T:.T:.G:.O:.T:.G:.A:.T:.U:. 

My Brother,

The hoodwink is an essential element in a candidate’s Masonic initiation. The term hoodwink comes from two words: hood meaning “cover” and “wink” which anciently meant eyes, thus to hoodwink someone means to cover his eyes. There are numerous reasons why a candidate for the Masonic mysteries is hoodwinked during the first part of his initiation. One of the original reasons was to protect the identity of the members present in the lodge room should the candidate refuse to conform to the ceremony, or if unable to proceed with his initiation.  Another classic reason refers to the profane’s status of living in darkness in regards to the secrets of Freemasonry and as a reminder to the brethren that this is how the world outside of the lodge should stay. Some Masonic philosophers explain that the initiation itself is a process of re-birth, where the candidate takes it upon himself to change his life and start on an upright and enlightened path. This moment occurs when the candidate sees the light by which Masons work.  My personal favorite explanation is that the hoodwink is used to give the candidate the opportunity to conceive with his heart, before his eyes behold the beauties of Freemasonry.

The beauties of Freemasonry should indeed be conceived in our hearts first in order for us to better appreciate what our Fraternity offers the world. When we join a Masonic lodge, we learn to look beyond a member’s social status, the color of his skin, or his ethnic background. We learn to appreciate the beauty of his charitable work, his dedication to helping others, and his attempt to understand himself and life in general in order to make a difference in every community he is part of. To become a true Freemason, a brother must not only take it upon himself to make a positive difference in the world using his working tools, but he must also recognize and value, in his heart, the beauty of the work we collectively do as one band of Brothers.

Yours in the Mystic Tie,

Mohamad A. Yatim
Worshipful Master