It is my thesis that every Master Mason has been initiated not once but three times; that each of the three degree ceremonies of Craft Freemasonry is an initiation.
This is supported by the wording of the ritual, which also outlines the necessary subjects and course of study to qualify the candidate for initiation to the next level.
From this I deduce that Freemasonry is an Initiate Order, an Order of ongoing initiation, a process that concludes only at the grave.
That is not to say that every Freemason will continue that initiate process, but the process is one of being prepared for and finally being brought to the light.
This is the light which can shine through ‘that mysterious veil which the eye of human reason cannot penetrate unless assisted by that light which is from above.’
I have been further encouraged and supported in my thoughts on this subject by the definition of ‘initiate’ I found within Macoy’s Dictionary of Freemasonry:
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2008 - FREEMASONRY - AN INITIATE ORDER - Ian Green.
