the florida york rite mason vol. 3 issue 3

Vol. 3 Issue 3

Masonry and Its Symbols

York Rite MasonThe Florida

The Florida York Rite Mason Magazine Volume 3 Issue 3 October 2009 Official Quarterly E-Publication of the Florida Grand York Rite Bodies

ContentPage 3 - Words from the Grand York Rite Communication Committee

Page 4 - The Fellowcraft Degree - Winding Stairs

Page 9 - Book Review - The Lost SymboL

Page 10 - Symbols & Symbolism

Page 13 - Illustrated by Symblos

Page 16 - Behind the Symbol

0 - Plot Summary “The Lost Symbol

Page 21 - 2010 Grand York Rite Convention Souvenir Program

Page 24 - News From Across The State

Page 28 - Knights Templar Drill Teams in Florida

Page 29 - York Rite Leadership - Reengaging Lodge Members by S.K. David A. Aponte

Page 31 - York Rite Membership - Retaining Members By S.K. Henry Adams

Page 33 - York Rite Announcements

Page 39 - Knight Templar Items

Article(s), Event(s), News, Announcements , etc, to be published in our next issue, need to be forwarded to the following Companions, on or before the next deadline: David A. Aponte - [email protected] ; Charles “Chic” Cicero - [email protected] or Ron Blaisdell - [email protected]

Page 2

Are you the image of Freemasonry, in general, and York Rite, in particular?

Symbols Companions and Sir Knights: Fraternal greetings. I hope every-one is doing well. Summer is defi-nitely over. Every York Rite Bod-ies in Florida is working full-steam

with stated meetings, events, festivals, etc. With the same dynamics, Dan Brown published his new novel “The Lost Symbol”. In the novel, our frater-nity is seen in a positive light. The History Chan-nel has presented in the past months more doc-umentaries on Freemasonry than in the previous two years. More recently, the channel presented a 2 hour program titled :The Holy Grail in America”. Due to this phenomenon, we have printed articles related to Masonic symbols. We hope this will re-fresh for some the meaning of some our Masonic symbols. For others, we hope it incites a curosity to further your Masonic education. A Companion and friend e-mailed me the art of this issue’s cover. It conveys the symbolic uni-verse of Freemasonry. Unfortunately, the name of the Brother/Companion who did the art is unknown. But we thank him as it gave us the theme of our is-sue. The Other news we need to convey, the Com-munication Committee is seeking an editor for the magazine. This is due to the responsabilities I will be assuming in the next two years. My duties will finish after the April issue. Companion / Sir Knight if you are interested we will help you with the soft-ware, training and provide guidance. Let us not have this communication media die due to inertia.We need your assistance and support.

Words From The GYR Communications Committee

Fraternally

S. K. David A. Aponte, Grand Generalissimo

Chairman

The deadline for our next issue is December 15th.

Please submit your articles, pictures, and events timely.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Communication Committee is looking for a creative, hard-working and computer-skilled Companion to be the next Floirda York Rite Mason Magazine editor. Software and training will be offered.

Deadline December 31, 2009

The ceremonies of Freemasonry make great use of many symbols. These symbols facilitate and encourage the careful consideration of virtues and ideals. Symbols are subject to broad interpretation and use; Freemasonry affords us the great advantage of being able to think freely about their possible meanings and how to apply the life lessons they may suggest. The 2nd degree or Fellow Craft degree of Freemasonry and its Lecture, at face value, seems pretty straight forward. The Lecture says so itself: “the second degree embraces science and history”. The Fellow Craft degree is sandwiched in between two degrees stuffed full of symbolism, allegory, philosophy and not a little morality. This paper reviews its Lecture and attempts to zero in on potential symbolism related to the two pillars.

Let’sfirstbrieflyrecount theLecture. Aftersome introduction, we approach a porch about which nothing is said or explained; perhaps the subject of this porch is a paper for another time.

Before we pass between two pillars, they are described; how they were constructed, their use as an archive, their size, dimensions, how they were ornamented. This sounds like history that we can find in 2nd Chronicles, Chapter 3 and 1st KingsChapter 7, if memory serves correctly. They may also allude to the Pillars of Enoch. The Globes atop the Chapiters seem to be a modern addition, modern asinperhapsthelate1700sorearly1800s.SotheGlobes don’t qualify as Scriptural history, but easily fall into the category of science.

Next we start climbing steps. Fifteen in all. The 1st three are pretty straight forward – a littlehistory or Masonic education. They’re explained as representing the three degrees of Freemasonry and the threeOfficersof theLodge. It isnotuntil the

Master Mason lecture that some deeper symbolism is suggested for them. From there we continue climbing steps of history andscience.Thefiveordersofarchitectureareexplained–thisseemslikeallhistory.Thepropositionthatisnotand that the five orders of architecture symbolicallyconceal some lesson, is also a paper for another day. To the Fellow Craft, they are all history.

TheFiveSenses? All science. Theoptionalportions of the Lecture do contain some symbolism, butlet’sfaceit,thesefivestepsarehistoryandscience.“What therefore could be a more proper subject for the investigation of Masons?”

Next? Seven liberal art and sciences. There is some philosophy here, but the big message is “get an education”. Learn to write, speak, reason, compute and figure;roundoureducationoutwithmusicappreciation.Study the universe. So finally we make our way to top and sneakpast two guards to reach the Middle Chamber, only to hear more geometry, science and history. While the closing portion of the Lecture in The Florida Monitor is entitled“theMoralAdvantagesofGeometry”,let’sadmitsomething to ourselves. When we hear this Lecture, we hear history, the origins of Freemasonry; we hear science, we hear “get an education, improve yourself” – noneof which should be dismissed or glossed over as trivial or inconsequential. The Lecture contains important admonitions – but admonitions that are very obvious.Too obvious. Too obvious for us Masons, so let’s slow down and back up.

First, let’s back track to think about the steps. Let’s return to that unexplained porch at the base of the stairs. These are not just stairs, they are winding stairs. Picture them in your mind. The stairs probably start in the corner of a room. Three steps up to a landing; then, say,a45degreebend;upfivestepstoanotherlandingandthenanotherturn;perhapsaturnof90degrees.We’re

The Fellow Craft Degree – Winding Stairs, the Two Pillars and Karen Armstrong

by Companion Casey Fletcher

told there are seven more steps, but they are hidden from our view. We can not see all the steps from the porch. Picture these stairs in your mind.

We stand at the base of the stairs and we perceivesomethingupthere.Whatisit?IsitLight?IsitDanger?Isitafool’serrandtoclimbthesesteps?IsthereWisdomtobefoundupthere?Wecannotseethe top, the Middle Chamber...because the stairs wind. Notuntilthe3rdstepcanweseethe8th,notuntilthe8thcanweseethe15th. Wemustbeginthisclimbwithout knowing where the next step may lead, what is beyond the next turn. We see the climb; we may perceive it as arduous, requiring perseverance and strength, but we can not see the whole path, we cannot see the destination. There is something profound here. The symbolism of the winding stairs may be life itself. For such it is with life, we climb, grow, we toil, yet we know not where the journey of today’s step leads; we know not its fate or outcome. Perhaps when envisioning this mental picture of the Winding Stairs,wewillflashbacktothelessonsoftheEnteredApprenticeLecture. For certainly, to embarkuponsuch a journey, not knowing the itinerary, not really knowing the destination, what the obstacles are, where the rest stops may be -- such a pursuit certainly will require some combination of Prudence and Fortitude, and perhaps some Temperance also.

Well, we’re still in the porch, at the bottom of the stairs, so let’s focus on those two pillars, those two beautifulbrazenpillars.IstheirpresenceinMasonrymerely some recitation of Biblical history, with a little spherical science place atop them?

Isthatit?Theremainderofthispaperpondersthis question and is its real point. What may we learn from these two pillars – these two pillars throughwhichwemustfirstpass?

The pillars may have been first introducedintheEnteredApprenticeLecture. Thepillarsmayrepresent or symbolize two perpendicular parallel

lines that represent the Holy Saints John. (When learning the Entered Apprentice Lecture, it tooksome hard thinking to figure out how somethingcan be both perpendicular and parallel. It took awhile for the light bulb to come on and to realize the lines are perpendicular to the earth, like a Plumbline, and parallel to each other. So also are the pillars, perpendicular and parallel.)

The two pillars may represent the Holy Saints John and if we perceive them as such, they link us back to lessons learned earlier and, thus, induce some spiritualreflectionandsomeMasonicpondering.

Now recover that mental picture of the winding stairs.Eraseitandstartover.Instead,thinkabouttheold tracing boards, the winding stairs reaching to an upper chamber…winding stairs rising from a mosaic pavement and surrounded by Masonic symbols.

What is missing from this picture?

There are no hand rails! No guard rails to keep us between the ditches, so to speak. Think aboutthat.Nohandrails.OSHAwouldhaveafit!There is nothing depicted upon the winding stairs of those old tracing boards to keep us from tumbling off either side.

Perhaps that iswhywefirstpast throughthepillars. The guard rails are only at the front of the journey. Perhaps this is a clear message or admonition that our lives, thoughts and conduct best be in balance as we start climbing. Harmony and balance are required at the beginning of the journey – they arenot outcomes, they are prerequisites in our search for Light.

We can go a lot of directions with such pondering. Some may be quite simple: the pillars may symbolize a balance between Labor and Refreshment; a balance between work and family; harmony between our vocations and avocations; a balance between our operative lives and our speculative lives. And aswe embark on our journey,wemust


maintain this balance and harmony. Which is not so simple–notsosimpleasbalancingworkandplay.We must also balance the many competing virtues and ideals we, as Masons, seek to exemplify.

Do virtues compete and conflict? Thinkabout that.

Mercy. Justice. Doweseek toexemplifyboth? Of course. Can we have both in full proportion atthesametime?Toughordertofill.Perhapsonepillar is Mercy and the other is Justice.

We can make a list of such competing virtues or worthy ideals and ascribe one to each pillar. Generosity ThriftLiberality FrugalityOpen-mindedness ConvictionKindness FirmnessServitude LeadershipSecurity LibertyCharity Self-reliancePatience ActionFreeWill DeterminismToleration ZealPhysical Metaphysical

Consider how often in our lives, and indeed inourcivilization,weexperienceconflict,confusionand contention because two worthy ideals collide or compete. Perhaps this is the metaphor of the two pillars–balance.Balanceinourlives,actionsandsociety. Perhaps these two pillars admonish up to harmonize competing virtues and worthy ideals. Without such harmony, the climb up the winding stairs is for naught. We’ll fall off one side or the other. The hand or guard rails are only at the bottom of the stairs, at the start of the climb. Let’s continue our pillar-pondering by thinking about the mother of all competing propositions, names we might give these two pillars intheporchofKingSolomon’sTemple.

Reason Faith and/or Science Religion

Could not our passing between the two pillars, admonish us, indeed demand us of, to find somebalance, some harmony between Reason and Faith? Can we attain any glimmer of Light, any small seed of Wisdom that does not require us to demonstrate and possess both? Can we have one without the other?

So does one pillar represent Reason and one Faith? To focus squarely on that question, we’ll consider the writings and thoughts of two modern day writers and thinkers, RichardDawkins andKarenArmstrong.

RichardDawkinsisascientist,anevolutionarybiologist and writer. His most famous book is The God Delusion. His earliest work was The BlindWatchmaker which was a counter argument to William Paley (1743–1805; the parable of the watchmakerwas derived by him). Karen Armstrong is a prolific writer oncomparative religion. One of her more prominent books is The History of God. Some of their recent thoughts were extracted from an article published inTheWall Street Journal onSeptember 12, 2009,entitled “Man and God”.

Their article was presented as a point –counter-point on the matter of Science and Religion (their article was clearly not intended as a discourse on Masonic symbolism). The purpose of including portions of it in this paper is not to replicate their point, counter-point, but to digest enough of their thoughts to ponder the issue at hand: could one pillar be Science or Reason and the other pillar be Religion or Faith?

In the article, Richard Dawkins asserts and


advocates for Reason or Science, and only for them. Here is a condensed version of what he had to say (none of his words have been changed, but many have been omitted for brevity or because they are not applicable to the symbolism we’re considering). This paperborrowsonlysomuchofDawkin’spositionasto make the case for Science and Reason and/or to provide a contrast and introduction to the comments ofKarenArmstrongthatwillfollowhis:“Before 1859 it would have seemed natural toagree with the Reverend William Paley, in "Natural Theology," that the creation of life was God's greatest work. Especially…human life. … What is so special about life? It never violates thelaws of physics. Nothing does… But although life never violates the laws of physics, it pushes them into unexpected avenues that stagger the imagination…The laws of physics, before Darwinian evolutionbursts out from their midst, can make rocks and sand, gas clouds and stars, whirlpools and waves, whirlpool-shaped galaxies and light that travels as waves while behavinglikeparticles.Itisaninteresting,fascinatingand, in many ways, deeply mysterious universe. But now, enter life. Look, through the eyes of a physicist, at a bounding kangaroo, a swooping bat, a leaping dolphin, a soaring Coast Redwood. There never was a rock that bounded like a kangaroo, never a pebble that crawled like a beetle seeking a mate, never a sandgrain that swam like awaterflea.Not oncedo any of these creatures disobey one jot or tittle of the laws of physics. Far from violating the laws of thermodynamics…they are relentlessly driven by them. Far from violating the laws of motion, animals exploit them to their advantage as they walk, run, dodgeandjink,leapandfly,pounceonpreyorspringto safety.

Never once are the laws of physics violated, yet life emerges into uncharted territory. And how is thetrick done? The answer is a process that, although variableinitswondrousdetail,issufficientlyuniformto deserve one single name: Darwinian evolution,the nonrandom survival of randomly varying coded

information. We know, as certainly as we know anything in science, that this is the process that has generated life on our own planet…

Itstartswithprimevalsimplicityandfosters,byslow,explicable degrees, the emergence of complexity: seemingly limitless complexity—certainly up to our human level of complexity and very probably way beyond…

Darwinian evolution is theonlyprocessweknowthat is ultimately capable of generating anything as complicated as creative intelligences. Once it has done so, of course, those intelligences can create other complex things: works of art and music, advanced technology, computers, the Internetand who knows what in the future? Darwinianevolution may not be the only such generative process in the universe. There may be other[s]… that we have not yet discovered or imagined. But, however wonderful and however different from Darwinianevolution…theycannotbemagic.TheywillsharewithDarwinianevolutionthefacility toraise up complexity, as an emergent property, out of simplicity, while never violating natural law…”

This quotation of Dawkin’s omits hisconclusions about God, simply because they are not the topic at hand. His contribution to this paper is in his role as a scientist. Hopefully, we can hear and respect his case for Science and Reason and use his words to make the case that perhaps one of those pillars on the porch represents Science or Reason. Ifwe listen closely toDawkins in thisregard, we may hear a portion of the Fellow Craft Lecture “Numberless worlds are around us…which roll through the vast expanse and are all conducted by the same unerring law of Nature.”

His view presents a contrast and introduction toArmstrong’s;Armstrongmightpersuadeusthatone pillar is Religion or Faith and that it must be in harmony with the pillar Science or Reason.


AswithDawkins,noneofArmstrong’swritingin the article have been changed, although a lot has been omitted in the interest of brevity.“…Darwinmayhavedonereligion…afavorbyrevealingaflaw inmodernWestern faith.Despiteour scientificand technological brilliance, our understanding of God isoftenremarkablyundeveloped—evenprimitive.Inthepast,manyofthemostinfluentialJewish,ChristianandMuslim thinkers understood that what we call "God" is …a symbol that points beyond itself to an indescribable transcendence, whose existence cannot be proved but is only intuited by means of spiritual exercises and a compassionate lifestyle that enable us to cultivate new capacities of mind and heart.

Butbytheendof the17thcentury, insteadof lookingthrough the symbol to "the God beyond God," Christians were transforming it into hard fact. Sir IsaacNewtonhad claimed that his cosmic system proved beyond doubt the existence of an intelligent, omniscient and omnipotent creator, who was obviously "very well skilled in Mechanicks and Geometry." Enthralled by the prospect of such cast-iron certainty, churchmen started todevelopascientifically-basedtheologythateventuallymade Newton's Mechanick and, later, William Paley's Intelligent Designer Symbolism was essential to pre-modern religion, because it was only possible to speak about the ultimate reality—God, Tao, Brahman or Nirvana—analogically, since it lay beyond the reach of words. Jews and Christians both developed audaciously innovativeandfigurativemethodsofreadingtheBible,and every statement of the Quran is called an ayah ("parable").StAugustine(354-430),amajorauthorityfor both Catholics and Protestants, insisted that if a biblical text contradicted reputable science, it must be interpreted allegorically. This remained standard practiceintheWestuntilthe17thcentury,wheninanefforttoemulatetheexactscientificmethod,Christiansbegan to read scripture with a literalness that is without parallel in religious history.

Most cultures believed that there were two recognized ways of arriving at truth. The Greeks called them mythos and logos. Both were essential and neither was superior to the other; theywere not in conflictbut complementary, each with its own sphere of competence. Logos ("reason") was the pragmatic mode of thought that enabled us to function effectively in the world and had, therefore, to correspond accurately to external reality. But it could not assuage human grieforfindultimatemeaning in life's struggle.Forthat people turned to mythos, stories that made no pretensions to historical accuracy but should rather be seen as an early form of psychology; if translated into ritual or ethical action, a good myth showed you how to cope with mortality, discover an inner source of strength, and endure pain and sorrow with serenity.

In theancientworld,acosmologywasnot regardedas factual but was primarily therapeutic; it was recited when people needed an infusion of that mysterious power that had—somehow—brought something out of primal nothingness: at a sickbed, a coronation or during a political crisis. Some cosmologies taught people how to unlock their own creativity, others made them aware of the struggle required to maintain social andpoliticalorder…Therecanneverbeadefinitiveversion of a myth, because it refers to the more imponderable aspects of life. To remain effective, it must respond to contemporary circumstance…

Religion was not supposed to provide explanations that lay within the competence of reason but to help us live creatively with realities for which there are no easysolutionsandfindaninteriorhavenofpeace…religion is not an exact science but a kind of art form that, like music or painting, introduces us to a mode of knowledge that is different from the purely rational andwhichcannoteasilybeputintowords.Atitsbest,it holds us in an attitude of wonder, which is, perhaps, notunliketheawethatMr.Dawkinsexperiences…when he contemplates the marvels of natural selection.


But what of the pain and waste that Darwinunveiled?

All the major traditions insist that thefaithful meditate on the ubiquitous suffering that is an inescapable part of life; because, if we do not acknowledge this uncomfortable fact, the compassion that lies at the heart of faith is impossible. The almost unbearable spectacle of the myriad species passing painfully into oblivion is not unlike some classic Buddhist meditations on the First Noble Truth ("Existence is suffering"), [which is] the indispensable prerequisite for the transcendent enlightenment that some call Nirvana—and others call God.”

Armstrong appears to be standing in ortraveling through our Masonic porch, seeing our two pillars and calling them Reason and Faith. She recognizes, and perhaps admonishes us to consider the lessons and values of each and find harmonybetween the two.----- But as we started this presentation, let’s remember that Freemasonry affords us the great advantage of being able to think freely about the possible meanings of symbols and individually to decide what life lessons may be espoused. In retrospect, perhaps the Fellow Craftdegree is all simply about embracing science and history. Sometimes a pillar is just a pillar. Maybe it is just that simple. But maybe not. Maybe, these two pillars we so routinely consider, and maybe even dismiss as historical and scriptural artifacts or relics, have a stillhighersignificance. Theymaybegiganticsymbols. Those two perpendicular, parallel columns may be symbolic hand rails, admonishing us to find, develop and maintain balance and harmony


between and among competing virtues and ideals, not the least of which is Faith and Reason, Mythos andLogos; tofindandmaintain thatharmonyweneed as we climb the winding stairs of life in search of that Light which emanates from within a higher chamber and from a Greater Source.-----------------------------The author is the Tyler of Winter Haven Council No.115,AlliedMasonicDegrees,whichconvenesin Lakeland, Florida. He reads a lot and readily professes that this paper contains little in the way of original thinking. His humble apologies are offered to Mr. Dawkins and Ms. Armstrong aswell as to the many authors whose writings he may have subconsciously plagiarized without proper acknowledgement herein.

Ineedtoapproachthisreviewintwoparts,onefroma reader lay perspective, and one from a Masonic perspective. The Masonic perspective can be found here.DanBrown’snewbook,TheLostSymbol,remindedmeofaparable. Aparable isastoryembellishedwith perhaps some grains of reality to convey a broaderideaoftruth.DanBrowninhisnewbook,The Lost Symbol, has artfully woven an update of an ancient parable into a modern suspense novel that features prominently the one group that should

Book Review The Lost SymbolAuthor Unknown

Look for this symbol to continuereading the book review

Symbols reveal the intriguing mechanism of Heaven and Earth; they explicate the “gear” of human machinery; they conduct mankind to the atom and the relations between individuals and nature; they narrate the evolution of those human races that barely made it to the boundaries of Science and Civilization.Dailyeventsarenotasinsignificantastheyseematfirstsight. Symbols have accompanied Man and Woman since the beginning of time and have helped them to communicatewiththeDivinethroughtheperspectiveof all religions.The principal function of the Symbols is to grant access to levels of reality that are otherwise unapproachable, and to open the Human Understanding to unsuspected perspectives. ItisafactthatthewordSymbolisusedratherlightlyin our vocabulary: We Free-Masons are told about a triangle, a circle, a cross, a star, a few tools of construction, about the history of a good man killed by evil individuals… Here lies everything that is praised by the Intelligence of all nations.Whilst landscapeschange from one region to another, that matters very little, for there, where sketches of triangles, stars, crosses, crescent moons and working tools appear, people still relate the stories of Good Gods and their Messengers-Prophets who once lived amongst them.To the majority, these signs are supernatural characters. Their complex secret reveals a divine history, the legend of a good and exemplar individual, a martyrdom, a hero’s task, which multitudes adore without even comprehending. This, is the religion of ancestors murmuredbymultitudes.ItistheidenticalfervorthatmovestheArabtoprostratehimselfbeforetheCubeoftheKa’aba,theChristianbeforetheCross,andtheJewbefore a Rectangular Wailing Wall.Symbols are as ancient as the Human Race; they were the manifestexpressionofthefirsttwinkleofIntelligencethat enabled Men and Women to formulate ideas that tookshapeintheirmindsbeforethemagnificent

spectacleofnature.ItisbywayofsymbolsthattheEgyptians communicated their knowledge of Esoteric Philosophy.Generally, thefirst teachingofaword,in various ancient civilizations such as: Chaldeans, Mayans, Greeks and Celts, consisted of symbols.According to those who make a living throughScience, these “signs” are symbols with which men represent their activities. To the Priest, they manifest the Truth revealed by God, they are the sacred letters ofthatgreatbookknownasHeaven.TotheInitiate,Symbols constitute the synthetic expression of a marvelous and ancestral science of which men have lost all memories. They teach in an immutable form all that has been, all thatisandallthatwillbe.Inshort,symbolsrepresentthe crystallized gems of the great works of the past, left by all races before perishing, in order to transmit, through Time, their intellectual soul.Mackey defines Symbol as a visible sign throughwhich a spiritual sentiment, an emotion or idea is represented. Lawrence Frau defines it as anemblematicfigureorsignificantimagery.Thecreedor summary contained within the articles of any faith. The eternal and visible sign through which we connect to an idea, an emotion and/or a spiritual sentiment.The French word Symbole comes from the Greek Sumbolon which literally means: to compare. Rene Alleau,inhiswork“NatureofSymbols”,states:TheSymbol “squeezes”, or, rather, suggests irrational truths, retaining as a consequence an air of mystery; it escapes in great part the domain of Reason, and though said reason is not all spiritual it merges with the sacred, thus becoming the language of the Gods. The objective character of a symbol that represents something material to sight and touch, as depiction of a more profound thing, was more comprehensible to the human mind of the early ages of the world.One of the ideas of Symbolism is to suggest the

Symbols and Symbolism By: Bro. Carlos Antonio Martinez, Jr, 32º, P:.V:.M:.K:.(Reprinted from www.FremasonInformation.Com)

inexplicable, to make it acquiesce by the transpositions that it permits to effectuate from one order to another, fromthe inferior to thesuperior. Itsgraphicmodeofexpression is based on the relation of analogy between the idea attempted to convey and the image by which is transmitted.ANCIENTMYSTERIESANDSYMBOLISMWith respect to the term “Mysteries”, no semi-educated mind can doubt that Symbols were the Universal LanguageofAncientTheology, for theTutorsof theAncientWorld – in likenesswithNature – impartedtheir teachings by way of sight. The ancient sages of Persia, Egypt and Greece adopted the custom of surrounding their doctrineswith enigmas difficult tointerpret, illustrating men and women with imagery and parables that were more within their reach and knowledge. So were the Mysteries a succession of symbols, and the oral aspect of the same an explanation of their significance; in them were amalgamatedsacred commentaries, ideas about Physics and Morals, theories about Creation, allegories about Nature, the relation between planets and elements, and all other conceptions regarding the relation between the Gods and mankind.The word Mystery comes from the Greek word Musterion, which means: “Secret that must remain Occult”, hence the strict Silence that must be observed and our consequential familiarization with another term which is etymologically applied to everything related to Mysteries: “Mystic”, a word derived from the Greek “Mustikos” which is an adjective of “Mustes” or Initiates, a reason forwhichMystic is considereda synonym of Initiate, and henceforth the essential“mysterious relation” between Initiations and SilentSecretDoctrines.Inthemostexteriorsense,Mysteryis that which should not be talked about, that which is prohibitedtomakeknowntotheoutsider.Inasecondmore interior sense, the Mystery designates what is received in Silence, that about which no discussion should be had, for these are truths that by virtue of their supra-natural/rational nature, are above any discussion.Finally, there is a third much more profound sense in which the Mystery is properly Inexpressible, it canonly be contemplated in silence, and for that reason is incommunicable. There exists an alliance between philosophical systems

and symbols that are evident in monuments of all ages, and in the symbolic writings of the Parents of Nations that later came to be part of the rituals of Secret Mystic Societies. It was in this waythat Patriarchs and Matriarchs alike expressed themselves through a constant series of invariable and uniform principles that form a harmonious and perfect conjunction which together definea ceremony of religious and cryptic nature that necessitates a preparation or initiation on the part of the individual who desires to comprehend them. Thus exist Lesser and Greater Mysteries, being the first ones those of symbolic natureand common use, those that comprise all that is related with the development of possibilities of the human condition and that culminate with what has been denominated Restoration of Primordial State; and these are nothing but the preparation for the Greater Mysteries, which appertain to the realization of supra-human states, taking the individual from the condition in which he/she was left in the Lesser Mysteries and conducting him/her through stages of spiritual order until the Supreme Identity. Hence the dominanceof the Greater Mysteries over Metaphysical Knowledge.Theyarethemostexaltedandbringthe initiate/adept closer to the occult truths of divinity.Tocharacterizethesetwoterms–Lesserand Greater Mysteries – we can utilize twogeometric symbols: to the firstwe can assign ahorizontal line, symbolical and representative of human dominion, which, in turn, serves as a base to the second: a vertical line allegorical of one’s ascension to the heavens, a supra-human realizationidentifiedwithsuperiorstates.All the philosophers that illustrated antiquitywere disciples of initiation, being the progress and foundation of the mysteries what, in those times, permitted mankind to free itself from superstitions. Only the Mysteries could liberate man and woman from barbarousness. From them are derived the doctrines of Sages of the likes of Zoroaster, Confucius, Plato and, of course, Hermes Trismegistus. Such is the vastness and timelessness of the Ancient Mysteriesthat fragments of them can be appreciated still

Symbols and Symbolism

influencingthevariousRitesofthemodernMasonicOrder. Some of the most important to date are the rites of Osiris in Egypt, those of Mithra in Persia, those ofAdonis in Syria, those ofDionysius andEleusis inGreeceand thoseof theDruids amongtheCelts,tomentionafew.InalltheMysteriescanbe found a common factor indicating a same origin: all initiations had a funereal aspect and were about a type of mystical death and resurrection alluding to a heroic personage or semi-god. Through the assimilation of the Mysteries the Candidate was instructed in the subordination of the Degrees,physical trials and tests of knowledge were given in the darkness of the night, the aspirant had to be solemnly and severely tried and entirely purifiedin order to attain Wisdom and Light. The Esoteric character of the mysteries remained preserved by way of mandates and oaths of secrecy whose violation was punished with death. The legend of Osiris offered our fore-brothers and sisterstheirfirstglimpseoftheMasonicSymbolismofImmortality,whenIsisfoundalushacaciatreeover the grave of her dead husband Osiris. This imageryandconceptwastaken–muchlater–bytheJews, mainly due to their leaders Moses and Joseph who were both Egyptian Priests and Nobles. Atsome point, much later in time, the story of Hiram, the martyr-hero of the 3rd Degree, was created,emulating for posterity his allegorical death and resurrection in the persona of every initiate, and the

rather timely and propitious symbolism of the sprig of acacia; In the mysteries of Mithra, Zoroastersecluded the initiates in lugubrious caverns, a striking ceremony that was later adopted by most Mystery Schools until it reached the Masonic ritual in the form of the Chamber of Reflection; TheEleusian initiation demanded that the aspirant remain stationary through various intervals of time, hence theAgesofMasonry;InthemysteriesofIndia,thecandidate journeyed three times describing a circle that stopped in the South, Symbolic Masonry has preserved these journeys or “travels’ in the form of Circumambulation;AndwaybeforeourBrothers-Knights of the Order of the Temple came intoexistence, the Essenes conditioned the admission of all aspirants to the immediate surrender of their wealth to the Brotherhood and their works of charity.Inshort,itismyopinionthat,foralltheaimsandgoals of our numerous rituals, symbols are of a great transcendence to the Masonic knowledge, compelling us to work in their internal mysteries seeking the Light in everyone of us and in those who surround us, always upholding our sacred principles of Liberty, Fraternity and Equality.Toconcludeforthetimebeing,Iwishtoproclaimthat “Any day is good to fix things… includingour lives”. Behold, how good and pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity!

Symbols and Symbolism


be most apt to see the connection, the Freemasons. Freemasonry, a fraternity “veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols”, is central to the plot under pinning’s, but by its end, merely the back drop by which the modern parable is played out.Brown,athisfinest,isageniusatwritingparables.TheTheDaVinciCode is aprimeexample, thetelling of the story of the Christ, but not as a divine emanation of God, but rather a mortal man who walked the earth like the rest of us. Brown’s novel was aworkoffiction then, just as it is nowwith

his release of the The Lost Symbol . But artfully, he weaves in elements of reality and fact, so as to set his stage onto which the story unfolds, perhaps to give it a greater link into reality, or to simply paintenoughrealfiguresintotheworksotheless(or not real) elements blend in to diffuse with the rest. The more believable the story, the more real it feels for the reader.Inhislatestbook,TheLostSymbol,Brownbringsthe There is one mystery, though, that remains unsolved after three books.


TheMostpopulardefinitionofFreemasonrystatesthatitis “a System of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.”Many a brother has asked “Why illustrated by symbols? Why not illustrated by plain statements of truth, completelydefiningthe’systemofmorality’?”Therearemanyanswers.Amongthemisthetruththatdefinition limitswhat isdefined.Seldomhas thisbeenbetter expressed than by that philosopher who asked “DoyoubelieveinGod?”Hisanswer:“DefinewhatyoumeanbyGod.Andwhenyouhavedefined, nomatterwhatyourdefinition,Ishallreply‘No,IdonotbelieveinGod,becauseaGoddefinedisaGodlimited,andalimited God is no God!”Allmathematicsarewritteninsymbols,sinceourdigitsare symbols for quantities.Algebra used a symbol fora symbol, expressing quantities by letters, instead of numbers.Inthealgebraicequation“a+b=c”anyquantitymaybe assigned to any one, or any two of the letters and the equationstillbetrue.Thusa+b=4istrueifaisequal1orbto3:itistrueifaandbareeachequalto2;itistrueisaisequalto3andbto1.Butnotethatthereplacingofa symbol by a known quantity limits the equation. Go a step further and replaced two symbols by two quantities; writethat2+b=4andthenecessityforbasasymboldisappears; it can only equal 2.If you are so fortunate as to receive a blank check,signed, it may immediately become a symbol of almost anything; a new house, a yacht, a trip around the world, a valuable jewel. But if across the face of the blank check is stamped“Notover$100″yoursymbol is limited. Itcan no longer represent any of these things. It can beasymbolofanewradio,a suitofclothes,awatch. Ifthecheckisfilledinandreads“TenDollars”itbecomessymbolic of only those things which can be bought for ten dollars.There is a pretty story-its truth is not vouched for-that when a certain king came to this country for a difficulteyeoperation,thephysicianwhooperatedwasnonplussed as to what sort of bill to send. Should he charge a thousand dollars? He had done the operation

for nothing, for a hundred dollars, for a thousand, even for ten thousand, depending on the ability of his patienttopay.Butaking!Akingwealthy,andakingwho would have been blind without the operation.The physician sent a bill reading:Tosavingeyesight.TheKingcandonowrong.To the king the bill became a symbol, a reminder of kingly wealth, of kingly gratitude, of kingly need to see.Itissaidthathesentacheckforahalfamilliondollars!It is thusseenthatdefinitionofasymbol limits itsscope, and Freemasonry, by using symbols which arenotcloselydefined,makesitpossibleformanymen of many minds, each to read his own conception of the truth into the symbols. Freemasonry thus becomes as great a “System of morality” as the mind of him who attempts to understand it may admit.In his introduction to Hunt’s fine volume “Somethoughts on Masonic Symbolism” the late Jacob Hugo Tatche, noted student and Masonic historian wrote:“Freemasonry permits each individual to interpret andapplythelessonsoftheCraftasheseesbest.Itis this unique spirit of tolerance and freedom which frequently confuses opponents of the Fraternity. One Mason places his interpretation upon a certain symbol or attribute of Freemasonry; another may take an entirely different view, and will cite evidence with which a third may be in entire variance; yet these three men can gather about our altars and labor together in perfect amity.LongbeforeTatche,thegreatAlbertPikeexpressedthe same thought in different language:“Masonry . . .follows the ancient manner of teaching. Her symbols are the instructions she gives; and the lectures are but often partial and insufficient one-sided endeavors to interpret those symbols. He who would become an accomplished Mason must not be content merely to hear or even to understand the lectures, but must, aided by them, and they having as it were marked out the way for him study, interpret and develop the symbols for himself.”

Illustrated By SymbolsTHE SHORT TALK BULLETINThe Masonic Service Association of the United StatesYear and Volume Unknown Author unknown

Many years ago, the present writer tried to express the reasons for symbols as illustrations of the system of morality by asking:Why does Freemasonry veil in allegory and conceal in object or picture a meaning quite different from its name? Why should Freemasonry express immortality with acacia, brotherly love with a trowel, the world by a lodge, right living by a Mason’s tools?That Freemasonry conceals in symbols in order to arouse curiosity to know their meaning is often considered the only explanation. But there are many more lofty ideas of why this great system of truth, philosophy and ethics is hidden in symbols.Man has a triple nature; he has a body, and senses which bring him into contact with, and translate the meanings of, the physical world of earth, air, fireand water which is about him. He has a brain and a mind by which he reasons and understands about the matters physical with which he is surrounded. and he has a Something Beyond; call it Soul, or Heart, orSpirit,orImaginationasyouwill;itissomethingwhich is allied to, rather than a part of, reason, and connected with the physical side of life only through its sensory contacts.This soul or spirit comprehends a language which the brain does not understand. The keenest of minds have striven without success to make this mystic language plain to reason. When you hear music which brings tears to your eyes and grief or joy to your heart you respond to a language your brain does not understand andcannotexplain.Itisnotwithyourbrainthatyoulove your mother, your child or your wife; it is with the Something Beyond; and the language with which that love is spoken is not the language of the tongue.Asymbolisawordinthatlanguage.Translatethatsymbol into words which appeal only to the mind, and the spirit of the meaning is lost. Words appeal to the mind; meanings are expressed in words appeal to the spirit.AllthatthereisinFreemasonrywhichcanbesetdownin words on a page leaves out completely the spirit of theOrder.IfwedependonwordsorideasalonetheFraternity would not make a universal appeal to all men, since no man has it given to him to appeal to the minds of all other men. But Freemasonry expresses truths which are universal; it expresses them in a

universal language, universally understood by all men without words. That language is the language of the symbol, and the symbol is universally understood because it is the means of communication between spirits, souls, hearts.When we say of Masonry that it is universal we mean the word literally; it is of the universe, not merely oftheworld.IfitwerepossibleforaninhabitantofMars to make and use a telescope which would enable him to see plainly a square mile of the surface of the earth, and if we knew it and desired by drawing upon that square mile a symbol to communicate with the inhabitants of Mars we would choose, undoubtedly, one with as many meanings as possible; one which had a material, a mental and a spiritual meaning. Such a symbol might be the Triangle, he might reply with the47thproblem. Ifwe showedhima circle,hemight setdown3.1416- thenumberbywhichadiameter multiplied becomes a circumference. We couldfindalanguageinsymbolswithwhichtobegincommunication even with all the universe!Naturally then Freemasonry employs symbols for heart to speak to heart. Imagination is heart’scollection of senses. So we must appeal to the imagination when speaking a truth which is neither mental or physical, and the symbol is the means by which one imagination speaks to another. Nothing else will do; no words can be as effective (unless they are themselves symbols); no teachings expressed in language can be as easily learned by the heart as those which come via the symbol through the imagination.Take from Freemasonry its symbols and but the husk remains: the kernel is gone. He who hears but the words of Freemasonry misses their meaning entirely. Most symbols have many interpretations. These do not contradict but amplify each other. Thus, the square is a symbol of perfection, of rectitude of conduct, of honor and honesty, of good work. These are all different, and yet allied. The square is not a symbol of wrong, or evil, or meanness or disease. Ten different men may read ten different meanings into a square, and yet eachmeaning fitswith, andbelongs to the other meanings.Ten men have ten different kinds of hearts. Not all have the same power of imagination, the same ability to comprehend. So each gets from a symbol what he

Illustrated By Symbols

can. He uses his imagination. He translates to his soul as much of the truth as he is able to make a part of him. This the ten cannot do with truths expressed in words. “Twice two is equal to four” is a truth which must be accepted all at once, as a complete exposition, or not at all. He who can understand but the “Twice” or the “equal” of the “four” has no conception of what is being said. But ten men can read ten progressive, different, correct and beautiful meanings into a trowel, and each be right as far as he goes. The man who sees it merely as an instrument which helps to bind has a part of itsmeaning.Hewhofinds ita linkwithoperativeMasons has another part. The man who sees it as a symbol ofman’s relationship toDeity, becausewithit he (spiritually) does the Master’s work, has another meaning.Allthesemeaningsareright.Whenallmenknow all the meanings the need for Freemasonry will have passed away.Freemasonry uses symbols because only by them can the Craft speak the language of the spirit, each to each, and because they form an elastic language, which each man reads for himself according to his ability. Symbols form the only language which is thus elastic, and the only one by which spirit can be touched. To suggest that Freemasonry use any other would be as revolutionary as toremove theAltars,meet in thepublicsquareorelect by a majority vote. Freemasonry without symbols would not be Freemasonry; it would be but dogmatic and not very erudite philosophy, of which the world is fullasitis,andnoneofwhicheversatisfiestheheart.Anundefinedandthereforeunlimitedtruthresultsfromthe slow growth in meaning of a symbol not tied down byconfiningwords.Thefirstflagwasaskinraisedona banner that the savages of one tribe could tell their friends from their enemies.At first the skin but said“This is your tribe, do not slay us who carry it.” But asskinsgavewaytobannersandbannerstoflags,themeaningofthesymbolgrew.TodaytheAmericanflagsymbolizes far more than the thirteen original colonies (stripes) and the states of the union (stars). It standsforhome.Itstandsfordemocracy.Itstandsforliberty,freedom, justice, religious tolerance. To one man it means merely his farm and his children. To another it means all the farms and all the children. To a third it means all that life holds which is dear. To others it meansthehopeoftheworld.Defineit;saythatitmeans

only constitutional government, only an association of forty-eight states and under one president, legislature, judiciary, and it loses tremendously in value.The Cross, now the symbol of Christianity the world over, was once a symbol of life; then it fell to the low estate of being but a means of a tortured death. Now it means love and hope and mercy and the infinitegoodness of God; it means church and religion and faith and charity and all good works; it means salvation andheavenandthehereafter.Andtherewillbemanyto testify that the more organized religion attempts to defineit,thelessbeautifulandthelessemphaticareits teachings.Thus the reason for illustrating our “system of morality”bysymbols,ratherthenbydefinitions,maybe summed up; they symbol is as broad in meaning as themindandheartwhichunderstand;thedefinedtruthis no broader than its words. Freemasonry, universal in meaning and in content, can not be illustrated with anything less and still remain Freemasonry.

Illustrated By Symbols


Will Langdon ever get to rest?

You'dthinka46-year-oldHarvardsymbologist'smoststrenuous chores would be grinding his Sumatran coffee beans in the morning or persuading bored undergrads to appreciate hidden meanings in the world around them. Langdon does these things, but he's also the guy who survivedanantimatterexplosionat theVaticanandaParis manhunt and uncovered the truth about the Holy Grail (though, according to the new novel, he's kept this a secret). Not your average academic.

The answer, then, to the question of rest is clearly no. Langdon, after all, specializes in what all esoteric evildoers need: rituals and their transcendent meanings. Hefindscrucialconnectionsthatotherpeoplecan'tsee,eveninthemostdifficult,chaoticsituations.


Archaeologists have discoveredmany old cities, built on the ruins of still older cities, which in turn were erected upon the remains of cities still older. These several cities were built, existed for a time, were destroyed and forgotten and new cities built above. The artifacts found at the top are totally different from those found at the bottom of the complete excavations, as in natural, since the several cities may have been thousands of years in building, life, destruction and rebuilding.Many common words in English must be read in context if they are to be understood, which is one of the reasons those who speak other languages frombirthfindEnglish sodifficult.The“good”man may be either the moral man or the physically strong man. The “good” earth is that which grows crops well, while “good” credit is trustworthiness of him who possesses it; a “good” game may be either one which men like to play, or so well played that men like to watch it.Masonic symbols are like the many buried cities of Ur of the Chaldees; similar to the many words which mean different things at different times to differentpeoplewhenused indifferentways. Itmay be too much to say that all Masonic symbols have more than one meaning, but it is certainly true that most of those objects or ideas or practices that we call symbols have at least two and most of them many meanings.As a rule only one – and that the simplest– isdescribed in the ritual. The rest, the individual brother is supposed to hunt out for himself.AlargebookwouldberequiredtolistallMasonicsymbols and even suggest the several meanings

ofeach.Allthatmaybeattemptedhere is a suggestion of the “symbol behind the symbol” in a few of Masonry’s pictures. The word “pictures” here refers to the oft-quoted definition of Masonry.“A beautiful system of moralityveiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols”.The symbol, then, is a picture. But it is not a mirror, which shows onlywhatstandsbeforeit.Itisanillustration that has more than one meaning.

Thefirst,andamongthemostimpressivesymbolsof Masonry to confront the candidate, to most initiates, is the apron. The candidate is told that it is “an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason”.What is “innocence”, as the word here is used? Surely not ignorance! The lamb, the baby, the lily are “innocent”, in the sense that they know nothing, especially nothing of evil. But a man grown–andnomalelessthanamangrownmaybeaMason–mustknowevil todistinguishthegood.Therefore, “innocence”, as taught by the apron must be other than ignorance.Originally, the Masonic apron was a skin, worn to protect both the clothing of the workman and the body beneath the clothing from injury, and perhaps to provide a pocket in which to carry tools.The operative apron was not necessarily white. When it gave way to the smaller and “token” apron of lambskin (because that is a soft and pliable material), white, the color of “innocence”, became associated with the apron. It is stillassociated, but the innocence is that of intent not

Behind The SymbolTHESHORTTALKBULLETINTheMasonicServiceAssociationoftheUnitedStatesVOL.32JULY1954NO.7

to do evil, not of knowledge of evil. The Mason is “innocent” when his heart is gently towards weakness, chivalrous towards those dependent upon him, tolerant of his fellows’ weaknesses, forgiving of his brethrens’ mistakes.Beneath this is the really great meaning of the apron; that of the dignity and worth of labor, the honor of being a workman, the glory of being a contributor to life and living. Perhaps this attitude toward labor and the laborer that in the early MiddleAges were considered mean and of noaccount, is Masonry’s greatest contribution to a modern philosophy of life. That Mason who reads into his newly acquired lambskin the thought that it is a badge signifying that it is an honor to do constructive work, has hold of the symbol behind the symbol” of innocence and the real value of that which is “more ancient than the Golden Fleece”.In the Entered Apprentice Degree, an initiatelearns the importance of the cornerstone, but so little stress is laid upon it ritualistically that many remain in ignoranceof itsprincipal significance– the “symbolbehind the symbol”which is thenecessityofsacrificeinanywell-orderedlife.The whole subject of cornerstones, cornerstone laying, cornerstone ceremonies, is bound up in the dreadful “foundation sacrifice” rites of thedarkAgeswhen superstition ran rife and itwasbelieved that buildings would fall if not protected by “good spirits” in the Other World. To provide these “good spirits”, human beings were buried alive in hollow cornerstones, there to die a hideous death by suffocation, that their released spirits might guard the building to be erected upon the stone, against the evil work of the powers of darkness.The rite survives only in the beautiful modern Masonic ceremony of laying the cornerstones of buildings. We are no longer superstitious about it, but we still hollow out the cornerstone and place therein small objects for posterity to see; the list of those who erected the building, coins of the day, abook, aphotograph, adailynewspaper–whatever the imagination of the committee in charge may suggest.

We have the ceremony; we forget, most of us, its origin, but in freemasonry he who hunts for the symbolbehindthesymbolwillfindintheemphasisupon the cornerstone the need of sacrifice; thesacrificeoftime,ofeffort,ofthoughtwhichallgoodmen in general and all good Masons in particular mustmake if they are toplayother than a selfishpart in the lives of their communities.FewMasonic symbols are less understood – andthe fault if that of the ritual and not the philosophy whichisMasonry–thanthe“certainpointwithinacircle”.Both its derivation and its real meaning have become obscured with the passage of years and with, alas, goodwillbutpoorexecutionoftheritualtinkerers–those good men and true who have altered ritual to “make it nearer to the heart with the best of intentions but without much knowledge of what they did.Moronically, the point within the circle was the beginningoftheprocessinwhichtheKing’sMasterMason, overseeing and managing the building of a great Cathedral, tried the squares of the workmen that they might be true ninety-degree angles.Every schoolboy knows the simple geometrical demonstration, but in days when only the few could readandwrite,thiswasthegreatsecret–the“secretof the square.”Drawacircle.Putadotuponit,anywhere.Drawaline through the center of the circle so it crosses the circle on both sides. Connect the dot with the points where the straight line crosses the circle. The result is a right angle.ItwasthusthattheKing’sMasterMasontestedthewooden squares of his stone Masons. Originally, “While a Mason kept his tools circumscribed by the point and circle, they could not materially err”. Today the line across has become two; we have added the Holy Sts. John and the Holy Scriptures and we now circumscribe our passions and not out tools,thuslosingtheoldsignificanceofthesymbol.But the meaning is still there; the symbol behind the symbol is the need of true tools for our work, whether the tools are of wood and metal for labor upon material, of science and wit for work upon the affairs of life.

Behind The Symbol

In other words, the symbol behind the symbol isthe need for standards known to be correct to which to hew, and a right pattern to follow during all of Masonic life.“…. and they went up the winding stairs into the middlechamber.”(IKingsVI-8)The Winding Stairs is one of the great symbols of theFellowcraftDegree.Ithasahidden,acovered,aburied meaning not easily to be seen without some intensive looking and not even hinted in the ritual. William Preston, who was more “father of the ritual” oftheFellowcraftDegreethananyother,hopedtomake this ceremony in Freemasonry a vehicle which would create a desire for a liberal education in those who received it; hence the emphasis upon the liberal arts and sciences, the orders of architecture, etc.\But philosophers of Masonry have seen a deeper meaninginthestairs.AstheFellowcraftDegreeasawhole is oneofmanhood– as opposed to youthin the EnteredApprenticeDegree, and old age intheMasterMasonDegree–theyfindinthewindingstairs that incentive to courage without which no man successfully combats the evils, dangers and misfortunes of life.The point is that the stairs wind.Itdoesnottakecouragetoclimbastraightstair,onwhich every step can be seen from the one before andthetopisinviewfromthebeginning.Ifthereare perils on the way on a straight stair, they can be noted and preparations made.But on winding stair, but one or two steps ahead are visible. What is around the corner? To what difficultiesordangersdoesprogressonanunseenstairway lead?Ittakescouragetoascent.TheAngelofDeathmaystand with sword drawn around the next bend. There maybe lions in thepath, difficulties to surmount,and dangers to overcome.Yetmanclimbs–aye,heclimbsbecauseheisaman,amangrown,amanself-sufficient,andwilling,andabletofacewhatlifebrings.TheFellowcraftDegreeas a whole is a preparation for successful manhood; nothing within it has a greater incentive for him who can see with mental eyes the symbol behind

the symbol of the winding stairs, than this thought of the courage a real and whole man must have if he is to reach the Middle Chamber…The second great symbol of the FellowcraftDegreeis the letter G. Of its obvious meanings the degree is sufficientlyexplanatory.Butwhytheemphasisupongeometry?“Proveallthings–holdfasttothatwhichisgood(IThessaloniansV:21).There is no such thing as a proof of a belief which has no evidence; man cannot” prove God” in the same way in which he can “prove” an algebraic equation. Faith is a matter of the heart; geometry is a matter of the mind. But there is a meeting point where mind and hearttouch.Andthereisameetingpointwherefaithand science touch.The “question of the watch” has confounded many whohaverefusedtobelieveinaCreator.Itispossiblefor the human mind to believe that a watch can make itself, wind itself. It must be the work of a man.Inasmuchasitcanpredict,itmustworkinaccordwithnatural laws.No one who found a watch, going, could be convinced that it had not been would within thirty-six hours, and had not been put where it was found by a human agency.Geometry proves the visible universe to be a great watch. Geometry can predict the future, just as a watch can predict the interval of elapsed time before acertainhour.As,obviously,mandidnotcreatethesolar system, or the laws by which geometry can predict the eclipses, the sunrise and sunset, the phases of the moon, the tides, they must have had another, not a human creator.Geometry proves that the universe runs according to law.Masons name the creator Great Architect of theUniverse. Other men have a thousand different names for Him.But it is Geometry that produces the nearest possible “proof” of His existence. Hence the symbol behind the symboloftheletterGisthescientificdemonstrationnotonlythat“orderisheaven’sfirstlaw”butalsothatthere is a Creator, name Him as you will.One of the many mysteries which Freemasonry

Behind The Symbol

presents to those who love and follow her in the absence of comprehension, on the part of the many, of the real content of theMasterMason Degree. It is, apparently,being unable to see the forest because there are so many trees; an inability to see the ocean because there are so many waves and so much foam!No greater ceremony to express man’s longing for and belief in immorality has yet been conceived; no more beautiful mental rainbow has ever arched through the skies of the mind than “The Search for That Which Was Lost”.Yettoomanyseeonlytheliteralstoryofthetragedyof Hiram and thus fail to see as their personal own a vista which has for a far horizon the realization of the dearest hope of all mankind.ThehistoriesofallpeoplesreflectabeliefinanancientandlostGoldenAge;anArcady;aFairyland;aLostcontinentin which all men were happy and all joys were constant; a place and time of contentment before evil came to the world.Itisthebasisforallthe“searches”–forthehopeoftherecovery of the Holy Grail; the wish for a faith, which cannot be undermined; the longing for a certainty about life here and hereafter.Hadwelostmerelyaword–oneormoresyllables–howeasy to invent another. But the “word, which was lost” is the memory in man’s consciousness that there is a Something Beyond his senses, the knowledge they bring him,hisunderstandingofthelifehelives.Itishislongingto possess this again – as racialmemories demonstratethatheoncepossessedit–whichisMasoniclyexpressedin The Search.This is the symbol behind the symbol of the Master Mason Degree.

Behind The Symbol

Consider an early incident in "The Lost Symbol," a scene thatisasgruesomeandallusiveastheopeningof"TheDaVinciCode"(inwhichadying,blood-coveredcuratorinthe Louvre arranged his body into a puzzle).

Langdon arrives in Washington D.C., invited by his

wealthy friend Peter Solomon, a high-ranking Mason, to deliver a speech in the Capitol building. The moment he enters the rotunda, however, Langdon discovers there is no speech. The "invitation" has been faked by an individual who wants our hero to find something that hasbeen conspicuously positioned -- a severed hand (Solomon's), marked with Masonic tattoos and propped to point to an 1865 painting ofGeorgeWashingtondepictedasapagangod.Ashorrificasthis is, Langdon recognizes that the grisly object resembles something called "the Hand of the Mysteries."

"[I]t seems the man we are dealing with, inaddition to being mentally unstable, is also highly educated," Langdon says. "This hand is proof that he is well versed in the Mysteries as well as their code of secrecy. . . . the Hand of the Mysteries is a sacred invitation . . . "

That educated, unstable person calls himself Mal'akh ("angel" in Hebrew), and in him Brown gives us a villain as unique, zealous and eerie as the albino monk Silas in "Code." Mal'akh is a muscled, tattooed eunuch -- a chameleon-like figure who seeks a hidden Masonic pyramidbecause, the legend goes, it contains the power of transformation (a common quest, Brown reminds us,intheancientworld).ItseemsMal'akhgainedthe trust not only of Peter but also of Peter's sister Katherine, a scientist through whom Brownintroduces the theme of science versus magic -- not to mention the possibility that a wedding might be in Langdon's future.

Likethe"cryptex"in"DaVinciCode,"anantiqueobject aids Langdon and Katherine on a huntacross -- and beneath -- the city, a hunt in which they are helped -- and hindered -- by characters including the blind dean of Washington's National Cathedral and the gnomic director of the CIA'sOffice of Security, Inoue Sato (don't mess withher).



The Lost Symbol, developed under the working title “TheSolomonKey”,isa2009novelbyAmericanwriterDanBrown.TheplotissetinWashington,D.C.The story takes place over a period of 12 hours inWashington, D.C., with a focus on Freemasonry.Robert Langdon is summoned to give a lecture in National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol, with the invitation apparently fromhismentor, a 33rddegree Mason named Peter Solomon, who is the head of theSmithsonian Institution.However, insteadof anaudienceforhislecture,Langdonfindstheseveredrighthand of Peter Solomon tattooed into a symbolic 'Hand of the Mysteries' which seemingly points to the fresco The ApotheosisofWashingtonon the insideof theCapitoldome.Mal'akh (“angel” in Hebrew), a brilliant, tattooed eunuch villain -- a chameleon-like figurewho seeks ahidden Masonic pyramid because, the legend goes, it contains the power of transformation and power. He takes Peter Solomon hostage and demands Langdon to unlock theAncientMysteries in return forPeter's life.Inafierynighttimeexplosion,Mal'akhalsodestroystheSmithonsonian-sponsored laboratory of Dr. KatherineSolomon, Peter's younger sister,. Dr. Solomon mainstudies is in noetics, which she believes one day will enable the mind to bring about real changes in the physicalworld.Inaddition,theCIA,gnomicdirectoroftheOfficeofSecurity,InoueSato,ispursuingMal'akhinthe interests of National Security.

Wanttofindouthowthenovelends?Well,you’llhaveto read the book.

Plot Summary

All of this is going to feel very familiar to readers ofthe previous Langdon books, even though Brown has shiftedfromforeignplacestoplanthisthrillerfirmlyonAmericansoil.That,ofcourse,isfineforLangdon:Hefinds this country's past as rich andmysterious as anyother's. "Seriously," he tells his students, "Washington, D.C.,hassomeoftheworld'sfinestarchitecture,artandsymbolism. Why would you go overseas before visiting your own capital?"

Why, indeed. Some people believe Freemasonry's origins in medieval craft guilds include a darker, conspiratorial side. Historians point out that the secrecy of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, in particular, has led to its being the least understood of Masonry's variants -- a situation Brown exploits to the fullest with depictions of occult ceremonies.

Hidden knowledge takes many shapes in "The Lost Symbol." Alchemists, Egyptians and rabbi sages areinvoked; so are the U.S. government's eavesdropping tactics in the war on terror, superstring theory and the NewAgey-soundingstudyofnoetics,whichKatherinebelieves one day will enable the mind to bring about real changes in the physical world.

Brown's narrative moves rapidly, except for those clunky moments when people sound like encyclopedias ("The sacred symbol of the Hebrews is the Jewish star -- the Seal of Solomon -- an important symbol to the Masons!"). But no one reads Brown for style, right? The reasonwe readDanBrown is to seewhat happens toLangdon: We want to know if he will overcome slim odds to uncover Mal'akh's motives and a cunning plan that, while not involving a vial of antimatter, is a major threat to national security.

And yet, it's hard to imagine anyone, after reading"The Lost Symbol," debating about Freemasonry in Washington,D.C., thewaypeopledidBrown's radicalvision of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in "Code." That book hit a deep cultural nerve for obvious reasons; "The Lost Symbol" is more like the experience on any roller coaster -- thrilling, entertaining and then it's over.


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Wehave3objectivestoaccomplish:1)Toincreasetheadsfrompreviousyears.2) To publish a more enticing, professional and informative Souvenir Program.3)TofinanciallyhelpoffsetagrandportionoftheGrandConventionexpenses.Inorderforustomeetourobjectives,weneedthehelpandassistanceofallourCompanionsandSirKnightsinFlorida.

How can you help?First:HaveyourYorkRiteBodiespurchaseanad.Second: Have the Companions become boosters and purchase a name line which will be included in theprogram.Third:gooutandsell,sell,sell.SelladstoyourlocalBlueLodges,AppendantBodies,Masters&WardensAssociations,Masonicbrethrenthatarebusinessownersandlocalbusinessesinyourarea.Targetbusinessleaderswithwhomyoumayhavesomeinfluence.Weneedtogobeyondtheboxtomakethis a success.

The next page is a copy of the Souvenir Program form. Make as many photocopies of the form as necessary. Onceyougetthead,withtheformfilledout,theadlayouts,andpayment,senditto:

E. Randy SpradlingGrand Chapter Souvenir Program Chairman

Suite 318 PMB 212,5100 S. Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907

Phone: 239-634-3267 E-mail: [email protected]

DEADLINE IS ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 30, 2010

The success of this enterprise no longer lies with the Committee but with the Craft. This will be your success not ours.

Awordofcaution,NO AD WILL BE PUBLISHED THAT IS NOT PAID FOR.

Pleasemakesureyouradlayoutcanbereproduced.IfyouhaveaPDFformatofyourad,pleasee-mailit.

So before you send those ads in, make sure the ad layout, form and payment are included.

***Note:Donations/contributionsarenottaxdeductibleasCharitableContributionsastheGrandYorkRiteBodiesarenota“501(c)(3)Corporation”;however,theDonation/Contributionmaybedeductibleasanordinary business expense. Sponsors are urged to consult with their tax advisor.

2010 Grand Convention Souvenir

FLORIDA GRAND YORK RITE CONVENTION SOUVENIR PROGRAM BOOK Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons * Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters * Grand Commandery of Knights Templar

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PLACE AN AD, MESSAGE, OR MEMORIAL IN THE 2010 GRAND YORK RITE CONVENTION SOUVENIR PROGRAM

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DEADLINE : JANUARY 30, 2010

COMPLETE FORM BELOW AND ATTACH INFORMATION NEEDED TOGETHER WITH PAYMENT

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO : Grand York Rite Convention Fund

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E. Randy Spradling - Suite 318 PMB 212 5100 S. Cleveland Ave. Ft. Myers, FL 33907

FLORIDA GRAND YORK RITE CONVENTION SOUVENIR PROGRAM BOOK Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons * Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters * Grand Commandery of Knights Templar

2010 GOLD SUPPORTERS (ONE PRINTED NAME PER BOX— PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY — NO SIGNATURES)

USE ADDITIONAL PAPER , IF NEEDED

PAGE 2

York Rite University 2009AtthebeginningofAugust,YorkRiteUniversityheldtheirannualLeadershipseminar. Those in attendance enjoyed the different presentations. The ladies had apresentationontheYorkRiteCharities.R.Exc.Charles“Bob”CooperandR.Exc.WayneThigpen(leftpicture)coordinatedYorkRiteUniversity.S.K.LynWilliams (right picture) talked on several topics.

Sir Knights and Companions,

District 5 had a very successful one day class this past Saturday. We had in attendance, 5 Past Grand Commanders, 1 Past Grand High Priest, and Illustrious Companion Carl Gilmore, Grand Master of the Grand Council. In addition we had all the district deputies from District 5 and the District Instuctors of the Chapter and Commandery present.

I have established a plan whereby we will have a normal class in the Spring (Feb. and March) and a short of time class in the Fall (Sept.) However I think the SOT class will be a Friday night and Saturday as the one day proved too taxing and lengthy to do justice to the work. We have split up the degrees and orders by the four YR bodies in my district so at each Festival everyone will know what they are responsible for and after repeated practice will improve upon the quality of the work. In this way with a regular schedule we will be able to tell candidates a definite time when they can expect to be able to join our Fraternity and everyone can plan accordingly instead of the haphazard arrangement we have had in the past. I would strongly suggest other districts to consider this if they have not already a viable plan in place.

Oh, by the way, we Knighted 33 new members of the Order of the Temple.

Courteously and Fraternally,

Harry V. Eisenberg,M.D.DDGCDistrict5

From District Five

NEWS ACROSS THE STATE

Let York Rite Shine in ‘09


By S. K. Corbin P. Elliott, Correspondent

On May 12, 2009, Right Eminent Grand Commander Ideal Baldo-ni made his official visitation to Damascus Commandery No. 2 K. T. in Jacksonville. Pictured here are the officers, members, and visitors with Sir Knight Ideal Baldoni, Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Com-mandery, K. T. of Florida, after the meeting. Standing, from left to right, in the first row were: Charles R. Cooper, PC, DDGM, PDDGC,

PDDGHP; Corey D. Kosciuszko, Sentinel; Jimmy A. Dorsey, Std.B.; Darryl A. D’Angina, KYGCH; M.E. Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, R.A.M. of Florida; Ideal Baldoni, KYGCH, KCT, R.E. Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, K. T. of Florida; Corbin P. Elliott, KYCH, KCT, DDGC, District 12; Samuel D. Hope, E. Commander, Damascus Commandery No. 2 K.T.; Wilmer T. Atwell, PDDGM, Captain General; Ernest Beeman, KYCH, PDDGM, PDDGHP, PDDGC; and Loren Lee, KYCH. Seen, from left, in the back row were: William H. McClean, PC, Prelate; Robert G. Atwell, KYCH, PDDGC, Recorder, Bradford Commandery No. 43; William F. Ellis, S.W.; Leland E. Stanford, III, PC, PDDGC; Edward Dunn, E. Commander, St. Augustine Commandery No. 10; Burt F. Maguire, PC, KTCH, Recorder of St. Augustine Commandery No. 10, K.T.; and William Ferrell, KYCH.

GRAND COMMANDER VISITS DAMASCUS COMMANDERY

An updated version of the Constitution for the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Florida has been posted in the "Grand Council" section of the "Forms and Files" on www.flgyr.org web site.

This version has been updated with all KNOWN legislation passed between the last update and our 2008 Convention.

In addition it has had numerous small corrections (spelling, grammar, partial phrases). For instance, the Marshal and Sentinel who were by mistake not included in the Installation Ceremonies, have been added.

Lastly, it has had an Appendix added, Appendix F, which is the approved Rulings and Decisions of the Most Illustrious Grand Masters. These have been indexed to show their appropriate spots in the Rules and Regulations.

Updated Florida Grand Council Constitution

The District 7 Grand York Rite Meeting was held in Jacksonville on October 1, 2009. A wonderful turnout of Companions and Sir Knights enjoyed a fine dinner and excellent words of wisdom from our Grand Presiding York Rite Officers. Pictured here were the Grand Presiding York Rite Officers with their accompanying Grand Officers and District Deputies and District Instructors from District Seven. Shown, from left to right in the first row, were Wayne Y. Thigpen, KYCH, Ex. Grand Sentinel, Grand Chapter. RAM of Florida, DDGM, Dist. 8, Grand Council R. & S. M. of Florida; Charles R. Cooper, Ex. Grand Master of the 1st Veil, Grand Chapter RAM of Florida, DDGM, Dist. 7, Grand Council R. & S. M. of Florida, D. I., Dist. 7, Grand Commandery K. T. of Florida; Darryl A. D’Angina, KYGCH, Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, RAM of Florida; Carl E. Gilmore, REPGC, Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council, R.& S. M. of Florida; Ideal F. Baldoni, II, KCT, Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, K.T. of Florida; Henry A. Adams, , E. Grand Senior Warden, Grand Commandery, K.T. of Florida; and Howard H. Gardner, Right Illustrious Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Council R. & S. M. of Florida. Seen in the back row, from left, were: Carl S. Amos, DDGHP, Dist. 7 Grand Chapter, RAM of Florida; M. Daniel Fullwood, R. I. Grand Principal Conductor of Work, Grand Council R. & S. M. of Florida; Dayle L. Schrock, I. Grand Conductor of the Council, Grand Council R. & S. M. of Florida; and Corbin P. Elliott, KYCH, KCT, DDGC Dist. 7, Grand Commandery, K. T. of Florida.

District 7 York Rite Meeting

At his official visit to St. Augustine Commandery No. 10, K. T. on September 28, 2009, the Commandery presented to Sir Knight Ideal Baldoni, II, Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, K. T. of Florida, an Honorary Membership in St. Augustine Commandery No. 10, Knights Templar.

Pictured at the presentation were, from left to right: Edward Dunn, E. Commander of St. Augustine Commandery No. 10; Ideal F. Baldoni, II, KCT, R. E. Grand Commander, Grand Commandery, K. T. of Florida; Burt Maguire, KTCH, PC, Recorder of St. Augustine Commandery; and Charles R. Cooper, PC, PDDGC, DI, Captain General of St. Augustine Commandery No. 10.

St. Augustine Commandery #10 Presents Honorary Membership to the

Grand Commander




Assembly No. 220 of the Social Order of the Beauceant, on September 8, 2009 presented a check for $2,000 to Damascus Commandery No.2, Knights Templar, to assist the Commandery and pay its share of the new insurance bill for the Jacksonville York Rite Temple. Beauceant Assembly No. 220 has the tradition of preparing dinner, shared by the Sir Knights, and then they meet and conduct their business at the same time as the Commandery has its Stated Conclaves.

Pictured are the Beauceant Ladies presenting the check to the Commander Samuel Hope and Sir Knights of Damascus Commandery No. 2, at the conclusion of the Stated Conclave. Shown, from left to right, in the first row were: Jimmy A. Dorsey, St.B.; Samuel D. Hope, E.C.; Mrs. Jimmy Dorsey, Mrs. William Farrell, Mrs. George Dillinger, Mrs. Ben Jordan, S.K. Ben Jordan, and visiting S.K. Henry A. Adams, E. Grand S.W., of the Grand Commandery, K.T. of Florida. Shown, left to right, in the second row were: Corbin P. Elliott, KYCH, KCT, DDGC, Grand Commandery K.T. of Florida; William Farrell, KYCH; Mrs. Charles R. Cooper, Charles R. Cooper, PC, PDDGHP, PDDGC, DDGM, Ex.G.M. 1st V, Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Florida, Recorder of Damascus No. 2; and Corey D. Kosciuszko, Sentinel of Damascus No. 2. Seen, from left, in the third row were: D. J. “Gunny” Wilkerson, Warder; Lewis E. Duffey, Gen.; Wilmer T. Atwell, PDDGHP, PDDGM, C.G.; and William F. Ellis, S.W. of Damascus Commandery No. 2, K.T.

S.O.O.B. Assembly#220 Presents Check to Damascus Commandery

The first General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Sweetheart Award in Florida was presented by Most Excellent Darryl A. D’Angina, Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of Florida, and the officers of Gainesville Chapter No. 2 R.A.M. to Mrs. Doris Thigpen. This was done at the York Rite District 8 Meeting in Gainesville on September 1, 2009. The General Grand Chapter, R.A.M. International Sweetheart Award was just recently created and authorized by Most Excellent General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Emory J. Ferguson. Mrs. Doris Thigpen, Masonic wife and mother, has supported and assisted the Gainesville Masonic bodies, especially the York Rite, for

many years. She is now 97 years old. Her son, R. Exc. Wayne Thigpen, Grand Master of the 1st Veil, was on hand for the presentation. Shown, from left to right, were: M.E. Harvey L. Ward, Sr., KYGCH, MEPGHP, Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Florida; M.E. Darryl A. D’Angina, KYGCH, MEGHP of the Grand Chapter, R.A.M. of Florida; Mrs. Doris Thigpen; and E. Rev. Daniel L. Williams, E. Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery K. T. of Florida, Eminent Commander of Pilgrim Commandery No. 7, K.T., and Excellent High Priest of Gainesville Chapter No. 2 R.A.M. Seen standing behind Mrs. Thigpen, were Mrs. Peggy Thigpen, wife of Wayne Thigpen; and S.K. Wayne Y. Thigpen, KYCH, PDDGHP, DDGM., Mrs. Doris Thigpen’s son.

1st General Grand Chapter Sweetheart Award




Remember, You are the Image of York Rite, in particular, and Freemasonry, in general.

The Triennial of the Grand Encampment in Roanoke Virginia is now history. There were several drill teams competing from across the country in the Class D Drill Competition. It was thrilling to watch these teams compete. It would be nice for the Knights Templars of Florida to compete in the next Triennial in 2012, in Alexandria Virginia. The Class D Competition is one that we could easily handle. I and others are willing to help get teams established in Florida, and teach these basic skills. We need at least 12 Sir Knights for each team. They do not necessarily all have to belong to the same Commandery. We would slowly start learning how to march and handle a sword. This would only take four to six hours, each month. As the teams improve in marching and sword manual, then more complicated moves could be added. Once your team learns some basic commands (approx three months) then, they could begin to march in parades, and do basic drills at other Masonic related groups.

We maybe be able to establish a fund where Commanderies and other interested groups could donate, to help pay for the travel expenses of the drill teams as they compete in drill competitions regionally and nationally. This would be an excellent way to get more visibility in front of the general public to the Florida Knights Templars.

For more information please contact Ronald Bertie at [email protected]

Fraternally,

Ronald BertieDrill Master GeneralGrandCommandery,KnightsTemplarofFlorida

Knights Templar Drills Teams in Florida

By S.K. David A. Aponte, Grand Generalissimo Chairman Knight Templar Education Committee

York Rite Leadership

Disengaged members exist in all types of Masonic organizations. You can spot them by their indif-ferent, blasé attitudes. They don't care about the organization, and they send negative signals every-where they go.

Disengaged members drive other members away, and their bad in-fluence rubs on the rest of the lodge. Yet few members start off disengaged. It's typically a process that happens over time, as their expectations and how the lodge functions grow further and fur-ther apart.

Fortunately, you can re-engage members and build back their pride and commitment. But you'll need to make a continuous posi-tive effort. There are three steps that will help your Lodge to re-engage your members.

First STEP - Find out who are the engaged members in your Lodge. Engaged members are those that go above and beyond their duties to get things done. They're com-mitted to the Lodge’s success, and they're willing to do what's nec-essary to reach the Lodge’s goals. It's important to understand that while many "average" members are not quite fully engaged, that doesn't necessarily mean that they're completely disengaged. However, these average members need re-engagement as well.

Second STEP - You must build a member-focused Lodge - one that recognizes that your members genuinely are your most impor-tant asset and resource. To re-en-gage members, you need to meet members’ expectations and pro-vide a better lodge environment.

Third STEP - There are four re-en-gagement approaches to use.

1. Fact-finding - Activities that help you (a) understand disen-gagement and your current situ-ation and (b) monitor your situa-tion on an ongoing basis.

• Ask yourself when you ever felt unenthused and unengaged. When you understand the sorts of things that caused you to disconnect with your Lodge in the past, you may gain some insight into what members are feeling right now.

• Talk to your members about their expectations, situations and issues that may be trou-bling them. Having clear ex-pectations is a fundamental factor in re-engaging people. If members feel that they've been treated unfairly, you need to know. Once discrep-ancies are found, work toward a resolution as soon as pos-sible. This lets members know that you care and you take

their needs seriously.

• Schedule within your meet-ings, conversations on issues and problems within the Lodge. When you keep com-munication open, you can of-ten avoid potential conflicts and misunderstandings that can grow worse and lead to major problems.

• Survey members on a regular basis. Use the issues you've identified as a starting point, and construct a questionnaire to discover what you're doing well and where there's room for improvement. Use the re-sults to begin a re-engage-ment plan that will help you build a stronger and more de-voted Lodge member.

•

2. Establishing an Environment for Engagement - Activities that help engagement flourish.

• Be honest and forthright . A little humility goes a long way toward re-engaging someone. What if the way you manage the Lodge con-tradicted any of the above points? What if you've been weaker in your commitment recently, and you've contrib-uted to the current situation? Admit it, apologize for your actions, and construct a solid plan to move forward. This

Topic: Re-Engaging Lodge Members Turning the Negative Into Positive

Your Actions Reflect York Rite

is a great way to start rebuild-ing your Lodge’s trust and show how supporting one another can make a huge differences for everyone. By demonstrat-ing your commitment to your Lodge, members will likely re-spond with a renewed commit-ment to you and the Lodge.

• Put members to work. Mem-bers usually want to participate and be involved. They want and need to feel that they matter and that their contributions are valued.

• It's also important that people feel able to voice their ideas and raise issues - without judg-ment or fear of punishment. To re-engage members, help them feel confident that you'll wel-come their contributions and that you'll really listen to what they say.

• Be a model for commitment to the Lodge. Members take their cues from you, and they'll react to your opinions and actions.

3. Optimizing Factors - Activities that help avoid members’ stress, having them work in the right proj-ect or task, and providing feedback.

• Identify and manage burnout. Overworked members have a difficult time engaging.

• Put members to work in the right project or task. As you get

to know members, think about ways to capitalize on their unique strengths and talents.

• Provide fair and regular feedback. Most members respond incred-ibly well to praise and recogni-tion. Make a conscious effort to observe when members are do-ing things right, and show them every day that they're appreci-ated. When you need to provide corrective feedback, make sure it's timely, and centered on a spe-cific task.

4. Motivators Practices - helps in-crease motivation and engagement.

• A big factor is building long-term commitment. This is important because it retains members with knowledge and experience with-in the Lodge. Discover their tal-ents and figuring out ways to use those talents within the Lodge.

• Help members understand the big picture. Some times, members don't understand what's going on in the Lodge. When that hap-pens, it's easy for them to become disconnected and disillusioned. Keep members well informed, and make sure they stay focused on the big picture.

• A key part of engaging members is ensuring that the Lodge’s suc-cess matters to them.

Summary A member’s commitment is a critical factor for success. When you have members who are com-mitted to the Lodge, they'll work very hard to make the Lodge a success. It's extremely important, therefore, that you actively re-engage people who are discon-nected with the Lodge and that you work to build and maintain the relationship between a mem-ber and the Lodge..

The bottom line is that members need to feel wanted. Show them how much they're needed and why. Be honest and trustworthy. Acknowledge that your mem-bers truly are the Lodge’s most valuable assets and resource.

Re-Engaging Lodge Members Turning the Negative Into Positive

York Rite Leadership

By S. K. HENRY A. ADAMS, Eminent Grand Senior Warden Chairman, Membership Committee

Managing the Way Others Perceive Your Commandery

York Rite Membership

YouknowyourChapter,CouncilandCommanderyinsideandout.Youknowwhothemembersare,andwhattheywant.YouhaveservedasanOfficerwithdignity,andloveofChristianfellowship,andyouareabletobringthe“Light”ofthisfellowshiptoothers.YoumayalsoknowmanyNon-YorkRiteMasons,andwhatyouthingtheywant. But maybe you need to know something more. Perhaps your Chapter, Council and Commandery needs to perform a self-evaluation of its reputation of “implementing change” to meet the needs of its membership. How dotheyperceiveyourYorkRiteBody.Whatareyoudoingright?Whatcouldyoudobetter?WhatkeepspotentialmembersawayfromlocalYorkRitemembership,andyettheymaybeactiveinSymbolicLodgesorotherMasonicorganizations?IsthereanywaytochangetheirperceptionoftheChapter,CouncilandCommandery.

Theansweris“yes”!Anycompanyorfraternitycanresearch,andmanagethewayitisperceivedbyitscurrentandfuture members or any other group that’s important to its success. Perceptual issues, if not positive, can have many tangible effects on a local “Body” ranging from revenue impact to morale. The key is for the leadership of the of theYorkRiteBodytoidentifyandmanagetheperceptionsofthoseitwishestoreach.Thiscanbeaccomplishedbyborrowing from many of the traditional disciplines such as market research, marketing, public relations, customer service, and media advocacy programs. But these are fancy terms for performing a “situation assessment” of your organization. How can we do this quickly, determine if changes are needed, and prepare for our membership development efforts?Dowewant to assureour selves thatwehave agoodproductwithdefined features andtangiblebenefitstoselltoanemergingaudience?

AQuickSituationAnalysis-Simplemarketresearchcanbeaccomplishedbyidentifyingthree(3)separatecategories:ExistingKnightTemplars,FormerKnightTemplars(whoeitherdemittedorareinactiveintheCommandery),orNon-YorkRiteMasonsactiveinSymbolicLodges.CallameetingoftheCommanderyleadership.Agreethatthetask at hand is to determine what changes in our product offering are needed, if any, to improve the perception of theCommanderybymembers,formerembers,andpotentialmembers.Developalistofnamesofpeoplewhoyouknowandrespectthatfallintooneofthesecategories.Agreeastowhoshouldcontactthem.

Active Knight Templars (satisfied customers) -Ask them what is it about the Commandery that creates thecommitment,anddesiretoparticipateinourOrder.Isitthemeeting,theritualisticconferraloftheOrders,thefamilyactivities,programs,drillteam,philanthropies,andfellowship?Askthemtoidentifyareasthatneedimprovement.Ask them for any recommendations of changes that, ifmade,might bring back inactiveCompanions and SirKnights,orassistinattractingnewCompanionsandSirKnightstojoinourranks.Makealistofrecommendations.

InactiveCompanionsandKnightTemplars-(possiblydissatisfiedcustomers)-ThesearetheSirKnightsthatareeither inactive members or have demitted from our ranks. Performing a “product assessment” with this group requires patience andperseverance.But these are also theSirKnights thatmay feel theCommanderydidnotmeettheirneedsorexpectations.PerceptionstotheseSirKnightsarebasedonfirsthandexperiences.First,tellthem how much they are missed. But begin to further explore the reason for their inactivity or separation. Fucus the questioning on what changes could or should be made to meet their needs. Listen intently, and avoid being defensive.Acknowledgetheirobservationsorrecommendations,andmakealistofthem.

PotentialKnightTemplars(NewCustomers)-TheseMasonsaretheprimarytargetofourmembershipdevelopmenteffort.ThesearethefutureKnightsTemplarsthatwillnotjoinourranksunlesswehavethe“rightproduct”for

York Rite Membership

them. They may know little about our Christian Masonic heritage, but may have formed an impression of what it representsbaseduponperceptions.SharewiththemanoverviewoftheYorkRite,andemphasizethefeaturesandbenefitsofmembership.AskthetoconsiderjoiningtheYorkRite.Invitethemtoaplannedactivity.But,doesyour local Commandery really meet their needs?

Feedback ResultsOnceyouknowwhatmotivatesyourtargetaudience,youcantaketheappropriateaction.Dotheyneedtobereeducated,inspired,trained,wonoverorevenentertaained?Mustwe“redefine”orchangeourproducttomeettheir needs? How can we persuade them to join Templary?

ActionPlansWemightnowhavelearnedthatourbelovedYorkRiteisnotmeetingtheneedsorexpectationsofsomecurrent,former, or new members. Our product may need to be “re-engineered” for the existing, and perhaps be “re-defined”for thenew.Wearenotreferringtochanges inourOrdersorourChristianteachingsandprinciples,but changes in operations that might be considered. Perhaps we have learned that we may need more programs at Stated Conclaves involving diversified topics of current interest, more family involvement and scheduledactivities. We may also need more Masonic education, leadership training, and increased promotion of our good works. Perhaps support in community projects, programs and activities for our youth, and more joint activities withotherMasonicorganizations.Maybesome“teambuilding”isinorder.Discusstheresultsofyourfeedbackwith the Commandery leaders, and decide what changes need to occur. Establish both short and long term changes that should be implemented. Begin the implementation process with enthusiasm.

Promote any Progressive ChangeBegin to communicate the changes, and include all three groups in the implementation process. We will grow together, not separately. Youmightbe surprised at the enthusiasm thisprocess canbring.Youmustdevelopeffective programs that can best connect with your key perceivers. Finally, follow up. Continually monitor the resultsofyoureffortsandmakeadjustmentstoachievethebestpossibleresults.Askforrestorations,andseeknewmembers to become a part of the Order. Once this is accomplished, it’s not a once-and-for-all activity. Perceptions, like anything else can change over time. Changes in our social climate can have an ongoing impact on how your key perceivers get their information and form opinions. That’s why it’s important to continually track your efforts overtime making sure that our product offering meets the major needs of current members, rekindles interest to former members, and is attractive to potential members.

So Whats the PointPerceptualissuescanbemanagedjustasyoumanagefinance,orgrowthofanyenterprise.Takingthisapproachhelps avoid the effects of “unfavorable opinions” by understanding the “needs” of your target audience, and implementing the changes needed to satisfy them.

With the implementation of creative new management techniques, we have the opportunity to re-examine our product and assure ourselves of the value received. Until you have seen your Commandery through the eyes of others, you haven’t seen one of your greatest opportunities for customer satisfaction and growth.

PromoteYourGoodWorks.Writearticles,takepictures,andpublishyourCrusadeprogramactivities.Promoteyour activities. No one can purchase a product they are unaware of.

The Temple of SolomonThe monthly newsletter produced & published by the Grand Commandery’s Educational & Leadership Committee. Purpose: To help the Constituent Commanderies with their monthly Masonic Education talk.The newsletter is being sent electronically or by snail mail to the Constituent Commanderies in Florida on a monthly basis. It is also posted on the Florida York Rite web site.

Do you have a computer? Are you connected to the Internet?If you answered YES to the above questions, then....

Have you visited the Florida Grand York Rite website?

www.flgyr.org

York Rite Information in FloridaEvents in our jurisdiction, News, Festival Dates, etc.

Remember this is your website for York Rite information.

Colonel James “Nick” Rowe PrioryOrder of Knighthood

CotillionDate: Saturday, October 17

Location: Tampa Scottish RiteTime: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Contact S.K. Ron Blaisdell for more information

Jacksonville York Rite BodiesThe York Rite Bodies of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida are happy and proud to announce the Fall York Rite Festival for the conferral of the Degrees and Orders of the York Rite of Freemasonry. The conferral of the Degrees and Orders will take place at:

The Jacksonville York Rite Temple 1237 South McDuff Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32205

October 29, 2009 Thursday 6:00 PM Dinner 7:00 PM Mark Master Degree 8:30 PM Past Master Degree

October 30, 2009 Friday 6:00 PM Dinner 7:00 PM Most Excellent Master Degree 8:45 PM Royal Arch Mason Degree

October 31, 2009 Saturday 7:00 AM Breakfast 8:00 AM Royal Master Degree 9:30 AM Select Master Degree 10:30 AM Illustrious Order of the Red Cross 11:15 AM Mediterranean Pass & Order of Malta 12:15 PM Lunch 1:30 PM Order of the Temple

Ocala York Rite BodiesSeptember 26, 2009 Saturday 9:00 AM Capitular Degrees Noon Lunch 1:00 PM Continuation of Capitular Degrees

October 14, 2009 Wednesday 7:30 PM Cryptic Degrees

November 7, 2009 Saturday 9:00 AM Chivalric Orders Noon Lunch 1:00 PM Continuation of Chivalric Orders

York Rite Festivals Fort Myers York Rite BodiesSeptember 22: KT Order of Red Cross ConferralOctober 13: KT Order of Malta ConferralOctober 27: KT Order of the Temple

When : Saturday, November 7, 2009

Where: Crestview York Rite Bodies - Crestview, FL

Time: 9:00 Am - 2:00 PM Lunch around Noon

Agenda:

1. What constitutes a complete uniform and how to correctly wear it. 2. How to properly use the sword and how to correctly salute with or

without the sword. 3. How to correctly march and do facing movements and how to

correctly open a commandry using the 9 man opening.4. After lunch we are going to demonstrate a full/9 man opening. 5. Possible instruction for Chapter and Council officers during the

School of Instruction.

S. K. Maulden S. K. Ronald L ParksDistrict Instructor 10th District Deputy Grand Commander 10th

School of Instruction District 10

SWORDS

Knight Templar UniformsSuit City, Sumpter, SC: Ask for Joe. 1-803-773-2262 (not toll free)

Price of uniform is $110.00 plus shipping Shipping is about $14.00. Coat is Double Breasted and includes sleeve crosses and FLA # on breast pocket. Tell him the number of your Commandery and give him a credit card number and pants size. Those who have ordered from him say that these are light summer weight uniforms and great.

Universal Chapeau Boley - Ruyle P.O. Box 130524 Tyler TX 75713-0524 1-800-553-0015 or 1-903-597-9545

These have an adjustable headband and comes complete with black underplume and 4 ply 8 inch by 22 inch white ostrich plume together with Sir Knight rosette.

Sir Knight Chapeau $185.00 Mylar Past Commanders $230.00 Bullion

Grand Officer Rosette add $95.00 Past Grand Rosette add $95.00

They also have Chapeau cases, Malta and Red Cross Jewels, swords and belts.

Need Help Finding Knights Templar Items...

100% Genuine Leather Inside Lining

Gator or Lizard Embossed Color: Black

Cost : $50.00 Shipping cost is separate.$5.00 from the sale will be donated to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation

Knights Templar SWORD CASE

If interested, please contact S.K. David Aponte by e-mail: [email protected] send a letter to:6620 W. Constitution Lane, Homosassa, Florida 34448with your name, address, phone number and the size of your sword from tip to tip. As soon as your case is done you will be notified prior to mailing.

We also have Sword Belt hooks: 2 for $4.00 Shipping & Handling separate

http://www.themaac.com/swords.html

Scrolldownto"KnightsTemplarDeluxeDressSword"

Thesearestainlesssteel,notspringsteel--cost$50foraSirKnightssword.

The Florida York Rite MasonGrand York Rite Bodies of FloridaP. O. Box 2740Lake Placid, FL 33862-2740

Official Quarterly E-Publication of the Grand York Rite Bodies of FloridaLet York Rite Shine in ‘09

The Pyramid Symbol from “The Lost Symbol”

“...Brown goes to GREAT lengths to debunk and say what Freemasonry isn’t, covering the “is masonry a religion” issue, and even guffawing at the notion of secret geometric grids in the streets of Washington. Even the infamous MASON on the great seal on the back of the 1 dollar bill gets a quick walk on, only to of been used as a dodge for something else...” (Read the Book Review inside)

the florida york rite mason vol. 3 issue 3

Documents

york rite announcementspage

york rite membership

york rite bodies

masonic symbols

symbols companions

symbols symbolismpage

lost symbol page

lost symbolpage