Freemason Open House

It was reported recently that the Port Lincoln Freemason lodge will be opening its doors to the public for the first time, claiming that this is an attempt to convince the public that it is not a society full of secrets.

The degree of contradictions in this statement is staggering, and while it is a somewhat bold attempt to polish the image of the often maligned group it fails to address major concerns about their organization.

The past master of the lodge explains that he only wants the public to know that:

"It's a group of men that believe in a supreme being and have a common interest in life, which is based on strict morals and a betterment of life."

He then continues, and admits that it is part of an widespread attempt to attract the next generation of Masons.

It is well known that there are many layers of belief in this ancient society and this is what casts the most disparaging light on their claims of openness. The fact that the full beliefs of the society are not revealed until a member reaches the 33 degree, means that their existing practice contains elements of deception even for their own members.

Part of the success of their behavioral modification methodology is that by placing a high price tag, at least in terms of time and effort, on reaching the deepest levels of the organization means that they create a state of mind in their initiates that will subconsciously work to justify the beliefs that are revealed to them step by step. Even if those beliefs are contrary to the ones originally held by those persons.

In previous posts about cognitive dissonance we have discussed the subtle nature of these theories as they apply to overt behavioral modification. A simple way to state it in this case is that when you make something exclusive and difficult to attain, those that do manage to achieve it are psychologically primed to more fully accept, and value the ideas that they are shown. This is a typical cult methodology.

As a closing point it is worth mentioning that while the term morality is often used as a synonym for good, it is more accurately defined as the differentiation of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good (or right) and those that are bad (or wrong) - according to a particular philosophy, religion, culture, or group. This does not mean, nor is it claimed by the Freemasons, that there is one definite and consistent moral code shared by everyone. A society such as theirs, that keeps their moral code locked under multiple layers of secrecy begs the question as to what they are hiding.

Those answers will not be found by simply gazing on rooms that were previously closed. That gives no insight into the hearts and minds of these men.