Masonic Open House - July 20, 2005
T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 55 – July 20, 2005
This publication is issued with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. and A.M. of Minnesota.
“I know that’s a secret, for it’s whispered everywhere.” William Congreve [1670-1729]
There are times when the question will come up in Masonic gatherings about just what can we, as Masons, discuss about Freemasonry with a non-Mason. Or at an open house for the Lodge, what could the speakers talk about, or not talk about.
Well we can talk about many different things regarding Freemasonry with non-Masons, and if a Mason is speaking at an open house or some other gathering where non-Masons might be, he can speak freely without worries about spilling the beans, so to speak.
First maybe I should mention the things we would not talk about. The things we, as Masons, would rather not talk about with the uninitiated fall into only 5 areas.
What is discussed in Lodge
How a Mason votes, what was voted on.
The Treasurer’s and Secretary’s reports.
The manner in which the degrees are conferred.
The means whereby one Mason may make himself know to another Mason.
The signs, words, grips, passwords, and tokens are considered essential to keep private, and shared and known only to the initiated.
So there you have a good outline. The things we in Masonry want to keep private are not much different from what businesses, corporate boards, families and individuals want to keep private, or to share with only those who have a need to know.
“There are secrets in all families.” George Farquhar [1678-1707]
Freemasonry is the largest and oldest fraternity in the world, and because of this there is a lot of interest and curiosity about what Freemasonry is. It is interesting to me, that it is our critics and the entertainment industry; who for the most part are the ones furnishing information to the general public about what they think Freemasonry is and stands for. It is my belief that it should be the Masons, either individually or through their Lodges and Grand Lodges, who are the best men to give the public the information they so desperately need about Freemasonry. There is no need to be secretive or bashful to answer almost any and every question an uninitiated person might ask us, and especially about the principles and values of Freemasonry.
“The pure voice need not whisper.” Dominus Structor
If we were at an open house where non-Masons were visiting or touring our Lodge building, we can be comfortable explaining that the Lodge room is ritually a representation of King Solomon’s Temple, and that in the Lodge Room we refer to where the Master sits as the east end of the Lodge Room, and then to mention about the Senior Warden and Junior Warden and their respective stations, and mention that directions often referred to in Lodge are East, West, and South. These are the Stations where the principal officers of the Lodge sit. The directions are not always true points of the compass, but represent the directions ritually inside the Lodge Room. We could also explain about the risers their chairs sit upon, representing the three degrees, and the three stages of human life; youth, manhood, and age. We could explain that there are three degrees conferred in our Lodge called: Entered Apprentice (first degree = 1°), Fellow Craft (second degree = 2°), and Master Mason (third degree = 3°)
We can explain that some, if not many, of the terms we use are from old English and are not heard in many places, but they are heard in some places other than Masonry. For Instance the term ‘Worshipful’ is used as a salutation to the Master or Past Master of a Lodge, which means honored, and that that term is also used in the English Commonwealth also as a salutation of honor for some elected government officials, and some protestant churches have officers of the church with the title Senior Warden, and almost all churches have Deacons just as we have offices in the Lodge for a junior and senior deacon.
We could also explain that further degrees are conferred by the Scottish and York Rites of Masonry for those who have a desire for more knowledge and instruction, but that that is optional for each individual Mason to decide.
We could mention that every Lodge of Freemasons must have the Holy Bible, Square and Compass placed and displayed on the altar when the Lodge is in session. We say that the Lodge must be furnished with these three important items and we therefore use a word for this, which is its original definition, as Furniture of the Lodge. They are called Furniture in the original sense and definition of the word, which is “The act of furnishing, or the state of being furnished.” And that a Lodge of Masons cannot open their Lodge without being furnished with, or having on the altar the Holy Bible, Square and Compass.
We can tell the uninitiated that the Apron is a symbol of Freemasonry, and that Aprons are worn at all Lodge Communications, and also at Lodge functions such as cornerstone laying's and Masonic Memorial Services, which is called at times, a Masonic Funeral. We could mention that any Mason who has taken the Three Degrees of his Lodge can if he wishes have a Masonic Memorial Service at the time of his death by just making his wishes known to his Lodge ahead of time, or his surviving family can request one too.
We could mention that when they observe a Mason at prayer at a Masonic function he will place his hands in a peculiar position, and that particular ‘Attitude of Prayer’ is called the ‘Sign of the Good Shepherd,’ and explain that is the position a good shepherd would use when he would be carrying a lost lamb back to his flock.
Finally we could again remind them that Masonry is not a secret society. Rather is a fraternal society, which keeps some things private, much the same as other organizations and families do. Most Fraternities, and other organizations, have things similar to these they wish to keep private, and we agree with them.
We could also remind them not to be afraid to ask questions about something they don’t understand and would like clarified and that we will do our best to give them an answer.
We could close with the fact that Masonry exists openly in the free countries of the world, and that is encompasses all races and religions. Then we could tell them the slogan we have here in Minnesota:
“Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone. “
“For secrets are edged tools, and must be kept from children and from fools.” John Dryden [1631-1700]
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.
Lux in tenebris lucet = [Latin] = The light shineth in darkness.
From the Great Light of Masonry: “No, we speak of God’s secret Wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” 1 Corinthians 2:7 NIV
With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
“Be not what you are not.” Yoda
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 55 – July 20, 2005
This publication is issued with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. and A.M. of Minnesota.
“I know that’s a secret, for it’s whispered everywhere.” William Congreve [1670-1729]
There are times when the question will come up in Masonic gatherings about just what can we, as Masons, discuss about Freemasonry with a non-Mason. Or at an open house for the Lodge, what could the speakers talk about, or not talk about.
Well we can talk about many different things regarding Freemasonry with non-Masons, and if a Mason is speaking at an open house or some other gathering where non-Masons might be, he can speak freely without worries about spilling the beans, so to speak.
First maybe I should mention the things we would not talk about. The things we, as Masons, would rather not talk about with the uninitiated fall into only 5 areas.
What is discussed in Lodge
How a Mason votes, what was voted on.
The Treasurer’s and Secretary’s reports.
The manner in which the degrees are conferred.
The means whereby one Mason may make himself know to another Mason.
The signs, words, grips, passwords, and tokens are considered essential to keep private, and shared and known only to the initiated.
So there you have a good outline. The things we in Masonry want to keep private are not much different from what businesses, corporate boards, families and individuals want to keep private, or to share with only those who have a need to know.
“There are secrets in all families.” George Farquhar [1678-1707]
Freemasonry is the largest and oldest fraternity in the world, and because of this there is a lot of interest and curiosity about what Freemasonry is. It is interesting to me, that it is our critics and the entertainment industry; who for the most part are the ones furnishing information to the general public about what they think Freemasonry is and stands for. It is my belief that it should be the Masons, either individually or through their Lodges and Grand Lodges, who are the best men to give the public the information they so desperately need about Freemasonry. There is no need to be secretive or bashful to answer almost any and every question an uninitiated person might ask us, and especially about the principles and values of Freemasonry.
“The pure voice need not whisper.” Dominus Structor
If we were at an open house where non-Masons were visiting or touring our Lodge building, we can be comfortable explaining that the Lodge room is ritually a representation of King Solomon’s Temple, and that in the Lodge Room we refer to where the Master sits as the east end of the Lodge Room, and then to mention about the Senior Warden and Junior Warden and their respective stations, and mention that directions often referred to in Lodge are East, West, and South. These are the Stations where the principal officers of the Lodge sit. The directions are not always true points of the compass, but represent the directions ritually inside the Lodge Room. We could also explain about the risers their chairs sit upon, representing the three degrees, and the three stages of human life; youth, manhood, and age. We could explain that there are three degrees conferred in our Lodge called: Entered Apprentice (first degree = 1°), Fellow Craft (second degree = 2°), and Master Mason (third degree = 3°)
We can explain that some, if not many, of the terms we use are from old English and are not heard in many places, but they are heard in some places other than Masonry. For Instance the term ‘Worshipful’ is used as a salutation to the Master or Past Master of a Lodge, which means honored, and that that term is also used in the English Commonwealth also as a salutation of honor for some elected government officials, and some protestant churches have officers of the church with the title Senior Warden, and almost all churches have Deacons just as we have offices in the Lodge for a junior and senior deacon.
We could also explain that further degrees are conferred by the Scottish and York Rites of Masonry for those who have a desire for more knowledge and instruction, but that that is optional for each individual Mason to decide.
We could mention that every Lodge of Freemasons must have the Holy Bible, Square and Compass placed and displayed on the altar when the Lodge is in session. We say that the Lodge must be furnished with these three important items and we therefore use a word for this, which is its original definition, as Furniture of the Lodge. They are called Furniture in the original sense and definition of the word, which is “The act of furnishing, or the state of being furnished.” And that a Lodge of Masons cannot open their Lodge without being furnished with, or having on the altar the Holy Bible, Square and Compass.
We can tell the uninitiated that the Apron is a symbol of Freemasonry, and that Aprons are worn at all Lodge Communications, and also at Lodge functions such as cornerstone laying's and Masonic Memorial Services, which is called at times, a Masonic Funeral. We could mention that any Mason who has taken the Three Degrees of his Lodge can if he wishes have a Masonic Memorial Service at the time of his death by just making his wishes known to his Lodge ahead of time, or his surviving family can request one too.
We could mention that when they observe a Mason at prayer at a Masonic function he will place his hands in a peculiar position, and that particular ‘Attitude of Prayer’ is called the ‘Sign of the Good Shepherd,’ and explain that is the position a good shepherd would use when he would be carrying a lost lamb back to his flock.
Finally we could again remind them that Masonry is not a secret society. Rather is a fraternal society, which keeps some things private, much the same as other organizations and families do. Most Fraternities, and other organizations, have things similar to these they wish to keep private, and we agree with them.
We could also remind them not to be afraid to ask questions about something they don’t understand and would like clarified and that we will do our best to give them an answer.
We could close with the fact that Masonry exists openly in the free countries of the world, and that is encompasses all races and religions. Then we could tell them the slogan we have here in Minnesota:
“Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone. “
“For secrets are edged tools, and must be kept from children and from fools.” John Dryden [1631-1700]
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.
Lux in tenebris lucet = [Latin] = The light shineth in darkness.
From the Great Light of Masonry: “No, we speak of God’s secret Wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” 1 Corinthians 2:7 NIV
With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
“Be not what you are not.” Yoda
Labels: Masonic Information