Masonic Ideas From the Renaissance to the Enlightenment
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Out of the Crucible: Masonic Ideas From the
Renaissance to the Enlightenment
One cannot wisely think about Freemasonry, particularly
the higher degrees, without at least some objective understanding of the meaning of enlightenment and the cultural movements which led to the creation of our system of
degrees. Societal change almost always comes about as
a result of some cultural movement within it. In fact, we
may be seeing a new movement today as the result of a
higher vision among millennials in what is possible in the
Masonic experience. It is almost always a movement that
actually facilitates change.
We know that Freemasonry’s purpose was facilitated by
four great movements which occurred over a 400 year
period from the 14th through the 18th centuries. Charles
Lobinger, in his definitive history of the Scottish Rite
written for the Supreme Council in 19321, provided us a
succinct and masterful overview of the influence of these
societal changes on Freemasonry. While these cultural
movements are well known, one connection that is often
overlooked and worthwhile for Masons to note is that all
four were tied to the structure of consciousness.
The movements were the Renaissance, the Reformation,
the French Revolution, and the Industrial/Social Revolution. Quickly, the Renaissance began in Italy in the 14th
century and lasted through the life of Michelangelo to
1534. It is important to Masonry because the inspiration of the Renaissance was the growth of knowledge
and the rediscovery of classical learning, including the
Hebrew Kabbalah, which is the only spiritual system of
which we have any knowledge that reconciles reason
with faith, power
with liberty, and
science with
mystery—ideas
which we know
are uniquely
woven within the
teachings of Freemasonry. It may
even be theorized
this is the reason
we find 32 paths
of wisdom in the
Scottish Rite.
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By Robert Davis
The Kabbalah had a considerable influence over 16th and
17th century theology, philosophy, science and medicine.
And it was during this same period that the intellectual
community began to profoundly influence free thought
and the advancement of metaphysical ideas.
The second movement, the Reformation, began in Germany in the 1500’s and is equally important to Masonry
because it redefined the concept of religious
allegiance and
sectarian doctrine
brought about by
Martin Luther.
It was the Reformation that gave
Freemasonry its
freedom from
ecclesiastical
control and the
prominence of
the Bible in all
its ritual and
symbolic forms.
In fact, had it not been for the Reformation, Freemasonry would likely have always been an appendage of the
Church, as were the Guilds and as such as we find in the
Catholic Knights of Malta.
Certainly, English Freemasonry was a product of the
Reformation; so much so that many Masonic scholars
now believe the higher degrees which were invented in
France shortly after Anderson’s Constitutions of 1723
were created as a reaction against the theism of the early
English Craft degrees. We know the theistic elements of
craft Masonry were prominent up to the Union of 1813.
And there is no question the degrees we practice today in
the Scottish Rite are tied to the old French Masonic Rites.
The third movement was born in the 17th century, and
encompassed the 18th century; and became known as the
Age of Enlightenment. It blossomed in France as a result
of concerns over political and civil liberties. In fact, the
Scottish Rite may be more the product of the ideals promoted by the French Revolution than any other societal
movement.
Masonic Ideas From the Renaissance to the Enlightenment
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This was a profound idea—even culture shaking! All
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There was also a huge transformation that took place
when Speculative Masonry moved from Great Britain to
the Continent. The whole nature and spirit of our Order
was changed. Masonry was suddenly at the center of
Renaissance ideas. The Renaissance brought about new
attitudes which fundamentally changed human thought.
Again, Lobinger informs us that, among these, are three
that resonate clearly with all thoughtful Masons--(1) love
of Truth, (2) love of beauty, and (3) love of man. And out
of these ideas was born a special phase of thought known
as humanism, which dignified man as a rational being
and proclaimed that man counts as man, and not just a
miserable sinner or a lost soul.
V I S I T
Now, the important thing here is that all four of these
movements influenced, and made possible the succeeding one. It was the rebirth of knowledge in the Renaissance that led the way to the Protestant Revolution. It was
the spirit of freedom and equality generated in the Reformation which greatly aided in promoting the French
Revolution. And it was the political and civic upheaval of
the French Revolution which, in turn, led to the industrial and social revolution.
The movements of the Renaissance and the Reformation
released enormous amounts of spiritual energy which
were released
during the
Enlightenment.
They opened up
the individual
spiritual path,
especially the
inner way in
which the physical man could be
transcended into
a closer relationship with Divinity. They allowed
the deeper self to
sort out the difference between
illusion and
reality. On the
ethical level, they
allowed individual moral conscience to take a critical stand against any
form of governance or control regulating free conscience
or choice. And they made possible a link between the
moral and the spiritual aspect of the self, so that a path
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The fourth began in England in 1756 and moved quickly
to other western countries and was marked chiefly by
the constant application of new inventions and methods
of industry along with the condition of those who operated within them. One can find many centers of ethical
thought in Masonry that were influenced by this movement. We need only to read Albert Pike’s lectures in Morals & Dogma.
Suddenly it became possible for men to think in
terms that a brotherhood of man was possible, even when
men were not of the same religion. This is again a fundamental Masonic idea. One result was that Humanism,
with its Renaissance accompaniment of the love of Truth
and love of Beauty, actually made the Scottish Rite and
entitled it to bear the name of the University of Freemasonry.
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things could be valued in respect to their effect on
human welfare! Suddenly, civilization, industry,
education, religion, government, and society had
to justify themselves on the basis of that test alone.
Here then was the point of contact between the two
great sources of Masonry—the Kabbalah, which
gave man a map of consciousness for exploring
the nature of Deity and his relationship with the
Divine; and Humanism, which embraced the value
of the individual and his right to self improvement
through independent inquiry into the nature of
truth and societal well-being.
Masonic Ideas From the Renaissance to the Enlightenment
By Robert Davis
could be charted through virtues toward the ultimate
goal of enlightenment and spiritual liberation.
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purpose and mission has always been.
Masonry is supposed to be a journey to a higher awarelevel of insight. It is a progressive system for awakening
consciousness. Its power lies in its ability to integrate its
lessons into the psyche of each individual; meeting him
on the level of his own experience, and giving him an
opportunity to be transformed by the path of his own life.
aware that everything we do in lodge or on stage, every
word we speak, every move we make, is supposed to create an illusion that takes our candidate to another realm
of consciousness—just as it did for us.
And here is a central idea that perhaps will make a
worthy endnote for your consideration: Such illusions
cannot happen except in special, sacred places which are
removed from the outside world. We call these places
lodges which are tyled, my Brothers. Our ancestors
thought of them as private workshops for learning the
secrets of Masonry.
It is a remarkable privilege for each of us that we happen to be in such a place every month of our lives--such
a place as Masons have been meeting together in for at
least 600 years.
Ill. Brother Robert Davis 33°, GC, and Secretary
of the Guthrie Oklahoma Scottish Rite. Br. Robert is the author of Understanding Manhood in
America and the writer of a blog titled - Papers
of Robert G. Davis.
Bro. Robert is an administrator for the Scottish
Rite of Freemasonry. He is the Editor of HereResearch Society.
(Endnotes)
1 Charles S. Lobinger,
(Louisville, Ky.: Standard Printing, 1932)
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