by The Editor
It was only when, in late middle age, I began to take an interest in the origins of British traditions that I realised the importance of Masonry as a significant current in the broad cultural stream that, after many meanders, has brought us to where we are now and shall, if we are wise, have a major influence on our course from now on.
The lecturer stated that there are only three Degrees in current Masonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft Freemason, and Master Mason.
It seems that, so far as the generality of members of the Order in England are concerned, Masonry has either lost touch with its roots or its "ordinary" members are unaware that there was, and may still be, a "select" body of more advanced members forming what we might call the "soul" of the brotherhood.
My personal interest in Freemasonry was further stimulated when I read The Hiram Key by Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, published by Arrow Books in 1997. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as an account of how two members of the Order investigated its roots for themselves. The authors took some trouble to delve into the history of the Order, and have written their conclusions in a very clear and compelling style.
Dr Lomas has also instituted a Web site at Web of Hiram which contains a good deal of information about various Rites and branches of the Order. In particular, it gives an account of the ritual and lectures of the Three Degrees of the United Grand Lodge of England, as well as some interesting details of the Fourth to Thirty-third Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
It has become clear to me that what is now Freemasonry originated as an initiatic Order. Initiation is a beginning, and what begins is a course of study and practice through which the individual may consciously participate in his or her own evolution, particularly in moral, psychic, and spiritual realms. The initiate advances by degrees, the commencement of each degree being marked by a new initiation.
In Masonry, as in other initiatic Orders, actual initiations take the form of ritual dramas in which the candidate for admission or advancement plays a leading rôle. Rituals may include devices for testing the candidate's courage, determination, and commitment to the ideals of the initiatic Order.
It seems probable that in all ages, initiates have constituted only a very small subset of the human population, and this is certainly true today. Initiation is open only to those who truly and sincerely desire to become better people, dedicated to serving mankind rather than themselves. It is therefore not possible to conduct initiations through the medium of the Internet, even if one were otherwise qualified to do so. But it is possible to provide material whereby individuals may judge for themselves whether or not they feel emotionally drawn to the principles expounded therein. And there is good reason to believe that "when the student is ready, the Master will appear". In other words, appropriate doors will open to students who sincerely seek initiation for the right reasons.
Readers who wish to learn more about the tradition and significance of initiation are recommended to read The Great Initiates by Edouard Schuré.
Readers will recognise that some of the lectures are far too long to form part of a ritual initiation. It is clear that they were intended primarily as background for shorter lectures to be delivered at Lodge meetings to which admission would be restricted to members who had already been initiated into the degree in question. The lectures do not by themselves betray any Masonic "secrets". They do, however, contain much background information and expound moral principles which have for too long been forgotten or neglected by a materialistic consumer society.
The lectures are presented with minimal editorial revision. In general, quotations in classical languages, or which contain Hebrew or Greek characters, have been translated into English where they cannot be omitted altogether. In some places, Pike adopts (or retains) a rhetorical style which results in very long sentences which the present-day reader will find difficult to follow, and some attempt has been made to revise such passages without altering the sense.