Who Was (Philosophically) the First Freemason

Three ancient wise men, each holding a key to Freemasonry's past. Who among them truly opened the door to combine Philosophy with Stone Masonry?

Was it Pythagoras with his mystical numbers, Euclid with his perfect lines, or Socrates with his probing questions?

In this edition of Daily Masonic Progress, we'll unlock the secrets of these great thinkers and see how their philosophies shaped Masonic ideals. By the end, you'll discover why one of them stands out in my opinion as the philosophical father of our craft.

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Freemasonry as we know it today focuses on moral and spiritual growth, but it didn't appear out of thin air. The Craft traces it history back to King Solomons Temple and earlier. We know it formally grew from the humble roots of working stonemasons' guilds. These skilled craftsmen, who built the great cathedrals and castles of Europe, formed tight-knit groups to protect their trade secrets and support each other.

Over time, educated men joined these guilds, bringing ideas from ancient wisdom and philosophy. They blended these concepts with the symbols and structure of the stonemasons' craft. This mix created the rich symbolism and philosophical teachings we see in Freemasonry today.

Our earliest written records, the Regius Poem (around 1390) and the Matthew Cooke Manuscript (about 1450), reflect this blend. They tell a grand story of Masonry's origins, linking it to biblical times and great thinkers.

The official birth of modern Freemasonry came in 1717 with the formation of the first Grand Lodge in London. But this event didn't create Freemasonry's philosophical core; it simply organized what had been brewing for centuries.

While our history traces our origins back and prior to the building of King Solomons Temple, that history doesn’t neccessarily account for when Philosophy was incorporated into our Masonic teachings.

As we've seen, Freemasonry evolved from practical craft to philosophical pursuit. This transformation echoes the journey of our first candidate as the philosophical ‘first Freemason' – a man who saw profound truths in the simplest of shapes and numbers.

Imagine a world where numbers aren't just for counting, but hold the secrets of the universe. This was the world of Pythagoras.

Born on the Greek island of Samos around 570 BCE, Pythagoras was more than just the geometry whiz you might remember from school. He was a philosopher, a mystic, and the founder of a society that bears a striking resemblance to our Masonic lodges.

Pythagoras traveled widely, studying with priests in Egypt and wise men in Babylon. He soaked up knowledge like a sponge, blending mathematics, philosophy, and spirituality into a unique worldview. When he returned to Greece, he founded a school in Croton, southern Italy, that was part academy, part monastery, and part secret society.

His school featured degrees of initiation, mirroring our Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason levels. Secrecy and symbolism were paramount, with followers swearing vows and using symbols to convey complex ideas – a practice familiar to every Mason.

Pythagoras's belief in sacred geometry, particularly the divine truths he saw in numbers and shapes like the Tetractys, resonates with Masonic symbolism. His concept of universal harmony based on mathematical principles echoes our emphasis on balance and proportion.

Moreover, Pythagoras stressed virtuous living, self-discipline, and continuous learning – values at the core of Masonic teaching. Lastly, the communal lifestyle of his followers, sharing both material goods and knowledge, closely aligns with our ideals of brotherhood and mutual support.

These striking parallels suggest that Pythagorean thought may have laid a philosophical foundation for what would later become key aspects of Freemasonry.

Remember the 47th Proposition of Euclid? That's the Pythagorean Theorem, arguably Pythagoras's most famous contribution to mathematics.

So, does this make Pythagoras the philosophical 'first Freemason'? He certainly laid groundwork that resonates deeply with our Craft. His blend of practical knowledge and spiritual wisdom, his use of symbols and degrees of initiation, and his emphasis on moral living and brotherhood all feel very Masonic.

However, it's important to note that Pythagoras wasn't a stonemason himself. His connection to our Craft is more in spirit than in practice. He gave us the philosophical and symbolic tools, but not the practical craft of masonry itself.

In Pythagoras, we see the seeds of what would become speculative Masonry. He shows us how ancient wisdom can be encoded in numbers and shapes, waiting for future generations to unlock their secrets.

While Pythagoras laid the groundwork for sacred geometry in Masonic thought, it was another ancient thinker who would codify these principles into a system that still influences Masonry today.

"Let no one ignorant of geometry enter here." This phrase, said to have been inscribed at the entrance of Plato's Academy, could just as easily hang over the door of any Masonic lodge. It speaks to the profound influence of Euclid, the father of geometry, on Masonic thought and symbolism.

Living in Alexandria around 300 BCE, Euclid compiled and systematized the mathematical knowledge of his time in his monumental work, "Elements." This wasn't just a math textbook; it was a blueprint for logical thinking that would shape Western thought for millennia.

This connection beautifully links Pythagoras and Euclid in Masonic symbolism. The theorem, which states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of squares of the other two sides, holds a place of honor in our rituals. It's not just a mathematical formula; for Masons, it represents the balance between our spiritual and material natures.

This proposition demonstrates how Euclid built upon and formalized the mathematical insights of Pythagoras.

Euclid's influence on Masonry goes beyond single theorems. His entire approach to geometry – starting with simple definitions and axioms, then building up to complex proofs – mirrors the Masonic journey from Entered Apprentice to Master Mason. We begin with basic tools and concepts, gradually constructing a more complete understanding of ourselves and the universe.

The very tools of Masonry – the square, compass, and ruler – are the instruments of Euclidean geometry. When we use them in our rituals, we're not just remembering ancient builders; we're connecting to a tradition of seeking truth through reason and measurement that goes back to Euclid.

Moreover, Euclid's work demonstrates the power of human reason to uncover universal truths. This idea is central to Masonry's Enlightenment roots and our ongoing quest for knowledge and self-improvement. Just as Euclid built his geometric proofs step by step, we build our moral and spiritual selves, one lesson at a time.

It's worth noting that some early Masonic manuscripts, like the Cooke Manuscript from the 15th century, explicitly mention Euclid as a founder of geometry and link him to the spread of Masonry. While this is more legend than historical fact, it shows how deeply Euclid's ideas have been woven into Masonic lore.

Euclid's systematic approach to geometry provided Masonry with a solid intellectual foundation. However, the application of these principles to daily life and moral philosophy finds its champion in our next candidate.

"Know thyself." This famous Socratic maxim could well be the cornerstone of Masonic philosophy. But Socrates offers more than just wisdom; he provides a tangible link to the operative roots of Freemasonry.

Born in Athens around 470 BCE, Socrates stands apart from our previous candidates in a crucial way: he was an actual stonemason. Following in his father's footsteps, Socrates worked with hammer and chisel before he wielded his famous method of questioning. This makes him a true 'Lewis' in Masonic terms – the son of a Mason, bridging generations of craft.

Socrates' approach to philosophy mirrors the Masonic journey of self-improvement. He believed that wisdom began with acknowledging one's own ignorance, much as we enter the lodge in a state of symbolic darkness. His method of relentless questioning to uncover truth is reflected in our catechisms and the way we encourage Masons to seek further light.

The Socratic emphasis on virtue and ethical living is at the heart of Masonic teachings. He taught that knowledge and morality were inseparable – a concept we reinforce in every degree. His courage in standing by his principles, even in the face of death, embodies the Masonic ideals of fortitude and integrity.

Socrates' life also demonstrates the Masonic principle of meeting on the level. Despite his wisdom, he claimed to know nothing and engaged in dialogue with people from all walks of life. This humility and openness to learning from others is a lesson for every Mason.

Moreover, Socrates' teachings were not written down by him but passed on through his students, particularly Plato. This oral tradition of transmitting wisdom resonates with Masonic practices of mouth-to-ear instruction and the emphasis on memorization in our rituals.

In Socrates, we find a unique blend of practical craft and philosophical inquiry. He worked with both stone and ideas, shaping not just buildings but minds. His life serves as a bridge between the operative masonry of ancient craftsmen and the speculative Masonry we practice today.

Socrates brings us full circle, connecting the intellectual pursuits of Pythagoras and Euclid with the practical craft of stonemasonry. His life and teachings embody the transition from operative to speculative Masonry that defines the fraternity as we know it today.

Who, then, can claim the mantle of being the philosophical first Freemason?

Pythagoras with his sacred geometry, Euclid with his systematic proofs, or Socrates with his probing questions? Each has left an indelible mark on Masonic thought, but one stands out as the embodiment of both operative and speculative Masonry.

The evidence points compellingly towards Socrates as the philosophical forefather of our Craft. Unlike Pythagoras and Euclid, Socrates wasn't just a philosopher or mathematician – he was an actual stonemason. This direct link to operative Masonry sets him apart. As a 'Lewis', the son of a mason, Socrates bridges generations of craft knowledge, symbolizing the continuity that Freemasonry values so deeply.

But perhaps most significantly, Socrates represents the very transition from operative to speculative Masonry that defines our fraternity. He worked with both stone and ideas, crafting not just structures but shaping minds and souls. As the father of Western philosophy, Socrates laid the groundwork for the intellectual and moral inquiries that are at the heart of Masonic thought.

In Socrates life and teachings, we find a compelling model for what it means to be a Freemason: ever building, ever questioning, ever striving to shape both stone and self in the pursuit of truth and wisdom.