EPISODE · Mar 12, 2023 · 45 MIN
EP 93 Patriarch Theory Part 4: Nesta Webster, Matt Jackson, and Masonic History
from Masonic Muscle · host The Origin War Has Begun
Do Masons care about the history of their own Order?In EP 92 of Masonic Muscle, I continue Part 4 of the Patriarch Theory from the 12 origin theories of Freemasonry — the theory that Freemasonry descends from the Patriarchs of the Old Testament.This episode was recorded from a hotel room in Tijuana, where I had a strong conversation with Brother Matt Jackson, a Fellow Craft Mason from Palm Springs Lodge No. 693.I ask Matt whether he believes what Nesta Webster wrote in Secret Societies and Subversive Movements when she said that “the great mass of the Freemasons do not know or care to know anything about the history of their Order.”That question should hit every Mason in the chest.Because if it is true, then the Craft may be in more serious trouble than we think.This episode solves one Masonic Muscle problem:How can Masons claim to seek more light if they do not know, study, or care about the history of their own fraternity?We discuss:the Patriarch Theory of Freemasonrythe 12 origin theories of FreemasonryBrother Matt Jackson of Palm Springs Lodge No. 693Nesta Webster’s criticism of Masonic historical ignorancethe Regius Manuscript of 1390the Wood Manuscript of 1610Anderson’s Constitutions of 1723 and 1738the philosophical and spiritual intent of Masonic origin legendsGraham Hancock’s collective amnesia theoryancient civilizations, myth, memory, and lost knowledgeVedas, Upanishads, Rigveda, Ramayana, and Hindu civilizationMogul kings and ancient knowledge transmissionViracocha, Kukulkan, Atlantis, and the Eye of the SaharaChristopher B. Murphy’s A Just and Exact Account of FreemasonryExploring Early Grand Lodge Freemasonryacademic standards and methodologyastronomy, morality, navigation, culture, and the pillars of knowledgeThis is not about swallowing every ancient claim whole.That is weak.This is about disciplined exploration.A Mason should be able to look at Anderson’s legendary history, Old Testament patriarchs, ancient manuscripts, Hindu texts, Atlantis claims, collective amnesia, and early Grand Lodge scholarship without losing his mind.The question is not:Can we prove all of this?The better question is:What were early Masons trying to preserve, teach, signal, or dramatize through these origin legends?If Anderson’s Constitutions present a legendary chain of knowledge transmission through the ancient world, then maybe the story is not merely about historical proof.Maybe it also carries philosophical and spiritual intent.Maybe it teaches Masons how to think about memory, morality, geometry, architecture, civilization, and the duty to preserve knowledge.But first, Masons have to care enough to read.That is the hard truth.Have an origin theory, Masonic question, old document, book recommendation, lodge problem, fitness transformation story, or research lead?Write to me at:[email protected] Masonic Muscle on Instagram:@masonicmuscleFollow Masonic Muscle on Facebook.Subscribe and follow Masonic Muscle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
What this episode covers
Do Masons care about the history of their own Order?In EP 92 of Masonic Muscle, I continue Part 4 of the Patriarch Theory from the 12 origin theories of Freemasonry — the theory that Freemasonry descends from the Patriarchs of the Old Testament.This episode was recorded from a hotel room in Tijuana, where I had a strong conversation with Brother Matt Jackson, a Fellow Craft Mason from Palm Springs Lodge No. 693.I ask Matt whether he believes what Nesta Webster wrote in Secret Societies and Subversive Movements when she said that “the great mass of the Freemasons do not know or care to know anything about the history of their Order.”That question should hit every Mason in the chest.Because if it is true, then the Craft may be in more serious trouble than we think.This episode solves one Masonic Muscle problem:How can Masons claim to seek more light if they do not know, study, or care about the history of their own fraternity?We discuss:the Patriarch Theory of Freemasonrythe 12 origin theories of FreemasonryBrother Matt Jackson of Palm Springs Lodge No. 693Nesta Webster’s criticism of Masonic historical ignorancethe Regius Manuscript of 1390the Wood Manuscript of 1610Anderson’s Constitutions of 1723 and 1738the philosophical and spiritual intent of Masonic origin legendsGraham Hancock’s collective amnesia theoryancient civilizations, myth, memory, and lost knowledgeVedas, Upanishads, Rigveda, Ramayana, and Hindu civilizationMogul kings and ancient knowledge transmissionViracocha, Kukulkan, Atlantis, and the Eye of the SaharaChristopher B. Murphy’s A Just and Exact Account of FreemasonryExploring Early Grand Lodge Freemasonryacademic standards and methodologyastronomy, morality, navigation, culture, and the pillars of knowledgeThis is not about swallowing every ancient claim whole.That is weak.This is about disciplined exploration.A Mason should be able to look at Anderson’s legendary history, Old Testament patriarchs, ancient manuscripts, Hindu texts, Atlantis claims, collective amnesia, and early Grand Lodge scholarship without losing his mind.The question is not:Can we prove all of this?The better question is:What were early Masons trying to preserve, teach, signal, or dramatize through these origin legends?If Anderson’s Constitutions present a legendary chain of knowledge transmission through the ancient world, then maybe the story is not merely about historical proof.Maybe it also carries philosophical and spiritual intent.Maybe it teaches Masons how to think about memory, morality, geometry, architecture, civilization, and the duty to preserve knowledge.But first, Masons have to care enough to read.That is the hard truth.Have an origin theory, Masonic question, old document, book recommendation, lodge problem, fitness transformation story, or research lead?Write to me at:[email protected] Masonic Muscle on Instagram:@masonicmuscleFollow Masonic Muscle on Facebook.Subscribe and follow Masonic Muscle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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EP 93 Patriarch Theory Part 4: Nesta Webster, Matt Jackson, and Masonic History
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