can the origins of freemasonry be traced back to biblical times/into egyptology+modern orignates form where?

Answer 1

Whether or not Freemasonry is the heir to Ancient Mystery schools of the Arabian Rosicrucians, the Egyptian Osirians, the Mithrans of Persia depends heavily upon Freemasonry itself. As Manly Palmer Hall observed in 1928, the rites and rituals, the forms and symbols are being sanitized and censored by those hardly qualified to speak upon the issue.

For many, or perhaps for most, Freemasonry has become what Hall saw happening in the 20s, a gentleman's social club bent upon good and charitable works. If that is what it is then there is nothing more to recommend it above the Elks, Rotarians, or the Moose.

When Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, both Masons, started looking at the roots of Freemasonry most of the Freemason establishment immediately dismissed their inquiry as stupid fiction. Yet, there is something in ritual which send shivers down the back of the neck, at least in ritual done with feeling. They found roots of the Hiramic story in ancient Egypt.

One may as well ask: do the pagans today have their roots in the druids and moon cults of ancient Europe? The answer is as muddy. Certainly the same spirit that motivated those who drummed around the fires of our paleolithic mothers and fathers runs through the circle that meets in the hills outside of Austin TX. Are the origins of Freemasons Biblical and Egyptian? In spirit, some of us claim that, certainly.

To say that Freemasonry was "invented" out of whole cloth with the founding of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1717 is to ignore that there were lodges in existence much earlier. Were they speculative or operative or both? Hard to say. Those who work with stone and geometry have always been just a little closer to heaven, in my humble opinion.

As a Free Freemason, it is up to all of us to speculate upon our origins and by our speculations upon the symbols, we reveal our inner selves.

So I ask the asker, where do YOU think the Freemasons came from?

Answer 2

No. Freemasonry began in England in the 1600s and spread to Scotland shortly thereafter. The original founder(s) of the freemasons only claimed to have more ancient and important descent. Ridiculous extraordinary claims by religious zealots are not uncommon, e.g. Jesus, David Koresh, Rael, Joseph Smith .

Answer 3

The Freemasons claim that it can, saying that their tradition originated with the great builders of Egypt and included the architect of Solomon's temple. One of their initiatory rituals involves the re-enactment of the murder of this man, who was named Hiram Abif.

There isn't much archaeological or historical evidence to support this assertion, however. The idea of a universal/extra-national brotherhood is very modern, and probably could not have emerged before the Enlightenment era.

I'm sure a dedicated Freemason will appear shortly to answer your question in more depth.