From the book
Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry
R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordFreedom ranges from release from selfish desire to the capacity for responsible choice and the liberty an institution promises its members.
- In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryThe introduction associates freedom from desire with a changed inquiry into the good.
- In this editionFree in Free Masonry is not automatically an assertion about free will.
- A place to readI.23: “"So long as the lower mind is held in bondage by desire, man can not seek” …
Meaning
Freedom ranges from release from selfish desire to the capacity for responsible choice and the liberty an institution promises its members.
Use in the book
The introduction associates freedom from desire with a changed inquiry into the good. The description of the African Brothers praises freedom and independence. The metaphysical conclusion makes distinctively human self-consciousness a condition of free will, while the rules promise development of every faculty within a strictly governed order.
Places to read
- Original Introduction · Block 23“"So long as the lower mind is held in bondage by desire, man can not seek or discern the Good or the True. He inquires, 'What is good for me?' Freed” …
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 39… “its history, prospered in silence and in complete freedom. Its chief statutes were to fear God only, to honor the King and to be discreet, to exercise universal tolerance towards all” …
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 170… “its parts have the right of thought and free-will, and therefore the power of merit and demerit; hence there is no longer anything of what is called inorganic matter; if, however,” …
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 171… “and consequently which would procure the gift of free-will. "”
- Rules and Regulations · Block 4… “war; in a word — to arrive, by free and pacific progress, at one formula or model of eternal and universal right, according to which each individual human being shall be” …
In this edition
Free in Free Masonry is not automatically an assertion about free will. The several senses are retained rather than merged in the counts.
Reading the argument
The same word operates at different levels. Moral independence, metaphysical choice, and organizational freedom need not increase together. The regulations show which choices remain subject to superior permission.
free-will
“free-will” — 2 occurrences in 2 text blocks: F.170–171.
freedom
“freedom” — 2 occurrences in 2 text blocks: F.39, 98.
free
“free” — 13 occurrences in 11 text blocks: M.33; F.89, 91, 98, 170–171; S.36, 145, 154; R.4, 12.