2003 Masonic Spring Workshop

The Delta Lodge at Kananaskas, Alberta

Veritas

Bro Victor Popow

William Shakespeare

I have to admit at being caught off guard when I was asked by RWBro Jerry Kopp to submit a

thesis on the subject of truth. To speak of truth, either Masonic or generic, I thought, could be a fairly

straightforward assignment. However, the more I began to think about truth the less comfortable I

was with what I knew, or rather what I didn’t know. My interest began to pique and I began to

observe how people tend to use the word truth. Were they cognizant of its import? For thousands of

year’s philosophers and theologians have tried to define what truth is. How do we recognize truth? Is

truth really self-evident and eternal? Is truth a human invention used to justify ones position? Is any

one religion the ‘true’ religion? Is anyone person’s truth any less important than another’s? Truth has

sometimes been defined as the “agreement or congruence of the mind with reality.”3 But what exactly

is mind? And whose reality? Isn’t reality dependant on what we choose to see? Are the truths

espoused by Freemasonry out of step? Or do they offer us value in this age of change and liberal

relativism? Indeed, what is the ‘truth’ of Freemasonry?

When I began to ponder the nature of truth my mind diverged into two streams of thought. First,

that truth is objective — existing independent of any human feelings, wishes, hopes or fears, A is A

and will always be A. But second, and almost paradoxically to the first point, truth may be subjective

and relative — dependent upon an individual’s, or society’s, frame of reference. So the challenge, from

my own humble perspective, was to investigate aspects of both the objective and the subjective. As

well, I intuitively sensed that a model of truth could possibly integrate both orientations. Such an

investigation would surely encompass a study of morality, philosophy, psychology, quantum physics

and of course Masonic ritual of the Craft.

As a starting point I began to research on the Internet, in my own library and at bookstores. I

began to ask non-Masonic colleagues at work and Masonic brethren who were Lawyers, Engineers,

Doctors, Police Officers, and devout Priests or Buddhists what truth meant to them and what they

thought. What did truth mean in different periods? I read the writings of Roman Emperor Marcus

Aurelius4 and Greek philosopher Plato and the ancient Lawgivers of Egypt or Persia. I probed our own

Masonic Rituals from Canada and from abroad. I found an interesting passage from our Second

Degree lecture:

as steps by which to ascend to the sanctuary of truth.5

This very rich passage seems to inculcate Freemasons to employ objectivity and subjectivity, the

human and the divine, to climb the ‘winding stairs’ of our reality to find truth. It would seem that

objectivity (science, logic and reason) and subjectivity (the ontological, metaphysical or

1 WBro Victor G. Popow is Past Master of St. John’s No. 4, GRM, is affiliated with Mother Killwinning Lodge No. 0, SC,

and Secretary of the Manitoba Study Group.

2 Measure for Measure, Act 5, Scene 1, Line 45–6: Isabella to Vicentio, Duke of Vienna.

3 Surya, Das, Awakening to the Sacred, 1999

4 Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. Originally written c.167 AD, published 1964 Penguin Classics.

5 The Modern Ritual, Scottish Ritual.

2 … Veritas by Victor Popow

transcendental) are presented as components of a continuum between what is subjective assumption

(temporal intuitiveness) and empirical reason based upon knowledge of objective reality (what is here

and now and evident). Indeed Freemasons are implored to employ all manner of resources to ascend

to the summit of truth.

I was further intrigued by what various Masonic authors had to say about the truth specifically.

We find truth is considered only one of the three principal tenets of Freemasonry.6 We find “by truth is

meant more than just the acquisition and qualification of inductive knowledge but that if we are to

have permanent brotherhood we must be truthful in character and habit.”7 Thus a primary moral

component exists in our Work. Masonic morality and truth are alluded to by UK Freemason Bro Julian

Rees8 who states: “We have in our system the most precious of all precious stones — the Truth, not the

truth of this or that moral virtue, but the absolute Truth. We try (with a try-square) our Perfect Ashlar

to find out if it is true (straight, direct, unbending) or not. Our Masters-Elect must be ‘true and

trusty’.” Bro Rees tells us that a number of meanings exist for the word try. Something which is ‘tried’

is ‘choice or elite’; it is ‘excellent’ or good’ and in joinery it is ‘quite true, correctly wrought’ (for which

the joiner uses a ‘trying plane’); to try something is to ‘set it apart, to distinguish’ or it is to ‘ascertain

by search and examination, to ascertain the truth of the matter.” And what is truth according to Bro

Rees? “Truth, defined as ‘the quality of being true.’” And true? “Free from deceit, sincere, agreeing

with reality, representing the thing as it is.”

So in addition to logical or objective truth, ontological or transcendental truth we also find another

component — moral truth — defined as perhaps alignment to societal or social principles. A ‘truthful’

Freemason may therefore indicate one who has been introduced and adopted ‘constructive moral

principles’ which altar a Freemasons physical, mental and psychical fabric thereby enhancing the

individual and later society. But how is truth defined exactly? How was it viewed in the past? And how

is truth integrated into the three ritualistic degrees of Freemasonry?

Confucius, The Doctrine of Men.

The Chinese language is over six thousand years old. The word or

character seen right denotes “truth” and it is a pictogram that, not unlike many

other Chinese characters, incorporates several characters, and therefore

meanings, in one. The pictogram truth also contains the word ‘transform’

alluding to the fact that truth transforms; ‘Pedestal’, for we place truth on a

pedestal; ‘Eyes’, we see truth with our own eyes; And ‘hidden’ which denotes

that the truth can be hidden. Thus truth is a composite word meaning many

things.

The Latin word for truth, Veritas, means “truth or truthfulness; reality, real

life; (character) integrity; (language) etymology.”9 Truth then deals with reality, the nature of how we

think the world and the universe presents its nature to us and it also has application to people or their

character, their integrity (Latin: integritas; meaning completeness, soundness, honesty). The ancient

Egyptians held truth as the right way, balance, earthly and cosmic harmony as maat and the Hindus

relate to the same as dharma. The Chinese philosopher Confucius over 2000 years ago offered his

glimpse of truth very much like Greek philosopher Aristotle and consequently the 20th century

objectivist Ayn Rand stated that “truth is truth,” A is A and will always be A. Objectivists will state that

nature and hence eternal truth10 exists independent of subjective human hopes or feelings, and it is for

human beings to determine what truth is rather than what truth should be. Thus the search for

objective truth is made by the application of human will and reason to learn the truth of things.

So we may find a further distinction — logical truth vs. absolute truth. Logical truth can be

reasoned or deduced vs. absolute truth that seems to be the final idea behind the appearance of things

6 Brotherly love and relief being the other two of the three.

7 Draffen, George, The Making of a Mason.

8 Rees Julian, Truth, Relief and Brotherly Love, Freemasonry Today, Issue 13, Summer 2000.

9 Collins Latin dictionary, pp 230.

10 Absolute truth- different from logical truth (reasoning/logic), subjective (ontological) or moral truth. Absolute truth

may be thought of the reality behind an appearance or idea.

Veritas by Victor Popow … 3

in nature: it is the ultimate mystery, in Masonic metaphysical terms ‘The True Word.’11 But is a human

being capable of perceiving absolute truth? Indeed our perception of life and the universe is sense

bound and it seems our finite biological senses and technological limitations would prevent us from

ever understanding or realizing the absolute.

The 18th century German writer & Freemason Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781) stated “Pure

truth is for God alone”12 telling us the impossibility of ever finding truth and the reason we should also

seek it. The Great Cicero13 knew why humans must seek when he stated: “our minds possess by nature

an insatiable desire to know the truth.” So while humans may be limited by their senses it is also

recognized that we may be also be ‘wired’ or some fashion predisposed to seeking truth as a deepseated

psychological need so as to transcend our own physical natures.14

The modern ritualistic degrees of Freemasonry draw their inspiration founded in the Ancient

Pagan Mysteries of Greece, Egypt and Persia that later found their way through an architecturally

based tradition via ancient architects and societies such as the Romans Collegium Fabrorum into

Medieval Christendom and the Medieval Guilds. The ancient Mysteries existed for the purpose of

satisfying the desire of those who wished to know the nature of themselves and of their creator, their

purpose in life, and what might come after life. Generally the Mysteries were closely connected with

the religion of the society in which they evolved and were oriented to its Deity. The Mysteries can be

traced continuously through the history of Western Civilization and further:

Divine origin, the Mysteries were not usually religious. Generally speaking, they were more

concerned with philosophy and morality than with theology and religion.15 [Emphasis mine —

VP].

Plato said that the object of the Mysteries was to re-establish the soul in its primitive purity, and to

that state which it had lost. Clement of Alexandria stated that “what was taught in the Mysteries

concerned the universe, and was the completion and perfection of all instruction; wherein things were

seen as they were, and nature and her works were made known.” The early nineteenth century

writer, orator American Freemason Albert Pike wrote of the Mysteries in his monumental work

11 The True Word- to find the true word is the object of all Masonic inquiry, for as the Lost Word is the symbol of death,

the True Word is symbolic of eternal life or Divine truth.

12 Wolfenbüttler Fragmente: “Wenn Gott in seiner Rechten alle Wahrheit und in seiner Linken den einzigen, immer

regen Trieb nach Wahrheit, obgleich mit dem Zusatz, mich immer und ewig zu irren, verschlossen hielte und spräche zu

mir: Wähle! ich fiele ihm mit Demut in seine Linke und sagte: Vater, gieb! Die reine Wahrheit ist ja doch nur für Dich

allein.” Translated: If God were to hold out enclosed in His right hand all Truth, and in His left hand just the active

search for truth, though with the condition that I should ever err within, and say to me: Choose! I should humbly take

His left hand and say: Father! Give me this one; absolute truth belongs to thee alone.

13 Cicero, Marcus Tullius. 106 BCE–43 BCE, the greatest Roman orator, famous also as a politician and a philosopher.

14 Pearce, Joseph Chilton, The Biology of Transcendence. 2002.

15 MacNulty, W. Kirk, Freemasonry: a Journey through Ritual and Symbol, p 5.

4 … Veritas by Victor Popow

Morals and Dogmas: “Nature is as free from dogmatism as from tyranny; and the earliest instructors

of mankind not only adopted her lessons, but as far possible adhered to her method of imparting

them. They attempted to reach understanding through the eye; and the greater part of all religious

teaching was conveyed through this ancient and most impressive mode of ‘exhibition’ or

demonstration. The Mysteries were sacred drama [note: not unlike those dramas of Craft Lodge,

Swedish, Scottish or Rectified Rite or the Holy Royal Arch — VP] and exhibiting some legend

significant of nature’s change, of the visible Universe in which the divinity is revealed, and whose

import was in many respects as open to the Pagan, as to the Christian.”16

The Mysteries also demanded complete adherence to silence among its adherents. This demand

was taken seriously in the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries as failure to keep vows resulted in death. For

this reason very little direct information exists concerning details of the Mysteries — the ritual,

passwords, symbols and text. However a few clues do exist. Initiated into the Egyptian Mysteries of

Isis, Lucius Apuleius of Madaura stated:

by.”17

birthday by a banquet with his friends.”18

A Roman structure unearthed in ancient Pompeii thought to be a ritualistic temple coined ‘Villa

des Mysteres’ is described as having: “two columns in front, and the walls were decorated with

interlaced triangles, the constant badge of the Masons. Upon a pedestal in the room was found a

tracing board of inlaid mosaic. In the center is a skull with a level and plumbline and other symbolic

designs”.19 Masonic Scholar and Past Master of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge of Research in London, the

late Bro C.N. Batham, makes mention of this temple and the initiatory rites and practices of the time:

“Candidates were required to identify themselves with the Divine by means of signs and mystical

ceremonies, of which the last was the death, rebirth and spiritual renovation in intimate communion

with the Divine. The Initiate became one with the Almighty and with Him passed from sadness to joy,

from death to resurrection, the eternal drama of the traditional initiation ceremony.”20

Early Christianity was itself influenced by the ancient Mysteries. St. Paul speaks of God speaking

“divine Mysteries in the Spirit.” Baptism and Eucharist are referred to as “Mysteries.” The Christian

philosopher Origen calls Christianity the telete, meaning “the initiation.” The writings of the early

Christian Church, Father Clement of Alexandria, are full of terminology taken directly from the

language of the Pagan Mysteries. He writes of the Christian revelation as “the holy Mysteries,” the

‘divine secrets,’ ‘the secret Logos,’ ‘the mysteries of the Logos.’ For Clement Jesus was the “teacher of

the divine mysteries.” Clement further states “I am become holy while I am being initiated.”

The acquisition of Gnosis was central to the purpose of the ancient Mysteries. Gnosis21 or

16 Pike, Albert. Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, p 355

17 Baigent, Michael. Translation from The Metamorphoses.

18 Baigent, Michael. “The Mysteries.” Freemasonry Today, Issue 8, Spring 1999, pp 34–35.

19 The Builder, pp. 240-241, August 1927.

20 Batham, C.N. “More About The Compagnonnage.” Ars Quatuor Coronatorum Vol.19,

pp. 242-246.

21 Gnosis — The goal of Gnostic spirituality is Gnosis or knowledge of the truth. “The word ‘Gnostic’ or ‘Knower’ was

used in different languages, cultures and individuals who have realized Gnosis or achieved enlightenment and are often

referred to as Knowers: Gnostikoi (Pagan/Christian), Arifs (Muslim), Gnanis (Hindu), or Buddhas (Buddhist).” Gnostics

interpreted stories and teachings of their spiritual tradition as signposts beyond words altogether to the mystical

experience of the ineffable mystery as opposed to literalists who believed that their scriptures were actually the words of

God and take the moral teachings and initiation myths as factual history. “Gnostics saw themselves as being on a

transcendental journey of personal transformation as opposed to literalists who saw themselves as fulfilling a divine

obligation to practice particular religious custom as part of their national or cultural identity. Gnostics wished to free

themselves from the limitations of their personal and cultural identity and experience the oneness of things.”

Veritas by Victor Popow … 5

knowledge was what students of the Mysteries sought and instructed, this was knowledge of self —

both moral and metaphysical. The Gnostic Book of Thomas stated:

has at the same time already achieved Gnosis about the depth of all things.22

The ancient Mysteries existed for the purpose of satisfying the desire of those who wished to know

the nature of themselves and of their creator, their purpose in life, and what might come after life.

Plato said that the “object of the Mysteries was to re-establish the soul in its primitive purity, and to

that state which it had lost.” Clement of Alexandria stated that “what was taught in the Mysteries

concerned the universe, and was the completion and perfection of all instruction; wherein things were

seen as they were, and nature and her works were made known.”

Thus I recognized an historical framework preceding ‘modern’ Freemasonry (the Craft being

approximately 600 years old) the basis of which stressed the search for truth:

1) Via exposure to sacred drama which taught philosophical or moral truths;

2) Through the study of practical truths related to knowledge of the world — mathematics, the cycles

of natural world, astronomic phenomena and its predecessor astrology- the motions of the planets

for example;

3) And the search for intuitive, Gnostic or absolute truth via the search for self knowledge or

knowledge of Deity.

I also found that it may seem that the legacy of the Mysteries still pervade the modern rituals of

Freemasonry as practised in Continental Europe today. We know that in Germany a Masonic

candidate of initiation will first enter a Lodge and be asked to peer upon the Volume of the Sacred

Law23, for there, he is told, he will find all the secrets he desires, only to find a mirror reflecting back

an image of himself. Indeed an ancient idea of the Egyptian Hermetic24 or Gnostic Mysteries that all

knowledge or truth is to be found by, through and within self.

those truly Masonic virtues — Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.25

Our journey as modern Freemasons begins as Entered Apprentices. It is here we are first exposed

to the psychological metaphors that are geared towards undertaking internal work. The symbolic

chequered black and white ground floor26 of King Solomon’s Temple may be interpreted as the

physical world from where we begin. And “…since a stable situation in ordinary life is a prerequisite

for interior work, the Apprentice is taught the appropriate manner in which to relate to events and

persons [in] the world. Masonic symbolism uses the Cardinal Virtues27 for this purpose.” As Masonic

author and Freemason W. Kirk MacNulty posits that in order for us to work effectively in our lives we

must apply truth to analysis which provides us with justice, the application of truth to passion provides

us with temperance in our behaviours, the application of passion to one’s actions produces fortitude

while the application of analysis to one actions produces prudence. To maintain emotional integrity

and balance we have these cardinal virtues as guideposts not least of which includes the ‘application

of truth.’ MacNulty further suggests: “by labour in the First degree the apprentice is expected to do

five things: (1) Discipline himself and hold his interior experience close. (2) Identify and take control of

his capacities for passion and analysis. (3) Ensure that it is his Self and not his ego that determines

what is admitted into his consciousness. (4) Practise the Cardinal Virtues; doing so will produce a life

with the sort of internal stability, which is required for further advancement. Lastly (5), it seems to me

that the fundamental objective of labour in the Apprenticeship Degree is placing the Inner Guard

22 Book of Thomas the Contender, 138:18.

23 Volume of Sacred Law (VSL) is the book of faith placed in the centre of every Masonic Lodge. It may be the New

Testament to Christian Masons, the Torah to Jewish Masons or the Koran in Muslim Lodges.

24 Hermeticism-derived from the Arabic Idris, the Greek Hermes or Egyptian Thoth, also known as Thoth-Hermes,

Hermes Trismegistus, or Thrice-Great Hermes. Thoth was an Egyptian god who was believed to have discovering the

arts & sciences- invented writing and who is portrayed as a scribe, teacher, and the soul’s guide to the underworld.

Hermeticism is defined as an ancient philosophical tradition that emphasizes the importance of inner enlightenment or

Gnosis, rather than that of pure rationalism or doctrinal faith.

25 Ancient York Rite, Entered Apprentice Degree, p 78.

26 Symbolic of the dichotomy of the world — light & darkness, good & evil.

27 Referred to in the Masonic first degree, they are temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice.

6 … Veritas by Victor Popow

under the command of the Junior Warden; i.e.: the individuation of the Self in the sense that the term

is used in Jungian psychology.”28 Thus truth and its moral implications are the foundation of the

Entered Apprentice Degree and truth is demonstrated as the foundation of all virtues.

Interesting as it may be, the philosophy of objectivism seems to be congruent with Masonic

philosophy expressing reason over superstition, observation over intuition. Objectivist founder Ayn

Rand depicted man “as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with

productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.” Essentially positive

and constructivist in nature objectivism like Freemasonry essentially imbues the initiate with the spirit

of reason and of building his mind for the benefit of, first, himself, and then second, for the benefit of

society. A happy, capable and response-able person is not only a benefit to himself but for the moral

good of his fellow man.

Objectivist Nathaniel Branden, in a section of a splendid article, which may be applied to

objectivists and Freemasons alike, “The Keys to Self-responsibility” suggests:

28 Kabbalah and Freemasonry, Scottish Rite Research Society, Vol 7. 1998.

Veritas by Victor Popow … 7

The First Degree of Freemasonry inculcates us “to be good men and true” aligned to virtue and

principle30, being truthful to oneself in terms of abilities and actions, congruent in thought and in

speech to others. Thus, it would appear that there are commonalities which pertain to truth in both

the philosophy of objectivity and Freemasonry. Moral truth was one aspect but I kept asking myself

where might the subjective component of truth fit? I found a conflict to the idea of objectivity:

For objectivists the concept of intuition, synchronicity, metaphysical consciousness or God is

denied and irrational. Thus objectivity in and of itself, while ‘true’ in many respects may be limited by

its denial of the intuitive. The ‘truths’ of Freemasonry’s degrees include so much more than the

objective, logical and deductive. The great Canadian intellectual thinker John Ralston Saul speaks

brilliantly in his new book, On Equilibrium, about modern society’s tendency to deny intuition. He

points out that our civilization is obsessed with education and structure imbued with linear progress.

“Progress presented as a function of knowledge, proof, understanding, verifiable truth.” Yet Saul

points out “the scientist Henri Poincaré used to say that intuition is the instrument of invention.”

Intuition as a non-liner, non-rational quality (indeed a priori) that may “appear and reappear at any

stage of the creative process.” The great psychologist Carl Jung seemed to understand the non-linear

quality of intuition when he stated that “the primary function of intuition,” is to “transmit mere images

or perceptions of relations and conditions which could not be transmitted by any other means or only

in very roundabout ways.” As Saul comments “these are not mere images or perceptions. They are the

fruit of our imagination and reason with common sense and ethics, in order to produce policies,

products and theories, paintings and music.” Jung states further: “Intuition seeks to discover

possibilities in the objective situation.” “…it is also the instrument which, in the presence of a

hopelessly blocked situation, works automatically towards the issue, which no other function could

discover.” Saul points out that intuition then seems to be “the instrument of need and of limited time.”

The issue in our compartmentalized and segmented society currently remains that we tend to

marginalize the quality of intuition from our technologically driven society. As Canadian hockey star

Wayne Gretsky once stated, “you must skate to where the puck is going, not to where it is.”

It seemed by my own reasoning that the concept of intuition coupled with human reason both

seemed important elements in a continuum of truth. From Freemasonry’s Second Degree we find that

we must incorporate the characteristics of the three steps — divine wisdom (what can’t be seen or

measured), power and goodness and also the human reason, will and emotion with that of the five

steps (the second flight representative of the senses — feeling, hearing, seeing, tasting and smelling) to

search for truth. The Second Degree inculcates Freemasons through its symbolic metaphors to

continue the journey of their adult lives to explore with power and reason, intellect and senses the

objective truth of our world and that of the world beyond our senses, the transcendental or

metaphysical realm. Indeed, the typical Masonic Second Degree tracing board31 of the early nineteenth

century depicts the sun within the middle chamber, a metaphysical metaphor representative of the

divine light within each person — an ancient Hermetic or Gnostic concept. In an uncertain universe

that is in constant flux the only thing we can be sure of is our own perception which itself constantly

evolves.

The journey of Freemasonry takes us through the First Degree that teaches us truth as the

foundation of several virtues; the Second Degree teaches us we can find truth through the Liberal Arts

and Sciences32 — through education and the senses. The Second Degree not only speaks to the value

of knowledge — which makes us competent — but also the value of experience — which makes us

wise, wisdom itself defined as having knowledge of the way things are in the world. To be happy in a

individuals, to marriages, to families, to private and public organizations of every kind. When these truths are

internalized into habits, they empower people to create a wide variety of practises to deal with different situations.

Principles are not values. A gang of thieves can share values, but they are in violation of the fundamental principles

we’re talking about. Principles are the territory. Values are the maps. When we value correct principles, we have truth

— a knowledge of things as they are.”

31 Tracing boards are visual representations Freemasons use to highlight principles exemplified in each Masonic Degree.

32 The seven Liberal Arts and Sciences comprised the curriculum at Medieval universities- Trivium contained the Arts-

Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic while the Quadrivium contained the Sciences- Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and

Astronomy. The 47th Proposition from Greek philosopher “our ancient Brother” Pythagoras is the symbolic emblem.

8 … Veritas by Victor Popow

complex world we must have the ability to comprehend but we must also have the ability to deal with

life situations that we have never encountered before; The Third Degree however is a step beyond the

Second, for the Second Degree may have us employ either subjective or objective knowledge in the

experience of life but the Third Degree prepares us for the final journey of the human experience. We

learn that:

spiritual life, and with the help of God and of the Brotherhood, to rise again into a new life.33

Thus the central truth of the Third degree, the culmination of the Three Craft degrees of

Freemasonry could be interpreted as symbolic renewal. Man may be raised from “a dead level to a

living or renewed perpendicular.” He can choose to die to his old life and be symbolically reborn into a

new one aligned through faith and conscious activity. And while we may learn of several different

truths in our degrees, truth as underlying virtuous principles, objective or subjective truth we also

learn the limits of discovering truth in an absolute sense:

the full light of revelation upon him.34

Unknown

If we accept that by our own nature we are limited to the perception of truth via our five senses

and or our intellect then it follows all human endeavours might be mere temporal interpretations or

assumptions. If we are to reason that if we understand the incompleteness in our views might we also

alternatively accept others interpretations rather than our own in the investigation of truth? A

rationalist might say that their data or views support X while stating that your own view, Y, may be

incomplete, therefore we would have to concede their interpretation or conclusions might be more

comprehensive. This logic then might force us to change our notions of reality, of the way things are,

and be willing to accept others thoughts and ideas — indeed a mode towards acting and thinking with

tolerance. If we accept a notion of relativism — that no idea or concept is final or complete and based

on data ‘at this moment,’ then it might follow that no human institution, culture or society has a

monopoly on what the absolute nature of truth and of God is, that they are all merely temporal human

constructs then we may begin to see the inaccuracy of religious ideologies based upon perception and

interpretation. We may begin to see the value of difference in understanding and seeking truth. That

there are many ways to identifying truth based upon perception and consciousness. We should take

note of Freemasonry’s distinct bias towards the practise of tolerance as foundational to harmonious

functioning:

33 Draffen, 1978, p 133.

34 Third Degree ritual, The Modern Ritual, Scottish Jurisdiction.

Veritas by Victor Popow … 9

only way in which the truth about any of the great subjects of human life will ever be found.35

Any true, progressive, or just society cannot endure without practising toleration that respects the

rights or beliefs of its individuals. Indeed tolerance forms the basis of democratic societies36 and

Freemasonry itself as an organization recognizes the importance of toleration based upon differing

interpretations and perceptions therefore the Craft as an organization has itself grown, or evolved to

accommodate difference and universality.

Ancient Paradox

In the final analysis on truth, perhaps there is no, nor can there ever be any final or absolute

conclusion. Rather we should think of truth as being a concept that is holistic, grand and

encompassing in the widest possible sense. We can perhaps identify a continuum to which truth has

various sub groupings that include moral (acting in alignment with society), objective (empirical,

rational), subjective (intuitive, transcendental), and absolute (what lies beyond or behind the nature of

things) categories in its framework. Upon examination we can find moral truths imbedded in

Freemasonry’s doctrines as foundational to the alignment of the individual — to live a more successful

life — but to also support the Freemason in becoming a positive contributing member of any given

society in which he lives. Objective truth may help us reach logical or measurable conclusions relative

to something at a given point in time.37 Indeed it seems almost enigmatic that we may think we may

know a particular truth only to discover later that it is replaced or supplemented as part of something

larger or indicative of something else altogether.38 I am in fact reminded of the wisdom of the Greek

philosopher Aristotle who stated the more that he knew, the more he realized how little that he knew,

and that in the final analysis he knew nothing!

Rational truths then, coupled with the relentless pursuit of knowledge of the physical world, ever

changes based upon human beings need to know. It should also be distinguished that no matter how

much rational knowledge or truth is unveiled, that it will always be incomplete and therefore an

attitude of tolerance is required to balance what may be known to what is unknown. Subjective truth

seems more focused as a practise of extending the boundaries of knowledge through intuition and

imagination of self, of the physical realm, but also of creation and God. However absolute knowledge

seems to stretch the very capabilities of human understanding and awareness and it is recognized in

Masonry that one can aspire to know absolute truth but only gain a tiny fraction of it. We also may

recognize historical allusion to the search for truth via the moral dramas and transcendental

methodologies of the ancient Mysteries which themselves seem to linger within the philosophy and

ritualistic practises of ‘modern’ Freemasonry.

Indeed we may find that the Craft’s Three Degrees seem purposefully designed to incorporate

truth in all its various forms. The First Degree stresses the importance of truth and of truth being the

basis of correct living — living a virtuous life in alignment with principles of society and with Deity.

The Second Degree stresses the importance of truth revealed though the application of the arts and

sciences and through the five senses. Finally the Third Degree offers us a glimpse of what may lie

beyond ourselves, a transcendental glimpse that perhaps we can know more about ourselves and of

Deity. The Third Degree offers us a chance to psychologically reinvent ourselves to cause growth and

new awareness where before there may not have been an opportunity.

35 Draffen, 1978, pp 42–43.

36 There has been a long, recognized historical relationship between Freemasonry and the rise of, or perpetuation of

Democratic thought and idealism.

37 One example being that the speed of light has until recently been thought of as constant however Canadian physicist

John Moffat has been recognized as proving that the speed of light is variable. Canadian Maclean’s magazine, March

24/03.

38 The idea of seventeenth century Newtonian physics being supplemented by twentieth century Quantum physics comes

to mind. For further reading see The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra and Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav.

10 … Veritas by Victor Popow

Will the various ritualistic dramas espoused by Freemasonry ever be ‘out of tune’ with the times? I

am inclined to conclude that although words may change through additions and deletions in our

ritual, a long standing practise since the earliest beginnings of the Craft — as long as Freemasonic

dramas relate to principles and virtues and incorporate archetypical concepts related to truth39 then I

would state that it would be the changing fashions of society and not the eternal or divine principles of

Freemasonry that would be out of step. I must further conclude that as long as Freemasonry upholds

and respects the rights and thoughts of its members Masonry will ever remain a ‘true’ society to its

craftsmen, to society and to God.

‘Gnothi Seauton’ or ‘Know thy Self.’

Ancient inscription on the Greek Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Respectfully submitted by WBro Victor G. Popow

Copyright 2003 Ó

The views expressed are entirely those of the author and in no way represent the official position

of any official Masonic organization.

Alberta, Grand Lodge of. The Work: Ancient York Rite. Calgary, 1999.

Branden, Nathaniel. “It’s Your Life So make the Most of It.” Originally published by Bottom Line

Personal, 1 September 2000. Now available at The Daily Objectivist website

Capra, Fritjof. The Tao of Physics. 1975.

Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. 1989.

Das, Lama Surya. Awakening to the Sacred. 1999.

Draffen, George. The Making of a Mason. 1978.

Faivre, Antoine. The Eternal Hermes. 1995.

Freke, Timothy, and Peter Gandy. The Jesus Mysteries. 2000.

__________ Jesus and the Lost Goddess — the Secret Teachings of the Original Christians. 2001.

MacNulty, W. Kirk. Freemasonry — A Journey through Ritual and Symbolism. 1994.

__________ The Way of the Craftsman — A search for the Spiritual Essence of Craft Freemasonry.

1988.

Pagels, Elaine. The Gnostic Gospels. 1989.

Peat, F. David. Synchronicity — the Bridge between Matter and Mind. 1987.

Pirsig, Robert M. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. 1982.

Rees, Julian. “Truth, Relief and Brotherly Love.” Freemasonry Today. Issue 13, 2000.

Saul, John Ralston. On Equilibrium. 2001.

White, Michael. Isaac Newton the Last Sorcerer. 1997

39 Archetypical dramas as represented in the ancient Pagan Mysteries — the central allegory consists of the dying and

resurrecting god- the Egyptian Osiris, the Greek Dionysus, and later the Christian Jesus the Nazarene or the Masonic

Hiram Abiff- all serve as examples of eternal dramas that illustrate life, death, growth, change or divine zymology. For

more reading see The Jesus Mysteries and Jesus and the Lost Goddess by authors Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy.