Montreal/2006
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Theme: From theory to Practice In the olden times it was no easy matter for a man to become a Freemason. He had to win the right by hard work, technical skill and personal worth. Also, he had to bind himself to serve under rigid rules for seven years, his service being at once a test of his character and training for his work. If he proved incompetent or unworthy, he was sent away. In all operative lodges of the middle ages, as in the guilds of skilled artisans of the same period, young men entered as apprentices, vowing absolute obedience, for the lodge as a school of the seven sciences, as well as of the art of building. At first, the apprentice was little more than a servant, doing the most menial work and if he proved himself trustworthy and proficient, his wages were increased; but the rules were never relaxed. The rules, by which an apprentice pledged himself to live, were very strict. He had to first confess his faith in God, vowing to honor the church, the state and the master under whom he served. He had to be upright, faithful in keeping the secrets of the craft and the confidence of his fellows. He must not only be chaste, but must not marry or contract himself to any woman during his apprenticeship. 1
In contrast to our operative brothers, the Apprentice of modem times takes a different path to the lodge. There is a knock at the door: Who Comes Here? A poor fellow man walking a lonely road, footsore and weary, hoodwinked by the darkness of the world and held by a tether to the earth as a child to its mother. Whence Came You? Thou askest what I seek to know, not having learned the import of my days and years, whence I came or whither bound. A pilgrim, I humbly follow whither I am led, trusting a hand to lead me in a way I know not nor can see. Why Cam You Here? To seek the good that makes us men and the love that makes us Brothers. To build my life on simple faith and the eternal law of right; to learn the truth which none may learn for another and no one may learn alone; to do justly by the square, to wa1k uprightly upon the level by the plumb, within the compass of brotherly love. Who Comes Here? A Brother who has taken the first step in masonry, out of darkness toward the light, from dim instinct into dawning insight, from the chaos of the senses into the ordered beauty of moral law, spiritual relations, and righteous purpose. A seeker who has found in the lodge the ground plan of a Temple, vast and slowly rising, whereon he would be a Builder, making his life a living stone, shaped and polished by the Master of all good work; an Apprentice in the knowledge of God and service of man, who fain would be a just and upright mason.2 What is a lodge?-Why is a lodge a lodge and not a chapter or a council, or a club; or some other name? Lodge is an old English word, meaning to house shelter. Our operative brethren, from whom we sprung, must have had a place in which they found lodging. Workmen, craftsmen, masters, gathered to build a cathedral. Their homes were else where; they had to have food and shelter; so they built a house for themselves, it was their lodge and their meeting place. What more natural than that, their word should come t mean also their organization, as it means ours? The lodge teaches many skills often untaught, or not experienced else where. A brother must speak in public, think on his feet, make decisions, and vote on issues and finally, chair meetings. The Masonic order is not just another organization like the Rotary, Roundtable, Chamber of Commerce, all designed to meet differing particular needs and carry out distinct functions.4 Freemasonry begins teaching the profane long before they apply for membership. Her reputation is her first contact with the unelect; she has enlisted the interest and service of great and good men for hundreds of years; she is devoted to education, to charity and to good works.5 Beyond its focus on individual development, which leads to better membership in the community, Freemasonry is deeply involved in helping all people. The Freemasons of North America contribute over two million dollars a day to charitable causes; one of the most notable being the network of hospitals operated by the Shrine Masons, caring for burned and orthopedically impaired children. 6 A mason is asked by a mend, what do the masons do? The brother, challenged by the question, realizes there is no simple answer that can be given because what is being asked is a comprehensive explanation of what organized Freemasonry is, what its principles and purposes are, what programs it has and what satisfactions the individual get from his Masonic membership. Freemasonry' s reputation cannot be explained by charts, statistics, or financial statements, because the fraternity's real worth can only be expressed in spiritual terms and that is difficult to explain to the uninitiated.7 Masonry, according to Albert Pike, follows 'the ancient manner of teaching. Her symbols are the instruction she gives; the lectures are often partial and insufficient one sided endeavors to interpret those symbols. He who would become an accomplish mason must not be content to hear or to understand the lectures, but must study, interpret and develop the symbols for himself.8 Freemasonry teaches by symbol, why? Why does she veil in allegory and conceal in objects or picture, a meaning quite different from its name? Why would Freemasonry express immortality with acacia, brotherly love with a trowel and the world by a lodge, right living by a mason's tool? Freemasonry expresses truths which are universal; it expresses them in universal language; universally understood by all men without words. That language is the language of symbols and symbol is universally understood because it is the means of communication between spirits, souls and heart.9 The Entered Apprentice passes through the period of early Masonic youth. The Fellowcraft is emblematic of manhood; while the master mason learns that true Freemasonry gives to a well spent life an assurance of a glorious immortality. The period an Entered Apprentice must spend before he can receive the degree of fellowcraft corresponds to those early years of childhood. He must learn to manage his Masonic limbs, must learn to understand Masonic language and to make himself understood. The lodge is an institution; the Entered Apprentice receives careful instruction in the necessary arts of masonry. The feet of the initiate has been set upon a path; in his hands has been thrust the staff of ritual, the bread of knowledge and the water ofprayer.10 Today there are a host of activities open to all strata of society, which not too long ago, would not have be en open to them. The monthly meeting or meetings, in many cases, instead of being opportunities, are competitors with other activities whose return may be perceived more favorably. in marking terms, we must view Freemasonry as a product that we are selling, or otherwise providing for members and potential members. We must either improve the product or make the packaging more attractive.
1
The
Masonic Service Association of the United States: The Three
Degrees and Great Symbols of Freemasonry.
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