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Freemasonry - Education and Research

  AllenWeb - the Athelstan Site for Freemasonry


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...to Paul 's Masonic Experience -

Education and Research Page

A personal sharing of experience, understanding and continued interest in freemasonry - an education in tolerance.  Only by not being ignorant of the facts can we rationally reach conclusions in our opinions. Ignorance is the lock and education is the key that opens the door that blocks the Light. In sharing these continuing experiences with you, whether you are a freemason or not, I hope to help you along the path you travel in seeking truth, beauty and wisdom.

"A thirst for knowledge is a pre-requisite for a clearer understanding." - Paul 32°

"And ye shall know the truth,  and the truth shall make you free."
The Gospel according to Saint John, VIII: 32

"Without knowledge there can be no sure progress."
 Charles Sumner

8 Jan 00
Basic Information about Freemasonry
What's a Mason? - the question asked by the very many and known by the very few.
Freemasonry And Religion - Addressing misconceptions -  essays of men of the Cloth.
Famous Masons (courtesy Constantine Lodge #13 AF & AM ) - 14 US Presidents +
Between Friends - recognize any of the folks in the picture?  These are but a few famous masons.

How do I join? - many times people have "wanted to join," but believed they "needed to be asked."

Historical and Specific Information Pages
"Athelstan" - relationship to the Legend of  "The Craft" (Freemasonry)
Freemasonry and Me - a continuing personal learning experience in Freemasonry
Essay Site for Masonic learning, research, beauty - a site for better understanding
History sketch in Freemasonry - a historical review of the ancient manuscripts
The origin of geometry - an interesting treatise on this ancient knowledge-base
Freemasonry and the early legends of The Craft - historical review of ancient legends
The Scottish Rite - a senior masonic branch  (universal non-denomination orientation)
The York Rite - a senior masonic branch (Christian bent reference Knights of the Temple)
The Shrine - the senior masonic branch (only York Rite or Scottish Rite masons can join)
National Sojourners - organization for "military masons" serving in nation's Armed Forces
Knights of Saint Andrew - service organization in the Oklahoma Scottish Rite Bodies
Philalethes Society - the official research society dedicated to freemasonry research

Interesting Questions & Masonic Sites for Your Information
Can there be women in Freemasonry?  YES! Do I wait for someone to ask me to join? NO!
Where can I learn more about freemasonry? - You can start here! Is there freemasonry in Asia? - YES!
What about the young men's DeMolay? What about young women's Job's Daughters?
Where can I learn about Masonic research? - You can start here! Is there a Masonic memorial in Washington? YES
Is there a Masonic travel guide? - YES One of the most beautiful valleys..Guthrie, OK
Historical Masonic Sites in Pennsylvania Masonic Clip Art - Site # 1 and Site # 2
Masonic Internet Site   "THE" Premier Freemasonry Information Site
Masonic Leadership Center The World of Freemasonry
My Masonic memberships. Books for Overview of Freemasonry (see below)
 250th Anniversary Website
Interesting Historical Masonic Site in Florence		  The world's oldest fraternity.

Please e-mail  your comments, affiliation, e-mail & website URL's, Brothers.

Thank you for your visit. Have a good journey to the East.

Athelstan - The decay of architecture in Britain after the Roman armies had left that country to defend their Empire from the attacks of the northern hosts of savages, was due to the fact that Britain was left in an unprotected state, and was soon engaged in wars with with Picts, the Danes, and other enemies.  This is told in the Legend, and is its version of a historical fact.

Moreover, it is historically true that in the 7th century peace was restored to the northern parts of the island.  At that time Edwin, King of Northumbria, of which the city of York was the capital, revived that arts of civilization, gave his special favor to architecture, and caused many public buildings, among others the Cathedral of York, to be built.  All of this is told in the Legend, although by an error that has already been explained (in the Legends), Edwin, the Northumbrian king, was in the later Legend confused with the brother of Athelstan.

The second decline of architecture in England, because of the attacks of the Danes, and the civil as well as foreign wars which laid waste the kingdom until the reign of Athelstan., in the early part of the 10th century (900+AD) when entire peace was restored, is briefly mentioned in the Legend, therein agreeing with the history of that troubled period.

After peace was restored, the Legend records the revival of Freemasonry or architecture in the 10th century, under the reign of Athelstan, who called the Craft together and gave them a charter.  We have already gone into this matter and shown that the story of the Legend has nothing unlikely about it and that it is easily to be reconciled with the facts of the history of that period..  The two forms of the Legend we can fit nicely together by claiming that Edwin of northumbria revived Masonry in an Assembly called by him at York, and that Athelstan restored its decayed prosperity by his public favor, and by charters which he gave to the Gilds or corporations of skilled workmen.

We may pass in this general way over the principal events told in this Legend of the Craft, and thus we free it from the charge of being a very childish story.  This has been urged against it, even by some Masonic writers who have viewed it in a spirit of rude criticisim.  We find that its statements are not the fancies of a fertile maker of fictions nor mere guesses, but that, on the contrary, they really have a support in what was at the time accepted as real history, and whose force and credit can not, even now, be disproved or fairly denied.

Examined as it has here been by the tests of careful criticism, the Legend of the Craft, is no longer to be deemed a fable or myth.  It is a Historical narrative related in the quaint language and in the peculiar spirit of the age when it was written.

Source - Albert Mackey's History of Freemasonry, Volume One - 1898

   Freemasonry - Tolerance of different thoughts and ideas. 

Paul was honored by being elected President of the "International Year of Tolerance" Reunion Class by his fellow classmates.  Guthrie Scottish Rite Bodies - Guthrie, OK - April 1995

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