FREEMASONRY IN TURKEY

Sir,
    I was interested in the article on Freemasonry in Turkey. Some 40 years ago I attended an Installation meeting in a Scottish Lodge (Scoon and Perth Lodge, No.3) and there appeared to be two Masters Elect going through the Installation ceremony.
    I was told that Turkish Freemasons were anxious to adopt Scottish ritual but there was a problem because their existing ritual did not contain an Installed Master’s Degree. A Scotsman living in Turkey had therefore arranged with Grand Lodge of Scotland to be installed in a Scottish Lodge: on his return to Turkey he would install other Masters, who in turn would install others, until the whole of Turkey was ‘converted’ to Scottish ritual.
    I have never met anybody who can throw any further light on this matter and I wonder whether anyone is able to. There is mention in the article of the Scottish ritual being used today but no explanation as to how this came about
    Geoffrey Richards, Hilperton, Trowbridge

NEW MASONS

Sir,
    It was with great pleasure that I received my first issue of Freemasonry Today in the mail. I must say that it is a wonderful publication.
    I was raised to Master Mason last week. As such, I am enjoying the journey so far and your publication showed me, in real time, the world-wide scope of masonry and its charity to all. Although I have only been a mason for a short period of time I have been on this planet for 55 years. It is reassuring to me that there is a group of men who are willing to live by the Golden Rule, maintain a set of ethics and are willing to go the extra kilometer for their fellow man when it comes to charity, no strings attached. Keep up the good work and I look forward to every issue!
    David D. Laskowski, Camden, Missouri USA. Ray Lodge, No. 223

PUBLICITY FOR FREEMASONRY

Sir,
    What fabulous news about the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons magnificent £3m. donation towards funding continued Osteoporosis bonee scanning. I only wish that the media of this country would had been so readily inclined to report such a good news story.
    As for our local press, as soon as the word Freemasonry is mentioned in the Sheffield area, the media batten down the hatches and refuse to report on the fabulous work many local Freemasons do for their community.
    I for one do not understand why an organisation as big as the Freemasons do not employ professional PR companies to head up their promotional activities. I believe if this was done on a regional basis the good-will factor generated (increased interest and new members) would pay for this additional expenditure.
    Although I do not wish to belittle the fabulous work my own Province of Yorkshire West Riding media committee do, in regard to PR I cannot think of any other organisation of this stature which does not operate without a dedicated professional PR company flying the flag for their cause. After all, Freemasonry is the second biggest donor to charity in this country – let’s shout it from the roof tops. Can you imagine the National Lottery succeeding without their publicity team?
    I am fiercely proud to be a Freemason. I sometimes wonder if the powers that be appear to prefer to hide our wonderful society behind the flag of anonymity.
    Thank goodness for your excellent publication fighting our corner.
    David Hayes, Sheffield, Yorks, Furnival Lodge, No. 2558

FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION

Sir,
    I read with great interest, and not a little incredulity, Peter Smith’s letter (Freemasonry Today issue 38). He rightly points out, of course, that Freemasonry is not a religion, but he can’t be insensitive to the fact that our lodges are opened and closed with prayer (‘Let us invoke the assistance of the Great Architect of the Universe in all our undertakings’), just as every ceremony is similarly commenced.
    Throughout all our rituals, God is cited as the focus and aspiration of all our endeavours, and whilst concern for others is one of the primary lessons taught in our ceremonies, along with the need to develop our own innate qualities, the overriding object is to lead us into an awareness and knowledge of our Creator, the fount of all life and being.
    The symbol ‘G’ which dominates our Temples, refers to the Grand Geometrician of the Universe ‘to Whom we must all submit, and Whom we ought humbly to adore’, and indeed, the object of the second Degree is to lead us ‘through the paths of heavenly science, even to the throne of God Himself’. Our ceremonies are so full of spiritual references and aspirations, that far from questioning whether there is any connection between Freemasonry and spirituality, one has to wonder if there could be any other possible interpretation.
    Without the Great Architect at its centre, Freemasonry would be just one of many associations of men of goodwill, seeking to live a moral life, serve others, and dispense charity. I do somewhat share his misgivings about some of the side Orders which exclude masons on the grounds of religious belief, but this doesn’t alter the fact that pure ancient Freemasonry welcomes those of all religions, or none, provided they meet our masonic stipulations.
    Peter Adams, Christchurch, Dorset, Bourne Lodge, No.6959.

Sir,
    I am surprised by Bro. Smith’s assertion that there is no mention of spiritual matters in our three Grand Principles, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, or in the Grand Design of being happy and communicating happiness.
    In his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI reiterates the insight of mystics throughout the ages that God is Love. In the words of Canon Paul Oestreicher, ‘God is another word for Love’. It is a tragedy that the English language fails to convey the vast semantic range of the word love. In the ancient world, distinctions were made between agape – a selfless, unconditional love, caritas – compassionate action, and philia – friendship, as in philosophy (Philia-Sophia), a caring for wisdom and truth. These three aspects of love correspond profoundly with our three Grand Principles which must surely be deemed spiritual as they reflect the very nature of God and transcend all differences of faith and religion.
    Our Grand Design of being happy and communicating happiness likewise has a spiritual dimension as true love and joy are one or, as expressed in a Hindu song, ‘God is the purest form of joy – complete joy!’
    Thus, though certainly not a religion, Freemasonry is brimming over with spirituality. Who among us can reflect deeply on the Charge after Raising and remain insensible to this? The first verse of a poem by Jelalludin Rumi succinctly sums up our unique system of spiritual symbolism –
    The place that Solomon made to worship in,
    Called the Far Mosque, is not built of earth,
    Water and stone; but of wisdom, noble intention,
    Mystical fellowship and compassionate action.
    John Grange, Northwood, Middlesex, Rahere Lodge, No. 2546

Sir,
    Thank you for including in Issue 38, the excellent letter ‘Freemasonry and Religion’ from Peter Smith of Oadby. May I quote from it: ‘... the great majority do not seek spiritual up-lift from Freemasonry in the religious or metaphysical sense; no it is not meant to be there.’
    These are indeed stunning words; however, elsewhere in the letter there is the suggestion that the first of the three fundamental requirements of a Freemason is a belief in a Supreme Being. This raises two, initial, questions. Firstly, can there be a Supreme Being or can there only be the Supreme Being?
    Secondly, in requiring a belief in a/the Supreme Being, does this not place Freemasonry and Freemasons within the realm of the religious or metaphysical? Hopefully, Peter Smith does have an understanding of Supreme Being that is neither religious nor metaphysical that he might like to share with the readers of Freemasonry Today.
    Gerald Reilly, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, St. Osyth’s Priory Lodge, No. 2063.

UNUSUAL EMBLEM

Sir,
    The chart owned by Bro. J.A. Parsons illustrated on page 54 of issue 38 of Freemasonry Today is one of several versions of an emblematic chart published in the first half of the 19th century. The late Bro. J.E. Barrett, a Past Master of Carnarvon Lodge, No. 804, at Havant, Hampshire, was an expert on these charts and gave lectures about them in several Provinces. His paper describing them, ‘A Family of Six Masonic Charts’, was reproduced in Ars Quatuor Coronatorum Volume 105 (1992). It makes particular reference to the Carnarvon Lodge chart at Havant which is illustrated in Plate 1 (p.140). This version is virtually identical to that of Bro. Parsons, another copy of which, described in Bro. Barrett’s paper as the ‘Hayle’ chart, is illustrated at p.145 (where it is erroneously related to the text description as Plate 3). The only major difference between the two (Bro. Barrett describes others) is in the positioning of the interlaced triangles: on the Havant chart these are on the opposite side of the arch, above the terrestrial globe in the position occupied by the cock on the Hayle and on Bro. Parsons’ chart.
    Bro. Barrett identified ninety-two devices pictured on the Havant chart which he listed and named (AQC p. 141), suggesting what biblical or masonic scenes and emblems they might depict or relating them to the various degrees and orders of Freemasonry. ‘The mysterious figure’ of the interlaced triangles presented him with a problem for which he devised an interesting and elegant solution. Since on his chart it appears above the terrestrial globe he refers to it as ‘a signpost above the earth’ which calls our attention ‘in a direct yet covert manner to certain important features which have been very carefully placed in the chart layout.’ This he ingeniously illustrates by drawing a series of ley lines on a copy of the chart (AQC p.140) which extend the sides of the triangles in both directions so that they point to important features for which he develops spiritual and mystical symbolism relating to the New Testament.
    The same pattern of ley lines cannot however be applied to the Hyde chart or the similar one of Bro. Parsons where the interlaced triangles (Bro. Barrett’s ‘signpost above the earth’) do not appear to point to anything in particular. All of which, I regret to say, leaves Bro. Parsons’ question unanswered.
    T.O. Haunch, Church Stretton, Shropshire.

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN

Sir,
    On Rememberance Sunday I had the honour to lay a wreath at our local War memorial on behalf of my Lodge. There are many wreaths laid during the ceremony by all groups of the local community and each one does so in uniform, from the cubs, beavers and brownies to the local Fire Brigade, Police, Council Community Wardens and Sea Cadet Unit.
    It has long puzzled me why, as representative of the Town’s local Lodge that we don’t wear regalia for this most solemn occasion.
    On speaking to many masons including one Right Worshipful Brother I was told that I should wear regalia if permission was obtained from the Provincial Grand Master.
    The reply I received was that the executive have considered this in the past and don’t feel that this is an occasion when regalia should be worn as it may be viewed as a recruiting exercise. I do not agree with that view.
    Am I out of touch or is there sufficient support which will enable me to ask the executive to revisit this and perhaps have a change of mind?
    Paul Jenner, Westerham, Kent