Showing results by narrator "Robin Haynes" in All Categories

Brother Stewart sets out to prove that ancient civilization has an important role to play in the overall mythology and history of Freemasonry. While other writers on this topic have focused on religious and initiatory similarities, Stewart turns his attention to archeological marvels in order to prove that there must have been an accompanying philosophical and intellectual aspect to these great civilizations. As such, he also touches on Pythagoras and discusses the Neoplatonists at length.

Masonic Brother Rudyard Kipling sets this fictional Masonic tale during World War I. A wealthy shop-keeper is running a Masonic lodge for traveling brothers from around the globe, most of whom are in and out of London, due to the war. Many can't be authenticated as Masons, but are permitted to sit in lodge, based on partial examinations and an overall gut feeling. The topic of what Grand Lodge would think about this comes up as an eventual conversation.

In the Critias, Plato describes in detail the divine foundation of the Atlantean Empire. The golden age preserved in myth and legend, when the gods walked with men, depicts the zenith of Atlantean civilization. The demigods of the ancient world were the Atlanteans, to whom every civilized nation owes an incalculable debt of gratitude.

The landmarks of Freemasonry have existed from time immemorial; however, Albert Mackey was the first Mason to collect them all together and explicitly define them for the greater benefit of the fraternity. Here he outlines what the 25 landmarks are, which bind together all Masonic lodges across the globe. These aren't opinions but instead they are the intellectual and philosophical foundations of our organization and something that every Mason should be familiar with and ready to defend.

Alexander Wilder was a theosophist, journalist, and prolific writer in his day; being heavily recognized as one of the leading Platonists in America at the time. This piece was originally published in 1897 and offers a brief overview of some of the concepts explored by Plato, with some focus on religion, goodness, evil, and truth.

In this short piece, theosophical writer Remsen Whitehouse sets out to disprove a common argument against Buddhism during his day: that all Buddhists are atheistic. He examines the difference between divine intelligence and a God as well as pantheism and the concept of an immortal soul.

Darrow was a professor at Harvard, a prominent theosophist, and the author of numerous works on philosophy. In this piece he examines primarily the Republic, from a theosophical standpoint, in an attempt to show that many scholars have misinterpreted Plato's relationship with the arts. Darrow states that Plato's belief was that the only true art is a life well lived, with the ultimate aim being to create a heaven on Earth.