Masonic Miscellany

Question: Why is it necessary to believe in a Supreme Being to become a Freemason?

Answer: A belief in a Supreme Being is a fundamental requirement to becoming a Mason. At one time Freemasonry was a Christian Order so a belief in God was obviously an essential qualification for membership. This qualification was amended at the time of the Union to include men of all faiths. The 1stAntient Charge published in the Book of Constitutions concerning God and Religion states: “A Mason is obliged, by his tenure, to obey the moral law; and if he rightly understand the art he will never be a stupid atheist nor an irreligious libertine. He, of all men, should best understand that God seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh upon the heart. A Mason is therefore, particularly bound never to act against the dictates of his conscience. Let a man’s religion or mode of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from the order, provided he believe in the glorious architect of heaven and earth, and practise the sacred duties of morality etc etc.

As the first condition of admission of any man into and membership of the Order, is a belief in a Supreme Being; you will be aware that the VSL is the 1stof the 3 Great Lights in Masonry and is always open when the Lodge is opened. Every Candidate is required to take his obligation on that book or on the Volume that is held by his particular faith to impact sanctity to an oath or promise taken upon it.

The second question a Candidate is asked after his entrance into the Lodge is: “In all cases of difficulty and danger in whom do you put your trust ?” He replies “In God.” He later states that he hopes to obtain the privileges “by the help of God” and states in his obligation “So help me God, and keep me steadfast in this my great and solemn obligation.” Therefore, without a belief in a Supreme Being the promises and Obligations we all make as Masons are entirely worthless.

Question: Why is the master seated in the East ? Answer: As strange as it may seem, the Master sitting in the Easthas not always been the case –In the early days Masons met, ate and drank around a long table in the centre of the room, the Master being seated in the West with both Wardens at the far corners. If you read the Bible,according to Ezekiel and contrary to the layout of modern Freemasons Lodges, Solomon’ s temple had its main entrance on the East side which would place the Holy of Holies, the Sanctum Sanctorum, and thus the Masters place in the West. This surely would make sense as the sun rising in the East at the dawn of every new day would shine through the porchway or entrance to illuminate the entrance to the Most Holy place, the Sanctum Sanctorum beyond. I suspect that it was from the influence of the clergymen involved in producing the ritual around the time of the creation of the Premier Grand Lodge in 1717 that changed the orientation of our Lodges to that of Christian Churches, entrance in the West and Altar in the East, which thus places the Master in the East.

Thanks to PG Secretary of PGL Wolverhampton for these Q&A.