Teaching Freemasonry to Freemasons

Sir,
    The article by Bro. Simon Hart, Off the Record, reinforces my optimism about Freemasonry. If he is representative of the younger men now embarking on a masonic career, we can look forward with confidence.
    My generation, those initiated twenty-five or more years ago, are largely responsible for many of the problems which presently afflict us. We were "fortunate" to be initiated into Lodges with a steady flow of candidates; every meeting was devoted to a progressive ceremony, which ceremony, even one badly presented to a candidate, was considered more desirable than a meeting devoted to increasing the general masonic knowledge of all. The culture of "progression at all costs" prevailed at the expense of creating a better understanding of what Freemasonry is, and can do.
    An illustration of this was that when I was in the Chair in 1971, I arranged a meeting devoted to two twenty-minute talks and the delivery of a few pieces of ritual not usually heard. The minutes read out at the next meeting said, "…because no candidate was available…". There were candidates waiting to take their next step but the Secretary just could not understand that anything other than a progressive ceremony could be deliberately chosen. I had to insist that the wording was amended to "…although there were candidates waiting…".
    That was an extreme example showing that this culture then prevailed, and it still prevails among many today. The result is a senior generation of Brethren largely unable, perhaps unwilling because of recognised inability, to teach anything other than rehearsal of ritual without explanation.
    Nevertheless, I am optimistic about the future – and I exhort others to be so because it is catching – since there does seem to be a recognition by Grand Lodge, and others, that it is as important to teach Brethren about Freemasonry as it is to enlighten the public. For example, the growth of Installed Masters Lodges for the purpose not just of maintaining friendships but at least of offering the opportunity to learn more. And, paradoxically, above all, by the relative shortage of candidates thus necessitating meetings devoted to expanding general knowledge of all instead of repetitive instruction of a single candidate. Encouragingly, this appears to be generating an influx of candidates who are demonstrating that they positively want to understand what Freemasonry really is, as they progress.
    John S. Wallace, Turnditch, Derbyshire.

Enthusing New Candidates

Sir,
    I read with interest, and some feeling of relief, the article by Simon Hart asking us not to "devalue the coinage" of Freemasonry.
    Within our Lodge the general feelings seem to echo those of Simon in that the younger Brethren, of whom I feel I ought to count myself, feel that tradition should remain, particularly such social aspects as the Festive Board. One comment we had was similar to Simon’s comment, "What do you have if you take such items away, and who do you appeal to?" It summed up the feeling that the social side, and in particular that seen outside of our regular meetings, is what keeps and motivates newer members.
    However, I would take a contrary view to one point that Simon mentions and that is with regard to the early introduction to the Lodge of Instruction. My experience is actually that the sooner you get a new brother introduced to the Lodge of Instruction, and he gets the taste for it, the easier it is for him to be motivated and develop within himself and within the Lodge. Perhaps it is because we have an excellent Lodge of Instruction that we regularly attend for virtually every Friday during the year. Not only does it have four different Lodges associated with it but the Preceptors and Past Masters stimulate discussion outside the ritual, answer questions and encourage the reading of books which explore different interpretations of histories and theories, while staying true to the established rituals.
    The lifeblood of Freemasonry is the younger members. They will be the established members in the future and they will be the ones to bring in the new brothers. We should do all we can to motivate, encourage, and keep them; to mentor them outside the Lodge and encourage them to develop within themselves by encouraging them to ask challenging questions and expecting robust and understandable answers.
    Chris Hicks, Thomas Ralling Lodge, No. 2508, Loughton, Essex.

Christian Freemasonry

Sir,
    I found the article by Matthew Christmas on "The Knights Templar" in the last issue quite enlightening and, if I may, I should like to suggest an alternative school of thought on Christian Masonic Orders in general and Knights Templar in particular.
    One of the factors that most attracted me to Freemasonry was that it was completely non-denominational and that no matter what God you may worship, as long as you were "a good man and true and strictly obeyed the moral law" you were welcomed into Freemasonry.
    I was drawn to the letter in the same issue from Donald Woodgate of the St Luke in Essex Lodge, No. 8714 (a Lodge I have often visited) who stated they have six volumes of the Sacred Law on the Master’s pedestal: the Hindu Gita, Jewish Torah, Sikh Guru Granth Sahib, Christian Bible, Muslim Quran and the Buddhist sayings of the Buddha. They have members of all those faiths.
    Is it right, or masonic, to say to our non-Christian Brethren, "I’m sorry Brother, but you cannot join several masonic Orders because you are not of the right religion"?
    I am not knocking Christianity, but as Matthew Christmas rightly states in his article, Freemasonry was de-Christianised in 1723, so why has it been allowed to slide in again through the back door? I question whether these half a dozen Christian Orders should be in the masonic framework.
    I fully appreciate that the Christian Orders are not governed by the United Grand Lodge of England, nevertheless, one is still required to be a Master Mason, and in some cases a member of the Holy Royal Arch, to qualify for admission.
    Again, I emphasise that I am not anti-Christian or pro any other religion but to me some things do not "sit right" in our beloved fraternity. And, in acting as the devil’s advocate, I have to admit to being a Knight of the Temple.
    Lionel Crockett, Chandos Lodge, No. 8870, Southgate.

The Volume of Sacred Law

Sir,
    I refer to Bro. Woodgate’s letter to you which appeared in the January 2002 edition of Freemasonry Today. He speaks of six holy books, including the Bible, pertaining to different creeds, but mentions the Lodge’s custom to only open one at any one time, that one being opened in rotation or the one appropriate to the Brother who is taking an obligation. From these statements I have inferred that, from time to time, the Bible remains closed.
    The "Aims and Relationships of the Craft" accepted by Grand Lodge on 7 September 1949, require the Bible always to be open in Lodges. Unless I have misunderstood Bro. Woodgate, the Lodge appears to be acting in contravention of this most important regulation, however well intentioned the members’ motives might be.
    Rodney Pitham, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Warwickshire.

Restore Lost Pantheism

Sir,
    Freemasonry Today’s second interview with W. Bro. Davidson reiterates that for him Freemasonry is his religion. That will come as no surprise to the many masons with similar experience and in the light of this perhaps it would be helpful to consider why this may be the case.
    The United Grand Lodge of England’s two propositions are: (1) Freemasonry is not a religion, and (2) Freemasonry is not a substitute for religion.
    The second first: there is no substitute for religion but there is an alternative, that is to say, atheism. An atheist is someone who believes that he or she is the world centre around which the cosmos revolves – egocentricity, and is something which Freemasonry can save you from.
    To state that Freemasonry is not a religion depends upon what you mean by religion. A religion is, for a person, the understanding that makes sense of the world and their part within it. Such is not confined to the monotheistic or other revealed religions. For a number of Freemasons, those who are not subscribers to a "recognised" religion, the only significant moral/ethical/ spiritual source of self-improvement comes from their Freemasonry. How can it be suggested that such are without religion?
    And thus the battle for the soul of Freemasonry continues between the Establishment and New Age Fundamentalism – ah, please restore to us our once held inclusive rational pantheism.
    Gerald Reilly, St. Osyths Priory, No. 2063, Clacton-on-Sea.

Honour Before Rank

Sir,
    What an excellent article by Julian Rees on Prize honour and virtue above rank. I completely agree with his view that active and administrative ranks are necessary, and an active rank is naturally followed by a Past Rank, but why masons receive or need a rank just for being a mason for a number of years beats me. As the Ritual Book says, "although distinctions among men are necessary to preserve subordination, yet ought no eminence of situation make us forget that we are brothers".
    His reference to the armed services is also very apt: during my National Service, the Wing Commanders and Group Captains were great guys who commanded respect, it was the Flying and Pilot Officers who wouldn’t pass the time of day with you. Likewise, the senior masons I have real admiration for, it is the ladder climbers who do the Order a disservice.
    At a recent meeting to discuss "Freemasonry in the Community" the question of volunteers was raised. One brother commented, "It will be the usual ones, like us, who help with everything plus those who want to gain Provincial brownie points".
    Mike Andrews, Lodge of Saint Mark, No. 8479, Kinson, Dorset.

Reflections

Sir,
    I am most grateful to all those who wrote to me commenting on my "Reflection" on Grand Lodge Certificates (in Issue 19). It has been impossible to reply to each one so I hope all will accept this letter as my thanks.
    It seems I was right to suppose that my Certificate, dated 1939, is a rarity, and very few were issued under the Grand Mastership of the Duke of Kent who died a couple of years later. Some correspondents enclosed photocopies of Certificates of that vintage, including one that was never signed by the recipient because he had died before the Certificate could be presented to him.
    Perhaps the most interesting – and rarest one – was issued six months after the death of the Duke, but it still bears his name and coat of arms, overprinted with the words: "The Right Honourable the Earl of Harewood K.G. Acting Grand Master by reason of the death on the 25th day of August 1942 of…". Remember that this was war-time and paper was in short supply, so Grand Lodge could not afford to throw away any unused certificates. Everything was in short supply then. 1942 was the year that RMBI Festival jewels were made of plastic because of the shortage of metal. I still have mine.
    Richard Tydeman Duke Street, London.

Riding the Goat

Sir,
    In the January edition of Freemasonry Today, Matthew Scanlan, in the course of his excellent article "El Escorial", makes reference to the phrase "to ride the goat" which he rightly says is well known to the Scottish and Irish Brethren.
    I would like to point out that although the phrase might be well known to these Brethren, it does not form any recognised part of their masonic rituals, the phrase having crossed from the Orange Order prevalent in the two masonic jurisdictions.
    The phrase originates from "The Royal Arch Purple Order", the last in a series of degrees worked by the Grand Orange Lodges, thence its title "Arch" and is part of the travel the candidates have to undergo, during the ceremony, representing the trials and tribulation the Children of Israel endured during their wanderings in the wilderness. I am reliably informed that it involves a fair bit of horse-play; my informant also tells me that the idea of a goat arose from the abbreviation in older rituals for "The Ark of God" written in reverse. The Ark figures in the tracing board of the degree.
    Although Irish masonry avows the goat, the original smoke seal of the now extinct Lodge No. 213, depicted this creature and many halls still have the stuffed head or a pair of ferocious horns from the said animal. Less intimidating are the pictures of a goat, usually the Scape or Judas variety. Up to fairly recently Lodge "Caraeagh" always had a goat tethered outside the hall when a new candidate was being initiated.
    Strange as these images might appear to English masons, it is always taken in good humour by the candidates, even if he had arrived with a bunch of carrots to feed the said goat – as is not unknown to occur in certain Scottish Lodges!
    I hope these few remarks will throw some light on this strange phrase and its origins.
    Jim Penny, Secretary, The Irish Lodge of Research, No. 200.

Mozart’s Mysterious Death

Sir,
    I was most surprised to read, in the review of the summer 2001 performance of Mozart’s "The Magic Flute", in Freemasonry Today, January 2002, the reference to "1791, the year of Mozart’s mysterious death".
    There is nothing mysterious about the composer’s death; indeed, the facts are well known. The Classic FM Guide to Classical Music, by Jeremy Nicholas, states that his death occurred just a few weeks before he would have been thirty-six, his body suffering from a streptococcal infection, Schönlien-Henoch Syndrome, and renal failure which led to fever, polyarthritis, swelling of the limbs, vomiting, cerebral haemorrhage and terminal broncho-pneumonia. Very unpleasant indeed but not exactly mysterious. It is reported elsewhere that Mozart, from his early years, had a record of often quite serious illnesses and that one, in 1784, left him with seriously damaged kidneys.
    I suggest we could be forgiven for thinking that your reviewer may have been influenced by the many myths surrounding the composer, not the least that bandied about by such as Pushkin who, in a play, represented the composer Salieri as Mozart’s murderer and others of more recent times who have followed a similar line either overtly or by implication.
    Tony Jennings, Harrow, Middlesex.