Where does Freemasonry really begin?
Not with 1717. Not necessarily with the medieval stonemasons. And perhaps not even with King Solomon.
In Episode 231 of Masonic Muscle, I sit down with author and Masonic researcher Nathan St. Pierre, author of Masonic Harmony in the Hive, for a wide-ranging conversation about the Patriarchal Origin Theory of Freemasonry and the ancient traditions that shaped the Craft long before the formation of the first Grand Lodge.
We examine the idea that Masonic tradition reaches back through the patriarchs, the antediluvian world, Noah, ancient wisdom traditions, and some of the earliest surviving Masonic manuscripts.
But this conversation goes beyond origins.
Nathan and I also get into the mysteries of Masonry, what the old manuscripts can still teach modern Freemasons, Masonic leadership, the purpose of the lodge, and a question every Mason should be willing to confront:
What are Freemasons actually supposed to be doing when they come to lodge?
We discuss:
- The Patriarchal Origin Theory of Freemasonry
- Adam, Noah, the patriarchs, and Masonic traditional history
- Ancient Masonic manuscripts and what they preserve
- The mysteries concealed within Masonic tradition
- Nathan’s book Masonic Harmony in the Hive
- Leadership and responsibility inside the lodge
- The difference between maintaining a lodge and actually practicing Masonry
- Why studying the old sources still matters
- What modern Freemasons may have forgotten about the purpose of the Craft
This is not an attempt to declare one origin theory the winner.
It is another piece of evidence in The Origin War.
Because before we decide where Freemasonry came from, we first have to understand what earlier Masons believed they had inherited.
Let’s do some heavy lifting.
Visit masonicmuscle357.riverside.com for more episodes, research, and the continuing investigation into the mysterious origins of Freemasonry.
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The Origin War takes another turn.
