Post by Azaziel on Apr 18, 2009 21:29:29 GMT 10
I came across this on another list, thought it may be of interest
Brethren -
The following is a short lecture I prepared for our Lodge as part of our
newly revitalized education committee. It is based on my favorite
portion of the book "The Meaning of Masonry" by Brother W.L.
Wilmshurst. While a bit esoteric, it really vitalized my interest in the
Craft, and is responsible more than any other work for my continued
enthusiasm for Masonry. While this is only my interpretation of another
man's interpretation of our rituals, rereading these passage in his book
made me curious about a few things.
While I know that many might disagree with my interpretation of his
work, I present it only for those who are unfamiliar with his books (in
which case buy them. Today.) Much of it is highly plagiarized, but all
properly cited as being from that single book.
As I have only recently began to work my way through the chairs, I would
like to solicit the opinion of Past Masters and those on their way if
their own experiences as officers of their Lodges in any way reflected
what Wilmshurst was proposing. How did your experience differ? What
aspects of ourselves and the Lodge do you propose that these roles fulfill?
---
*
W*e've been blessed this evening to witness this Lodge opened in Due and
Proper form. The traditional words and practices we've all been a part
of tonight have been handed down to us through generations of Masons.
But it is more than simple ritual and recitation of phrases and
movements. The founders of Masonry have given us a grand opportunity to
reflect upon ourselves and our personal development even during the
necessary, even if sometimes mundane, dispatches of business. What is
represented by the opening of a Lodge, and what aspects of ourselves are
represented by the words and actions of the Officers who perform these
duties? *
I*n a most basic sense, the Lodge represents ourselves. When we "Open
the Lodge", we are actually given an opportunity to look deep within
ourselves and open up to further development of the Light within each of
us. It is well established from our Degree Work that the the East
represents great wisdom and spirituality. In this sense, the Eastern
point of the Lodge is the embodiment of our spiritual center, our
spiritual intuition which we as Masons must daily strive toward
developing. The opposite of the great Spiritual Sun in the East
represents our Soul or Psyche. Our psychic sense of reason shines true
only when lit by the light from the East. Unless focused upon our
spiritual development it remains unilluminated. The North, we remember,
represents our experiences devoid of higher development, or the sensory
manner in which we sense the physical world around us. The South
represents the conscious mind, the meeting point between our spiritual
center in the East and our sense of reason in the West. This place of
intellectual ideation, where the sun gloriously shines in the meridian
to bless the day, is the virtue upon which we can further develop our
rational and spiritual intellect. *
A*s the Worshipful Master represents the spirit, the Senior Warden
represents the soul, and the Junior Warden represents the mind, the
Deacons serve as the quintessential links between these faculties. The
Senior Deacon serves to connect the spirit and the soul, preparing the
alter at which we can reflect upon ourselves. The Junior Deacon serves
to connect the soul and the mind, ensuring that our intellectual
endeavors are governed by our higher rationale. The Tiler represents the
bridge between the higher consciousness within ourselves and our sensory
perceptions of the world outside of us, and ensures that the matters of
the outside world are kept at bay to allow us this opportunity to
further our own personal development.
*T*he Lodge represents man, and man is the Lodge. Man and Lodge are made
of various properties and faculties for working out the purpose of life.
The opening of the Lodge is the opening of the human mind and the Lodge,
like man, cannot fully operate without all parts working harmoniously
together toward the good of the whole. Each member of the Lodge is
entrusted with reinforcing the sacred principals of our spiritual
development and understanding, so that through our Work greater
illumination can be brought not only to ourselves and the Craft, but to
the universe as a whole.
*T*he closing of the Lodge is, again in a most basic sense, the polar
opposite of the opening. It is the ceremony by which we retire from our
introspective work and prepare to return to relaxation and our habitual
natures. We have opened ourselves and worked not only toward the good of
the Order, but to the good of our own personal development. And so now,
as our Work draws to a close and we prepare to retire to the world
outside the lodge and outside ourselves, we may relax and reflect upon
the Great Work we've done tonight. Although we must always remember that
we must never open or close the lodge, and never begin or retire from
our inner Work without first invoking the benedictions of Deity.
Jon Woods
Copper Country Lodge #135
Brethren -
The following is a short lecture I prepared for our Lodge as part of our
newly revitalized education committee. It is based on my favorite
portion of the book "The Meaning of Masonry" by Brother W.L.
Wilmshurst. While a bit esoteric, it really vitalized my interest in the
Craft, and is responsible more than any other work for my continued
enthusiasm for Masonry. While this is only my interpretation of another
man's interpretation of our rituals, rereading these passage in his book
made me curious about a few things.
While I know that many might disagree with my interpretation of his
work, I present it only for those who are unfamiliar with his books (in
which case buy them. Today.) Much of it is highly plagiarized, but all
properly cited as being from that single book.
As I have only recently began to work my way through the chairs, I would
like to solicit the opinion of Past Masters and those on their way if
their own experiences as officers of their Lodges in any way reflected
what Wilmshurst was proposing. How did your experience differ? What
aspects of ourselves and the Lodge do you propose that these roles fulfill?
---
*
W*e've been blessed this evening to witness this Lodge opened in Due and
Proper form. The traditional words and practices we've all been a part
of tonight have been handed down to us through generations of Masons.
But it is more than simple ritual and recitation of phrases and
movements. The founders of Masonry have given us a grand opportunity to
reflect upon ourselves and our personal development even during the
necessary, even if sometimes mundane, dispatches of business. What is
represented by the opening of a Lodge, and what aspects of ourselves are
represented by the words and actions of the Officers who perform these
duties? *
I*n a most basic sense, the Lodge represents ourselves. When we "Open
the Lodge", we are actually given an opportunity to look deep within
ourselves and open up to further development of the Light within each of
us. It is well established from our Degree Work that the the East
represents great wisdom and spirituality. In this sense, the Eastern
point of the Lodge is the embodiment of our spiritual center, our
spiritual intuition which we as Masons must daily strive toward
developing. The opposite of the great Spiritual Sun in the East
represents our Soul or Psyche. Our psychic sense of reason shines true
only when lit by the light from the East. Unless focused upon our
spiritual development it remains unilluminated. The North, we remember,
represents our experiences devoid of higher development, or the sensory
manner in which we sense the physical world around us. The South
represents the conscious mind, the meeting point between our spiritual
center in the East and our sense of reason in the West. This place of
intellectual ideation, where the sun gloriously shines in the meridian
to bless the day, is the virtue upon which we can further develop our
rational and spiritual intellect. *
A*s the Worshipful Master represents the spirit, the Senior Warden
represents the soul, and the Junior Warden represents the mind, the
Deacons serve as the quintessential links between these faculties. The
Senior Deacon serves to connect the spirit and the soul, preparing the
alter at which we can reflect upon ourselves. The Junior Deacon serves
to connect the soul and the mind, ensuring that our intellectual
endeavors are governed by our higher rationale. The Tiler represents the
bridge between the higher consciousness within ourselves and our sensory
perceptions of the world outside of us, and ensures that the matters of
the outside world are kept at bay to allow us this opportunity to
further our own personal development.
*T*he Lodge represents man, and man is the Lodge. Man and Lodge are made
of various properties and faculties for working out the purpose of life.
The opening of the Lodge is the opening of the human mind and the Lodge,
like man, cannot fully operate without all parts working harmoniously
together toward the good of the whole. Each member of the Lodge is
entrusted with reinforcing the sacred principals of our spiritual
development and understanding, so that through our Work greater
illumination can be brought not only to ourselves and the Craft, but to
the universe as a whole.
*T*he closing of the Lodge is, again in a most basic sense, the polar
opposite of the opening. It is the ceremony by which we retire from our
introspective work and prepare to return to relaxation and our habitual
natures. We have opened ourselves and worked not only toward the good of
the Order, but to the good of our own personal development. And so now,
as our Work draws to a close and we prepare to retire to the world
outside the lodge and outside ourselves, we may relax and reflect upon
the Great Work we've done tonight. Although we must always remember that
we must never open or close the lodge, and never begin or retire from
our inner Work without first invoking the benedictions of Deity.
Jon Woods
Copper Country Lodge #135
