Among the core tenets of Freemasonry —Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth —it is the latter that often proves the most challenging yet most transformative for the individual Mason. Truth is not merely honesty in speech or correctness in action; it is a spiritual principle, a moral compass, and a lifelong pursuit that requires our unwavering commitment and dedication.
In the Entered Apprentice Degree, we are taught that Truth is “a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue.” This simple phrase holds a world of esoteric meaning.
Truth in the Masonic sense is not relative or convenient. It is immutable, eternal, and deeply connected to the concept of Light, one of the most profound symbols in our Craft.
To seek Truth is to seek Light.
In our speculative journey, we are urged to divest ourselves of all error and prejudice and to build our inner temple upon the solid rock of moral and spiritual understanding. That means not only being truthful with others but being ruthlessly honest with ourselves, examining our motives, actions, and thoughts with humility.
This esoteric interpretation has strong philosophical parallels. The Greek philosopher Socrates, whose method of questioning underlies much of Masonic inquiry, famously declared that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Likewise, the Neoplatonists believed that the soul ascends toward the divine by contemplation of eternal truths. The Philosophical Research Society, founded by Manly P. Hall, often echoed this theme that the path of wisdom is the path of Truth, requiring discipline, study, and sincere intention.
Masonic Truth also extends to our relationships with others. To live a life of Truth is to be dependable, upright, and faithful to your obligations. It is to walk in integrity, both when being observed and when alone. This unwavering moral consistency is what elevates a man from the common to the noble, instilling in us a sense of righteousness and principled living.
In some esoteric interpretations, Truth is viewed as the Word lost and sought after in the Master Mason degree, symbolizing the ultimate knowledge or divine insight that can only be attained through patience, perseverance, and a pure heart.
As Masons, we are not merely students of symbols but workers in the Temple of Humanity. Each stone we square, each action we take, must be aligned with Truth if we are to leave behind a legacy worthy of the Craft.
Let us, therefore, remember that Truth is not a destination but a way of being. It is the Light we seek, the path we walk, and the obligation we renew with every breath and every step upon the Level.
Fraternally,
T.A. Westgate
