I noticed this in my browsing. It makes some interesting points about Freemasonry.
"It fell into the snare of materialism, and the outer form has for centuries been of more importance in the eyes of freemasons than the inner spiritual meaning. The symbols and the system of allegories have been emphasized, whilst that which they were intended to convey and to reveal to the initiated has been forgotten. Also, the trend of the attention of a lodge of masons, and the main emphasis, has been potently placed on the function and place of the W. Master and not upon the inner significance of the work upon the floor of the temple. The lodge has not been regarded as an integrated functioning entity."
Are we able to evaluate the statement without reference to authority?
And the key words are "an integrated functioning entity" ?!
I found the study of how the subconscious works (not an in depth study I hasten to point out) a most illuminating experience. Maxwell Freedom Long's book 'The Secret Science Behind Miracles' was the most entertaining (light) book on the subject.
I particularly loved this book because it gave the only plausible explanation I had heard of for why and how the two deacons work as they do upon the floor of the lodge. I think it was that book that revealed to me 'the secret' of Freemasonry.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
>the key words are "an integrated functioning entity"
I am currently in a lodge where most of the officers are PM and get on well with each other. It is noticeable how much better the ritual feels when there is well established harmony. Harmony seems a precondition for integration.
Hint... the SD has to await the return of the JD... there is something really important going on here. Why would a snr have to wait for a jnr?
In our ritual at the opening we see the JD 'communicatesmessages' (?) between the SW and the JW.. and the JD is positioned very nicely to do so. Communicating might indicate some ease in that process, and as you say co-operation and harmony.
The SD of the other hand is positioned elsewhere and is 'directed to pass on commands' ... a King's servant indeed.
If one matches the three types of consciousness we possess with the three principal officers .. one might discover how our mind/s (the Builder of our world/s) works.
Our conscious selves and subconscious selves are quite co-operative (though the subconscious mind does tend to take things rather too literally at times ... be careful what you pray for )
Huna tells us that to access the Spirit, the Grand Parental Self, God, one must first gain the attention and cooperation of the subconscious mind. To 'follow God's will' we must also gain the attention and cooperation of the subconscious mind.
Meeting in the middle so as to speak.
Meditation, contemplation are really useful.
Last Edit: Sept 12, 2012 11:18:54 GMT 9.5 by LorrB
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
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