The Value of Masonic Ritual

Masonry is a system of morality, which leads us to ethical relationships with our fellow man. The Ritual is the basis and foundation of Masonic Education. From whence does it come?
In a 1965 address delivered before the Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research, WB Earl V. Martin tells us that “The Tests of the circumambulatory lectures in the rituals of the several degrees were
written by inspired men, and are taken from the Holy Bible. The men who chose them as part of these rituals appear to have been men of great spiritual understanding.” He goes on to further point out that the EA lecture is from Psalm 33, the FC lectures from 1 Corinthians for our Christian Brethren and Amos for our Jewish Brethren, and the
MM Degree from Ecclesiastes.
Have you ever stumbled over those repetitious words and phrases when trying to learn the ritual? As Harry C. Bauer, a member of Walter F. Meier and Century Lodge No. 208, and Professor Emeritus
of Librarianship, University of Washington, in 1972 pointed out,“Word pairings abound in The Holy Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, and in legal forms and documents.” He says that these pairing – connected with the word “and” – merit serious consideration. He implies that these “poetic passages” lend to clarifying their meanings and reducing ambiguities in the Ritual.
In the closing prayer, we pray that “we may daily increase in
faith, hope and charity, more especially that charity which is the bond of peace and the perfection of every virtue.” This 1st Corinthians
scripture of the Holy Bible is referring to the charity of Love, not the financial assistance predominant today.
In the closing Charge of the 3rd Degree, we are to “remind a Brother in the most friendly manner of his fault, to endeavor to aid his reformation, and to defend his character.” A review of Matthew 18: 15-18 provides the biblical reference for this “conflict management.”
Verse 20 of that chapter reminds us that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Brother Bauer also point out that Masonic Ritual is not intended to be easy, that it is “devoid” of memory aids. Memorizing ritual requires concentration, determination, word ssociation, and repetition, repetition and more repetition. It takes extreme selfdiscipline—
self-discipline that is hated as described in Proverbs 5:12.
Research is replete with examples of the origin of Masonic Ritual. The moral and ethical implications are unquestionable. Furthermore, the value of Masonic Ritual is that it is also a character
building tool. Personal self-esteem, character, control, poise, passion,
public speaking ability, word enunciation and confidence are severely
enhanced and improved through one’s ability to memorize and recite the
ritual with meaning and feeling that comes from the heart and soul of
every Mason.
Again quoting Brother Bauer, “Masonic ritual was not devised and
contrived by dreamers and poets. It was created by Masons for Masons,
operative and speculative.” Masonic Ritual is invaluable to the Craft.
Efforts to shorten, change, incorrectly recite reflects unfavorably on
Masons individually, Lodges in general, and the Craft entirely.
A few year back I heard Past Grand Master of Oregon Vern Wertz
speak at Bellingham Bay 44. He told of the “titanic struggle” a baby
chick endures in it’s emergence from “darkness to light,” a struggle that
is “absolutely essential” to its survival. Learning the Masonic Ritual is
also a titanic struggle and absolutely essential to a Mason’s survival in
the Craft – learn it and the light just keeps getting brighter and more
eluminating with every passage learned. Learning the Ritual is similar
to learning scripture, difficult but ever so rewarding!
Masonic Ritual teaches us the morals behind the ethics that
we as Masons so cherish and model in our daily interaction with
mankind. The study of Masonic Ritual will lead us to wisdom,
truth and further light in Masonry. Becoming proficient in
Masonic Ritual builds a man of high character, esteemed for his
poise and confidence when addressing his fellow man. Masonic
Ritual is a necessity – for not only teaching “from whence we
came,” but also for teaching “to where we are going” within the
Craft and our world.
Masonic Ritual teaches, builds, and defines. Its value and benefit
in bringing us, as Masons and Men, closer to God our Maker cannot be
overlooked. Make it a part of your life for the benefit of mankind, for
the benefit of Masonry, and for the benefit of your personal growth.
As WB Hippe points out, “Freemasonry expresses truths which are
universal, and it expresses them in a universal language of symbols
which can be understood without words.”
What is the value of Masonic Ritual? The obvious answer is that
it provides life to Masonry and light to Masons.

References:
The Holy Bible, The Great Light in Masonry. 1968.
The Leadership Bible, Leadership Principles from God’s Word, NIV,
1998.
Symbolism of the Circumambulatory Lectures, An Address by Earl V.
Martin, P.M., Masonic Papers, March, 1966.
The Rhyme and Rhythm of Masonic Ritual, A Paper by Harry C.
Bauer, Masonic Papers, April, 1972.
Working Tools of Freemasonry and Their Symbolism, A Paper by
WB Erwin L. Hippe, Masonic Papers, September, 1981.

 

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Last Words of the Builder King

‘Twas. In the years of long ago
The mighty task was done,
The waiting Craft in silence bow
And list to Solomon:
“Oh bind the tie, Freemasons dear,
Where’er you feet may rove,
With gifts the empty hand to cheer,
The wounded heart with love!
“Whatever lands your skill reward
With Level, Plumb and Square,
Oh teach the Golden Rule of God,
And be Freemasons there.
The bread, the wine of quick relief
Have ready to your hand;
For tear and sigh of brother-grief
Fulfill my last command.
And though from Sion you depart,
Still do your Master’s will,
That you may build, with hand and heart,
Upon the heavenly hill!”

Robert Morris, L.L.D.
Masonic Poet Laureate
1896

On Oaths and Honor
by
Steve Osborn

WHEN Keith Ellison, a Muslim, announced that he intended to take his oath of office on the copy of the Holy Qur’an once owned by Thomas Jefferson, it generated quite a hue and cry. Jefferson would have been astounded by the reaction as he was the author of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, which recognized the right of all men to worship in the manner they choose, free of let or hindrance. WB Carl Claudy wrote a chapter on the subject in his book Old Tiler Talks, which I include below. Book on the Altar “I heard the most curious tale,” began the New Brother seating himself beside the Old Tiler during refreshment. “Shoot!” Commanded the Old Tiler. “Friend of mine belongs to the Midwest Lodge. Seems they elected a chap to become a member but when he took the degree he stopped the work to ask for the Koran in place of the Bible on the altar. Said he wanted the holy book of his faith, and the Bible wasn’t it!” “Yes, go on,” prompted the Old Tiler. “What do they do?” “The officers held a pow-wow and the Master finally decided that as the ritual demanded the ‘Holy Bible, Square and Compasses’ as furniture for the Lodge, the applicant was wrong and that he’d have to use the Bible or not take his degree. And the funny part was that the initiate was satisfied and took his degree with the Bible on the altar. I’m glad they have him and not this Lodge.” “Why?” “Why, a chap who backs down that way can’t have very much courage; I’d have had more respect for him if he’d insisted and if he couldn’t have his way, refused to go on with the degree.” “All wrong, brother, all wrong!” Commented the Old Tyler. “The Mohammedan initiate wasn’t concerned about himself but about the Lodge. He showed a high degree of Masonic principle in asking for his own holy book, and a great consideration for the Lodge. This man isn’t a Christian. He doesn’t believe in Christ. He believes in Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet. The Bible, to you a holy book, is to him no more than the Koran is to you. You wouldn’t regard an obligation taken on a dictionary or a cookbook or the Koran as binding, in the same degree that you would one taken on the Bible. “That’s the way this chap felt. He wanted to take his obligation so that would bind his conscience. The master would not let him, because he slavishly followed the words of the ritual instead of the spirit of Masonry. “Masonry does not limit an applicant to his choice of a name for a supreme being. I can believe in Allah, or Buddha, or Confucius, or Mithra, or Christ, or Shiva, or Brahma, or Jehovah, and be a good Mason. If I believe in a Great Architect that is all Masonry demands; my brethren do not care what I name Him.” “Then think you this chap isn’t really obligated? I must write my friend and warn him –“ ”Softly, softly! Any man with enough reverence for Masonry in advance of knowledge of it, to want his own holy book on which to take an obligation would feel himself morally obligated to keep his word, whether there was his, another’s, or no holy book at all on the Altar. An oath is not really binding because of the book beneath your hand. It is the spirit with which you assume an obligation which makes it binding. The book is but a symbol that you make your promise in the presence of the God you revere. The cement of brotherly love which we spread is not material – the working tools of the Master Mason are not used upon stone but upon human hearts. Your brother did his best to conform to the spirit of our usages in asking for the book he’d been taught to revere. Failing in that through no fault of his own, doubtless he took his obligation with a sincere belief in its sacredness. Legally he would not be considered to commit perjury if he asked for his own book and was forced use another.” “What’s the law got to do with it?” “Just nothing at all, which is the point I make. In England and America, Canada and South America, Australia and part of the continent the Bible is universally used. In Scottish Rite bodies you will find many holy books; but let me ask you this; when our ancient brethren met on hills and valleys, long before Christ, did they use the New Testament on their altars? Of course not; there was none. You can say that they used the Old Testament and I can say they used a Talmud and someone else can say they used none at all, and all of us are as right as the other. But they used a reverence for sacred things. “If you write your friend you might tell them that the ritual which permits a man to name his God as he pleases but demands that a book which reveres one particular God to be used, is faulty. The ritual of Masonry is faulty; it was made by man. But the spirit of Masonry is divine; it comes from men’s hearts. If obligation and books and names of the Deity are matters of the spirit, every condition is satisfied. If I were Master and an applicant demanded anyone or any six books on which to lay his hand while he pledged himself to us, I’d get them if they were to be had, and I’d tell my Lodge what a reverent Masonic spirit was in the man who asked.” “Seems to me you believe a lot of funny things; how many gods do you believe in?” “There is but one,” was the Old Tiler’s answer, “Call him what you will. Let me repeat a little bit of verse for you: ‘At the meuzzin’s call for prayer The kneeling faithful thronged the square; Amid a monastery’s weeds, An old Franciscan told his beads, While on Pushkara’s lofty height A dark priest chanted Brahma’s might, While in the synagogue there came A Jew to praise Jehovah’s Name. The One Great God looked down and smiled And counted each His loving child; For Turk and Brahmin, monk and Jew Had reached Him through the gods they knew.’ “If we reach Him in Masonry, it makes little difference by what sacred name we arrive,” finished the Old Tiler reverently. “You’ve reached me, anyhow,” said the New Brother, shaking hands as if he meant it. Old Tiler Talks Carl H. Claudy 1915, 2 nd ed. 1949 – — — I think Brother Claudy is right. To carry it a bit further; A man, ego driven by greed or lust for power could take an oath in a cathedral, at an Altar stacked with all the Holy books of the world and it would mean no more to him than swearing on last week’s grocery list if it suited his purposes to discard it. The man of honor, however, whether Mason or not, could take an oath on last week’s grocery list, or on nothing at all, and would consider himself bound by his word and his sacred honor to live up to his oath, his given word, wherever and however given.

Garfield Lodge No. 41

F. & A. M. Of Washington
700 NW Crosby Avenue
Oak Harbor,
WA 98277-3863