"But he who expects to arrive at a satisfactory solution of this inquiry must first—as a preliminary absolutely necessary to success—release himself from the influence of an error into which novices in Masonic philosophy are too apt to fall. He must not confound the doctrine of Freemasonry with its outward and extrinsic form. He must not suppose that certain usages and ceremonies, which 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"
While I wouldn't be so bold as to disagree with so eminent a Masonic authority as Albert Macky, or with those writers who have attempted to show the inner workings of a Lodge in higher levels of reality, I do suspect that ritual is more than mere covering.
The proof that this idea may have some merit is in the fact that Freemasonry is still around in spite of the many changes it has experienced throughout the centuries of its history. In some sense ritual may simply be the outer exercise used to encourage inner development. I can weighlift with rocks or with barbells, or with anything heavy, but the muscles develop whatever I use.
But ritual is more than exercise, it teaches whether the A. is in the center of the L. or with the RWM. It teaches whether the Mystical Charge is given or not. It improves a Bro. whether the VSL is on the A. or not. That may be the real mystery of the Craft. It makes good men (and women) better. Some may go deeper into the teachings of Freemasonry, or not.
Since his earliest beginnings, man has used ritual to mark an event or condition as something special, something important. It seems to be built into our synapses. How wonderful it is that sages of the past have incorporated ritual into its method of teaching the Ageless Wisdom!
>I do suspect that ritual is more than mere covering.
There is plenty of experience on this forum to support that proposition.
I suspect Mackey was making the point that the ritual varies a lot across the ages and that we need to go beyond the current formulations.
I would suggest that the higher degrees have been particularly subject to revisions to conform with the beliefs of the time. This makes it rather difficult to penetrate the meanings without external assistance.
Some of us have experience beyond Masonry, so how does the effectiveness of Masonic ritual compare with other rituals?
Even in Masonic ritual the experience can vary a great deal. In American old line LL, if I can make a generalization, the ritual may be letter perfect, but there seems to be a lack of cohesion, a sense of group dynamics. American old line LL don't have the traditions and appreciation of ceremony that is found in Europe. As a result ritual may be protracted with the mistaken idea that it is more sombre, more important than it really is. I think we Americans still feel somewhat uncomfortable with ritual.
British LL of LDH seem to be “warmer,” more cohesive. It's so dangerous to make generalizations in such matters because so much depends on what the BB bring to the ceremonies. Still, I was uniformly impressed by all that I saw and experienced while in England.
As far as non-Masonic ritual is concerned, I've had some experience with theosophical and Rosicrucian rituals and never really could be moved as much as by a Blue Lodge opening. But I am prejudiced and bring a lot to the experience. I see much of the work as derivative.
Church ritual, on the other hand, has had time to develop and mature. Again so much depends on the people in the congregation and the priest at the altar. Good Friday, for example, could be a feel-good assembly, or it could be a wretchedly sorrowful observation of a supposedly historical event.
The substance of ritual really doesn't depend on the historicity of an event. The story of HA may not be true, the crucifixion may not have happened historically, but there is something in us that responds to them in a meaningful way. We can call them authentic responses, whether we appeal to Jungian archetypes or Qabalistic traditions, or whatever. Without that authentic response, ritual seems empty and meaningless.
Does heat come with light? I was giving the address to the newly installed Master at a recent meeting and I became very hot and tears welled up - which was a bit of a shock! Our MPGC was in attendence and I wondered later if her presence affected the lodge energies.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
The Light, in my experience is mild in temperature.
I suspect that getting hot (which I have experienced quite frequently in group meditations) is to do with the limited ability of the body to pass the energy. The tears welling is the result of emotional energies being precipitated on to the physical level.
It can also happen that the room becomes quite cold during a group meditation but I need more observations to analyse.
Does heat come with light? I was giving the address to the newly installed Master at a recent meeting and I became very hot and tears welled up - which was a bit of a shock! Our MPGC was in attendence and I wondered later if her presence affected the lodge energies.
I've had similar experiences, Lorr. Someone once told me that a perfect channel does not siphon off any energy for him or her/self but passes it out into the world directly. Imperfect channels that we are, we are unable to handle all of the power coming in and some of it spills over into our emotions and expresses itself as tears.
Among some orthodox churches tears are called gifts of the Holy Spirit, suggesting that when we approach union with God, the Holy Spirit announces its presence in tears.
I agree with Stepnwolf, but would suggest that however correctly a Masonic ritual is worked, its impact depends to quite a considerable degree to the spirit in which it's worked. If the Columns are properly focussed, the Officers properly in tune with the ritual, and its symbolism is appreciated for what it teaches, then the power of the Lodge's thought form will be enhanced and its presence felt. I think that the Catholics are right about the need for the right intention. They apply that of course to sacraments, but surely it applies equally to any ritual.
I agree with Stepnwolf, but would suggest that however correctly a Masonic ritual is worked, its impact depends to quite a considerable degree to the spirit in which it's worked. If the Columns are properly focussed, the Officers properly in tune with the ritual, and its symbolism is appreciated for what it teaches, then the power of the Lodge's thought form will be enhanced and its presence felt. I think that the Catholics are right about the need for the right intention. They apply that of course to sacraments, but surely it applies equally to any ritual.
There is a similar concept in Judaism, called kavunah (=כונה), which is often translated as intention or direction of the heart. The term refers to an inner state required for the proper recitation of prayer or study. It often takes on a legalistic hue when lack of kavunah invalidates the recitation of a prayer. With kavunah the prayerful Jew can attain the highest reaches of heaven.
I once "saw" an Egyptian raising where the brethren in the columns chanted to drive the candidate out of the body and some of them took the candidate out into the solar system where s/he saw the sun at its meridian even though it was night where the ritual was occurring.
