Being in England I would go with UGLEs definition of a true freemason, which I know you also disagree with, as you explained here extensively previously.
Please remind me.
Search for your words on tolerance Tamrin, remember you stated that it was just the opinion of the chap who wrote the ugle website. Even though as HRH The Duke of Kent spoke about it in a recent speech in GL.
Given how determined you were in defending your position and how recent it was I am suprised you dont remember.
I don't know about inner sponsors standing on the three columns, but I have always understood that Sanat Kumara, aka The Ancient of Days, and St Germain were some of the great powers behind Freemasonry... oops and El Morya, I guess that makes three
The name Sanat Kumara is why some Christians think we worship Satan. Wonder what they make of Santa Clause.
Sanat Kumara - (also known as The Ancient of Days, Regent Lord of the World, Karttikeya, Skanda, Seventh Ray, Violet Flame, Freedom of God)
"This Melchizedek, King of Salem, Priest of the Most High God ...was, in the first place, as His Name means, King of Righteousness, and besides that, King of Salem (that is King of Peace). Being without father or mother or ancestry, having neither beginning of days nor end of life... He remains a priest in perpetuity.)" - Hebrews, VII, 1-4, Weymouth Translation. BC 43.
In Hinduism, Sanat Kumara is sometimes called Skanda, or Karttikeya, who represents the "Man of Perfection who has discovered the Supreme Self. The wielding of his spear of annihilation symbolizes the destruction of all negative tendencies which veil the Divine Self." Skanda-Karttikeya, is also acclaimed as the god of wisdom and learning. He is said to bestow spiritual powers upon his devotees, especially the power of knowledge.
In the Hindu mystic tradition, Karttikeya is known as Guha, which means "cave" or Secret One, because he lives in the cave of your heart.
Ahura Mazda, is Sanat Kumara. Ahura Mazda means "Wise Lord" or "Lord who bestows intelligence." He is the dispeller of ignorance. He represents the principle of Good and is the guardian of mankind and the opponent of the Evil principle.
For those that have an interest in metaphysics, found this site. I am not familiar with the person presenting the info, but so far as I can tell it is what I have read from more familiar literature.
With the 3 GMs standing on the columns in the EA TB, since we all meet on the level, I might conclude that the 3 GMs are actually standing on the floor of the (nearest) temple in the heavens.
Here we can see the columns are connected to a higher floor
And here we can see the 3 GMs
So who are the 3 GMs actually representing in the EA TB?
Any clues? Like who commissioned the artist? The backgrounds of those in charge of producing this particular TB could/would influence the answer I think.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
I saw one of the sponsors of Masonry in action last night. We had lent out an apprentice to another lodge so that they could do a real passing on Tuesday, and last night we were to pass another apprentice but he was called away to work so we did an emulation on the new FC.
At the obligation I noticed a energy come into the top of his forehead. The energy entry gradually moved down his face and progressively down the front of his chest until it was entering his heart directly. (This rather surprised me as I was used to energy flows going through the body once the original contact was made.)
Anyway I asked him afterwards if he had felt anything during the obligation. He said that there was a warm sensation flowing down from his head. (It must have made him rather hot as he wiped his forehead twice after the obligation was complete)
To my observation the energy was a flow from the GAOTU - via a local delegate.
When such flows occur it is a demonstration that the lodge, or at least the candidate, is attracting one of the sponsors of Masonry
The two saints aren't the saints from scripture by the way...just thought I'd throw that out there.
Quite so, as they represent the Spring and Autumn equinoxes.
This has a purpose in Operative Masonry.
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