Post by Tamrin on Feb 25, 2011 19:25:01 GMT 10
By way of clarification, what is meant by “Freemasonry” here is, “A peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols,” largely fashioned in the early eighteenth century and incorporating the Hiramic legend of the Third Degree. Whatever went before, it was this system which excited the Age of Enlightenment and it is from this system that we took our rise and whose modes of recognition enable us to prove our identity to others within that system.
This definition covers a wide range of Jurisdictions or Obediences, not all in amity (it would have included both the “Moderns” and the “Antients”). We do not claim identity with modern associations of builders and are cautious in claiming identity with earlier associations, whether of Operatives or Speculatives.
Beyond that definition, whatever the legality or otherwise of other groups using the term “Freemasonry” and selectively adopting our emblems in contexts involving such spurious practices as self-initiation or virtual initiation (by phone or internet), they are not identical with us: They are not even of our ilk. Their need to imitate our legitimate system illustrates the illegitimacy of their own. Caveat Emptor!
This definition covers a wide range of Jurisdictions or Obediences, not all in amity (it would have included both the “Moderns” and the “Antients”). We do not claim identity with modern associations of builders and are cautious in claiming identity with earlier associations, whether of Operatives or Speculatives.
Beyond that definition, whatever the legality or otherwise of other groups using the term “Freemasonry” and selectively adopting our emblems in contexts involving such spurious practices as self-initiation or virtual initiation (by phone or internet), they are not identical with us: They are not even of our ilk. Their need to imitate our legitimate system illustrates the illegitimacy of their own. Caveat Emptor!
