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Most
Worshipful Grand Master & Brethren;
Before
I start this Lecture, it may be an idea to set
layout a picture of Freemasonry in the United
Kingdom. Under the United Grand Lodge of England, there are some 330,000
Freemasons, meeting in 8,644 lodges. These are
grouped into 47 area’s called Provinces, there
are some 1,500 Lodges under the Metropolitan
Grand Lodge of London and another 32 other
Lodges under the United Grand Lodge of England
overseas. The Province of
Buckinghamshire is just north of London; it
has 123 Lodges with just around 4,000 members.
This
paper was written originally as “The Burnham
Lecture 2005 – 2006”. The Burnham Lecture’s
were an idea that came out of a meeting of the
Buckinghamshire Association for Masonic Research
and discussion with the Late Provincial Grand
Master, Hugh, The Right Honourable Lord Burnham.
He readily agreed to the idea of a Lecture
commemorating his family’s connections with the
Province of Buckinghamshire without any
hesitation, in fact, I would say he gleefully
supported the idea and it is through his support
that our Research
Lodge and Association has gone from strength to
strength. So much so that he actively encouraged
us to be involved in many Provincial schemes which
we have proudly carried out as a team.
“The
Practice of Every Moral and Social Virtue!”
We
will all, I'm sure, recall the phrases used in the
Charge after Initiation, most of which have long
been in the Public Domain, and,
in fact are listed in many Grand Lodge, Provincial
and individual web sites.
Whilst
I'm sure that in your company, I do not need to
relate it completely, instead let us look at a few
relevant passages: -
“No
institution can boast a more solid foundation than
that upon which freemasonry rests
- the practice of every moral and social
virtue; ------
Be
Exemplary in discharge of your civil duties; ----
Contemplate
the V. S. L., it is the unerring standard of truth
and justice; be respectable in life, useful to
mankind, etc.”
In
my opinion the four major thoughts upon which I
wish to suggest we ought to contemplate used
within this glorious piece of Ritual are: -
“Let
Prudence direct you,
Temperance
chasten you,
Fortitude support you,
and Justice be the guide of all your actions.”
We
are also told: - Imprint on your heart the sacred
dictates of Truth, of Honour, and of Virtue."
It is the relationship of God, your
Neighbour & yourself!
A
comment in the booklet entitled “Instruction for
an Entered Apprentice” by W. Bro. Malden of
Madras, written and privately published in 1897
talks about the Charge after Initiation being the
whole duty of a good Freemason. There-in, he says,
you will be taught about the antiquity of our
order, he makes comment that it highlights the
fact we believe in one Supreme Being.
The
personal beliefs of the individual are for that
person, whether we be Hindu, Jew, Sheikh, or
Christian etc. To each the path that is pointed
towards the individuals Great Light if it be the
Koran, the Vedas or the Bible is not the point!
We
know it is possible to find traces of our
forebears, Masonically speaking, back to the 15th
century and beyond.
For the Templars based in various
Mediterranean Islands had Lodges & a Grand
Master; they also had a number of Preceptors in
each Lodge. There is one school of thought which
suggests that something akin to Freemasonry goes
back to the Roman era.
Therefore,
we have an Institution that has its history going
back many hundred of years, and we all know that
modern Freemasonry started with the Four Lodges
who came together in 1717 on June 24th.
The first Burnham Lecturer, W. Bro. Bill
Dwyer, spoke about some of the 100 or so Antient
Charges that Operative Masons had to work by.
They
go back to beyond the early 1400’s and gave
instruction on how Masons ought to work & live
their lives for example: -
(a)
To be true to God, the Holy Church, and true liegemen to the King and the
Craft.
(b)
The apprentice to be able of birth, that is to say freeborn, and whole of
limb as a man ought to be.
(c)
To come and assemble once in a year to take counsel in their craft, vow
they may work best to serve their Lord and Master
for his profit and their own credit, and to
correct such as have offended.
There
are more and some of these tell how you should
handle your relationship’s with your employer
and his family. The interesting thing to me is
that this period of this country’s history may
be said to be amongst the most crude, and in some
ways the most violent, yet Freemasonry rose from
this background. It is possible that
some of you whom I have already met; will have
already heard my personal thoughts about the many
Lodges only ever turning out Ceremonies for
Candidates or even just giving demonstrations when
there is no Candidate.
Whilst
I still hold the same beliefs, this is not, the
thrust of this paper. I would, however, suggest
that we need to understand exactly what the Ritual
can tell us, especially as we all know too many
Masons who are completely ignorant of the history,
the nature, the design and the
true symbolism of Freemasonry.
It
is though they had never become a member, even
though they are very familiar with the words of
the Ritual. Remember, we need to understand our
own individual relationship with our Supreme
Being!
Let
us look at the Ritual, it is a particular type of
formal performance, in which the participants
carry out a series of relatively stereotyped
actions. They make a series of relatively
standardized statements largely prescribed by
custom and sanctioned by precedent.
Historical evidence suggests that, Rituals
tend to be much more stable and invariable than
most human customary activity.
Drama
resembles ritual, and certainly sometimes is
historically derived from it, but differs from it
in two main respects: -
Firstly,
dramas have audiences while rituals have members
who participate.
Secondly,
unlike dramas, rituals are not primarily
recreational. For our members they are serious
affairs, which do not merely communicate but also,
through the intervention of a Supreme Being or
some other Spiritual influence, actually
accomplish something. Coronations and other
installation rituals sanctify, define, and
legitimize transfers of power and authority.
Marriage
and other life-cycle rituals bless, mark out, and
sanction significant transitions in the lives of
individuals.
Our rituals ought to provide an
established, ordered, and meaningful pattern for
the changing seasons, be productive and teach
young men, young in Masonic terms, about our activities.
Therefore, we must keep our Ritual,
Traditions, and our fundamental values. The
Traditional values particularly must not be
allowed to change.
Freemasonry
may be said to be distinguished from other
fraternal orders by its emphasis on moral
character, its ornate rituals and its long
tradition and history. Just compare other
Ritualistic Societies and in some cases their lack
of a belief of a Supreme Being!
One
of the purposes of Freemasonry is to aid
self-knowledge; to teach moral lessons through
participation in a series of symbolic plays.
When
researching my Masonic Papers I have been amazed
how many things of a non-Masonic nature you meet
that have large Masonic overtones or thoughts if
you study them.
Consider
this Phrase: -
“Search
for the things inside yourself, until you find the
“Key” to your Life”.
At
first thought, you
may think that is a fairly profound Masonic
style of thought, but it was actually taken from a
song written in part by Heather Small of the Pop
Group “M People”.
It was partly this that started me thinking
about the direction of this paper.
A
fellow Freemason Researching the Craft, W. Bro.
John Acaster, a P. M. of the Manchester Lodge of
Masonic Research No. 5502, wrote in a paper on
Freemasonry: -
“It
is a unique organisation, it has a deep-rooted
mystery, defying exact description. It is
concerned with the meaning of life, with truth,
beauty, and the exercise of goodness. It is
neither a philosophy nor a religion, though it
promotes wholeheartedly the objects of both.
Through entering into Masonic activity its members
frequently find themselves becoming better people,
more principled, understanding, and socially
adept. Freemasonry includes a rich symbolism and
the performance of ritual in its progressive
proceedings, but the effects of this cannot be
appreciated except through trial, acclimatisation,
and practice”.
In
Emulation, the superb piece of Ritual we call
“The Charge” we hear of the suggestion that we
all ought to make a daily advancement in Masonic
Knowledge, how many new or for that matter older
members actually carry out what is requested of us
all, surely if we begin this thirst for knowledge
then we will end as the respectable ornament
useful to mankind etc. If we look closer at this
specific piece of Ritual it might just be said
that it is very easy to see how certain headings
may be linked together, especially within the
title of this talk.
By
understanding this Charge we may be able
demonstrate how Secrecy, Fortitude, Temperance, Obedience, Justice, Fidelity, Prudence, Benevolence &
Charity are all extremely well linked.
In
1734 the Smith’s “Pocket Companion” talks
about the Charge After Initiation, the similarity
to the Emulation Ritual is very apparent. It is
looked in some detail W. Bro. A.S. Hall-Johnson a
South American Freemason in his 1949 paper
“A First Degree Development of English Masonic
Ritual.” He highlights that before the “three
degree” system of Freemasonry an Entered
Apprentice often was called “A Fellow”.
In
the 1700’s it is likely, Bro. Hall-Johnson
points out that, the Ritual did not include the
“Charge” in any form that we would recognise
today. But by 1893 George Kennings and Son was
printing the First Degree Charge that is almost
Identical to that used today in many Rituals.
The
Scottish Grand Lodge Web site gives some very
worthwhile thoughts upon this and I commend their
site to you.
To
sum up part of what they say: - “The world at
large as well as we Freemasons need to understand
our PURPOSE FOR EXISTENCE - To Make Good Men
Better, then we might say that one of our GENERAL
OBJECTIVES will be a well-rounded program of
Masonic Education.
We
might decide this because we could conject that
there can be no future for Masonry without
education”.
Perhaps,
all Master Masons should Master Masons in every
sense.
And,
if this is one of our GOALS, and I really think it ought to be, then we want to
have more Masonry in men.
We
need to have a team that can get together and can
set about this great task. But remember Brethren,
we cannot just leave to them! The them of which I
speak, is us, ALL of US!!!!! We all need to
consider the need to train new Masons, to keep
them interested, to allow them to grow with the
Masonic Family.
The Province of Buckinghamshire as a member
of the United Grand Lodge of England has already
started that great task, a task which those of us
who are involved as members of The Buckinghamshire
Lodge for Masonic Research, are extremely proud.
Today,
having Morals, and living by them, is, in some
quarters, considered to be only for those who may
be called ‘long–in-the-tooth'.
This kind of thinking, that Morals are no
longer relevant in modern society, allows some to
rationalise all sorts of actions which might just
damage their fellow citizens. As Freemasons, we
claim no moral high ground. We claim no monopoly
on morality or the application of it in our
everyday lives. Indeed there are many hundreds of
thousands of people who live lives which could be
described as being Moral by nature and yet who are
not our Brethren. Surely we ought to accept our
responsibilities as Citizens of the world? And,
should we not aspire to the highest of moral
standards as Freemasons?
The
difference is that Freemasonry, as an Institution,
teaches us morality in an unusual way during the
course of its degrees. We could justly call this a
System of
Morality. This 'system' has existed for
hundreds of years and remains a central feature of
Freemasonry today. No single principle of
Freemasonry has been more consistently maintained
and free from question and long may that remain.
Today, we seem to be in some eyes still out of
step with most of society, yet, perhaps we really
do need to be forthright and sticking our to moral
standards too.
Let
us for a moment go back to what is reputed to be
the very oldest document of the Craft; the Regius
MS. (c.1390).
The
Articles for the Master prescribed that he should
be steadfast, trusty and true; must accept no
thief for an apprentice lest it turn the Craft to
shame', must not supplant another Master
but be a brother to him; must be fair and free and
do nothing that would shame the Craft, etc.
Substantially the same was repeated in all the
Antient Constitutions.
And,
nowhere did Dr. James Anderson, who wrote the very
first Book of Constitutions, catch the spirit of
the Ancient Charges so accurately, as on the
subject of Morality. In his Constitutions
of 1723, he did not attempt to make the Fraternity
sacrosanct or to paint it as pretending to a degree of morality
that it had not attained but, with a commendable
restraint. Masons were required to obey the moral
taw, to be good men and true, men of honour and
honesty.
During
the times when very few were literate, the use of
symbolism was widespread. It was a form of 'visual
shorthand' which, suggested abstract concepts as
well as telling particular stories. Symbols were
easily recognised, and understood, but, as
literacy increased the need for symbolism
declined. In centuries past, symbols, especially
religious symbols, were common throughout the then
known world.
It
did not matter where one lived, one would
recognise most, if not all, of the symbols
although there were, of course, local variations.
When a series of symbols were associated, a whole
string of ideas could be conveyed. At the simplest
level symbols could be used to relate a story, a
parable, and an event by grouping, in sequence, a
number of symbols.
We
must not, however, loose sight of the fact that
there are many Scared writings that pre-date the
Regius Poem etc.
As far as Freemasonry is concerned, we are
using the oft repeated methods of encouraging our
members to be better citizens than they might have
otherwise have been. Like many other very old
institutions and fraternities, Freemasonry has
built up, over the centuries, its own 'visual
shorthand' and the understanding of this has
declined although the use of symbolism has not.
Thus we have the curious situation within
Freemasonry where symbols continue to be used but
the reason and meaning of them is now little
understood.
The
reason for this process of decline in English
Freemasonry is not at all clear but it is just
possible that the huge increase in Lodges from the
end of the First World War really did not allow
time for the high educational standards
Masonically speaking, that were available prior to
1914. This was also true following the Second
World War. Lodges had to concentrate on
Initiating, Passing and Raising their candidates.
By
the time things had settled down after the Second
World War at least one generation of Freemasons
had been lost and with them their knowledge, and
ability to educate new Freemasons. Brethren, with
declining numbers we now have a new opportunity to
return to the previous method of educating the
Brethren, not just new members. It is 'simply' a
matter of making it happen.
I am, however, aware of a few Lodges who
are choosing to have a 'slower' timetable than
previously. We see that these Lodges are now
extending the 'use' of new candidates by
interspersing the Degrees with Lectures. I must make clear,
immediately, that this is no criticism of any
Lodge structure in particular or their individual
method of attempting to make men better citizens.
I
simply note that in most cases we need to continue
to improve methods of education. We need to draw
the attention of all of our Brethren to the
symbolism of the Craft. That symbolism may
different to each and every one of us, but it is
important that we understand what it can tell us
as individuals.
Julian Rees, Secretary of the “Cornerstone Society”, which
exists to provide a forum where the meaning and
relevance of Freemasonry can be discussed in an
open and constructive environment, and where your
Grand Master has delivered two superb papers, made comment in paper given to a New York Lodge during March
2003, that even back as far as the 18th
Century, Lodges of Instruction were used to teach
Freemasonry not just Ritual. He went onto say that
The First Degree Ceremony if carried out
correctly, and by this he does not mean correct
words, but, with the feeling and the meaning
behind each word, that Degree is an Intimate
feeling, it can be an Intensely Personal Journey.
This should be understood by those carrying out
the Degree, as well as the Candidate, for they
should also be making such a journey themselves.
Also, in a recent Cornerstone Society meeting the Pro Grand
Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, The
M.W Bro. The Marquess of Northampton is reported
to have made the following remark: -
“It is important that at the centre of Freemasonry, there is
a core of Brethren who do understand the spiritual
message that our rituals contain.
I am sure that like me there are many who joined Freemasonry
as earnest seekers after light and wisdom, only to
find that much of the masonry as practised in the
English Constitution, and indeed in many parts of
the world, has forgotten its destiny . . .
As a result the learning of ritual has become a drudge and an
understanding of its purpose is almost
impossible” . . .
“A good mason does not necessarily have to be a good
ritualist as long as he participates in the
affairs of his lodge and his heart is in the right
place”.
One could rightly say that a definition of Freemasonry: might
be said to be: -
“A Peculiar system of Morality, Veiled in Allegory and
Illustrated with Symbols”.
This was penned over 150 years ago and the words may well seem
a little obscure now especially as the meaning of
many of the words has now changed. When this
definition was written, 'peculiar' meant special
or unique whereas today the word is commonly used
to denote something odd or strange. As Allegory,
in a Masonic sense, means hidden; the word
'veiled' would seem to be redundant but this is
incorrect. It is because there is more than one
possible interpretation and that the meaning(s)
are hidden.
This last part of this definition of Freemasonry appears to be
the straighter forward and indeed it is, provided
that one is aware that Symbols do not always
represent what they appear to represent. Symbols
are therefore, at the simplest level, illustrative
of the Morality and Allegory of Freemasonry.
A more modern and upto date definition
taken from a Scottish Web site states: - “A
special and unique method of teaching men
morality, which is disguised in order to encourage
and which uses particular visual aides”.
Therefore, it is my
opinion the four major thrusts of the Charge
Ritual are: -
Prudence; Temperance; Fortitude &
Justice: - Namely Plato’s 4 Virtue’s.
Let
Prudence direct you: - Prudence is one of the four Cardinal Virtues. Its modern meaning is the
exercising of sound judgements. Aristotle said it
had the
merits of brevity and inclusiveness.
Prudence, therefore, has a directive
capacity with regard to the other virtues. It
lights the way and measures the arena for
exercise. The insight it confers makes one
distinguish successfully between their mere
semblance and their reality. It must preside over
the eliciting of all acts. Thus, without prudence
bravery becomes foolhardiness; mercy sinks into
weakness, and temperance into fanaticism. But it
must not be forgotten that prudence is a virtue
adequately distinct from the others, and not
simply a condition attendant upon their operation.
Its office is to determine for each, in practice,
those circumstances of time, place, manner, etc.
which should be observed. So whilst it
qualifies immediately the intellect and not the
will, it is nevertheless rightly styled a moral
virtue.
Let
Temperance chasten you: - Temperance, another of the four Cardinal Virtues, and a term more
commonly applied to organised efforts to temper or
abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages. It is
also about the avoidance of “fanaticism” in
its widest sense. In order to achieve their aims,
most temperance organisations have, at one time or
another, advocated the enactment of legislation
prohibiting both the sale and the consumption of
alcoholic beverages. But, in Masonic terms temperance
may be regarded as a characteristic of all the
moral virtues. The yearning for pleasures and
delights most powerfully attract the human
heart. Some are associated
with the preservation of the human individual;
others with the perpetuation of the race, and
others still with the well-being and comfort of
human life. Under this aspect temperance has for
subordinate virtues, abstinence, chastity, and
modesty.
The
Motto of the United Grand Lodge of England is: - 'AUDI VIDE TACE' translated means 'HEAR, SEE, BE SILENT'.
Let
Fortitude support you: - yet another of the four Cardinal Virtues, again, Aristotle
speaks of fortitude -- the will being courageous,
but the human spirit co-operates,
he has not a similar contempt for the body,
and speaks more honourably of courage when it has
for its prime object the conquest of bodily fear
before the face of death in battle, and of course
we mean the moral courage.
And
finally: -
“Let
Justice be the guide of all your actions”: - this is often given as the most important of the
Cardinal Virtues, in
its ordinary and proper sense it is to signify the
most important of the cardinal virtues. It is a
moral quality or habit which perfects the will and
inclines it to render to each and to all what
belongs to them.
Of
the other cardinal virtues, prudence perfects the
intellect and inclines the prudent man to act in
all things according to right reason. Fortitude
controls the passion; and temperance moderates the
appetite accordingly as reason dictates. While
fortitude and temperance are self-regarding
virtues, justice has reference to others. Together
with charity, it regulates man's intercourse with
his fellow men. But charity leads us to help our
neighbour in his need, out of our own stores,
while justice teaches us to give to another what
belongs to him.
Overall
we are told: -
“Imprint
on your heart the sacred dictates of Truth, of
Honour, and of Virtue."
This
idea, is very old as it goes back as far as
the 1300’s when an Italian Florentine Chancellor
and a Humanist
was quoted according to the “On-line
Encyclopaedia Britannica” as saying:
-
“One must
stand in the line of battle, engage in close
combat, and struggle for justice, for truth, for
honour.”
Brethren
all, to explain why I consider Plato's
Virtues as the most important let explain my
understanding of the Virtues: -
Prudence
- This was not wisdom in the more mystical sense, but sound
judgement in practical affairs.
Justice
- This meant fair treatment of others, rather than
a formal system of judgement.
Temperance
- The original meaning of this meant careful moderation of all
kinds of appetites. By the 19th century, it was
often taken to mean only abstaining from alcohol.
Fortitude
- This was not just
straightforward courage, but also the endurance to
withstand all kinds of troubles.
To
me this is what we should aspire to, even though
we may not achieve it.
I
would point you in the direction of a number of
Lecture’s given by the MW Bro Fabio Venzi, the
Grand Master of the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy
for some deeper insights into Platonism in his
very interesting talks recently given to the
Cornerstone Society, as I have already mentioned.
Perhaps
as Freemasons we ought to stand up against our
de-tractors, engage in close verbal combat to let
them know we are not anti – religion, but rather
supporting of all faith’s. Perhaps, we ought to
struggle for justice and not in the political
sense, but seek out truth, support all those who
fight for honour.
Later
in your Masonic life you will recall that we are
reminded to emulate that glorious & unshaken
fidelity, if in a state of trial!
We
should bear that in mind in our daily lives! I
would conclude by saying we need to continue our
openness, for we have nothing to hide, and
we must ensure that all of our Brethren
are taught what the Craft can do for them.
Most
Worshipful Grand Master and Brethren, we MUST get
more Masonry into men, and get a better quality of
Candidates and as important in my opinion, a
better quality of Proposer's & Seconder's to
stop the turning off newly made masons, as so many
unfortunately are. Freemasonry has much to offer
us all; let's us take it forward into the 21st
Century & beyond!
We
must however understand, ourselves and our fellows
and our relationship with our own God.
It is after all developed in the Holy Royal
Arch, the Ritual will have different meaning to
all faiths as well as individuals!
It
was W. Bro. Ernest Smart P.A.G. CHAP. Provincial
Grand Chaplain of the Province of Buckinghamshire
in the United Grand Lodge of England who suggested
that I modify an oft quoted statement which I
believe to have been made by President John F
Kennedy: -
“Ask
not what Masonry can do for you, rather what you
can do for Masonry!”
In
conclusion, as a friend stated when he read the
first draft of this paper: -
“Perhaps
the application of every moral and social virtue
in our own lives will, hopefully, make us better
citizens and better Freemasons.
And,
just maybe that will take us further and allow us
to contemplate “that most interesting of all
studies; the knowledge of yourself!”
Most
Worshipful Grand Master and Brethren I feel the
tingle of another Lecture coming on! I thank you
for your attention and the chance to be here in
this “august” company!
Copyright
© N.I.
Beaven – All rights reserved
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