Given the nature of the ascension of the degrees, and the fact that until you’ve been initiated into the next degree you are not privy to the knowledge therein, how can any Freemason (save for those that have completed the journey) be sure about truth regarding nature of the Order?

The idea that there is “ascension” in the degrees is a common misperception.  The main branch of Freemasonry, usually referred to as the “Blue Lodge” (first three degrees) teaches you everything, philosophically, that Freemasonry purports to teach.

The other bodies, degrees, etc., are more or less variations on the same themes. The York Rite leans towards more of a Christian perspective, the Scottish Rite is more of a philosophical examination of the principals.  Since the scottish rite has many more degrees, they look at several other virtues closely related to the character traits lauded in the first three degrees.  Joining an appendant body ENHANCES your knowledge, moreso than revealing something new.  A sort of equivalent would be, if you were learning about the American civil war, and read only one general overview book on the war, vs. learning about the civil war by reading many books from many authors.

It bears repeating here that the Shrine is an organization FOR Masons and run by Masons, but is not Governed by a Masonic Grand Lodge—for all legal intents and purposes Shrines are independent organizations that just happen to require that members be Masons.  Same goes for the Grotto and Tall Cedars and any of the other corrollary bodies I’m forgetting.

The “secrets” the other degrees keep are the passwords, modes of recognition, and the exact nature of how they present their lessons.  Although, from the Masons I’ve met, they are a lot more loose lipped about these with other Masons than we Masons generally are with non-members.

-P.S. “The Order”...none of us use that jargon!

When I say “the order”, I mean that quite literally, not in some mysterious Hollywood way. LOL!  I understand what you mean by not necessarily learning new information, but just more in depth information on the same principles. But in my studies I’ve come to realize that compared to where one begins, perception can change drastically, if not entirely, the more in depth you look into a matter. The esoteric understanding of the “same” exoteric or surface symbol/principle, is, in most cases, completely different on many levels than the basic surface understanding (as I’m sure you know). What grade school kids learn in school about the cause of major wars is quite different from what they may learn if 1 day, on their own, they decide to look deeper into the issue for the truth. Likewise, at some point children learn that Santa is really Mommy or Daddy. This is the nature of symbolism & enlightened understanding.
  There are accounts of Freemasons that, upon initiation into the higher degrees, learned something that they could not accept, and subsequently became estranged to the Craft. what it was that they learned is neither here nor there. I’m more interested in the fact that they learned something that had so much impact that it made them, relatively overnight, turn away from something that they’d been so committed to & had invested so much into…in some cases, most of their lives.
I’m not 1 to accept anything as Truth without coming to an inner understanding of it being Truth via my personal process. Which is why I’m inquiring to you about it. Is what you learn as a neophyte enough to satisfy you that nothing you may learn later will dramatically change your perception of the purpose, essence & origin of Freemasonry?

Hello Northern Light

Thank you for your question and for joining the forum. Excuse my short reply—writing from my blackberry while away. The problem with analogies is ...  as good as they are on a higher level, they are difficult to apply to Freemasonry—because there is nothing quite like Freemasonry.
With all due respect to the excellent reply you got, you don’t really get a deeper understanding of freemasonry from the appendant degrees. You learn some different applications of the same principles. No lessons are deeper or more advanced than the those in the third degree. To try again with less of an analogy—as a master Mason, you learn about the virtue of charity.  In another degree, you may learn a different way to make use of that virtue. Different. Sideways. Not deeper, better, or more important.

And anything you have read that shows that men have turned away from freemasonry based on an appendant degree is simply rubbish - just someone trying to discredit the fraternity.

If you are looking for reassurance before getting involved, I hope that helps.  What you have read is wrong.  I’m sorry. It’s just not true. Period.

Not much else I can tell you. Other than the fact that you can’t figure out freemasonry philosophically -or from books— not any more than I can describe the taste of this fresh picked and steamed butter and sugar corn that I’m eating right now in Martha’s Vineyard. You just have to experience it. And the best thing is, if you were trying it with me here,  and you didn’t like it for some reason, no one would force you to continue eating it.

Thanks again for your interest. 

Bob Heruska
Forum Administrator.