Spirituality in Freemasonry

Sir,
     Bro. Smith of Oadby still seems to have an issue with the spiritual side of Freemasonry (Freemasonry Today, issue 40). Let us look at just one part of his letter. He refers to Jacobs’ Ladder; may I suggest, in line with others, that this ladder ought to contain seven steps to point out Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, Justice, Faith, Hope and Charity. Surely, this ladder has always been near to the forefront of speculative Freemasonry since the early 1700s. Does this not align with the old theory that Man was also made of seven substances and has seven natures? Surely these are examples of symbolism in Freemasonry, which was a very old system of teaching early religion and is likely to have been one of the first methods of learning in the world. All religious systems, even in the dark ages, were taught by using symbols.
     Around 1670 John Bunyan is said to have spiritualised King Solomon’s Temple, and this allegory was also used in the thoughts of Bishop Cloverdale’s 1550 translation of A Spiritual and a Most Precious Pearl in which there is masonic symbolism contained. If man does not use his mind to seek out what he wants and uses the symbolism attached to this, then he cannot open his mind to the higher understandings of masonic ritual of any sort.
     Let’s face it, masonic ritual ought to be a spiritual journey, not just for the candidate, but for those taking part; it is their own individual spirituality that is part of this journey. No masonic institution can lay claim to anything spiritual; that spiritual journey can only be made by those taking part in a ceremony, no matter which degree or Order we speak of. The journey is as spiritual as you make it as an individual, and symbolism will help you interpret the journey you make.
     It strikes me that Bro. Smith not understanding spiritual Freemasonry, may just be due to his lack of understanding of passages of the Volume of the Sacred Law.
     For example, the first two chapters of Genesis could be seen by many as pointing towards the seven periods of creation, and due to the geometric connections can also point us towards how the compasses can represent our spiritual world. This is, as Kirk MacNulty points out, the individual’s spiritual Being, just as the Volume of the Sacred Law represents the world of divinity, and then of course our individual divine source.
     If this does not suffice, then may I point towards a document which is, I understand, from 1726: - ‘A Mason, when asked about Spiritualism, replied that he could not divulge the six spiritual signs to anyone but a Master Mason.’ This actually mentions the signs of a Master Mason as in the third degree closing ceremony of today, and furthermore, it links them to Hermetic and Cabbalistic traditions of the era around the Renaissance.
     Perhaps a few words by the late King George VI may help, more relevant today that when he said them; ‘The world today does require spiritual and moral regeneration. I have no doubt, after many years as a member of our Order, that Freemasonry can a play a most important part in this vital need’.
     As to the debate opened up by Bro. Smith, I suggest that Brethren attend Canonbury Masonic Research Centre lectures or the Cornerstone Society meetings, or at least read a range of books now available including Kirk MacNulty and others, to find out more about Freemasonry and the link with spirituality.
     Nigel Beaven,
     Milton Keynes,
     Bedfordshire Lodge of Masonic Research, No. 9585.

Publicity for Freemasonry

Sir,
     I was interested in the letter from Paul Jenner under the heading ‘Remembering the Fallen’ (Freemasonry Today, issue 39).
     I have in my possession two pictures of a Scottish lodge, Barrhill, No. 1444, marching in regalia to their local War Memorial to pay tribute to the twentythree who fell in the Great War 1914-1919 and to the seven who fell in the 1939-1945 war.
     I assume that permission was given for the parade in full regalia by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Dumbarton.
     John Andrews,
     Crowborough, East Sussex.
     Barrhill Lodge, No. 1444 (S.C.)

Unity

Sir,
     I found To Dwell Together in Unity (Freemasonry Today issue 39) interesting and topical. Politicians are encouraging people from different backgrounds to live and work together in harmony. Queen Elizabeth this year in her Commonwealth Day message said that the Commonwealth was a collection of villages and asked the Commonwealth citizens to focus on ‘respecting difference between various faiths, races, cultures and traditions and promote understanding’ so that we will all have a better future. A study of the character of the Commonwealth is a study of the diversities of mankind. It not only has people drawn from different faiths, religions and cultures but the countries that make up this organisation is made up of kingdoms, republics and federations.
     Commonwealth, in my view, cuts across the associations based on geography or on ideology or on economic similarity. It transcends groupings such as regional and ideological blocks and helps the citizens to move forward towards a bright global community. We see unity in these diversities. The Queen’s position as Head of the Commonwealth symbolises this familyhood. She has indeed brought out in her message what we as Freemasons are taught to do.
     Sir Andy Chande,
     Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
     Past District Grand Master, East Africa.

Freemasonry and Hinduism

Sir,
     I found the article Freemasonry and Hinduism (Freemasonry Today issue 40) of great interest as I have a number of Hindu friends, very good Freemasons, who express an interest in many degrees in Freemasonry.
     As we are all well aware, Freemasonry is not a religion, and welcomes all men of sound judgment and strict morals. With this in mind, the question arises, should the Christian degrees of Freemasonry offer membership to Brethren of other faiths.
     I ask this question, as a Hindu Brother whom I count as a close friend has often asked me why he cannot become a Knight Templar Freemason. He says that, as a Royal Arch mason, he has the necessary qualifications. I have advised him that it is a Christian Order.
     He replies that his faith has many of the same principles as the Christian faith, a point that your article confirms.
     He therefore feels that he should be able to join this Christian Order.
     I do believe that if we use the Old Testament to supply the background to any of our rituals, then why not allow others to experience the beautiful stories of the Christian faith.
     Michael Robinson,
     Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
     Lodge of Research, No. 2429.

Women Freemasons

Sir,
     Following my husband’s death, I continue taking Freemasonry Today as, being a Freemason myself, I found it interesting and informative. Imagine my surprise on opening the Spring issue No. 40, to see on page 30 the photograph of ‘Lady Freemasons in the 1920s’. That was us! The original picture hangs on Refectory wall.
     After all these years, we are thriving. We now have two Craft lodges – Golden Hind and Causa Causana, Devonia Mark Lodge and Holy Royal Arch Chapter of the Pelican. We go to Tintagel twice a year where we hold Rose Croix Convocations.
     A few years ago we went to Paris to constitute, consecrate and dedicate the Sovereign Chapter of the Rosary, Perit ut Vivat, No. 2. In 2006 our Belgian Brethren came to Plymouth and we did the same for a Mark Lodge for them, which now flourishes in Brussels.
     If there is any other information we can exchange, we would be most interested to do so.
     Mrs. M. Hambridge,
     Plymouth, Devon.

The Templar Cross

Sir,
     I read with interest in your book review (Freemasonry Today, issue 40), of the claim that the Swiss flag was derived from the Templar Cross; as was pointed out, this is not the case. In fact the alleged origin of the National Flag of Switzerland is a rock formation in the Canton of Schwytz, one of the three original Cantons which formed the Confederation. It is said that when the morning sun strikes this formation it casts a red and white shadow similar to the present flag. The present flag of the canton is a red shield with a white cross on the upper right hand corner.
     What is true is that when the Red Cross Society was founded in Geneva in 1864 they chose the reverse of the Swiss flag for their emblem.
     Incidentally, I believe that the colourful Lansquenets on display in the museum in Zürich have many masonic emblems in their dress, but I have not been able to verify this.
     I hope that this will be of interest to your readers
     J .A. Penny,
     Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim.
     Secretary, Irish Lodge of Research, No. 200

Ex-pat Freemasons

Sir,
     Loathe as I am to consider myself an ex-pat in Spain, the amount of time I spend here suggests that is what I am.
     I spend about 5 weeks in the UK a year and the rest in La Cala de Villajoyosa, very close to Benidorm.
     Near to where I live in Spain there is an ex-pat masonic society who appear to be centred on Torrevieja, and the nearest lodge to where I live is in a place called El Campello about 20 minutes drive away.
     Having read the letters page debate about Freemasonry and religion and Freemasonry and publicity for charitable works, I am driven to say; what about Freemasonry and European fellowship? The magazine does well highlighting the Freemasons of other countries. It would be good to see an article about Freemasonry on a European scale maybe Spain or France or Germany, where many United Kingdom Freemasons work and holiday, and who may feel the need of some masonic company during their absence from their home shores.
     I enjoy reading Freemasonry Today; it is an informative magazine, and I have it redirected to me in Spain where I can sit and read it on the balcony, with a glass in my hand on the lodge meeting evenings, ready to answer the toast to absent brethren.
     Bob Findlay,
     Alicante, Spain.
     Anchor and Hope Lodge, No. 37, East Lancs.

Supreme Being

Sir, I have re-read for at least the sixth time Julian Rees’ page in your excellent magazine, issue 20 (Spring 2002) about Divinity. Several times I have considered writing to you about it.
     Four words at the beginning of the fourth paragraph are very significant – ‘a fudge was invented’. If a fudge is acceptable and can be deliberately invented, why ask the question? This interviewee was ‘well known to many of the lodge members’, who had presumably decided he would be a good candidate.
     During my twenty-six years as a Past Master and seventeen years as Director of Ceremonies, I have participated in numerous interviews.
     The candidate has always answered ‘yes’ to the key question, no doubt primed by his proposer.
     I agree that it may be a fine thing for all members to believe in a God, but do they really all do so? I don’t, and I told a lie at my interview, but I believe that I am a good mason and I try to live by masonic tenets. If interviewees answered truthfully, I think that few would be initiated.
     My view, after five years thought, is that this requirement is superfluous and should be deleted, in spite of mention of the Great Architect of the Universe occurring frequently in the ritual. I am definitely not advocating that the ritual should be changed, but that questions at interviews should be appropriate for the twenty-first century.
     Ian Smith,
     Rochdale, Lancs.
     Earl of Lathom Lodge, No. 2560