Aside from the legalistic reasons given to us in our ritual, why is it “…To the Greeks, therefore, and not to the Romans, we are indebted for what is great, judicious, and distinct in architecture.”

The three primary cities of Greece during the classical era were, and curiously correspond to the Pillars of the Lodge,

Athens = Wisdom
Sparta = Strength
Corinth = Beauty

It is interesting that Corinth is approximately half way between Sparta and Athens; as situated in the Lodge. Further, according to legend, the founder of the city of Corinth Corinthos descenced from Helios, the Sun God, whose cult claimed the highest part of the Corinthian acropolis. The solar association with this City, whose attribute of beauty, is the same as the middle pillar of the Lodge – which also has solar associations – is intriguing to Masonic inquirers.

The Widow’s Son, associated with the solar pillar of beauty, was known not for his work in stone, but in bronze. Ancient Corinth was known throughout the classic world for its bronze, known as corinthian bronze, and was regarded by many as being more valuable and more beautiful than gold. It was so beautiful that it was used on the Beautiful Gate of the Second Temple. Of further curiousness is the possible alchemical association of turning a lessor alloy (bronze) into corinthian bronze which could be made to resemble either gold or silver depending on the process used. This alchemical association is not lost to the student of the Master’s Degree, which itself contains alchemical overtures.

And of course, the Kabalistic Tree of Life, also situated upon Three Pillars, of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty, wherein the Pillar of Beauty is the middle, also with solar associations, only furthers one’s speculation as many Kabbalists associate the Fall with the sundering of the middle pillar – again a parable familiar to students of the Master’s Degree.

And while, nothing is really complete here, and it seems hard to imagine any proof will be made, I am curious – where do these thoughts take you?

1. Your masonic style & address is directly related to whether or not you are wearing an apron.
2. The style and address, Brother is always right, and never wrong in Lodge.
3. The style and address, Companion is always right, and never wrong in Chapter & Council.
4. The style and address, Sir Knight is always right, and never wrong in Commandery.
5. The style and address, Brother is always right, and never wrong anywhere.
6. When in doubt, refer to rules 1 and 5.

I really don’t think much comment is needed.

Dear Unknown Friends,

Here is the Register House Manuscript, so named, after its discovery in 1930 by Bro Charles T McInnes in the Old Register House, Edinburgh. This catechism is perhaps the oldest example of Masonic ritual extant. It bears note possession of this document, nor knowledge of it, grants access into a Masonic Lodge. The value of the document is historic, and I published it largely because I’m tired of note having access to it, when I need it.

Enjoy.

J.

Some Questions That Masons Use To Put Those Who Have Ye Word Before They Will Acknowledge Them

Are you a mason?
Yes

How shall I know it?
You shall know it in time and place convenient. Remark the forsaid answer is only to be made when there is company present who are not masons But if there be no such company by, you should answer by signes tokens and other points of entrie.

What is your first point?
Tell me the first point ile tell you the second, The first is to heill and conceall, second, under no less pain, which is then cutting of your throat, For you most make that sign, when you say that.

Where wes you entered?
At the honourable lodge.|

What makes a true and perfect lodge?
Seven masters, five entered apprentices, A dayes journey from a burroughs town without bark of dog or crow of cock

Does no less make a true and perfect lodge?
yes five masons and three entered apprentices &c.

Does no less.
The more the merrier the fewer the better chear

What is the name of your lodge?
Kilwinning

How stands your lodge?
east and west as the temple of jerusalem

Where wes the first lodge?
In the porch of Solomons Temple

Are there any lights in your lodge?
yes three the north east. s w, and eastern passage The one denotes the master mason, the other the warden The third the setter croft.

Are there any jewells in your lodge?
Yes three, Perpend Esler a Square pavement and a broad ovall

where shall I find the key of your lodge?
yes [? = Ans] Three foot and an half from the lodge door under a perpend esler, and a green divot. But under the lap of my liver where all my secrets of my heart lie

Which is the key of your lodge?
a weel hung tongue

where lies the key?
In the bone box

After the masons have examined you by all or some of these Questions and that you have answered them exactly and mad the signes, they will acknowledge you, but not a master mason or fellow croft but only as [? = an] apprentice, soe they will say I see you have been in the Kitchine but I know not if you have been in the hall?
I have been in the hall as weel as in the kitchine

Are you a fellow craft
yes

How many points of the fellowship are ther
fyve viz foot to foot Knee to Kn[ee] Heart to Heart, Hand to Hand and ear to ear. Then make the sign of fellowship and shake hand and you will be acknowledged a true mason. The words are in the I of the Kings Ch 7, 21, and in 2 chr: ch 3 verse last.

The Forme of Giveing The Mason Word

Imprimis you are to take the person to take the word upon his knees and after a great many ceremonies to frighten him you make him take up the bible and laying his right hand on it you are to conjure him, to sec[r]ecie, By threatning that if [he] shall break his oath the sun in the firmament will be a witness agst him and all the company then present, which will be an occasion of his damnation and that likewise the masons will be sure to murder him, Then after he has promised secrecie They give him the oath a[s] follows By god himself and you shall answer to god when you shall stand nakd before him, at the great day, you shall not reveal any pairt of what you shall hear or see at this time whither by word nor write nor put it in wryte at any time nor draw it with the point of a sword, or any other instrument upon the snow or sand, nor shall you speak of it but with an entered mason, so help you god.

After he hes taken the oath he is removed out of the company, with the youngest mason, where after he is sufficiently frighted with 1000 ridicolous postures and grimmaces, He is to learn from the sd mason the manner of makeing his due guard whis [? = which] is the signe and the postures and words of his entrie which are as follows

ffirst when he enters again into the company he must make a ridiculous bow, then the signe and say God bless the honourable company. Then putting off his hat after a very foolish manner only to be demonstrated then (as the rest of the signes are likewise) he sayes the words of his entrie which are as follows

Here come I the youngest and last entered apprentice As I am sworn by God and St John by the Square and compass, and common judge to attend my masters service at the honourable lodge, from munday in the morning till saturday at night and to keep the Keyes thereof, under no less pain then haveing my tongue cut out under my chin and of being buried, within the flood mark where no man shall know, then he makes the sign again and with drawing his hand under his chin alongst his throat which denotes that it be cut out in caise he break his word.

Then all the mason present whisper amongst themselves the word beginning at the youngest till it comes to the master mason who gives the word to the entered apprentice.

Now it is to be remarked that all the signes and words as yet spoken of are only what belong to the entered apprentice, But to be a master mason or fellow craft there is more to be done which after follows.

ffirst all the prentices are to be removed out of the company and none suffered to stay but matters.

Then he who is to be admitted a member of fellowship is putt again to his knees, and gets the oat[h] administrated to him of new afterwards he must go out of the company with the youngest mason to learn the postures and signes of fellowship, then comeing in again, He makes the masters sign, and sayes the same words of entrie as the app[rent]ice did only leaving out the com[m]on Judge then the masons whisper the word among themselves beginning at the youngest as formerly afterwards the youngest mason must advance and put himself into the posture he is to receive the word and sayes to the eldest mason in whispering

The worthy masters and honourable company greet you weel, greet you weel, greet you weel.

Then the master gives him the word and gripes his hand after the masons way, which is all that is to be done to make him a perfect mason

1. Understand and accept that you will make mistakes. No matter how prepared you are, no matter how much ritual you know, or how well you know it, no matter how many times you may have been in the chair before, you will make mistakes. The point is to own them, don’t hide from them, and take responsible courses of action to fix them. Fortunately, most mistakes are not egregious, therefore rarely fatal, so we can, and should, learn, laugh, and move on.

2. You ARE your Ritual Proficiency. You both know the ritual, AND can perform it well, or not. There is no middle ground on this. As an officer, and you set the example. If you don’t know your ritual, at best you are encouraging others to follow your example, and at worst, you are insulting all those Brothers who took the time and effort to learn theirs. Period.

3. No matter how much “freemasonry” you know, someone else will always know more. Such an individual can teach you some new things if you ask. Seek and accept input from others, especially when you think it’s not needed.

4. Don’t “change things” without consultation. There’s a fine line between “fixing” something that is wrong/incorrect and reinventing the wheel and abandoning centuries held initiatic experiences. Know the difference, and pursue stylistic changes within the framework of a community change, not as a lone enforcer. Also, before changing anything, find out why it is done. Someone in your Lodge knows. Pick up the phone and make a new friend – ask why.

5. Treat others with respect, deference, and patience. The mark of a gentleman is how well he treats those who are of no use to him.

6. The only constant in the world is change. Be open to it and accept it with a smile. Look at each change as a new challenge, not as some serious inconvenience to be fought.

7. The only true authority stems from knowledge, not from position. Knowledge engenders authority, and authority engenders respect. If you want respect in an egoless environment, cultivate knowledge.

8. Fight for what you believe, but gracefully accept defeat. Understand that sometimes your ideas will be overruled. Even if you do turn out to be right, don’t take revenge or say, “I told you so” more than a few times at most, and don’t make your dearly departed idea a martyr or rallying cry.

9. Don’t be “that guy in the room.” Don’t be the guy who always has something negative to say. Don’t be that guy who knows more than everyone else. Don’t be the only guy who can do it right. Don’t be that guy. Don’t be that guy who gets insulted when others don’t see how glorious you are. Don’t be the only guy in the room making a decision or having an idea. Don’t be that guy who never sees positives in others work. Don’t be that guy who is too thin skinned to share with his Brothers. That guy is out of touch, out of sight, and out of control and has no place in an open, collaborative environment such as a Lodge.

10. Critique work instead of people. Be kind to the individual, not to the Work. As much as possible, make all of your comments positive and oriented to improving the Work. Relate comments to local standards, increased performance, etc.

BONUS: You are NOT your title. Correctly speaking, as Grand/Right/Worshipful Master, you are properly addressed as Brother Hiram Abiff, Worshipful Master, not Worshipful Brother Hiram Abiff. Even if your Grand Lodge Code states that you are Grand, Right and Worshipful, refer to yourself as Brother first, and only. You are but a temporary custodian of your office, act as such.

When Labour is done for the love of pure Labour
    The Labour is sweet to enjoy and to savor.
When Labour is done for the want of Reward
    The Labour is weighty, the bane of one’s Lord.

The Stone which the Builders rejected outright,
    Was quickly dispatched and then thrown out of sight,
It was the keystone that the Temple had needed,
    And Solomon’s Temple with that was completed.

O Lord let my work be done not for favor,
    But love of the Craft, should bring forth that Labour.
My work, may it be, like that awesome keystone,
    Though spurned at first sight, but was later enthroned.

W. Bro. Ronald P. Ng
18th Sept. 2005