do you agree that "Know thyself" qualifies as the principal Masonic Imperative?
I would suggest that improved morality is the first imperative of Masonry.
Arguably it is possible to become more moral without increasing self understanding. Most countries have justice systems that operate on that basis.
The FC work of understanding the hidden mysteries of nature and science could be seen to contain self-knowledge as a subset.
Then the work of the MM is found in the temple that extends from E to W and N to S and from the Earth to the Heavens. This takes the MM beyond knowledge into action.
I would suggest that improved morality is the first imperative of Masonry.
Hmmm... is bettered morality an "imperative" or just an unexpected benefit of involvement in Freemasonry? Perhaps I should have framed my question better.
In my jurisdiction we advertise Masonry as a course of ancient hieroglyphic moral instruction. Thank goodness, however, we have never had at either the Local Lodge or Grand Lodge level, a Morality Officer. Is improved morality something that a candidate seeks in joining with us? Or is it a demand that we merely administer upon them once they have come to us for some other purpose? Any "imperative," it would seem to me would need to be essential to the petition process as much as to anything found in the degree work.
The FC work of understanding the hidden mysteries of nature and science could be seen to contain self-knowledge as a subset.
Then the work of the MM is found in the temple that extends from E to W and N to S and from the Earth to the Heavens. This takes the MM beyond knowledge into action.
Another question... any of us who have experienced the three principle degrees are taught the wages of a Fellow Craft. However, as Master Masons we expect to be able to travel in foreign countries work and receive Master's wages. What exactly are Master's wages?
Hmmm... is bettered morality an "imperative" or just an unexpected benefit of involvement in Freemasonry?
In our ritual the new initiate is subjected to a long final charge listing his obligations to God, to his neighbour and to himself. This charge could be seen as a moral imperative.
As the MM has passed by worldly possessions the MM wages cannot be monetary. The MM wages may well be the sweetness and light veiled by the beehive beloved by the Antients.
Is improved morality something that a candidate seeks in joining with us?
As Freemasonry promotes itself as a system which makes good men better, then maybe candidates should come to the Order properly prepared (and willing) to become better men.
There are many lawful actions that could be viewed as immoral - and some moral actions that might be deemed unlawful.
A Master's Wages? .. ever greater service in His Holy Temple .. but working with knowledge and understanding that is not necessarily sourced from the intellect.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
Hands down, Masonry offers something better than any sense of morality invented by government. Our standards are simply more "true."
That is true in principle but not always in practice as a contemplation of governments and Grand Lodges might demonstrate.
But, it hold true on an individual level.
They say Japan was made by a sword. They say the old gods dipped a coral blade into the ocean, and when they pulled it out four perfect drops fell back into the sea, and those drops became the islands of Japan. I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor. -The Last Samurai
I have one of Dr Oldfields special filters which I have used at lodge on the odd occasion. Two things really surprised me when I used it before a lodge meeting in one of the higher degrees.
- a non metallic sword emitted light from its tip which extended to the side of the room - two banners, one each side of the lodgeroom, had a beam of light extending from one to the other
go figure...
I have also seen film of 'sacred' symbols being passed along the torso of a person and seeing the auric field totally changing.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
I have also seen film of 'sacred' symbols being passed along the torso of a person and seeing the auric field totally changing.
That ties in nicely with the work of that japanese prof that studied the effect of different forms of mental energy on watermolecules.. The symbols will have an effect on the person relative to the energy he / she (and any observers to a lesser degree) associates the symbol with.. An identical symbol may have completely diffrent effects on different ppl..
Belief in reincarnation creates a state in which one does not fear death. I think that a lot, if not most, fundamentalist religionists have an abject terror of death - hence their propensity to convert others to their peculiar views. It seemingly provides relief to have myriads of others with you.
It is, however, annoying to the rest of us.
They say Japan was made by a sword. They say the old gods dipped a coral blade into the ocean, and when they pulled it out four perfect drops fell back into the sea, and those drops became the islands of Japan. I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor. -The Last Samurai
More generally, each of us who has a faith (in whatever) may have some nagging doubt as well. This nagging doubt is temporarily diminished by our ability to convince others of the logical necessity of our belief.
The word convince comes from the French convaincre (to conquer). Thus we diminish our doubts by demonstrating our ability to conquer the minds of others.
Those others of course are vulnerable to being conquered by yet further minds and beliefs. Thus if we rely on convincing others to allay our doubts, we must be eternally vigilant to ensure the convinced are not lost to other convictions.
An easy way to do this is to limit access to reading material and the broadcast media.
More generally, each of us who has a faith (in whatever) may have some nagging doubt as well. This nagging doubt is temporarily diminished by our ability to convince others of the logical necessity of our belief.
The word convince comes from the French convaincre (to conquer). Thus we diminish our doubts by demonstrating our ability to conquer the minds of others.
Those others of course are vulnerable to being conquered by yet further minds and beliefs. Thus if we rely on convincing others to allay our doubts, we must be eternally vigilant to ensure the convinced are not lost to other convictions.
An easy way to do this is to limit access to reading material and the broadcast media.
Thus it is ever the way with tyrants, of mind or body.
They say Japan was made by a sword. They say the old gods dipped a coral blade into the ocean, and when they pulled it out four perfect drops fell back into the sea, and those drops became the islands of Japan. I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor. -The Last Samurai
Belief in reincarnation creates a state in which one does not fear death. I think that a lot, if not most, fundamentalist religionists have an abject terror of death - hence their propensity to convert others to their peculiar views. It seemingly provides relief to have myriads of others with you.
It is, however, annoying to the rest of us.
Would it annoy you to listen to the experience of someone who officially died and then came back to life?
Would it annoy you to have someone tell you of their expience re seeing or interacting with aliens or ghosts or some invisible force?
Would you automatically think they were a bit 'misled' one way or the other?
Genuine caring questions. I know I would view some reports with a little suspicion, and I am prone to believe that people do not purposely lie in these matters.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
Post by sallyroberts on Mar 13, 2011 5:26:16 GMT 9.5
I would agree, Paul! I most definitely feel that the FC Degree helped me to find deeper knowledge of myself - how I would react to various challenges and the discovery that I was able to go that little bit further than I thought I did!
do you agree that "Know thyself" qualifies as the principal Masonic Imperative?
I would suggest that improved morality is the first imperative of Masonry.
Arguably it is possible to become more moral without increasing self understanding. Most countries have justice systems that operate on that basis.
The FC work of understanding the hidden mysteries of nature and science could be seen to contain self-knowledge as a subset.
Then the work of the MM is found in the temple that extends from E to W and N to S and from the Earth to the Heavens. This takes the MM beyond knowledge into action.
Sally -- Lodge Light of Amen-Ra No. 717, Or.'. of Surbiton Lodge St. Francis No. 817, Or.'. of Camberley Mark Lodge Nephthys No. 32, Quarries of Surbiton Cofreemasonry:freemasonry for men and women since 1893 On Facebook * On Twitter: #CoFreemason * On WordPress
