History is the impressions of someone else. It contains all the filters of that individual view point. What helps us understand the accuracy of historic descriptions is an understand of the social context of the time, in which the event takes place.
For example, do you believe Freemasonry began in 1717? What of the minute books from the 16th century? In Scotland and Ireland, where the threat of invasion forged a solid defense that brought strangers together culturally, the idea of a central authority for freemasons was anathema to the order. The efforts of the English Grand Lodge was irrelevant to the Irish and Scottish freemasons, where the interdependence of independent lodges continues to this day, albeit under an umbrella of Grand Lodges in both jurisdictions that sprang up decades after the London lodges decided on the benefit of a collective control of free men.
Today, we know more about what we don't know of the period. Dr. James Anderson is credited with writing a constitution but, we have no way to prove that assumption. We do know he was a protestant clergyman who worked with John Desaigulier, also a clergyman and the 3rd Grand Master of the GL. John was born into a Huguenots family that escaped France during the Catholic purge of protestants.
Is it lost to us that France had previously purged the country of all jewish people? And can we not see within the Preston-Webb work, strong and repeated references to protestant and Jewish edits, as if, in an English atmosphere of tolerance we find those influences predominant. But, they predominant at what expense?
So ask! What reason would a freemason have to ask that question? It becomes essential for the mason who sees a potential for universality through masonic principles. From the Nicenean gathering, catholicism was defined as the one, the only faith for the entire world, masonic principles challenge as a secular, a-political tendon. Webb-Preston leave us to look to the inward man, to see a brotherhood of common struggle, common dreams- singularity of mind.
Rearranging a few words to include elements of the Vedas, the Torah and Koran brings to the surface, hidden elements of the Kabala, Mithras, cult of Isis, Osiris and Horus, even Zoroaster.
Should we do this? It is already done. What will it do to us?
We are equipped, even the simple minded, with great intellectual capacity. If a man sets out to find a flaw in the Mona Lisa, he will find it. If his task is to find a problem with the architecture of Hagia Sophia he will be successful.
But if he contemplates the teachings of a sunrise, he will find that too. And if he looks for understanding in the heart of an enemy, it will be revealed.
What judgments can be made when one understands the heart of a man? Ahhh, that is a goal a man discovers alone. The way to enlightenment is through contemplation and repeated effort.
Are we sure the person who wrote the history is contemplative and drawing an accurate picture of events? More likely I'm afraid, he is burdened by religio-political intonation.
Most people are limited by their own experiences. Men have imaginations and an ability to learn from the experience of others. Freemasonry injects the Philosopher Kings into our world just as Plato suggested.
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