A Daily Advancement in Masonic Knowledge

Talk Given by WB Buda at Far East Lodge No. 1 on 5 May 2008

Introduction

Masonry calls upon us to try and make a “daily advancement in Masonic knowledge”. We must each decide how we do this, but the two most common ways are:

Guided Study

• Attending lectures sponsored by Grand Lodge or individual lodges.
• Participating in Lodges of Instruction.
• Reading pamphlets and instructional materials prepared by Grand Lodge.

Independent Study

• Raising questions with older and more experienced members of the lodge.
• Reading books and articles on topics of Masonic interest.
• Using the copious materials available on the Internet.

Suggestions for Study

History

• Mythology: Claimed but unproven origins of Masonry in, for example, the Pyramid builders, the builders of King Solomon’s Temple, the cathedrals of Europe, or the Knights Templar.
• Origins: Differing theories about when, where and why Masonry originated. Did it grow out of Scottish operative masonry? Was it created as a speculative art in England?
• Spread: Within a few decades of the appearance of speculative Masonry in Britain, it spread to Scandinavia, West and East Europe, and the United States of America. This migration created different styles of Masonry and different approaches that exist to this day.
• Development: Within each jurisdiction, Masonry has not remained stagnant but has developed, producing marked changes in organization and ritual.

Jurisprudence

• Constitution: A study of the Constitution of his own Grand Lodge is the duty of every Freemason.
• Bye-laws: Another duty of every Freemason is a study of the bye-laws of his own lodge.
• Organization: The structure of Masonic bodies can be very complex and merits serious consideration.
• Recognition: Most Grand Lodges recognize each other and enjoy fraternal relations. However, for historical and philosophical reasons, some Grand Lodges do not recognize each other. An understanding of this phenomenon may help to generate constructive proposals for improvement.

Philosophy and Symbolism

• Liberal Arts and Sciences: Masonry encourages us to study the Seven Liberal Arts that were the basis of learning in the age when Masonry first appeared. These days the basis of learning is much wider, with many new sciences unknown in the 18th Century. Masonry encourages us to deepen our knowledge of Nature and world around us in any way we can.
• Geometry and Numerology: Geometry is established as the basis of the Masonic art, and our rituals and symbols contain my references to geometry and mathematics. A study of these subjects will deepen our understanding of Masonry.
• Religious Symbolism: Many of the Biblical references in our ritual are clearly identified but some are less easy to pick out. Embedded in our ritual are also references to other religious traditions such as Gnosticism and the Kabbalah.

Literature and Art

• Writers: Many famous writers have been Masons and this is often reflected in their works. Examples include: Bro. Rudyard Kipling, Bro. Robert Burns, Bro. Arthur Conan Doyle, et al.
• Composers: Bro. Wolfgang Mozart, Bro. Jean Sibelius, Bro. John Philip Sousa, et al.
• Artists: Bro. Harry Houdini, Bro. John Wayne, Bro. Gene Autry, et al.
• Scientists: Bro. Alexander Fleming, Bro. Edward Jenner, et al.
• Architects: Bro. Christopher Wren, Bro. James Hoban, et al.

Anti-Masonry

• Religious: Many religious groups actively oppose Masonry because they feel it is a religious competitor, or that its philosophy is in conflict with their own.
• Political: Both left- and right-wing governments have considered Masonry to be a threat to their authority and have attempted to suppress it.
• Social: Many people are concerned that Masonic networks give unfair social and business advantages to their members.

Ritual

• Structure: A study of the ritual of the Three Degrees will reveal a consistent structure with a specific pedagogic purpose.
• References: In addition to the many Biblical references, our ritual also contains references to such varied sources as the Roman architect Vitruvius and to great writers such as Shakespeare and Milton.
• Comparative Studies: Not all jurisdictions or lodges use the same ritual. A study of the differences between rituals gives insights into our own.
• Improvement: Rituals were written over many hundreds of years, with contributions from both educated and uneducated Brethren. Our rituals are not perfect and a study of some of the errors and contradictions can lead to even better ritual.

Regalia and Accessories

• Jewels: There are thousands of different Masonic jewels and badges representing different orders and degrees, or commemorating significant Masonic events. Collecting such jewels is a hobby that leads to a deeper understanding of the fascinating history of the Craft and the differences between jurisdictions.
• Furniture: Lodges throughout the world take many forms, with different layouts and different lodge furniture. The Yokohama Temple illustrates this with two different sets of ashlars, two different sets of wands, etc.
• Coins: Collecting Mark Master pennies used by different lodges or York Rite bodies is a popular Masonic hobby.
• Cups & Glasses: Recently the collection of firing glasses used to give Masonic toasts has become very popular and items sold on Web auction sites fetch premium prices.

Contemporary Issues

• Membership: Falling membership is a major concern. Identifying the reasons for this and considering possible solutions is an important topic of Masonic study.
• Property: With falling membership, the upkeep of Masonic temples has become economically difficult. Various solutions have been suggested.
• Social Work: Masonry is famous for its charity, but many other ways of contributing to society can be examined and implemented.
• Discrimination: A serious issue that continues to plague Masonry is discrimination in membership. This can take the form of economic discrimination, racial discrimination, or gender discrimination.
• Communication: Traditional methods of Masonic communcation such as mailed summons and printed newsletters or magazines are being replaced by electronic mailing lists, Web bulletin boards, and other Internet resources. These new media bring both advantages and disadvantages.

Books Mentioned in the Talk

Carr, H. & Smyth, F. (1992). The Freemason at Work. Ian Allan Publishing Ltd.

Cartwright, E. H. (1985). Masonic ritual : A Commentary on the Freemasonic Ritual. London: Lewis Masonic.

Churton, T. (2007). Masonry: The Reality. Ian Allan Ltd.

Curl, J. S. (1993). The Art and Architecture of Masonry : An Introductory Study. Woodstock, N.Y: Overlook Press.

Curl, J. S., Toulier, B., Pesson, W., Hennaut, E., Gossé, M., & Heude, B. (2006). Architectures Maçonniques: Grande-Bretagne, France, États-Unis, Belgique. Bruxelles: Archives d'Architecture Moderne.

Hamill, J. (1987). The Craft: A History of English Masonry. Crucible.

Pick, F. L. & Knight, G. N. (1969). The Pocket History of Masonry (5th ed ed.). London: Muller.

Poll, M., R. (2005). Robert’s Rules of Order — Masonic Edition. Cornerstone Book Publishers.

Roberts, A. E. (1975). The Craft and Its Symbols : Opening the Door to Masonic Symbolism. Richmond: Macoy Pub. and Masonic Supply Co.

Roberts, M. (1986). British Poets and Secret Societies. London: Croom Helm.

Stevenson, D. (1988). The Origins of Masonry : Scotland’s Century, 1590-1710. Cambridge [England] ; New York: Cambridge University Press.

Rituals Mentioned in the Talk

• Emulation Ritual (UGLE)
• Taylor’s Ritual (UGLE)
• Lodge St John No. 618 Ritual (GLS)
• Lodge Star in the East No. 640 Ritual (GLS)
• Grand Lodge of Alabama Ritual

Websites Mentioned in the Talk

• Far East Lodge No. 1
• Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon