A Lesson in Brotherly Love
On Monday night I attended a Raleigh Masons Installation Ceremony where a former boss was being installed as Master of the Raleigh Masonic Lodge. I was honored to have been invited and alongside other friends, family members and colleagues.
Now i’ll be honest with you, the only thing that I really “know” about the Freemasons is what I learned on the fictional movie, starring Nicholas Cage, National Treasure that came out a few years ago. While the movie is brilliant, I am not sure if the film’s wildly imaginative, conspiracy theory about what many label a “secret society” is accurate, so I decided to do my own research…
According to historical accounts, of the 55 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, at least 9 are said to have been Freemasons. 3 of which were from North Carolina!
History is the ultimate judge as to the identity of the Founding Fathers. Among the Founding Fathers of our nation, fourteen were North Carolina Masons according to the Masonic Membership of the Founding Fathers by Ronald E. Heaton, published by The Masonic Service Association in 1965.
I have lived in Raleigh for over 11 years and have driven past the Masonic lodge in downtown Raleigh for year’s wondering what could be found inside. I have visited the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, VA. It is a glorious structure!
The Alexandria Masonic Lodge, to which President George Washington also belonged, began receiving objects from Washington’s family and associates soon after Mrs. Washington’s death in 1802. Desiring a suitable and fireproof Memorial for the Washington artifacts, the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia invited the Grand Lodges from around the country to gather in Alexandria on Washington’s birthday, February 22, 1910. The Memorial Association was formed, construction began in 1923 and the Memorial was dedicated in 1932, the bicentennial of Washington’s birth.
The inside of the Raleigh lodge did not display the same type of well-preserved, gold-gilded historical glory, but it was special to sit inside of a structure build by Mason’s of North Carolina’s past and it was fun to imagine what kinds of secrets and treasures may lie within.
There are over 370 Masonic lodges from Murphy to Manteo.
According to the Freemasons of NC: “The mission of (the organization) is to raise the moral, social, intellectual, and spiritual conscience of society by teaching the ancient and enduring philosophical tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, which are expressed outwardly through service to God, family, country, and self under the Fatherhood of God within the Brotherhood of Man.”
If you have an interest in North Carolina history you can learn all about the Treasures of NC Masonry on a newly launched website and develop your own theories about what has been called the largest and oldest Fraternity in the world by many.
What I do know is that if you are not a freemason all of the research in the world is only speculative…only a true Freemason knows the truth, but either way, the history and the many links to our great state are fascinating.
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