HISTORY OF THE MASONIC CONCEPT OF THE GAOTU


Masonic historians such as William Bissey, Gary Leazer (quoting Coil’s Masonic Encyclopaedia), and S. Brent Morrisassert that “the Masonic abbreviation G.A.O.T.U., meaning the Great Architect of the Universe, continues a long tradition of using an allegorical name for the Deity.” They trace how the name and the abbreviation entered Masonic tradition from the Book of Constitutions written in 1723 by the Reverend James Anderson. They also note that Anderson, a Calvinist minister, probably took the term from Calvin’s usage.

Christopher Haffner’s own explanation of how the Masonic concept of a Great Architect of the Universe, as a placeholder for the Supreme Being of one’s choice, is given in Workman Unashamed:

The Swedish Rite, which has the prerequisite of professing to Christian Faith, uses the form “The Threefold Great Architect of the Universe”.

(the source/read more: Wikipedia)

 

HISTORY OF THE MASONIC CONCEPT OF THE GAOTU

 

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