The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature
and local histories, brochures, privately printed books, etc. 1725 This enumeration
shows that many of the books are reports and minutes of the happenings in
Masonic conventions, business sessions, or degree work. However, there also
exists Masonic fiction. It is unavoidable to question the role fiction can play in
Masonry.
But, fiction? Can it have Masonic significance?
To propagate the belief in the Brotherhood of Man under the
Fatherhood of God is one of the prime motivations of Freemasonry, a
basic tenet. What better way to talk to the general population about
Brotherly love, Relief, and Truth than to use the palatable vehicle of
storytelling. 1726
The quotation above demonstrates that several brethren conceive it as a
Masonic vocation to propagate "brotherly love, relief, and truth," the three
famous Masonic tenets taught to the Entered Apprentice candidate in the lesson
of the First Degree. This might be one component of the Masonic literary work.
Under this category fall especially books on Masonic philanthropy, which can be
classified into fiction and non-fiction. To the first group belong, for example,
Masonic Home Boy by Frederick R. Warburton, and "bittersweet" by Betty
Kaufman Stover. Both books are the stories of the lives of orphans raised and
educated in a Masonic home. Each is a mixture of novel and autobiography and
tends to glorify Freemasonry for its good deeds. To the group of non-fiction
belongs Masonic Philanthropies. A Tradition of Caring by S. Brent Morris. This
illustrated book is a really good advertisement for Masonic charity and especially
for the generosity of the Shriners, who help crippled children, etc.
In the beginnings of Freemasonry, and especially in politically insecure
times, Masonic lodge literature contains revolutionary and humanistic ideas,
because the lodges were almost the only places where the persecuted
intellectuals could exercise freedom of thought and speech. Thus, Carr states that
1725 Cf. CME, p. 380.
1726 Carr, p. 14.
1727 Carr, p. 15.
[...] although Freemasonry did not advocate the overthrow of
governments by force or otherwise, it did provide the foundation on
which the people acted, for a study of events and philosophies just prior
to and during the 'revolutionary period' indicates that the first place in
which the ideas of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the ideas
of the separation of church and state with a free educational system was
the Masonic Lodge room! Only the literature, minute books and other
recorded materials of the Masonic fraternity reflect these sentiments at
first! 1727