western Star
Clark, Thomas C. - Supreme Court Justice
Clark, William - Explorer
Clarke, John H. - Supreme Court Justice
Clemens, Samuel L. - Mark Twain - writer
Clinton, DeWitt - Governor and founder of Public School System (NY)
Cobb, Ty - Baseball Player
Cody, "Buffalo Bill" William - Indian fighter, Wild West Show
Cohan, George M. - Broadway star
Collodi, Carlo - Writer of Pinocchio
Colt, Samuel - Firearms inventor
Combs, Earle Bryan - Baseball Hall of Fame
Crockett, David - American Frontiersman and Alamo fame
Cushing, William - Supreme Court Justice
Dempsey, Jack - Sports
Desaguliers, John Theophilus - Inventor of the planetarium
Devanter, Willis Van - Supreme Court Justice
Diefenbaker, John G. - Prime Minister of Canada 1957-63
Dole, Robert - US Senator
Doolittle, General James - Famous Air Force Pilot
Douglas, William O. - Supreme Court Justice
Dow, William H. - Dow Chemical Co.
Doyle, Sir Author Conan - Writer - Sherlock Holmes
Drake, Edwin L - American Pioneer of the Oil industry
Dunant, Jean Henri - Founder of the Red Cross
Edward VII - King of England
Edward VIII - King of England
Ellsworth, Oliver - Supreme Court Justice
Ervin Jr, Samual J. - Headed "Watergate" committee
Faber, Eberhard - Head of the famous Pencil Company
Fairbanks, Douglas - Silent film actor
Field, Stephen J. - Supreme Court Justice
Fields, W.C. - Actor
Fisher, Geoffrey - Archbishop of Canterbury 1945 - 1961
Fitch, John - Inventor of the Steamboat
Fleming, Sir Alexander - Invented Penicillin
Ford, Gerald R. - President of the U.S.
Ford, Henry - Pioneer Automobile Manufacturer
Franklin, Benjamin - 1 of 13 Masonic signers of Constitution of the U.S.
Gable, Clark - Actor
Garfield, James A. - President of the U.S.
Gatling, Richard J. - Built the "Gatling Gun"
George VI - King of England during W.W. II
Gibbon, Edward - Writer - Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Gilbert, Sir William S. - Was the librettis for "Pirates of Penzance"
Gillett, King C. - Gillett Razor Co.
Glenn, John H. - First American to orbit the earth in a space craft
Godfrey, Arthur - Actor
Gray, Harold Lincoln - Creator of "Little Orphan Annie"
Grissom, Virgil - Astronaut
Grock - Swiss Circus Clown
Guillotin, Joseph Ignace - Inventor of the "Guillotin"
Hancock, John - 1of 9 Masonic signers of Declaration of Independence
Harding, Warren G. - President of the U.S.
Hardy, Oliver - Actor - Comedian
Harlan, John M. - Supreme Court Justice
Hedges, Cornelius - "Father" of Yellowstone National Park
Henry, Patrick - Patriot
Hilton, Charles C. - American Hotelier
Hoban, James - Architect for the U.S. Capitol
Hoe, Richard M. - Invented the rotary press
Hollings, Ernest F. - U.S. Senator (South Carolina)
Hoover, J. Edgar - Director of FBI
Hornsby, Rogers - An original member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Houdini, Harry - Magician
Houston, Sam - 2nd & 4th President of the Republic of Texas
Ives, Burl - Entertainer
Jackson, Andrew - President of the U.S.
Jackson, Robert H. - Supreme Court Justice
Jenner, Edward - Inventor - Vaccination
Johnson, Andrew - President of the U.S.
Jolson, Al - Fame as the first 'talking picture' the Jazz Singer
Jones, Anson - 5th President of the Republic of Texas
Jones, John Paul - Naval Commander
Jones, Melvin - One of the founders of the Lions International
Juarez, Benito - President of Mexico
Key, Francis Scott - Wrote U.S. National Anthem
Kemp, Jack - Quarterback Buffalo Bills, Congressman
Kipling, Rudyard - Writer
Lafayette, Marquis de - Supporter of American Freedom
Lake, Simon - Built first submarine successful in open sea
Lamar, Joseph E. - Supreme Court Justice
Lamar, Mirabeau B. - 3rd President of the Republic of Texas, Father of Texas Education
Land, Frank S. - Founder Order of DeMolay
Lewis, Meriwether - Explorer
Lincoln, Elmo - First actor to play Tarzan of the Apes (1918)
Lindbergh, Charles - Aviator
Lipton, Sir Thomas - Tea
Livingston, Robert - Co-Negotiator for purchase of Louisiana Territory
Lloyd, Harold C. - Entertainer
MacArthur, General Douglas - Commander of Armed Forces in Philippines
MacDonald, Sir John A. - Prime Minister of Canada 1867-73 & 1878-91
Marshall, James W. - Discovered Gold at Sutter's Mill California 1848
Marshall, John - Chief Justice U.S. Supreme Court 1801 - 1835
Mathews, Stanley - Supreme Court Justice
Mayer, Louis B. - Film producer who merged to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Mayo, Dr. William and Charles - Began Mayo Clinic
Maytag, Fredrick - Maytag
McClellan, George B. - Civil War General, Army of the Potomac
McKinley, William - President of the U.S.
Menninger, Karl A. - Psychiatrist famous for treating mental illness
Mesmer, Franz Anton - practiced Mesmerism which led to Hypnotism
Michelson, Albert Abraham - Successfully measured the speed of light in 1882
Minton, Sherman - Supreme Court Justice
Mix, Tom - U.S. Marshal turned actor. Stared in over 400 western films
Monroe, James - President of the U.S.
Montgolfier, Jacques Etienne - Co-developer of the first practical hot-air balloon
Moody, William H. - Supreme Court Justice
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - Composer
Murphy, Audie - Most decorated American Soldier of WWII.
Nelson, Samuel - Supreme Court Justice
New, Harry S. - Postmaster General who established Airmail
Newton, Joseph Fort - Christian Minister
Nunn, Sam - U.S. Senator
Olds, Ransom E. - American automobile pioneer
Otis, James - Famous for "Taxations without Representation is Tyranny"
Paisley, Brad - Country Singer
Palmer, Arnold - Golf Pro
Papst, Charles F. - Coined the term "Athletes Foot"
Paterson, William - Supreme Court Justice
Peale, Norman Vincent - Minister, Founder of "Guidepost"
Peary, Robert E. - First man to reach the North Pole (1909)
Penny, James C. - Retailer
Pershing, John Joseph - Decorated American Soldier
Pitney, Mahlon - Supreme Court Justice
Poinsett, Joel R. - U.S. Minister to Mexico who developed the flower: Poinsettia
Polk, James Knox - President of the U.S.
Pullman, George - Built first sleeping car on train.
Pushkin, Aleksander - Russian Poet
Reed, Stanley F. - Supreme Court Justice
Revere, Paul - Famous American
Richardson, Elliot - Attorney General
Rickenbacker, Eddie - Great American Air Force Ace
Ringling Brothers - All 7 brothers and their father were Masons.
Rogers, Roy - American cowboy and screen star
Rogers, Will - Actor
Roosevelt, Franklin D. - President of the U.S.
Roosevelt, Theodore - President of the U.S.
Rutledge, Wiley B. - Supreme Court Justice
Salten, Felix - Creator of Bambi
San Martin, Jose - "Liberator" of South America
Sarnoff, David - Father of T.V.
Sax, Antoine Joseph - Invented the Saxophone (1846)
Schoonover, George - Founder of "The Builder"
Scott, Sir Walter - Writer
Sellers, Peter - Actor
Sibelius, Jean - Composer (Finland)
Skelton, Red - Entertainer
Smith, John Stafford - Wrote the music that became the US National Anthem.
Sousa, John Philip - Led the U.S. Marine Band from 1880 - 1892
Stanford, Leland - Drove the gold spike linking the intercontinetal railroad
Stewart, Potter - Supreme Court Justice
Still, Andrew T. - American Physician who devised treatment of Osteopathy
Stratton, Charles "Tom Thumb" - Entertainer
Swayne, Noah H. - Supreme Court Justice
Swift, Johathan - Wrote Gulliver's Travels
Taft, William Howard - President of the U.S.
Teets, John W. - Chairman and President of Dial Corporation
Thomas, Danny - Actor - Founder St. Judes Children's Hospital
Thomas, Dave - Founder of Wendy's Restaurant
Thomas, Lowell - Brought Lawrence of Arabia to public notice
Thurmond, Strom - U.S. Senator (South Carolina)
Tillis, Mel - Country Western Singer
Tirpitz, Alfred Von - German Naval officer responsible for submarine warfare
Todd, Thomas - Supreme Court Justice
Travis, Colonel William B. - Alamo
Trimble, Robert - Supreme Court Justice
Truman, Harry S. - President of the U.S.
Vinson, Frederick M. - Supreme Court Justice
Voltaire - French writer and philosopher
Wadlow, Robert Pershing - Tallest human on record being almost 9 feet tall
Wallace, Governor George C. - Presidential Candidate who was nearly assassinated
Wallace, Lewis - Wrote "Ben Hur"
Warner, Jack - Warner Brothers Fame
Warren, Earl - Supreme Court Justice
Washington, George - President of US, 1st
Wayne, John - Actor
Webb, Matthew - First man to swim the English Channel (1875)
Woodbury, Levi - Supreme Court Justice
Woods, William B. - Supreme Court Justice
Wyler, William - Director of "Ben Hur"
Zanuck, Darryl F. - Co-founder of 20th Century Productions in 1933
Ziegfeld, Florenz - His Ziegfeld's Follies began in 1907

Freemasonry -- What is It?

It has a different connotation in different situations. Someone has written that Freemasonry is honesty in business; that it is fairness in work; courtesy in society; compassion for the sick and unfortunate;
forgiveness for the penitent; love for our fellowman and reverence for God.

Yes, it is all of these, but is more, for Freemasonry is a philosophy to live by,
the shadow of a mighty rock in a weary land.

A Masonic Poem
"Last Night I Knelt Where Hiram Knelt"
- Author Unknown -

Last night knelt where Hiram knelt And took an Obligation.
Today I'm closer to my God, and I'm a Master Mason.
Tho' heretofore my fellow men seemed one like the other.
Today I search each one apart; I'm looking for "my brother".
And as I feel his friendly grip, It fills my heart with pride;
I know that while I'm on the square that he is on my side.
His footsteps on my errand go if I should such require;
His prayers will plead my behalf if I should so desire.
My words are safe within his breast as though within my own;
His hands forever at my back to help me safely home.
Good council whispers in my ear and warns of any danger;
By square and compass, brother now!
Who once would call me stranger.
I might have lived a moral life and risen to distinctions
without my brothers helping hand and fellowship of Masons.
But God who knows how hard it is to resist life's temptations,
knows why I knelt where Hiram knelt and took that obligation.

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This page is a compilation of information found in Web Sites on the Internet which has in cases been rewritten to adapt to this Masonic District.  No attempt is being made to infringe copyright or plagiarize another's work in any way, but to  prudentially encourage education in regards to the  fraternity.  It is not in any way intended to reflect or reject the ideas of any Masonic Jurisdiction.