F.A.Q.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ):
1. What is Freemasonry?
2. Why are you a secret organization?
3. Is there a place for rituals in modern society?
4. Is it true that Masons only care about each other?
5. What are the secrets of Freemasonry?
6. What happens at a lodge meeting?
7. Is it true that a Freemason is obliged to promote/cooperate only with other Freemasons and, as a rule, give preference only to them among all others?
8. Why do Freemasons take oaths?
9. Why are there no women among your members?
10. Why do you call God the Great Architect of the Universe?
11. Is Freemasonry a political group?
12. How many Freemasons are there in Kazakhstan and around the world?
13. How and where did Freemasonry originate?
14. How many degrees are there in Freemasonry?
1. What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is a worldwide philosophical, progressive and charitable organization, aiming at the moral and spiritual improvement of its members through self-knowledge, the search for Truth, Solidarity and the application of Masonic ethics.
Freemasonry works tirelessly for the progress, moral and spiritual elevation of humanity through the peaceful and gradual development of the Personality.
2. Why are you a secret organization?
We are not a secret organization, but we participate in lodge meetings, which are closed and open only to their members, like many other social groups. The rules and purposes of Freemasonry are publicly available. Meeting places are known, and members, that is, Freemasons, can, if they wish, speak openly about Freemasonry and their membership in it.
3. Is there a place for rituals in modern society?
Freemasonry uses the concept of ceremony and ritual to describe the collective experiences that its members go through together. Participation in the dramatic presentation of myths, allegories and symbols imprints itself more firmly and permanently on the mind of each candidate along with the events than simply having them conveyed to him through ordinary reading.
4. Is it true that Freemasons only care about each other?
This is not true. Charity is at the core of Masonic ethics and has been the most important activity of Freemasonry since its foundation, since its actions define itself as a charitable organization. The charitable activities of Freemasonry and Freemasons make a very important contribution to the development of society. Charitable actions are not always financial assistance to people in need, but also actions inspired by love for humanity.
5. What are the secrets of Freemasonry?
The secrets of Freemasonry are simply traditional means of identification among its members, which are not used indiscriminately, but simply as a confirmation of membership, for example: during a visit of a Freemason to a lodge where he is not known.
6. What happens at a Lodge meeting?
The meeting is divided into two parts. In the first part, as in any organized group, there is a certain amount of administrative work, namely: approving the minutes of the previous meeting, proposing and voting for candidates, discussing and voting on Lodge financial matters, electing and appointing officers who manage the lodges, reading the Lodge correspondence, etc. In the second part, depending on the agenda, ceremonies of initiation (reception) of new Freemasons or their promotion to other degrees are held, as well as speeches/lectures/reports related to issues of concern to Freemasons.
7. Is it true that a Freemason is obliged to promote/cooperate only with other Freemasons and, as a rule, give preference only to them over all others?
Of course not. This is considered an abuse of membership and entails administrative sanctions. When joining Freemasonry, each candidate confirms that he does not expect any material benefit from the Masonic status. Freemasons should not be treated or judged more favourably by their brothers, but rather judged much more harshly than those who are not Freemasons and have not had the opportunity to learn how to improve their own morals and conduct.
It should always be remembered that attempting to gain material advantage from the status of a Freemason is an abuse of membership, which Freemasonry does not tolerate. The book of constitutions, which every candidate must know, contains precise rules governing the abuse of membership, which may entail administrative sanctions ranging from temporary suspension of membership to expulsion from the Fraternity.
8. Why do Freemasons take oaths?
Freemasons do not swear, but solemnly declare on their honor, as free and morally upright people, that they will follow the teachings and values of Freemasonry as they have been formed over the centuries, as well as the Masonic institutions as reflected in the Constitution and General Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Kazakhstan. After all, this happens in every organized public or private collective that is governed by rules of participation, governance, and ethical behavior.
9. Why are there no women members?
Traditionally, Freemasonry accepts only men into its ranks. The Masons, from whom modern Freemasonry originated, were exclusively men. When Freemasonry was organized in its current form in the early 18th century, the position of women in society was different than it is today. Purely out of respect for tradition, only men can become members of the Grand Lodge of Kazakhstan. This does not mean that women are excluded from Freemasonry, since there are organizations practicing Masonic ceremonies that also accept women as members.
10. Why do you call God the Great Architect of the Universe?
Freemasonry includes all people who believe in God. Faith in God is a prerequisite for acceptance into the ranks of Freemasonry. People of all religions are included in the ranks of Freemasonry: Christians, Muslims, Indians, Jews, etc. and in general people who believe in any religion. The use of the title “Grand Architect” by Freemasonry is the highest act of respect for the God in whom each of its members believes, while avoiding the emergence of any religious controversy. Representatives of different religions collectively declare their belief in God by calling him “The Great Architect” – a title first found in Plato’s dialogue “Timaeus”. It should also be emphasized that religious discussions are strictly prohibited in the Lodges.
11. Is Freemasonry a political group?
Absolutely not. Each Freemason, as a free man, has his own political convictions and carries out his political duties at his own discretion. However, Freemasonry as an organization will never express opinions on political issues and will never offer any political position or opinion. In addition, no political discussions have been and are not permissible at Masonic meetings. It should also be noted that among the important duties of a Freemason is the observance of the laws of the state in which he resides.
12. How many Freemasons are there in Kazakhstan and worldwide?
The Grand Lodge of Kazakhstan has about 100 active members and about 200 inactive. It is estimated that there are about 8,000,000 Freemasons worldwide.
13. How and where did Freemasonry originate?
The origins of Freemasonry are lost in the mists of time. The earliest recorded initiation into a Freemasonry lodge occurred in 1646 in England, when Elias Ashmole joined. The current form and organization of Freemasonry began with the founding of the Grand Lodge of England on June 24, 1717. The Grand Lodge of England was also the first Grand Lodge founded in the world. Ireland joined in 1725, and Scotland in 1736. All other regular Grand Lodges founded in the world subsequently trace their origins to these lodges. There are two main theories regarding the origins of Freemasonry.
According to the first version, the masons who built the great cathedrals and castles in the Middle Ages had huts near their work sites and called them lodges, in which they held their meetings. They had simple initiation ceremonies, and since there was no guild certificate, membership card, or union card at the time, they adopted secret signs and words to identify themselves as trained masons as they moved from region to region and project to project. In 1600 CE, these lodges, with the prestige they had gained, began to accept as Freemasons those who were not involved in operative masonry. Gradually, these Freemasons took over the management of the lodges and transformed them from mason lodges into “free and accepted” or “speculative” (“theoretical”) lodges.
A second theory holds that towards the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th centuries, there was a movement interested in promoting religious and political tolerance and freedom in an age of feudalism and tyranny, when differences of opinion on religious and political issues led the European nations into bloody wars. In creating Freemasonry, they sought to improve human character, human morality, and to build a better world. Since the teaching methods of the time included allegory and symbolism, they took the idea of the Lodge as the central allegory on which to base the formation of their system. The main source of allegories was the Bible, the contents of which were known even to those who could not read or write. The only building described in detail in the Bible was King Solomon’s Temple, the construction of which became the main Masonic allegory. The ancient Masonic guilds provided the basic administrative structure of the lodge, and the mason’s tools provided many of the symbols with which Freemasonry sought to illustrate its moral teachings.
14. How many degrees are there in Freemasonry?
Freemasonry consists of three degrees. The Entered Apprentice, the Fellowcraft, and the Master.
There are, however, many “additional” Masonic degrees which belong to other bodies of Freemasonry independent of the Grand Lodge and which have no administrative relationship with each other. Some of these additional degrees are numerically superior to the Master degree, but this has no real significance or weight, since for the Grand Lodge there are only three degrees, the highest of which is the Master degree.
Each Freemason has absolute freedom to follow or not any of the additional systems of Freemasonry which suit his interests, but which, however, have never been characterized internationally as “higher”. The two main systems of additional degrees internationally are the York Rite and the Scottish Rite.