CONFUSION
IN THE TEMPLE
by R.W.Bro. E.A. Clarke,
S.G.W., Grand lodge of
British Columbia
38th ANUUAL INTERPROVINCIAL CONFERENCE OF THE
OFFICERS OF THE FOUR WESTERN MASONIC JURISIDCTIONS -
1978 Brethren: why this confusion in the temple? A passage
taken out of our ritual but as usual when any statement is taken
out of context, a different meaning is imparted. The confusion
to which I refer causes the brethren to stray but is nothing
that cannot, with determined and constructive action, be
surmounted and laid aside. The many subjects discussed at this
conference and other Masonic convocations over the years are
varied, but I suggest to you that no subject has more often been
the basic underlying theme, than attendance and/or membership.
It is my belief that if we can solve the attendance problem,
membership will take care of itself. In our discussions of
attendance we usually miss the point completely by maligning
outside distractions. Distractions they are, but are they really
our problem? Are we so perfect? Have we no blame? Do we start
our candidate off on the right footing? In simple language, are
we so confused that we cannot see the forest for the
trees? Let us first look at our lodges and at the same time
stare at the empty seats around the room. We can discuss our
attendance problem at these meetings - be they regular, emergent
or lodge for instruction, but we often end up saying "how do we
get to the brothers who are not here"? You have heard it time
and time again, "it's like preaching to the converted". There
are those who receive their M.M. degree and fade away. There are
even those who take their E.A. degree and fail to be seen again.
Why is this? About now, you may be muttering under your
breath, "where does the confusion in the temple fit when we are
back to the age old problem of attendance". I submit we have two
concerns. Firstly, we are confused and secondly and more
important, our candidate and/or our newly raised brother is
confused. To address the first point, when was the last time you
analyzed the different lectures, charges and obligations and
then applied them to our present actions and teachings? I do not
intend to try to point out our back sliding: you can draw your
own conclusions. We learn as an E.A. that a regular
attendance is required. At this point of time the new brother
knows only his sponsors and the investigation committee. Out of
these five brethren, how many came out to his degree, helped
with his coaching and later took him to lodge until the habit
was formed. How many of the other brethren of the lodge went up
to him and greeted him as a welcomed new member. The seed of
confusion has been planted. Now let us see if we nurture this
seed. He is told that he should not write, indite, etc. etc. and
what happens? In a great number of cases a written list of
questions and answers including the obligation albeit the
penalty is either left out or coded in some manner. How's that
seed doing? He is further told that the occasions of the degrees
are solemn and serious. If this is true why do we hear talking
and even outright laughter at these moments of moving dignity.
Digressing a little, I fear we have confused the regular and the
emergent or degree meetings. How serious we get over some petty
little item in the minutes or some other such trivial detail.
The charge to the, brethren reads in part and I quote "and if
these meetings are blended with social mirth and a mutual
interchange of fraternal feelings, then Freemasonry will be
shown in its true light". Surely this is meant for the regular
meeting: the degrees on the other hand are the very foundation
and should make an enduring impression on the candidate. Let us
further germinate that seed before we go too far
afield. We further state in the charge at initiation that no
institution was ever raised on a better principle or a more
solid foundation: nor were more excellent rules and useful
maxims laid down than are inculcated in the several masonic
lectures. What happens to these lectures? In some lodges they
are delivered at each degree, others once a year for each degree
and candidates from the whole year are expected to attend, and
in still others, they are sadly neglected. These lectures bear
repeating as it is only from continual repetition that their
deep meanings start to unfold. We tell the candidate in their
leisure hours "to improve themselves in Masonic knowledge, you
are to converse with well informed brethren who will be always
as ready to give, as you will be to receive, instruction". What
better base for Masonic instruction than any one of the
lectures. History teaches us much and we should have lectures on
this subject. It can be most revealing and interesting but let
us not forget the great lessons in the lectures that need
interpretation in order that their message is fully understood.
Those of us who have been fortunate enough to go through the
different offices and have learned these lectures are often
guilty of losing sight of the need to ensure that our lodges
continue to follow proper procedures, by courteously reminding
them that no degree is compete without the lectures. They are
part of the ritual. I have given a great deal of thought and
even hesitated to raise this next issue as it has confused me
for-many years, but I trust with your understanding and
deliberation, serious consideration can be given to its enormous
importance. Can we truly call on the name of God in our
obligations and at the same instance have such physical
penalties pronounced? As previously stated, I approached this
part of my subject with some concern then, when reading one of
Bro. Harry Carr's books "The Freemason at Work", a door swung
open. It was most enlightening to learn that in 1964 the United
Grand Lodge of England passed such changes as would make our
penalties more acceptable. The United Grand Lodge of England
not being a regulatory body over ritual, such as our Grand
Lodges, could only recommend to the different jurisdictions that
they make the changes. I am sure all of you here have read the
book in question but for those who may read these proceedings,
please bear with me. The following is an extract relating to the
E.A. degree "these several points I solemnly swear to observe,
without evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation of any
kind, and, while bearing in mind the ancient symbolic penalty of
- (the symbolic penalty in the usual way), binding myself under
the real penalty on the violation of any of them, of being
branded a wilfully perjured individual, void of all moral worth,
and totally unfit - etc". The F.C. and M.M. are instructed in a
similar fashion. Now there are those that will say that their
lodge practices this wording now, but I submit the wording
"while bearing in mind the ancient symbolic penalty" is not
included and is the real key. Coming to my final but equally
important concern, I would like to mention our wives and most
especially our new members' wives. I admit that at my request,
my wife has read the charge to the brethren and some of our
other charges. There is nothing secret in these writings but
they explain away silly notions one hears from the outside about
our beloved order. I do not know how many lodge meetings I would
have missed if my wife hadn't said just after supper "aren't you
going to lodge tonight?" One gets reading the newspaper or
watching some sport on T.V. and all it takes is that little prod
or should I call it a gentle reminder. We are not a secret
society but a society with secrets, not a new cliche but do we
believe it? Brethren, surely our wives are entitled to
supportive understanding of our individual role as Freemasons.
Have you ever showed the lodge room to your wife, if not, why
not? Have you ever thought about the printing of our forms and
ceremonies, book of constitutions, officers guides, proceedings
of Grand Lodge, not to mention the many excellent books that
have been written on Freemasonry? Visit the libraries, be they
public or our own. Who set all the type? All Masons? I think
not! We could go into far more detail but your own intelligence
can complete the picture far better than anything I have said
here. I am reminded of an actual happening in Vancouver: an
elderly couple presented themselves at the Masonic hall and the
husband asked if he could see the lodge rooms. The manager
satisfied himself that he was a Mason (from England) and learned
that he was passing through and would not be able to visit a
lodge. Making a long story short, the two of them were escorted
to the lodge rooms and when the door was opened the manager
noticed the wife had stepped back and he asked her .'wouldn't
you like to see?" Her answer was "may I?" Upon leaving the
building this lady said to the manager "I often wondered where
my husband used to go all dressed up and after fifty years I now
know and I know why he dressed up". There were tears in her eyes
and she thanked him and said she would never forget that
day. Confusion in the temple. It is all about us. Let us
cease looking for an answer outside our time honoured
institution. Let us look within, for it is within the individual
lodges where the problem exists, and it is within these walls
that they can, together, find the
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