Editing Freemasonry (section)

==Ritual and symbolism==
{{Main|Masonic ritual and symbolism}}
[[File:Ahmad nami.jpg|thumb|[[Ottoman dynasty|Ottoman]] noble [[Ahmad Nami]] dressed in full Masonic attire in 1925]]
[[File:Masonic symbols in Szprotawa Poland.jpg|thumb|Example of Masonic symbols in [[Szprotawa]] Poland]]
[[File:Emblematic Structure of Freemasonry.gif|thumb|Freemasonry structure showing the symbols associated with the organization]]
{{Esotericism}}
Freemasonry describes itself as a "beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols".<ref>[http://www.mhebf.com/freemasonry.html "What is Freemasonry?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109020434/http://www.mhebf.com/freemasonry.html |date=9 January 2014 }} ''Grand Lodge of Alberta'' retrieved 7 November 2013</ref> The symbolism is mainly, but not exclusively, drawn from the tools of stonemasons&mdash;the [[square and compasses]], the level and plumb rule, the [[trowel]], the rough and smooth [[ashlar]]s, among others. Moral lessons are attributed to each of these tools, although the assignment is by no means consistent. The meaning of the symbolism is taught and explored through ritual,<ref name="Johnstone" /> and in lectures and articles by individual Masons who offer their personal insights and opinions.

According to the [[Academic study of Western esotericism|scholar of Western esotericism]] Jan A. M. Snoek: "the best way to characterize Freemasonry is in terms of what it is not, rather than what it is".<ref name="Theokritoff 2016">{{cite book |author-last=Snoek |author-first=Jan A. M. |year=2016 |chapter=Part III: The Renaissance and Early Modernity – Freemasonry |editor-last=Magee |editor-first=Glenn A. |title=The Cambridge Handbook of Western Mysticism and Esotericism |location=[[Cambridge]] and New York City |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |pages=200–210 |doi=10.1017/CBO9781139027649.018 |isbn=978-1139027649}}</ref> All Freemasons begin their journey in the "craft" by being progressively "initiated", "passed" and "raised" into the three degrees of Craft, or Blue Lodge Masonry. During these three rituals, the candidate is progressively taught the Masonic symbols, and entrusted with grips or tokens, signs, and words to signify to other Masons which degrees he has taken. The dramatic allegorical ceremonies include explanatory lectures and revolve around the construction of the [[Temple of Solomon]], and the artistry and death of the chief architect, [[Hiram Abiff]]. The degrees are those of "Entered apprentice", "Fellowcraft" and "Master Mason". While many different versions of these rituals exist, with various lodge layouts and versions of the Hiramic legend, each version is recognizable to any Freemason from any jurisdiction.<ref name="Johnstone" />

In some jurisdictions, the main themes of each degree are illustrated by [[tracing board]]s. These painted depictions of Masonic themes are exhibited in the lodge according to which degree is being worked and are explained to the candidate to illustrate the legend and symbolism of each degree.<ref>[http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/gmd1999/tb_history01.html Mark S. Dwor, "Some thoughts on the history of the Tracing Boards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009060652/http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/gmd1999/tb_history01.html |date=9 October 2013 }}, ''Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon'', 1999, retrieved 7 November 2013</ref>

The idea of Masonic brotherhood probably descends from a 16th-century legal definition of a "brother" as one who has taken an oath of mutual support to another. Accordingly, Masons swear at each degree to support and protect their brethren.<ref>Robert L.D. Cooper, ''Cracking the Freemason's Code'', Rider 2006, p. 79</ref> In most Lodges, the oath or obligation is taken on a ''[[Volume of Sacred Law]]'', whichever book of divine revelation is appropriate to the religious beliefs of the individual brother (usually the Bible in the Anglo-American tradition). In ''Progressive'' continental Freemasonry, books other than scripture are permissible, a cause of rupture between Grand Lodges.<ref>[http://bessel.org/masrec/france.htm "Masonic U.S. Recognition of French Grand Lodges in the 20th century"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060410074658/http://bessel.org/masrec/france.htm |date=10 April 2006 }}, ''Paul M. Bessel''. retrieved 8 November 2013</ref>