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Freemasonry is a philosophical society that originated from the operative Masons—skilled builders of the Middle Ages. With limited formal education available, especially for workers, these Masons learned engineering and artistic secrets in their lodges. They used tools like the square, level, plumb, and gavel to construct Europe's grand cathedrals.Operative Masons took pride in their craft and only accepted apprentices committed to mastering it precisely. Being a Mason meant proven expertise in construction, allowing employers to hire them confidently. They were also known for honesty and fairness, which helped maintain their profession's reputation.To promote these values, apprentices learned philosophical lessons through the symbolism of their tools. As practical skills were taught, symbolic meanings—focusing on morality and ethics—were likely explained too. During the lead-up to the Enlightenment, non-builders joined these lodges to explore these ideas, using building tools as metaphors. This shift created modern Freemasonry, where we still use those tools symbolically to build an intellectual, ethical, and spiritual "temple," just as operative Masons built physical ones.One key tool is the Twenty-four Inch Gauge (a two-foot ruler), used in quarries to mark and measure stones. Divided into 24 equal parts, it symbolizes the 24 hours in a day. It teaches new apprentices to allocate eight hours to serving God and helping a distressed worthy brother, eight to work (our usual vocations), and eight to refreshment and sleep. This represents using time wisely, preparing us for challenges and maximizing achievements.Another tool is the Common Gavel, a stonemason's hammer with a cutting edge, shaped like a house gable. Given to beginners, it breaks off rough edges from stones to prepare them for skilled workers. Symbolically, it urges us to remove the vices and superfluities of life from our hearts and consciences, shaping us like "living stones" for both society and for that spiritual building, that house “not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”These principles apply to everyone, not just Masons. The Twenty-four Inch Gauge reminds us to balance life beyond work and leisure—dedicating time to spreading truth and aiding the less fortunate. The Common Gavel teaches that, like a rough diamond, the unrefined mind reveals its potential only through polishing. Education smooths away the rough exterior, uncovering inner strengths and expanding knowledge of the world, our duties to God, and humanity.Just as medieval Masons used these tools to build cathedrals, we can apply their lessons to improve ourselves and our relationships. Built on a foundation of faith, this prepares us for an eternal, spiritual home.

The Twenty-four Inch Gauge & the Common Gavel

The Role of Belief in Mississippi MasonryIn Mississippi Masonry, every applicant must profess a belief in a Supreme Being and a future existence. However, there is no official doctrine or list of required beliefs. Mississippi Masonry never asks its members to explain or define their faith, as doing so would conflict with its strict prohibition against political and sectarian discussion. While Masons are encouraged to be active in their communities, including participation in politics and religious life, such topics are not to be discussed within Masonic lodges. This is to preserve the peace and harmony that must prevail in every Masonic gathering. Masonry emphasizes unity over division.The only requirement is that each applicant affirms a trust in a Supreme Being and a belief in a future existence. The nature and specifics of those beliefs are left to each individual to determine for himself.Why Is Belief Required?A man becomes a Mason by taking a solemn obligation to live ethically and uphold Masonic values, including aiding those in need. This obligation binds him not just to those present when he takes it, but to all Masons—past, present, and future. In turn, he receives the same promise of aid and support from Masons around the world. This mutual commitment is built on trust, and Masons must be able to trust those they admit to uphold their word, maintain Masonic secrets, and fulfill their responsibilities.Many Masons believe this trust is only meaningful if an applicant recognizes a higher authority—an ultimate judge of his actions beyond humanity. Belief in a Supreme Being and a future existence serves as an acknowledgment that one's obligations are subject to timeless, objective standards, not merely personal or subjective ethics. This belief underpins the seriousness of the Masonic commitment.Openness to Diverse BeliefsMississippi Masons utilize “William’s Digest” for all matters of Masonic jurisprudence, and within it’s pages it states the following regarding the Craft’s religious landmarks within Mississippi’s jurisdiction: “That a "Book of the Law", the Bible, constitutes an indispensable part of the furniture of every Lodge,” and that “The Bible is essential in every Lodge, without which the Lodge cannot be opened, nor a candidate obligated.” When taking their obligation, Mississippi Masons do so on a volume of Holy Writings. For most, this is the Holy Bible, but candidates may use the sacred text of their own religious tradition, so long as that tradition affirms belief in a Supreme Being and a future existence. Thus, Mississippi Masonry is inclusive of many faiths and does not require a specific concept of God. For instance, many Eastern traditions do not personify the Divine, yet their followers are still welcomed.An anthropomorphic view of God—a deity with human traits—is not a requirement. A Mississippi Mason’s belief in the Divine may be as traditional as the Christian God or as abstract as the order and harmony observable in the universe through geometry. The essential requirement is a trust in a supreme essence that explains why, despite chaos or disruption, the universe ultimately returns to balance. Masons put their trust in this prevailing harmony.Understanding the Future ExistenceThe required belief in a future existence is also broadly defined. It need not be the expectation of a physical life after death. Instead, it reflects a trust that the divine essence within each of us continues after our earthly life ends. It is the belief that this imperishable inner spirit will ultimately reunite with the Divine.

Belief In A Supreme Being & A Future Existence

Freemasonry traces its origins to the skilled builders of the remarkable Gothic structures of the Middle Ages in Europe and Great Britain. These craftsmen, known as "Operative Masons," worked with freestone, shaping and assembling it to construct the towering spires that still reach skyward today. They were organized into lodges, each led by Masters and Wardens. Their lodge rooms, often simple sheds or huts at their work sites, served as centers for their professional and social gatherings. Members were divided into different grades and underwent initiation ceremonies that involved signs, symbols, and passwords. They maintained strict secrecy and, as a rule, only admitted men.During this time, an apprenticeship system was widely used across trades and crafts. The term "apprentice" refers to a beginner or learner—someone taking their first steps in mastering a trade. To qualify, an apprentice had to be of sound body and mind, possess good habits, and demonstrate obedience and a willingness to learn. Additionally, he needed to be free to travel for work and not bound to a lord’s land.A prospective apprentice underwent a thorough evaluation before being accepted. Once approved, he would live with a Master Mason, to whom he was indentured for the duration of his training. The apprentice pledged to obey his superiors, work diligently, follow the rules, and safeguard the secrets of his craft. His name was then recorded or “entered” in the lodge’s books, officially making him an Entered Apprentice Mason. The Master Mason was responsible for teaching him both the theoretical and practical aspects of Operative Masonry. Moral instruction and ethical guidelines were also emphasized in his training, as reflected in the "Old Charges," which devoted significant attention to apprentices.The essence of the Entered Apprentice Degree remains fundamentally the same today as it was for Operative Masons. As we were all once beginners in Speculative Masonry, we, too, necessarily demonstrated a strong desire for knowledge and enlightenment. Like our Operative predecessors, we are expected to show respect for our teachers and diligently study the Lectures. If errors were tolerated and members were allowed to alter their interpretations at will, the order and structure of Freemasonry would disintegrate. Thus, discipline and consistency are essential in preserving the integrity of this ancient and honorable fraternity.

The Operative Entered Apprentice Mason

Freemasonry’s roots stretch deep into both legend and history. According to Masonic tradition, the fraternity traces its origins to the construction of King Solomon’s Temple around 950 B.C.E. However, historical evidence suggests that Freemasonry evolved from medieval stonemason guilds, possibly originating during the construction of the grand Gothic Cathedral of Strasbourg in 1275 C.E. in France. While the exact emergence of these guilds in England and Scotland remains uncertain, the oldest known Masonic text in England, the "Regius Poem"—also called the "Halliwell Manuscript"—dates back to approximately 1390 C.E. (or possibly as late as 1450 C.E.). Written by a member of the clergy in western England, the poem links Freemasonry to the ancient Egyptian origins of geometry and outlines moral and professional guidelines for master masons and their apprentices.Among the earliest Masonic documents, the "Old Charges" (also called the "Gothic Constitutions") serve as a foundation for Masonic tradition. The oldest surviving example, the "Cooke Manuscript", was likely penned around 1425 C.E. Over a hundred versions of these "Old Charges" still exist today, each following a similar structure: an invocation, a legendary history of the craft, a list of moral and professional regulations, and an oath of allegiance to these principles. These texts emphasize the ethical responsibilities of Masons, the significance of geometry in their work, and the enduring connection to King Solomon’s Temple. It is believed that a copy of the "Old Charges" was read aloud to new members as part of their initiation, marking one of the earliest recorded Masonic ceremonies.Around 1600 C.E., the nature of Freemasonry began to shift. Stonemason lodges in Scotland and England started admitting individuals who were not professional builders. These new members—called speculative Masons—were drawn to the fraternity’s symbolic and philosophical teachings rather than its physical craft. Since these initiates were "accepted" without possessing operative stonemasonry skills, they became known as Accepted Masons. By the 1630s, evidence suggests that both operative and speculative Masons had developed secret methods of recognizing one another, including a special word—one that Master Masons still learn today. From this blending of tradition and symbolism, Freemasonry transformed into a moral and philosophical system, where simple stonemasons’ tools—such as the square, compass, trowel, and plumb—became powerful symbols for ethical living.A pivotal moment in Masonic history came in 1717, when four lodges in London united to form the first Grand Lodge. This event marked the beginning of modern Freemasonry as we know it, with the development of the familiar three-degree system and more structured rituals, many of which remain recognizable today. These ceremonies combined Masonic symbolism with elements of alchemical philosophy, deepening the fraternity’s mystique. The rich tradition of Masonic lectures that follow each degree conferral can be traced back to William Preston’s "Illustrations of Masonry" (published in 1772 in England), which later inspired Thomas Smith Webb’s "Freemason’s Monitor" (published in America in 1797).From these foundations, Freemasonry has spread across the globe, leaving an enduring legacy of brotherhood, morality, and enlightenment.

Oak Grove Lodge No. 293

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The Twenty-four Inch Gauge & the Common Gavel

Belief In A Supreme Being & A Future Existence

The Operative Entered Apprentice Mason

The Origins & Evolution of Freemasonry