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Document under Free Document Dissemination Licence. |
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Document under Free Document Dissemination Licence. |
I don't want to discourse at length as to what are or are not what we commonly call "sects". That is not what the reader is looking for here.
A sect, in the sense usually given to the word nowadays, presents quite a large number of the characteristics below. Let's compare them to what happens in the near-totality of French Masonic Bodies.
- A "guru" and his "disciples".
There is no "guru" in Freemasonry. The Grand-Masters are elected each year, for a maximum term of three consecutive years, at the end of which time they must relinquish their place to another, whatever their qualities were. Furthermore, there has never been a "leader", nor even any "world administration" in all of Freemasonry. A Grand-Master presides only over his Grand Lodge, and there are several Grand Lodges in each country. It might happen that the positions of the oldest or the largest of them could influence others, but all are independent.
- A book or a series of texts presumed to contain the Ultimate Truth.
For Freemasons, the ultimate truth is not fully accessible to any human being. The majority of Lodges around the World use the Bible as a symbol, but Masons are completely free to interpret it as they see fit. In any case, certain Masonic Bodies don't use any book at all, precisely for fear that this traditional symbol might be used by certain persons to influence the opinions of others.
- Teachings which are supposed to answer the great questions of existence.
There are no teachings of this kind in Freemasonry. Masons have working techniques and symbols, which enable them to exchange their opinions on the great questions of existence, as well as on other subjects. Thus they can fraternally confront their own convictions, or the "teachings" they have received elsewhere (within their religion, university, or life in general), but Freemasonry is not a place where this or that specific teaching is dispensed.
- A "creed" or a group of issues the members must believe in.
This does not exist in Freemasonry. Visit the sites of Grand Lodges, you won't find any "creed". More specifically, the strictest of the French Grand Lodges in this matter demands only "Faith in God", the others do not require any belief whatsoever. Some work "For the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe", a creative principle, while leaving each member free to interpret this traditional symbol as he wishes. Others have in part or entirely discarded this formula.
- Limitations or prohibitions on certain aspects of every-day life.
The only limitation Freemasonry imposes on its members is to behave as free persons of good moral character.
- Principles opposed to beliefs or practices by the majority of society.
They do not exist in Freemasonry.
- Obedience by the disciples / infantilisation of its members.
Do not exist in Freemasonry. Anybody who has attended the "convent" (general assembly) of a Grand Lodge knows to what extent it is difficult for Freemasons to unanimously accept any orders whatsoever. As to the idea of having them childishly "obey" orders from their administrators, that would only make the administrators in question smile !
- A binary division of the words into "good/redeemed" and "bad/damned".
Does not exist in Freemasonry. It is moreover mainly for this reason that Freemasonry has always been condemned by totalitarian regimes, whose propaganda rests on this kind of binary separation.
- The feeling of their members to be more loved, taken care of, better understood within the group than outside.
This exists to a certain degree in Freemasonry. The spirit of tolerance and fraternity is however not infinitely extensible. Those who are looking for another "family", those have a need to be "mothered" by the group, would do better to look elsewhere or suffer a great deception.
In Freemasonry, they will have a fraternal audience, but they will certainly not be "mothered". Stated bluntly, it would be better to have some experience of life and be relatively solid if one wants to join Freemasonry. It is in fact possible that one might get "bruised".
- A specific ritual.
This is undoubtedly the only real point in common between sects and Freemasonry. Free-Masons have one, or more exactly, several specific rituals. It must be underlined however, that Masonic rituals are much older than the large majority of those of sects.
This point in common, which is the cause of accusations sometimes voiced by anti-Masons, does not suffice to make it a sect. Courts of law, armies, religions, martial arts or civil marriages, just to give a few examples, also use specific rituals.
- Exorbitant financial demands.
Membership fees in France average at just under 2000 francs per year. True, that is not cheap. But it is much less than what is demanded by most sects (though they often claims membership is free of charge ... in the beginning). Moreover, Masonic Bodies publish an annual statement; which is rarely the case of sects !
- The recruiting of children
Free-Masons are extremely prudent in this respect, particularly in France (due to secular laws). In some countries, and even in France there are, quite marginally, some Masonic children's associations. They are mostly limited to adolescents and in some respects resemble the Scout Movement (Baden-Powell was a Mason). In any case, there is no specific school nor weekly courses for children such as can be found in certain religions or sects.
- Recruiting by proselytism
Exactly the opposite happens in Freemasonry. It is relatively difficult to enter (though reports of a "selection" which is not as rigorous as some who have entered make it out to be, should also be discounted). Indeed, it is not unusual that a non-Mason waits for several years to be recruited. He could wait a long time, since the traditional rule is quite the opposite : it is up to him to take steps and ask to be initiated ! (Illustrated by the anecdote "2B1ask1", which is also the name of a Masonic site.
-Pressure exerted when one tries to leave a sect.
Nothing like it in Freemasonry : Freemasonry is not a religion. Masonic initiation is not a sacrament which "saves the soul" of those who receive it. Those who leave cannot therefor "lose their redemption". It is possible (and even desirable) if a Mason resigns, that the members of his Lodge ask him why, if he is disappointed with something, and especially if it isn't because of financial difficulties. But there the matter ends. To leave Freemasonry, one simply stops going to meetings, sends a letter of resignation and stops paying ones dues !
(Just between us, to stop coming to meetings without being excused, or to stop paying though not financially strapped, will do also, but in that case one is stricken off the rolls instead of resigning. That is a very bad idea which one might live to regret if one day one wishes to return !)
- A rupture with the native environment.
No such thing in Freemasonry. In particular, a Mason is not requested to break with his family, nor with his religion, if he has one. On the contrary, it often happens that a Mason renews his ties with an ethnic or religious culture which he had forgotten, in order to among other reasons, better communicate their wealth with his Brothers who come from other backgrouns.
- Life in a community
In France, the average Mason has two meetings a month. To be quite exact, in most Lodges one or two additional monthly meetings are scheduled during the first years of membership, to receive training in symbolism. Nothing in any case remotely resembling life in a community.