Who can forget his initiation? The trepidation outside the door of the Lodge room, the strange journey in darkness, the sudden restoration of vision, the charge and the feeling of brotherhood? To be amongst friends who all understood the moment and could share it with compassion and support. Then to find oneself placed in the north-east corner of the room...
     ‘It is customary’ we were told, ‘at the erection of all stately and superb edifices, to lay the first or foundation stone at the North East corner of the building. You, being newly admitted into Masonry, are placed at the North East part of the Lodge figuratively to represent that stone, and from the foundation laid this evening may you raise a superstructure perfect in its parts and honourable to the builder.’
     At the time of my initiation I found myself, after the ceremony, sitting in my seat during the subsequent normal business of the Lodge, pondering the meaning of those words. Simple they seemed, even self-evident. But there was much more to be teased out of them. Perhaps I am rather slow but it took me a few meetings to realise the import of that image which had been instilled into my consciousness. An image, a symbolic form, which is working on three levels simultaneously.
     Firstly, as has often been said, the Temple of God is within. We are, on the journey from darkness to light, building a temple within, protecting and nurturing the spark of divinity within us, while at the same time perfecting and refining its expression in our lives. The foundation stone in the north-east is a symbol of that primal and perfect part of ourselves upon which we can build; the point from which we can grow; a standard against which we can measure our actions in order that error and imperfection might, in due time, be diminished.
     And there is another level on which this image works, for it describes the institution of Freemasonry itself. The new candidate is a real foundation stone, since without new candidates Freemasonry would eventually disappear. The edifice of the Craft itself is dynamic, its existence constantly affirmed, supported and maintained purely by the continual existence of new candidates who are, in truth, its very foundation.
     Then there is a third level of understanding this image. I was reminded of this again during my interview with John Bonomy, the Provincial Grand Master for East Kent which is printed on pages 18 to 20. ‘Get more involved in your community’ he advised, ‘do what you can.’
     It had struck me, as a fresh initiate, thinking of a foundation stone smoothed of its roughness and imperfections of form by a skilfully used mason’s gavel and chisel, that such a stone not only formed the beginning of a building but was the exemplar for every finished stone from which the building was constructed. That every stone not only contributed to the elegance of the building but, by virtue of the precision of its squaring, was able to share in the load exerted by the increasing size, to share the burden of the whole. If one should be removed then the whole would be weakened. Each stone is able to bear the load because of its neighbours; a single stone, alone, would not have – nor be expected to have – the strength to maintain the edifice.
     Furthermore, the true edifice to which we all contribute is not just Freemasonry but, as our ritual puts it, ‘regularly organised society’. John Bonomy is reminding us that this should never be forgotten, that local involvement is one of the means by which we as Freemasons can contribute to the common well-being of our society and that if we should become so insular and introverted – so self-satisfied – as to forget this, then we may as well all pack up our regalia and go home.
    
     Many readers have written and telephoned with enquiries about our trip to Egypt next year. The article on our trip last Easter has sparked great interest. However, the trip can only go ahead if we have sufficient numbers booked in over the next few months since we eventually come to a point where we have to decide whether or not to make over large funds, in advance, for the basic components of the tour. So if you wish to come with us next year, ring Tracy Strand at HPB Travel, 01638 674 744, and get our brochure. We plan to leave for Egypt on 13th April 2004 and return on 25th April. Join us!

Michael Baigent MA – Editor