The Ritual is not the Main Thing
by Rabbi E. Geffen, 32d, F.P.S.
Masonic Light - 5949
There are many Masons who know nothing about
the morality of Masonry, or what their duties
are, for the reason that they are only
interested in the ritual. The ritual is only
a small part of Masonry; steps should be
taken to call the attention of the Craftsman
to the morality of the Craft, and to what
their duties as good and true Masons are, and
the nature and extent of their obligations.
The ritual is undoubtedly not to be
neglected, inasmuch as it is the medium
through which we acquire our lessons of
symbolism, by translating the mystical in
real conduct of life. The ritual is also
important, because by its means we separate
ourselves from the rest of the world, and
obtain the means of mutual recognition. But
it is, after all, the weakest part of
Masonry. The ritual alone will no more make a
true Mason than the manual exercise will make
a true soldier. The moral and intellectual
teachings of the Order - its intention as a
great religious institution, occupied in the
search after Divine Truth, should always
engage the attention of the Masonic student,
and form a prominent part of his studies. We
unfortunately, know too many Masons who are
completely ignorant of the history, the
nature, the design and the true symbolism of
the Order, as if they had never entered
within its portals, regardless that they are
familiar with the exact phraseology of the
ritual.
Masonry has its science and its literature,
and to these the attention of the Masonic
student should be directed. The ritual is its
alphabet. A know of it is, therefore, it is
true, necessary to a, full comprehension of
its language; but he who has gone no further
than the alphabet, however competent he may
be to instruct others in the same rudiments,
can hardly discharge the duty of a teacher of
the science.
Such ritualists, who do not know the history
and morality of our Order, are like some
ignorant servitor in a public library, who
can readily point out the shelf or spot
occupied by every book, and even give from
memory a correct rendition of its title-page,
and yet who knows no more concerning the
intellectual treasures contained within its
locked leaves than the binder who put them
together.
It is time that Masons should come to the
conclusion and realize that something more
than a mere knowledge of the words of a
ritual are necessary to make a "bright" Mason
or a competent teacher in Masonry.
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