by John R. Heisner
PREFACE
As modern-day researchers seek to identify the historical origins of Freemasonry, the character known in
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Masonic legend as Hiram Abif will likely present a most interesting challenge. Central to the mysteries of Freemasonry, his origin has proven elusive. Reputed to have been the chief architect at the building of King Solomon’s Temple, his name is unrecorded anywhere other than in the ritual and writings of Freemasonry.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Temple has never been discovered and there is little, if any proof that it was ever actually built, the Old Testament of the Holy Bible tells the story of its building, but conveniently omits any reference to a person named Hiram Abif.
In that there is no historical record confirming the existence of such a person, it is fair to ask why Freemasonry adopted him as the central figure of its symbolic mysteries. For years Masons and non-Masons alike have sought to discover Hiram Abif within the pages of the Old Testament perhaps sensing that if they are unsuccessful in so doing the central message of the Craft would be seriously undermined. Likely for this reason alone, Masons and other historical researchers will continue their search. Whether or not such an effort will eventually prove successful is impossible to know. However, the more important question to be posed – the question that is more closely associated with why Hiram Abif was embraced by Freemasonry in the first place – is whether or not the legend surrounding this seemingly fictional character conveys a lesson, or lessons that benefit mankind?
The Biblical character most popularly known as Moses is credited with delivered monotheism to the masses as well as having led the Jews out of their Egyptian captivity. However, the recognition and worship of the one true God existed long before the period of time history attributes to Moses. But until Moses arrived upon the world stage the manner, method and reason for worshipping one God was reserved to a select few. The state sponsored mysteries of Egypt, Greece, India and Persia each designed their respective philosophies, theologies and rituals around a belief in one Supreme Architect of the Universe and withheld those mysteries from the uninitiated, oftentimes referring to them as “profane.”
The Biblical Moses is presented to us as the person who led the Hebrews from Egyptian captivity for the principal purpose of establishing an ever-expanding community of believers in one God. Presumably, Moses’ followers left behind an Egyptian mass that worshipped the Sun, cattle and other creatures and objects. While such is not the case the presumption has been allowed to stand unchallenged for centuries because it serves as a stark contrast to the truth and importance of mankind’s belief in one God. Indeed, as every Mason knows no man can become a Freemason without first openly professing his belief in the one true God.
Among other matters Freemasonry teaches that life is endless. It has no beginning or ending, but continues indefinitely according to God’s grace and plan for His whole creation. The Masonic teaching about the resurrection of life is fundamentally derived from this truth. Death of man’s material body does not end life. Rather, death merely transitions life from the material world to another dimension. Neither Moses nor his followers universally accepted this interpretation of resurrection, but it is found in the later writings of the Essenes and presumably was thus embraced by that sect. Consequently, we may emphatically conclude that while Moses gave monotheism to the masses, he did not include the resurrection of the dead in his teachings. Yet, each of the ancient state sponsored mysteries in Egypt, Greece, India and Persia included the mystery of resurrection in their respective teachings to their respective initiated followers. Clearly, the teachings of Moses, as they are known to us, either derive from something that entirely differs, or represents a perpetuation of the ancient Egyptian practice of reserving such knowledge for the initiated.
Nowhere in any of the allegories presented by the ancient mysteries was there ever a character identified as Hiram Abif – Huramabi is a close as the Bible comes. That is not to state that none of those mysteries included a similar character, for each did identify a person for the purpose of illustrating the meaning behind the mystery of the resurrection of the dead. Somewhere in the hazy mists of ancient history lies the answer to how, when and where that person actually came to be known as Hiram Abif. However it is not the central purpose of this literary work to peer into those mists. Rather, this work examines the entirety of the lessons Freemasonry teaches by the use of Hiram Abif as its exemplar. A chapter is devoted to studying some of the origins of Freemasonry but it, too, avoids an in depth inquiry into Hiram’s true origin.
The sacred institutions and colleges that developed in close association with the ancient state mysteries, including those practiced in Egypt were the custodians of a universal wisdom. Their initiates were given the keys to a sublime science dedicated to the regeneration of mankind, as well as to the reformation of human society. Today, Freemasonry continues that essential work by making good men better and sending them into the world to build stronger families; to conduct themselves as peacemakers; to assist the poor and relieve the needy; and to form or reform governments in the image of brotherly love and affection.
In all of the world’s history there have been no fewer than five great governmental revolutions that resulted in giving power and freedom to the masses. Coincidentally, each of those revolutions was led by a Freemason. George Washington is regarded as the father of the United States of America; Simon Bolivar delivered independence throughout South America; Georges Danton was a chief force in the overthrow of the French monarchy in favor of the establishment of the First French Republic; Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi brought about the unification of his beloved Italy to the utter dismay of the Vatican; and Benito Juarez led the overthrow of the French occupation of Mexico and became that nation’s most beloved leader. Each one of those men studied their lessons at the knee of Hiram Abif and used all they learned from him to regenerate and reform the societies in which they lived.
From time immemorial Freemasonry has labored to eliminate tyranny, oppression, slavery and man’s inhumanity toward his fellow man. The Craft, as Freemasonry is affectionately called by all Masons, has consistently supported the concept of a free public education to serve as the cornerstone of a free society. Everywhere darkness seeks to absorb the face of the earth Freemasons assemble to replace that darkness with their light of brotherhood. Each member of the Craft has at one time or another unqualifiedly obligated himself to labor tirelessly within the country where he lives to ensure freedom for all people – not merely for a select few.
Accordingly thousands of men congregate together each day in the halls of Freemasonry to determine how best to work in the spirit of Washington, Bolivar, Danton, Garibaldi and Juarez to ensure that no man, woman, or child will suffer from the ravages of hunger, poverty, disease, intolerance, or tyranny. They do so in the spirit of Hiram Abif and bring to the world the lessons originally derived from that universal wisdom that has been safely guarded by sacred institutions, colleges and Freemasonry. The form and beauties of that universal wisdom unfold before you in the pages that follow revealing the secrets of the evolution of human consciousness.
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