Why Masons celebrate St. John the Baptist Day

What is the purpose of Saint John the Baptist day?

Comments for Why Masons celebrate St. John the Baptist Day

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

May 30, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The Two Saints John of Freemasonry
by: Tim

Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist are two eminent patrons of Freemasonry. There is nothing in our history to explain how or why they were chosen as our patron saints, but there is no argument that they were the perfect choice because of the manner in which they lived and worked.

St. John the Baptist was a man of character and integrity, and someone we would all do well to emulate. In him we have a singular instance of purity, of zeal, simplicity of manners, and an ardent wish to benefit mankind by his example. To him we are indebted for the introduction of that grand tenet of our institution, which it is our glory to support: Peace on earth, good will toward men.

Saint John the Evangelist is considered equal to the Baptist in his zeal for the same qualities, and because of his abilities as a speaker and writer he was enabled to spread the teachings of Saint John the Baptist to a far broader audience.

Together, the two Saints John represent those qualities of character that all good Freemasons are to aspire to.

For a more comprehensive explanation of the two Saints John and their relation to Masonry visit our "St. John the Baptist: Patron Saint of Freemasonry" page.
Jun 25, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		tell the truth
by: Anonymous

John the Baptists "birthday" is celebrated on June 24th by masons because it is the summer solstice. Normally, the lives of saints are celebrated on the day they were martyred. John the Baptist did not actually exist. His "birthday" is celebrated because he is the solar twin of Jesus the son(sun) of God. J the B ushers in the highest point of the sun which corresponds to the ministry of Jesus, as in when Jesus is at his most powerful. John the Evangelist day is celebrated is when the son(sun) has died and rises again 3 days later. John the Evangelist ushers in the oncoming solar year. It has nothing to do with the personal qualities of either "person" being in keeping with the supposed high moral character of the masons.

It really doesn't matter what the masons want to value or worship. Just have the guts to be honest about it.
Jun 27, 2012
Rating
starstarstar 		I'll be honest..
by: John

Okay Anonymous, I'll be honest. You are completely and utterly wrong. Feel better now?
Jun 29, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		evil hides behind good
by: Anonymous

Creepy! Satanic Masons use real people who follow Christ and hide behind them, making the outside world believe that the Masons are such an honorable organization.
Jul 06, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Really ?
by: Anonymous

I don't think I'm wrong John. The masons don't tell my husband anything about John the Baptist or reasons behind any of their other practises. I don't think the guys in his small town lodge know either. Just like you.
Mar 25, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		@ Anonymous
by: Bro J Brown PM

Creepy Masonic satanist really!! How many satanist open there meetings with prayer and a pledge of allegance or have a Holy Bible open during there meetings?? I guess George Washington, Ben Franklin and 14 past presidents were creepy satanist. The reason good spirtual people hate on masonic traditions are because we are inclusive and do not alienate people to hell just because people do not believe exactly the same as you might!!
Apr 06, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Inclusive ? Really ?
by: Anonymous

The masons are not inclusive at all. Women are forbidden to join. So don't go patting yourselves on the back about being inclusive when clearly the masons are not.
Aug 20, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		INCLUSIVE OR EXCLUSIVE?
by: Tom

Freemasonry is inclusive in that it welcomes all men of good character who believe in a Supreme Being. Race, colour, religion, occupation, wealth and status are immaterial.

Freemasonry is exclusive in that it excludes from membership men not of good character, atheists, the very young, etc.

Oh yes, and women. Freemasonry bars women in much the same way as college sororities bar men. As do women-only spas and gyms, all-female cruises and tours and women-only clubs, professional organizations, support groups, societies, etc. We wish you well, but this is a group for men.
Aug 30, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Yeah, whatever.
by: Anonymous

As a woman who does not attend or participate in any women-only sororities, spas, cruises, etc., I find it petty and mean-spirited that exclusion occurs at all.
May 01, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Whatever, yeah
by: Anonymous

That you choose to not participate hardly changes the reality that there are female-only groups and institutions, ones which exclude all men and that society as a whole accepts and approves of that. As a man, I'm not going to fret about it or lose any sleep over it. If somebody wants to limit their membership to women, so be it and I hope they have a good time. Sorry 'bout that.
Jul 12, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Excludes women
by: Anonymous

Freemasonry is a FRATERNITY, as in it is a men's brotherhood, the same way a sorority is a women's only sisterhood. It's not an issue of discrimination, it is important for people to be able to congregate with similar individuals.
Jun 22, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Equality
by: Tomás from Mexico

I came looking for background reading on the Solstice and bumped into this conversation that contains many issues.

A very important one is one related to the 18th Landmark that says: "That every candidate for initiation must be a man, free born and of lawful age". If one reads "man" in a genderless manner, "man" as a generic term for human being or person, then the interpretation of the Landmark is mistaken by some Masons when they say that man is the same as male, thus the making of male only lodges.

Is one reads "man" as a human being, it is inclusive, women and men, and that is the real spirit of Masonry.

Masonry is not a male only body of knowledge, knowledge is independent to the male-female discourse that prevails in some lodges. Knowledge, magic and the craft have no gender preference, a man or a woman. One of the greatest aspirations in Masonry, equality, would make it impossible to not allow women into Masonry.

The fact is that Masonry is not the exclusive domain of some lodges. Masonry is the domain of women and men who practice Masonry following a Rite and strive to attain the ideals of Masonry of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Those aspirations are the universal rights of man, that is mankind, that is women and men, in equality.

Mixed Masonry is alive and well, and it is great!

I come from a traditional lodge, male only, and for one of those events that happen in life, I joined a mixed lodge in Mexico. To experience the Masonic ritual with the Moon and the Sun, women and men working in harmony and aligned in the construction what has to happen, is a true and deep experience in the esoteric aspect of Masonry, its symbolism and lessons.

Having come from an orthodox lodge and opening my mind to sharing the Masonic experience with women has taken me to a new level of thinking and relating.

So is it not the exclusion of women from Masonry a negation of the ideal of equality?

Masonry demands critical thinking, and critical thinking leads to action, and action is change, and change is progress (well, sometimes), and in that women and men, that is, man, participate in the daily battles of life... Isn´t that what we want?

Masonic thought that excludes women cannot be the representative voice of Masonry, it is the respectful opinion of some brother masons, who should know that they have sister masons who share the ideals and do their job in this world.

At the end it does not matter what some Masonic institutions say, but what you say, in the free use of your liberty, about mixed Masonry. Think about it.

Afterall, it is not about saying that you are a Mason, but about being recognized as one through the expression of their lives.

Jun 22, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Words mean what words mean
by: Tharn

If one reads 'man' in its genderless sense, it can mean 'woman'... Of course, if one reads 'man' to have been said in Albanian, it could be referring to a mulberry bush, too.

Sorry, Tomas, but the overwhelming majority of Freemasons arund the world do no recognize coMasony as regular. In other words,

they

are

not

real

Freemasons,

There are many other institutions open to women, many other paths leading to self-improvement. This one is for men - those with a Y chromosome - only. Anybody can rent a priest's collar and claim to be one. The reality however is that such is mere pretence.

Con Dios.

Jun 22, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Reply to Tharn
by: Tomas from Mexico

Dear Tharn,

What is a real Freemason? A male that may have weaseled his way through the rituals of our institution?

What is a real christian? Or a real muslim? Or a real initiate?

A real Freemason is not defined by a ritual or by being given a piece of paper but by his actions.

Masonry has deeps roots in esoteric and occult practices and traditions, where there are priests ans priestesses.

I respect the opinion of my brothers, whom I recognize as such, but I think that orthodox thinking is primitive at this stage of the game.

If some institutionalized masons do not recognize me as one, so be it. One is what one is.

Masonry is a dimension, a cloud, a body of knowledge that is accesible to all.

Christianity, buddism, engineering, literature, cooking, reading and masonry as ideals do not require gender.

As we say in spanish, tha habit does not make the monk.
Jun 22, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		How far can you move away from yourself...
by: Tharn

...before you're no longer you?

A Mason is defined by more than his actions, Tomas. Were it not so, one could not tell the difference between a moral Mason and a moral nun.

A Freemason is also defined by his respect for and adherence to the ancient landmarks. Top of that list is that it is not in the power or any man to make innovations.

I see it being similar to what's happening to religion or education these days. People see what Moses brought down ff the mountain as ten 'suggestions', from which we can chose the ones we like and ignore the ones we are uncomfortable with.

Sorry, my friend. You seem committed to living a moral life and making the world better and for that you are to be commended. I'll leave it there, I think.
Mar 26, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Ridiculous
by: Anonymous

I find attacks on Freemasons ridiculous. What about the Knights of Columbus? They're a male only Fraternity with secret rituals and funny hats.

Humans can't stand secrets, yet they can't handle the truth.

Aliens.
Sep 28, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Reply
by: Jake

To Tomas. Actually what makes a man a Mason is his oath and obligation. Part of the oath you take is to never reveal the secrets of Masonry to those who have not received the degree of Master Mason, women or any non masons. Any lodge that accepts women is not a real masonic lodge. You can't just up and change the ancient practices and rites of Masonry. If you were actually raised into a real masonic lodge, you would understand why women can't be masons. Since you seem oblivious to that understanding, it's obvious you were never a real mason. And if you were somehow raised into a real lodge and just completely misunderstood the teachings, you broke your oath the day you stepped foot into a co-masonic lodge. Sorry but that's just the facts.
Dec 28, 2017
Rating
starstarstar 		What was it we were discussing ...
by: John B

What was it we were discussing, oh yes, I remember now. Two fictional characters made to represent the good character of man. As quoted in the bible, peace on earth, goodwill to all men.
And then we get way down a winding trail about co-masonry. What happened to the good will !
I'm a John, I'm a male, I'm a mason and I uphold the tenets.
Let's stick with the facts, the two John's are made to represent upright honourable people in all walks of life, not only to the exclusion of freemasonry.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Answers 2 Your ?.

Share this page: