2009 January February March April May June July August September October November December

DGM's Messages

2009

'This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England’

2009 January February March April May June July August September October November December

RW DGM' s MESSAGE FOR OCTOBER 2009

THE NEGLECT OF SYMBOLISMS

Freemasonry through its allegories and symbolisms attempts to reflect morality, and a study of the former is a pre-requisite for a mason’s progress in self-improvement. Regrettably, the patina of procedure and protocol has completely taken over the essence of the Craft, and the form has replaced the substance.

Much of Masonic indiscipline, for instance, stems from a lack of understanding of the symbolisms and spirit of our fraternity which is represented by an adulteration of our mores, too great an emphasis on the words of the ritual and their delivery and less or none at all on the content of those messages.

This phenomenon takes away from what Masons should be doing, that is through the messages our ritual conveys to endeavour to make a daily advancement in (self) knowledge. Sometimes we even forget that the external advantages of rank and fortune are irrelevant within the confines of our Lodges. Many years ago when I was but about three years in the fraternity, and not senior enough to be a member of any of my Lodges’ committees I was summoned to a Permanent Committee meeting. When I enquired the reason for the summons I was told that a colleague of mine was being considered for membership of the Lodge and the Worshipful Master wanted to know whether I had any objection to his candidature, as his superior in the firm. My response was that I had understood that Masonry looked to the character of an applicant, and that external positions or relationships could not be brought into the Lodge. Therefore it was for the P.C. to decide on the candidate’s suitability. He was admitted, but it indicated the lack of understanding amongst even Senior Masons of the various symbolisms of the Entered Apprentice degree which underlines this principle.