Age of Enlightenment
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Post by Age of Enlightenment on Jun 6, 2013 18:43:23 GMT 9.5
>The Enlightenment, of which Freemasonry was an expression, premised that the best was yet to come So is the best yet to come in Freemasonry? Freemasonry may have worked its way out of a job.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 7, 2013 9:01:54 GMT 9.5
Are all Freemasons secure in the knowledge that even though they lay down their life for another, they need have no fear?
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Post by ludicrous on Jun 7, 2013 18:59:05 GMT 9.5
Are all Freemasons secure in the knowledge that even though they lay down their life for another, they need have no fear? What do you think?
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Post by LorrB on Jun 8, 2013 21:15:25 GMT 9.5
I think not ... generally speaking.
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Post by mgc on Jun 8, 2013 22:22:24 GMT 9.5
""The Enlightenment, of which Freemasonry was an expression, premised that the best was yet to come and favoured rational new opinions.""
""Freemasonry may have worked its way out of a job.""
i dont see why freemasonry should stop encouraging rational new ideas. the work is far from complete.
""The Dark Ages premised that all wisdom was from the past.""
if wisdom comes from experience, then all wisdom IS from the past. all further knowledge is in the future.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 9, 2013 8:44:17 GMT 9.5
if wisdom comes from experience, then all wisdom IS from the past. all further knowledge is in the future. Wish I had said that.. simple really..
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Post by pseudo-Descartes on Jun 9, 2013 19:13:28 GMT 9.5
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Post by LorrB on Jun 9, 2013 19:42:38 GMT 9.5
Blonde too.
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Post by paul on Jun 10, 2013 8:42:46 GMT 9.5
So far we seem to have come to the position that amongst the privileges of ancient Freemasonry are:
- freedom of thought - sitting with brethren in a lodge.
The first of those may seem somewhat generic and yet I have been in buildings, that even when empty of humans, resisted free thought. The most extreme example I have found is a church in Edinburgh. Restriction on thought is common in large organisations to maintain community of thought and action. Mechanisms are overt and covert, physical, emotional and mental. I am not so sure how well that privilege is delivered in some lodges, but it exists in principle.
The second seems obvious but perhaps it is not. All of us have seen candidates passed and raised but who have not behaved as brothers, so again this privilege exists in principle.
Surely there are other privileges.
And what of the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry?
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Post by LorrB on Jun 11, 2013 9:49:35 GMT 9.5
Faith to move mountains Instantly healing the sick Bringing the dead back to life etc. etc.
It seems that some powers are beyond the ordinary - man the energy of which he can avail himself is not enough to do what needs to be done. I think one of the privileges of a masonic lodge is that when two or more gather with a common the goal, the energy between them is multiplied exponentially. As an HARMONIOUS GROUP (Work as One) we all become more useful/powerful/energetic than we could be as individuals. This is why it is of the utmost importance to screen prospective new members, and if the opportunity arises, to direct individuals to lodges which might suit their person traits, ideals, etc.
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Post by paul on Jun 11, 2013 9:51:36 GMT 9.5
I am not sure how much faith is a Masonic privilege. In Holy Royal Arch we are told that faith and hope fall away and all that is left is charity.
Maybe we can make more progress on the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 11, 2013 9:58:32 GMT 9.5
Sorry I misled you - I wasn't referring to faith, but rather the exponential increase in energies/power/force made available to those who put the personality behind them and work for the common good. (and it is not the Faith generally that moves the mountain, but rather faith in oneself .. ? It is the BELIEF and the WILLINGNESS TO MOVE oneself to pick up the shovel and DO THE 'IMPOSSIBLE' - this takes energy/power/force )
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Post by paul on Jun 11, 2013 10:08:40 GMT 9.5
So is "group intent" a power accessible to a properly functioning lodge? Probably so. In which case it may be also one of the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry.
I wonder what objectives ancient brethren may have had for their lodge intent.
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Post by Gregory Maguire on Jun 11, 2013 17:49:15 GMT 9.5
And what of the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry? "Wisdom is not the understanding of mystery. Wisdom is accepting that mystery is beyond understanding. That's what makes it mystery." - Gregory Maguire.
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Post by paul on Jun 11, 2013 17:56:45 GMT 9.5
.. Wisdom is accepting that mystery is beyond understanding. .. That is just how the priests taught me. When the theological questions got too hard they said: It is a Mystery.
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matter of definition
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Post by matter of definition on Jun 11, 2013 18:03:24 GMT 9.5
.. Wisdom is accepting that mystery is beyond understanding. .. That is just how the priests taught me. When the theological questions got too hard they said: It is a Mystery. That is English for you.
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Post by LorrB on Jun 12, 2013 8:14:14 GMT 9.5
The priests were nicer than some of the nuns ... (But most were lovely!) I guess it all gets back to a matter of degree... The lazy might accept that all things which they do not understand are 'a Mystery' and not even try to increase their understanding, whereas the seekers have been informed by the Volume of Sacred Law/Lore that 'ye shall find'. Little by little, step by step ...
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Post by paul on Jun 12, 2013 8:36:22 GMT 9.5
Personally, I have not been too receptive to being told that certain matters are unknowable.
Hidden mysteries are a challenge to me.
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Post by C. Bruce Hunter on Jun 12, 2013 18:03:59 GMT 9.5
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Post by paul on Jun 12, 2013 18:30:35 GMT 9.5
As Albert Mackey tells us:
He must not confound the doctrine of Freemasonry with its outward and extrinsic form. He must not suppose that certain usages and ceremonies, what exist at this day, but which, even now, are subject to extensive variations in different countries, constitute the sum and substance of Freemasonry. ..... But it must be always remembered that the ceremony is not the substance. It is but the outer garment which covers and perhaps adorns it.....
The Symbolism of Freemasonry p10.
And there are hidden mysteries not encompassed in Masonry as we currently know it.
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