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Masonic News & Views - The Mysteries of Freemasonry July 16, 2012 |
| Greetings Brother, "Do you seriously declare upon your honor that, unbiased by the improper solicitations of friends, and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself a candidate for the Mysteries of Freemasonry?" These are perhaps the very first words of Masonic ritual that a candidate hears. The first in a series of questions in which he must state unequivocally, and upon his honor, that his reasons and motives for obtaining this important privilege are proper and pure. It is by the responses he gives to this series of questions that he is qualified to enter into the Mysteries of Freemasonry, but, What is the meaning of MYSTERY? The word Mystery originated in the secret rites and teachings of exclusive, esoteric groups, such as the Eleusinian Mysteries in ancient Greece. The initiates were called mystai from a verb meaning “to close the eyes,” because the candidates were blindfolded during the ceremony until the secrets were revealed. The teachings were religious, but contained instruction in the arts and sciences as well. The initiations were performed only once a year, starting with a public procession, in which all the city participated. The candidates were distinguished by their white ceremonial clothing. Although there are obvious similarities between the ancient mysteries and Freemasonry, there is no evidence that Freemasonry originated with the mysteries. As a Fellow Craft Mason you are charged with the further attainment and the fruitful application of useful knowledge. In these pursuits the working tools of a Fellow Craft are invaluable and indispensable. They are the Level, the Plumb, and the Square. What is a LEVEL?
What is a SQUARE?
Until next we meet upon the level, by the plumb, and upon the square I remain, Fraternally yours, Tim Couch Source information from Handbook of Freemasonry - Missouri Now, on with the news........................ Monday, July 16, 2012: Branson Lodge No. 587 will have work in the 1st Degree of Freemasonry in conjunction with their stated meeting. One duly elected candidate will be presented for initiation into the mysteries of Freemasonry. Dinner at 6:00 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 7:00 PM. The KCCH Club of the Scottish Rite Valley of Joplin has a surplus of popcorn available for immediate distribution. This is microwave popcorn sold by the case at a very reasonable price. If you or your organization could use a good fund raising event, or if you just want some good popcorn, give Brother Rives a call at 417-437-2799. Tuesday, July 17, 2012: Ava Lodge No. 26 will meet in Special Communication for work in the 2nd Degree of Freemasonry. Brother Donny Collins and a Brother of Mansfield Lodge No. 543 will be presented for advancement to the degree of Fellow Craft. Dinner at 6:00 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 6:30 PM. Tuesday, July 17, 2012: Billings Lodge No. 379 will host a School of Ritual Instruction. Refreshments will be available at 6:00 PM and instruction will begin at 6:30 PM. RWB Tom Williams, District 43 Deputy Grand Lecturer, will instruct on the ritual of the Entered Apprentice degree. All regular Freemasons are invited to attend. Tuesday, July 17, 2012: Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422 will meet in Special Communication for work in the 2nd Degree of Freemasonry. Six candidates are scheduled to be presented for advancement to the degree of Fellow Craft. Lodge will be duly Opened at 6:00 PM and there will be nourishment following the work. Thursday, July 19, 2012: Neosho Lodge No. 247 will meet in Special Communication for work in the 3rd Degree of Freemasonry. Lodge will be duly Opened at 7:00 PM. Friday, July 20, 2012: The Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill will be conferred upon worthy candidates by Ozark Order #109 at the Gate of the Temple Lodge building located at 1700 North Boonville in Springfield, MO.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012: Ava Lodge No. 26 will meet in Special Communication for work in the 3rd Degree of Freemasonry. Brothers Dylan Alcorn and Lawson Curtis are scheduled to be Raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Dinner at 6:00 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 6:30 PM. All Master Masons are invited in. Tuesday, July 31, 2012: Ava Lodge No. 26 will meet in Special Communication for work in the 3rd Degree of Freemasonry. Brother Andy Mcloud is scheduled to be Raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Dinner at 6:00 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 6:30 PM. All Master Masons are invited in. Monday, August 6, 2012: The Metropolitan Scottish Rite Club will meet at Logan's Roadhouse, 1110 East Battlefield Road in Springfield, MO. We will have fellowship and dinner at 6:00 and the meeting to follow about 7:00 PM. This is a very important meeting as we will be electing officers. Please try to attend. Friday, August 10, 2012: Most Worshipful Brother John W. Hess, Grand Master of Missouri Masons, will travel to Ava Lodge No. 26 to participate in the Raising of Brother Donny Collins. All Master Masons are invited in. Dinner at 6:00 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 6:30 PM. Thursday, August 23, 2012: Forsyth Lodge No. 453 will have work in the 3rd Degree of Freemasonry in conjunction with their stated meeting. Brother Clint Gailey will be presented for advancement to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Dinner at 6:00 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 7:00 PM. Saturday, August 25, 2012: A C2A (Chance-to-Advance) one day class will be held at Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422 in Springfield, MO. Saturday, August 25, 2012: United Lodge No. 5 will host a Conceal Carry Weapons Class from 8:00 AM to about 5:00 PM. Instruction will begin at the Masonic York Rite Temple, 1930 West Catalpa Street in Springfield, MO, and move to a location near Fair Grove, MO after lunch for the live-fire portion of the class.
Saturday, September 8, 2012: Save the date! The 2012 KCCH Memorial RiteCare Golf Tournament will be held at Deer Lake Golf Course in Springfield, MO. All proceeds will go to support the RiteCare Speech and Language Clinics and services right here in southwest Missouri. It's a worthy cause and a good time. Please do what you can to help the kids. Click here to open and save a flier for the event. As you can see there's lots of Masonry going on in Missouri. See the links below to keep up with the latest or to submit information for your upcoming meeting or event. For help locating a lodge building visit the Missouri Masonic Lodge Map page on Masonsmart.com
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A level is a device to establish the horizontal line of plane. In Speculative Freemasonry it alludes to the equality between brothers both inside, as well as outside of the Lodge.
Plumbum was the Latin word for lead. As plumbago, it is a name for graphite, once thought to be an oxide of lead. It appears in plumbing and plumber, since early water pipes were made of lead. Under such names as plumb-bob, plumb-line, and plumb-rule (using a lead weight), it is the simplest and one of the best devices for testing perpendiculars. The plumb-line appears in a majestic form and under dramatic circumstance in the Scripture reading taken from the Book of Amos (7, 7-8).
The square is possibly the most widely known of all the symbols and emblems, and has passed into familiar phraseology in such expressions as a square deal, on the square, square meal, and square shooter. The original meaning of the word is FOUR (Latin, exquatuor), thus quadrangle, quadrilateral, quadrant, and quadratic. A solid figure squared in shape gives maximum equilibrium—it stays put, will not topple over, and will not cave in, since it is solid and substantial. For a Freemason to be on the square means he is truthful and honorable. As a working tool, the square is a try-square, used for proving right angles; it should not be confused with the carpenter's square, which has inch marks along each arm.
