I found this website just now. It is an extensive site full of information about Freemasonry in the U.S. Looks interesting.
I have not read enough of the site to declare how good the information is, nor can I swear that I am a worthy judge even if I had. One should always judge for oneself the value of an information source. I will speak more of it when I have read more.
If anyone has links to any good Masonic sites, please leave a comment.
As much as I consider myself endlessly fascinating—somebody has to!—I have not expected that I would continue finding interesting new material for this blog. I expected routine to take over, and I would be repeating myself about the Masonic experience. Surprises, however, arise.
Last night was Step Up Night. I did not know what that meant. I knew there would be a cook out, which was attraction enough for me.
When I arrived, no cook out was evident, though a flatbed truck was in the parking lot. At the door were our two new Associate Stewards. They wore Thomas Talbot sashes and greeted arrivals.
Six candidates were to be entered as Entered Apprentices. I hung with a recently raised (last week) brother. I also met one of the candidates at the open house last winter. He was accompanied by his father-in-law, who belongs to another Lodge.
At the opening of the Lodge, I sat with a Past Master. It was helpful because I saw that our Junior Warden sat in the Senior Warden’s seat. When I commented, the Past Master explained Step Up Night. Simply, each of the officers step up to the office they will hold in the coming year. Well, that is interesting. A sort of spring training for the upcoming year.
ALL the officers were in new positions. And six candidates were to be entered. I like that, shaking things up.
Lodge was opened then we repaired to the cookout. Most of us went outside, where a gas grill (delivered by the flatbed) cooked burgers and hot dogs. New England was being kind, so the temperature was moderate and humidity low. We get three days like that each year, so enjoy, enjoy.
In the conversation, while we waited, a brother handed out cards for his activity as a clown for the Aleppo Shriners. The Shrine is one of the affiliated organizations of the Masons. Clowns are trained, and are available to cheer up sick children. Without cost.
A Past Master and his wife deserve credit for the cook out. They busily prepared and served the meal.
And food was consumed.
During dinner I mentioned that my grandfather was a Mason. I mentioned the uniform that my grandfather wore in the picture I have of him. I somehow had the idea that the uniform was Scottish Rites, but an older Brother said that my grandfather belonged to York Rites. He himself belonged to York Rites. In York Rites, you participate in the rituals, in Scottish Rites, you watch. Scottish Rites presents plays, like Mystery plays.
The ritual was nifty to watch. Most of the principals were in new positions. This is practice for when they assume their new offices. Memorizing what they have to memorize is impressive. As I have mentioned before, the vocabulary of the ritual is archaic, derived from the 18th Century. The locutions are more long-winded than we might speak today. To put that into your memory is hard work. A prompter is always at ready to supply lines.
Besides entering six new candidates, we voted on the applications of several other people and the reinstatement of someone. The vote is largely ceremonial. The name and address of the candidate is hardly enough information to make a determination on.
We actually voted on the new officers. This was just a formality. The system is that one moves through the various position to more responsibility until one reaches Worshipful Master. You can write in a candidate, but you would need a good reason to go against the people being prepared.
It will be interesting to see how things change with the new regime. These offices have substance mostly in the ritual. The Lodge is run by committee, that is the Service Committee, in which any Brother can participate. Still, different people bring different styles.
We were given ballots consisting of the offices and candidates. You could vote for someone outside the line, but it is obviously unlikely that write ins would garner any votes. They didn’t.
Still, we had to tear the ballot up and vote with each piece of the ballot for the respective candidate. This was rather silly, especially given that no candidate was opposed. We spent fifteen minutes tearing the ballots while hearing the announcements that someone had won the ballot with a shutout.
One further piece of business concerned delinquent dues. I read in the communication that the names of those who had not paid would be read at the meeting. I had never received any word about dues, did not even know how much it was. I contacted Terry, our Secretary, and paid him when I saw him on Sunday. He was not worried about my not paying.
Some discussion arose about whether the names should be read, but the by-laws state that they should. The list contained 60 names, which is a lot. One Brother, before the list was read, said, Whoa! I haven’t paid. I will pay right now. Which was funny.
I have no problem having the list read (though I do have a problem being on the list). The dues are not high, and it is easy to see where the money goes. I take it that if circumstances are difficult, one can make arrangements. People can be pretty lax about these sorts of duties.
Anyway, the list was read. I recognized none of the names. I asked someone who was raised at the time I was if he had been given a dues notice, and he hadn’t. Nor had he paid, yet. His name was not read.
The Brother who spoke about York Rites was somewhat abashed that he was coatless. Other Brothers were, in anticipation of a stuffy Lodge Room. I wondered how to dress because of the temperature, and also because of the cookout, but opted for my lighter jacket and what the heck. I did not suffer.
This Brother, by the way, is our oldest Past Master. That is, his term was earlier than any other surviving Brother, predating Terry.
The doors to the Lodge Room, including the outside door, were open, and fans ran. This would presumably be against strict observance of tyling, or tiling, since cowans could be lurking. I still have not discovered the derivation of this term. I guess the sense is tiled over, as in closed off. Even certain parts of the website, where personal information is, must be tiled, that is, a secure server.
After the meeting, I made a quick visit to the dessert table then hurried home.
I have missed a number of recent Masonic activities lately, to wit:
So it goes. I am especially sorry that I missed the special communication, I want to see the Third Degree again. Also, I want to support the new members.
Today I managed to get to the breakfast. I did not arrive until around 7:30. Because we were shorthanded, I was recruited to do scrambled eggs. The pressure was on.
Past Master Bob, who has District responsibilities, took me in hand. It truly took me years to learn to cook scrambled eggs properly, but at that, I was not doing industrial levels of production.
The method is thus:
Briefly blend a quantity of eggs and half that quantity of milk. These proportions make up for inconsistency in eggs size. I do not add milk at home, just a splash of water. Blend them on lowest spend till the milk disappears into the egg. Fry in an electric pan.
May not sound like much but I barely saw the dining room. I moved between my two stations, and as orders came up I put eggs on the plates.
It was hot in the kitchen, and rainy outside. I had the advantage of being near a window, but that was not enough.
Though breakfast runs from 8-10, people arrived after 10:30. When demand finally stopped, I scrubbed dishes.
There is little to call especially Masonic about the breakfast. It is a friendly time, despite the pressure. What distinguishes Freemasonry from other organizations?
Camaraderie exists in most social organizations, I imagine. I belong to one other organization, Toastmasters. The focus differs greatly—I would even say completely—from the Masons. In Toastmasters, we gather to give and hear speeches. Nevertheless, a camaraderie exists, just like with the Masons.
Freemasonry offers the attraction of its rituals. I, personally, enjoy watching and participating in these rituals. York Rites and Scottish Rites offer even more ritual.
The rituals are lessons, if you want to focus on their philosophic aspect. That is, you can join Freemasonry to improve yourself, just as I joined Toastmasters to improve my ability to speak in public.
Freemasonry offers a regular calendar of social events, some keyed specifically to Freemasonry, like the monthly communications, and some that could been any organization, like the blood drive or monthly breakfast.
I am reading a book of Freemasonry, The Masonic Myth by Jay Kinney. I could find few books on Masons in my local library network. Most that I saw seemed like rabid exposés of those colluding, controversial Masons. That stuff is just too much for me.
Kinney’s book seems lucidly informative. He is a Mason, but avoids defensiveness and proselytizing.
The history of Freemasonry is just plain murky. There were many antecedents to the current organization. These antecedents were sometimes at odds with each other. This causes confusion and inconsistency. The various wings of the organizations have settled under a single aegis. To look at all that as a singular vision of conspiracy is to be ridiculous. I have been a Mason for five months, and actively participated in not one conspiracy. Darn.
I learned prior to reading the book, but Kinney expatiated on the point, that too much is made of the 33 degrees of Masonry. I believe the 33rd degree itself is honorific, but of the others, one only witnesses the ritual of a handful. You get a Cliff Notes version of all the rituals. It takes a few weekend intensives to reach the upper strata of degrees. And to do so does not make you more of a Mason. So there you are. No, you do it because it interests you.
Tomorrow is the regular communication, and a barbecue. No communications during the summer. I think early in the fall we vote on new officers.
I missed the last two Lodges of Instruction but at least I got to the May breakfast. I got there when Andy did, about 5:45. I immediately began performing expert potato dicing procedures.
The breakfast was slow to begin. I think that’s a product of the season. The Unitarian church next door also ran a breakfast. I do not suppose that people stand outside wondering which one to attend. Ours was a dollar cheaper, if it came to that.
I helped set up the dining room, served for a while, then switched to the essential role of toastmaster. I prepared the toast. Meat and potato dishes are prepared beforehand. Someone does pancakes on the griddle, someone else prepares scrambled eggs, other eggs are under someone else’s command, and someone plates the orders. The pace is hectic.
I did not expect that making toast would be pressure-packed, but when the crowd started growing, and push came to shove, I felt rushed. The toast is a promodel, with a conveyor drawing the bread between the heating elements. Two slices go in side by side and this can be maintained continuously. Yes, if you are agile.
I had to load the bread into the toaster, paint the finished toast with melted butter, plate the toast on paper plates, and cut the slices. That, friends, is multi-tasking. I helped clean up then left around 11:00.
It is a good feeling to contribute in this way. It is not charitable in the sense of CHIPS or the blood drive, but it is still helping. The breakfast makes some money for the Lodge, and, more importantly, fosters camaraderie. Plus I get a breakfast out of it, and I drank a lot of coffee.
Last Tuesday was a regular Lodge meeting. Four candidates were passed to Second Degree. I wanted to go to their first Cipher Training (Cipher Training is open to any brother), but could not manage it. But I was anxious to watch the ritual again.
Entering the Lodge Room, I chose to sit in the Northeast Corner, because I wanted a different view. I normally sit by the door. Attendance was less than other nights, so I sat there alone. I was not segregating myself there, between Dick our treasurer, whose desk is at that corner, and the Joe the organist.
Our Senior Warden did not attend and was replaced by a Past Master. There was a replacement for Jim our Senior Steward. He arrived in time but let the replacement remain.
The ritual was somewhat abbreviated because the District Deputy was making a another visit. That’s the third visit to our Lodge since I’ve been a member. The District Deputy belongs to the Lodge in Tewksbury, but when that Lodge was being built they used Thomas Talbot, so the DD was raised at TT. Got that?
Midway through the ritual, someone came over from across the way. He was a Past Master who now lives in Florida. He introduced himself. It concerned him that a brother sat alone. I explained why I did so, but he remained. That was an incredibly nice gesture. Later, after the Lodge closed, I was speaking with Jim, the Senior Steward. He said join him if I find myself alone. I explained to him, as well, why I sat where I did. This is camaraderie.
The District Deputy’s entrance happens with sufficient pomp. The Worshipful Master calls out all Past Masters to greet the DD. They stand in parallel lines and the DD passes through. I have no problem with a little pomp. The District Deputy is not pompous, just to be clear. He is a warm speaker.
I will try to attend Cipher training tomorrow.
It was off to Lowell for Lodge of Instruction last week. Unfortunately, I had the date wrong. The only people I saw were dressed in what I believe is the Scottish Rites uniform (it looks like what my grandfather wore in the picture I have). A Brother from Thomas Talbot confirmed that I had the wrong night. I might have consulted the Lodge’s online calendar but my Internet service was down. It was a lovely evening, at least.
Back home, my wife and I were watching one of the history channels and what should come on but a show about Freemasonry. I would not mind learning more about the history of the organization. I know that many Founding Fathers were Masons but have yet to do much reading on the subject.
It turns out that this show was not a lot of help in elucidating the history of Freemasonry in America. Some factual information was were relayed but holy cow what a lot of obvious malarkey was mixed in with those tidbits. Lots of supposition. Lurid supposition.
The show centered on Ben Franklin, a remarkable and larger than life figure, as we all know. Things rapidly took a salacious turn as leering reference to Franklin’s sexual proclivities was made. Okay, he liked the ladies. Let it go.
It is hardly substantiated, but Franklin may have been a member of another organization, the Hellfire Club. This seems to have been a club for sexual escapades. Even if Franklin did belong to this club, how does that relate to Freemasons? Well, it doesn’t. That did not prevent the producers of this show from going into depth about what members of this club did, or were supposed to do.
We repeatedly saw a Franklin impersonator giving the wink to ladies while suppositions were presented as damning facts. Many of the experts—and some of them were university professors—extrapolated to an unseemly degree. My wife and I love history, but this show was a travesty.
Midway through the show, as if things weren’t bad enough, a goofy occult segment was introduced. Some ghost hunters were shown using their ‘scientific’ equipment to discover Franklin’s spirit in some house that Franklin stayed at in London. That pretty much finished the show for me. The ghost hunters came up with lame ‘proof positive’ that Franklin’s spirit was present, and I went to bed.
I hope to make it to Lodge of Instruction this week.
A regular meeting on Monday. I have wondered if I might exhaust the reader’s interest in goings on, but it strikes me, if not the reader, that the activities and ceremonies that I write about remain intriguing. So I carry on.
This was a regular meeting, as I said. However, when I arrived, it was clear that something was up. A number of brothers who I did not know milled about, and there was a reserved parking space for the District Deputy. I entered thru the kitchen, which was busy, and went upstairs. I was earlier than usual.
I had not witnessed the opening of the Lodge before, but it seemed like there was more activity than usual. Also, more people wore their Jewels, which are pins that represent honors that they have earned. I saw Mike, a Past Master who I have seen at most of the functions that I have attended. He said, Oh,you’re here. I got shook that this was somehow a private affair, and I asked, Is this a regular meeting? He said that it was.
I introduced myself to a stranger, who is from a Lodge in Western Massachusetts. He said that he was moving to town and planning to join the Lodge. I eventually wandered into the Lodge Room and took a seat. Things bustled then the meeting began.
The Worshipful Master mentioned at the card night that he might wear a hat at meetings. The Grand Lodge had suggested that hats be part of the ritual. There he was, then, in a jaunty top hat. He opened the Lodge.
I am glad that I finally witnessed this, it was illuminating. The ritual basically explained the various offices. That was helpful. I really like watching the ritual unfold.
A Masonic meeting must be tiled. That means closed and secured. I donot know where the term comes from.Tiling entails the Senior Warden literally checking the doors to ensure that no one is listening in on secrets. The Tyler sits outside the door to make sure of the same thing. Surely this was more essential in an earlier day, now it is strictly ritual. Masonic secrecy is no longer so dire as it used to be. The secrets are still to be kept, but it is definitely not a life-threatening situation.
This part of the meeting was sparsely attended, and no business beyond the ritual occurred. We then repaired to the dining room. A lot of people were there. We dined and talked until 7:00, when the meeting resumed.
Three candidates were to be entered as Entered Apprentices. I was happy to see the ritual again. The point of ritual, I think, is in the repetition. One sees more each time. The risk of course is that the ritual becomes thoughtless. If it all becomes rote, it has lost its meaning. I am far from letting that happen.
Because there were fewer than five Candidates, each one got to go through the ritual: there was no Exemplar. This stretched out the ceremony some, but we got to see the different ways each Candidate responded. One Candidate replied to the question of whether he had anything to offer the Lodge (the expected answer is No) with: I have one shoe. Whee!
Eight prospective Candidates were voted on. This entailed the Secretary, Terry, reading their request, which just gives their name, address, employment, and sponsor. I do not know the extent of due diligence applied to new Candidates. I know that a committee investigates each Candidate, but they never discovered that I am actually a SECRET AGENT from an Eastern European country bent on destroying the fabric of American ways and making our wrestling champion the champion of WWE, so I don’t know. I met one of the Candidates at the open house. As far as voting goes, it is super unlikely that I would vote against someone.
This was my first vote, because only Master Masons can vote. The Senior and Junior Deacons, AKA Chris and Andy, brought out the voting boxes. We lined up and, when our turn came, reached into a box and felt for either the white ball (yea), or black cube (nay). Or was it white cube and black ball…? Well whatever, I voted yea as did everyone else.
After a short recess, the District Deputy and his Suite were invited in. I wondered what the murmur outside the Lodge Room was about. The District Deputy had come for an official visit. The visit went like this:
The Worshipful Master and all the attending Past Masters gathered in a gauntlet at the door. Our District Ambassador then strode jauntily in announcing the District Deputy. In came the District Deputy and an entourage of maybe as many as 20. I do not know how people get into that suite. The people in the suite were Past Masters and Officers from various Lodges.
The District Deputy, with appropriate flourish, named each person in his suite, then they sat down. The District Deputy is the same fellow I have seen at Lodge of Instruction, and he was at Table Lodge. He congratulated the Candidates and spoke elsewise, as well.
In what proved to be a surprise, the District Deputy asked Tom, the Sentinel, to come forward. Tom was presented with the Rookie Award. The Rookie Award is a way to inspire participation in Masonic activities. It is for those who have been Masons for one year or less. I was surprised to learn that Tom only became a Mason in September.
To earn the Rookie Award, one must go to Lodge of Instruction (as a Master Mason) a certain number of times, attend a Masonic funeral, etc etc. Tom was completely surprised to receive the award from the District Deputy’s hand.
Keith, an Associate Steward, was involved in the night’s ritual. I learned the next day on FACEBOOK, that Jim, the Senior Steward (and the person who I worked with at the health fair), was hospitalized. Two Brothers were brought forth as new Associate Stewards.
The meeting ended sometime after 9:00. I will probably attend Cypher Training on Sunday. It is not required but I both enjoy doing this stuff and I need help with the cipher.
This morning I participated in the Billerica Health and Wellness Fair. The Masons participate by running the Child Identification Program. Other organizations and businesses did other things, most of which, to be frank, was simply commercial. It was, at least, a lively event, though I did not peruse too carefully.
I arrived at 9:00. Things generally were just starting to be set up. I saw no familiar faces until, after a few minutes, a few Masons arrived. Set up required bringing in a few boxes and figuring out the logistics of utilizing the limited available space.
The CHIPS Program provides parents with identification records for their children, in case something should happen. A dental group took DNA samples and tooth impressions. The Masons used three computer set ups to record fingerprints, movie, and photo of each child, the results of which were burned to CD. I was going to train on the machines last week but then work looked to preclude my participation in this event. As it turned out, I did not work today, which is why I showed up. I missed the Breakfast last week for the same reason.
I assisted Jim (Senior Steward). He entered the personal information into the computer while I explained things a bit and helped with the fingerprints. I also interviewed the children so that we could get a recording of their voices. I asked what I thought was a surefire question: what is your favorite television show, and many of the children said they didn’t watch television. What has become of this young generation?
Miss Massachusetts Teenager had her information saved. I think she was involved with another booth and came by to check things out. She wore her official sash and was very poised, as I guess one might expect. Other celebrities might have attended.
A 6 month old boy was put through the ringer. He had a ball. He grinned at me the whole time. His mother helped apply his finger to the scanner, which proved to be a challenge. He was having fun with everything, plus his fingers were tiny. Never did get his smaller fingers.
I appreciate the opportunity to do something like this. The point of Freemasons is to gather as friends and brothers. They do $3 million a day in charitable work in North America, which is a bonus to the brotherhood. I think the Blood Drive is today, but I do not think I can do it today. Tuesday is the next regular meeting.
Table Lodge is a yearly gathering of Masons for dinner that Lodges put on. Last night, Thomas Talbot put on its Table Lodge, and I was part of the help.
I arrived somewhat after 2:00. March has been an unusually rainy month, and we received more hard rain. The words sump pump have been occurring with frequency in conversation lately.
Terry, who was in charge of the dinner, and John the Worshipful Master, were already at the Lodge. John was setting up the tables. Terry put me to peeling potatoes. Fred, Junior Steward, arrived soon after and peeled carrots.
Others arrived as time went on, and the kitchen was full of bustle as well as the usual sort of wiseass conversation that men produce. I spent more than two hours peeling and cutting 40 pounds of potatoes. Some 80 people were expected.
After the potatoes, I changed into my serving clothes: white shirt, dark pants, and red bowtie. Been so long since I wore a bowtie that I needed assistance getting it on. I then helped ready the dining room.
There were two columns of tables plus a head table, forming a U. At the far end from the head table was the servers table. The tables had three coloured strips, to identify for servers what people wanted to drink for the toasts. I will explain in a bit.
The Masons would not have a meal like this without a lot of ritual. Each course had its own toast, and there were required speeches throughout. This kept us servers busy.
A commemorative shot glass was set at each place. People placed their glass on the appropriately coloured strip on the table: red for red wine, white for white wine, and purple for grape juice. Servers refilled after each toast.
At the far end away from the head table of each column sat TTL’s two Wardens, Joe (Senior) to the left or North, and Ken, Junior, to the right or South. They and the Master gave the greater part of the ritual speeches. These were not memorized, everyone read their parts.
The toasts had a specific ceremony, which the Master explained at the beginning. Alas, I cannot remember the exact wording, but glasses were called to be charged, then, for the toast, we were told to ready, aim and fire.
After the glass was drained, we each performed a ritual motion with the glass, then the glass was slammed smartly on the table, then we clapped in three groups of three: right into left, left into right, right into left, then we yelled VIVAT (long live) three times. THEN we were ordered to take our dinner knife and use similar martial terminology to raise and salute with it then slam it on the table.
I am sure this ceremony derives from tavern fun in Britain. Seven ounces of wine, if one even chose to drink wine, through the course of a large meal, is not going to inebriate.
The ceremony was fun. It was not a drinking game, although it certainly could have been. I mean if stronger spirits were poured, or greater quantity, things could have devolved quite efficiently. But that was not the point of the dinner.
Still, the mock heroic nature of the toasts offered something to think about. Despite the playfulness, a sense of comradeship remains. We gather as a group, to be together as a group.
Ritual and ceremony continue to have import in our lives. At times, ritual and ceremony can become empty, and one goes through them unthinkingly. “The Star-Spangled Banner” performed at American sporting events tends to be an unthinking ritual, judging by how cheers and clapping begin well before the song is over. Anticipation for the event itself sometimes overwhelms the ceremony of the anthem.
The speeches and toasts of the dinner, despite their playfulness, fit the ceremony. Perhaps if there were more alcohol per toast, there would be more anticipation for the effects of the drink rather than the dinner itself. I guess I am overthinking this but I am trying to explain to myself why I enjoyed the dinner. I can be impatient with form lacking substance (or my suspicion of such), but here I felt there was substance to the form that the ritual took.
I did not mention who the servers were. William, the Exemplar for the First Degree, Jeff, and I were recently raised. We joined the veterans Andy (Junior Deacon), Jim (Senior Steward), and Keith (Associate Steward). I do not recall all who were in the bustle of the kitchen while the dinner went on. I know Chris (Senior Deacon) was there.
I was impressed by the efficiency with which the tables were cleared. We have all been in situations where a few people do a great deal and others do a little. I think I left a little after 9:00, with wine and food spatters on my white shirt.
I have written that I am not much for card games, or games at all, but I went to the latest card night. It was a bit of a bust, but not unenjoyable.
After a week of uncommonly heavy rain and extensive flooding, Saturday was a beautiful mild spring day. It was a day that invited barbecues, so it was not surprising that people might have passed on card night.
I arrived right at 6:00. I wondered if anyone was there because there was only one car in the lot and lights were not evident. The door was open, at least.
Inside was Terry, the Lodge Secretary. He was not hopeful about attendance, for the reason noted above. Previous card night had been well attended but the force of a great spring day was too much. Several Brothers eventually showed up, including Jeff, who was raised when I was. The Worshipful Master also came by.
We sat and talked. The rain and flooding presented an obvious topic, and there was various Lodge and Masonic gossip. I enjoy listening to such talk.
Terry wanted to put up the sign adverting the upcoming Open House. Jeff and I went out with Terry to do that. While we were doing that Ken, the Junior Warden (I think I have most of the Officers correctly identified now) arrived.
People brought food, as requested, and at this point it seemed a good time to eat. Ken and John, the Worshipful Master, were hot to play cribbage. Neither Jeff or I play cribbage, so we watched. Terry kibbitzed like a pro.
It was a pleasant evening despite a low turn out. A number of the Lodge Officers attended what is called The Master’s Way, which possibly kept some from attending card night. The Master’s Way is preparation for becoming a Master. Lodge Officers are in line to become Lodge Masters. I do not know what order is involved in this, though I think Senior Warden moves directly to Master. I will learn more before I write further on this. TTL has a good line set up: a lot of Brothers interested in becoming Officers.
Last Monday was Lodge of Instruction, and I fully intended to go. Unfortunately, 15 minutes before I was to leave, a storm related problem at our apartment meant I had to miss LOI. That was a disappointment.
Today is the state-wide open house of all Lodges. I showed up at 9:00. A number of Officers and Past Masters were there. I was dressed casually but the Officers were in suits, and at least one wore a tux. I was not needed but I stayed for the morning. I helped setup the dvd presentation of Freemasonry from the District, ate doughnuts and hung out. I joined some pre-applications,which is when a prospect is interviewed and signs up.
Pre-app requires a quorum. I was with John the Worshipful Master and John the Past Master. The Candidate was very eager. I saw several other eager Candidates. I do not know if there were any curiosity seekers, hoping to see something secret.
John the Past Master told how his grandfather was a Mason. John’s father did not understand why John’s grandfather did not invite his son to be a Freemason. At the time, Mason’s were abjured against inviting people to join, a person had to ask. John, as Worshipful Master, got to raise his own father.
The secrets, such as I know and understand, of Freemasonry, seem mostly to do with tradition. I can see the passwords and such coming out of operative masonry (that is, actual stoneworking). And the era of Freemasonry’s birth was one in which one’s identity was not so well protected as now. That’s my speculation, anyway. Tuesday I will help serve at Table Lodge.
Last week, I was raised to Master Mason. I did not expect to be as excited by this when I started out with Freemasonry. The rites and ceremony got to me.
I arrived early this time. The place was already jumping. At the door was a Steward, I think, wearing a sash and greeting every arrival.
This was Past Master Night, when Past Masters get to run the Lodge for the night. The Lodge opened on Third Degree, so, again, the Candidates could not be part of that. We waited downstairs while the Lodge was quickly opened then everyone repaired to the dining room.
This time, dinner was served rather than buffet. Meatloaf and baked potatoes. The served meal made the evening even more special.
There were seven candidates. I learned yesterday that more than five at a time requires an Exemplar. An Exemplar was chosen. He had to wear the raggedy outfit, and no shoes.
The Worshipful Master turned the proceedings over to one of the Past Masters (who also has held District Office), and Past Masters took over the duties of Wardens, Deacons, and all the other Offices.
I cannot wait to see the degrees again, this Third Degree especially, because I do not remember the details well. The first part of the ritual was similar to the previous degrees. I think the business meeting fit in between the first part and the second. I will, at any rate, proceed as if that were the case.
The business meeting had some surprising fireworks, though I guess I overstate things by saying fireworks. Along with the reading of membership requests and other usual business, there was a vote concerning a Candidate.
Complaints had been made about this Candidate, who was not at the meeting. The matter had been brought up previously, not when us Candidates were present. The Candidate in question had serious legal problems in the past. He did not mention them when he joined. I am unclear whether he has continued in his criminal activity. He did not answer any requests for more information or to defend himself.
The discussion was as one might think. Some brought up the Masonic ideal of making men better. The opposing argument centered on him being a civil servant who abused the position.
Normally, the vote would be by hands, but a secret voted was requested and assented to. Candidates were not eligible to vote, and I am glad not to have that duty in this case. I get both sides. I said before, I do not like exclusion, nor do I like to cast judgment, but Masonic standards are clearly stated. The vote was 24-14 in favor of ousting him. One Brother declared that this is the first time in 20 years that someone had been voted out of the Lodge. He did not want us Candidates to think this was a common occurrence.
The second part of the ritual was a surprise. As happened previously, the Exemplar was led around the Lodge Room to different stations. At one point, someone from the sidelines accosted the Exemplar and his guide (the Marshal, I presume). What followed was a play.
The narrative concerns those involved in the building of Solomon’s Temple. Three interlopers separately accost the Exemplar demanding secrets of the Temple. The guide remonstrates and the Exemplar is killed. The third murder is the final one, and the guilty parties dig a grave and bury the Exemplar. One of the candidates mentioned seeing a Lodge in which they have an actual hole in the floor. At TTL it was all pretend.
The drama reminded me of a Mystery Play, ritualistic and mysterious. There was a point when the scoundrels raced out the door, except that someone was standing behind that door. Yow! The performers were really into the drama. As I understand, Scottish Rites, which consists of Degrees 4-33 (Degrees 1-3, regular Freemasonry, is also known as Blue Lodge, with no definite explanation for the term), is entirely made up of such dramas, complete with costumes.
The drama ended with the raising of the dead. The Exemplar spent a lot of time laying on the floor while the drama ensued. Our final act was to sign the by-laws and receive our dues card. I have not been asked for dues yet.
After the Lodge closed, we repaired to the dining hall for dessert, a delicious blueberry cream pie. On a table were Bibles and a large certificate that can be framed. Both were signed by all the Lodge Officers, and the Bible was signed by guests that evening. I did not mention that the guests, or perhaps some of them, excused themselves from the meeting when the matter of the banished Candidate came up. I do not think it was improper for them to be there, but it is the sort of thing that wants to be kept close to home.
I have a Bible from when I was christened. The new one is large format, with a lot of pages for listing family members and such. It is a Masonic Bible, so it has a lot of information about Freemasonry, including a glossary. It is a King James Bible.
Sunday, just to finish up briefly, Sunday we had Cipher Training. The more you read the cipher, the more you put sense to the code. One makes reasonable guesses, only to learn that it is another word.
Terry, our Secretary, invited me to help at the Table Lodge dinner latter this month. He asked all the Candidates. I will be wearing a red bow tie, and I will be serving the dinner. Also eating some. This is a fancy dinner, meant to be fun. I believe alcoholic beverages will be served. Woo hoo. There is a game night coming up, which I may attend. I’m not much for cards, or games, even, but it may be fun.
I suppose that the adventure of participating in the monthly breakfast at Thomas Talbot Lodge will diminish in interest, but I think today’s breakfast is worth recounting. My next installment for sure will have matter of interest, since I will receive my 3rd Degree. Until then, today’s breakfast.
I arrived at the Lodge around 5:45. The sky was clear and the sun just starting to light the horizon. Spring is in the air. Just Andy, Junior Deacon, was in the kitchen when I got there, but soon Joe, Senior Warden came. I helped chop potatoes, and drank coffee that Past Master Bob brought.
Joe and Andy were speaking about the upcoming degree work then remembered that I was there. It is part of the ritual that one not be schooled beforehand, and I appreciate that. There has been nothing as yet that has been uncomfortable in any way. It is the palpable experience of the symbolism that makes the ritual, at least for me.
They joked about getting the goat ready for the ceremony. I said I had planned to bring my own goat. This I appreciated, as well. I admit I have joked with my wife about Masonic sacrifices, the sort of inflated assumption that rumor invents. If I have not said it previously, I hate conspiracy talk. By that I mean, the sort of wild extrapolation that fills way too many gaps with invention.
Things were in hand in the kitchen so I helped set up the tables. Tony, who I have met before, took charge of the dining room. I learned where things are stored, and how to do things. At 7:45, a couple arrived, hopeful that they would be served because they had to go somewhere at 8:15. Of course they were served.
My wife arrived around 8:30. I took the opportunity to sit with her. It was hard to relax because it was getting busy. After we ate, she left, and I returned to serving.
I had talked up the Sunday breakfast to two of the other Candidates. One, Jeff, started helping to serve while I was eating, and another, one of the Williams, came with his wife to eat before going to church.
More than 140 people attended the breakfast, which is a record. We emptied the first urn of coffee long before the breakfast was over, and a run to the supermarket for eggs was required.
A large group of weekend bikers fueled up before their ride. It has been just that sort of day when you start thinking of getting outside one way or another. After 10:00, things quieted. We did a clean up. When the dining room was finished, it was 11:00, and I took my leave.
I attended my second Lodge of Instruction, again in Lowell. I arrived on time but fewer people were around than last time, at least to begin with. The meal (American chop suey) was slow to start, too. Six candidates from Thomas Talbot were ushered to a table by a Mason, who I think sponsored three of the candidates. The four of them talked a lot about the Moose Lodge.
The Worshipful Master of one of the Lowell Lodges sat at our table. He showed interest in the Moose talk.
Candidates were allowed to participate in the opening of the Lodge because it opened on the First Degree, and we were all Second Degree. It is beginning to make sense to me. This Lodge was Masons only, no outsiders. I do not know how that is determined. I mean, there seems to be a regular calendar of events.
Partway through, Candidates were led away for instruction by degree. Us from TTL were joined by three from a lodge in Tewksbury. Chris, TTL’s Senior Deacon, brought us to a parlor by the front entrance, and gave instruction in Second Degree.
Chris talked about the two ciphers we have been working with, the ritual and symbolism therein. I really like that symbolism. Likening a person’s spiritual growth to how an operative mason—that is, an actual stone mason—begins as an unknowing apprentice and through study and work gains knowledge and understanding: this is rich imagery.
Chris explained other aspects of Freemasonry, as well as his interest in the Templers. I too am fascinated by the Templers, though not in the Dan Brown sense.
The parlor had high ceilings, old furniture, and its walls were lined with dusty portraits of dour looking men. It felt like another world. In the hall where we ate there was a sign adverting the need for renovation of the roof. The Thomas Talbot Lodge, which is a good 120 years old, seems fresh in comparison. Not to say that I do not enjoy the presence of the building.
In comparison, the Tewksbury Lodge is less than 40 years old. It probably lacks the settled mystery of these older buildings. In addition to the large meeting room, and the Egyptian Room, there is a Grecian Room. I look forward to seeing that!
After instruction, there was a gathering in the lobby, where a lot of people smoked. I do not mind smoking, it is just so verboten nowadays that it is worth noting.
Returned to the meeting, we candidates were given the gist of the talk that we missed while in instruction. It was essentially a sermon, based on a psalm. The person who spoke was a practiced and effective speaker.
As occurred the last time, someone who must be from the Grand Lodge (district headquarters, so to speak) spoke. He wore a jaunty brimmed hat, very British looking. I gather that this hat is a badge of office.
I do not recall if I mentioned it last time, but there is a cup that is awarded to the Lodge with the most members attending Lodge of Instruction. TTL commonly wins the cup but last time we tied with another Lodge. Our Worshipful Master (I have incorrectly been saying just Master) graciously let the other Lodge take the cup home. TTL won it back this month.
The meeting closed on time. When I was outside, a passerby across the street called over to me. He asked if I was lost. Before I could answer, he said, “This is Merrimac Street,” then went on his way, having helped his fellow man.
Sunday will be another breakfast, which I will help with. A week from tomorrow I will get Third Degree. The use of that term in common parlance is explained in that the Third Degree asks the most of a Candidate. At any rate, the upcoming meeting is scheduled to be an hour longer than the usual meeting. All to be written of later.
Sunday was the Red Cross blood drive. At the last business meeting, it was suggested that people come down to help. I decided to do that.
The drive was to begin at 9:00, so I arrived around then. I went into the kitchen where I found Ken, the Junior Warden. He was in charge of the drive. I asked him if I could help.
He was preparing beef stew to feed donors and everyone else. He accepted my offer. I imagine I could have done something else if I met someone else. I did not know what helping out at the blood drive entailed. I just wanted to participate.
I became Ken’s sous-chef. I peeled potatoes, chopped onions, cut and trimmed the beef, and helped sauté the beef. Ken observantly noticed my ability to cook messily. Honest, I will do better. And I will clean up after myself.
The blood drive got off to a bad start because of the furnace. It stopped working sometime overnight. Blood cannot be taken unless ambient temperature reaches 59 degrees. That is a Red Cross rule.
The Red Cross considered moving to the town hall. The logistics of that were impractical, so they waited to see if the furnace could be fixed. A furnace repair man arrived and got it going, and the temperature eventually reached proper level. No blood was drawn till after 11:00. A handful of prospective donors left, therefore, but a decent group remained through the day.
A handful of Masons attended. Some greeted arriving donors, some I presume donated, and others, I am guessing, just came to hang out. A Boy Scout troop was on hand to help.
My own duties were anything but onerous. The cooking was not stressful like the breakfast is, it was not to order. When the stew was done, we served it to whoever wanted some. Ken made plenty because leftovers could feed attendees to the business meeting that evening.
I did some dishwashing, using the dishwasher. I used an industrial dishwasher years ago, while in high school. I barely remembered how it worked. I did some clean up then left at 2:30, feeling guilty about having left my wife on Valentine’s Day. Things were quiet, but Ken had been there since 6:00.
At 6:00 pm, I returned for Cipher Training. This time, I dressed casually. There were 4 candidates from Thomas Talbot plus 2 from the Lodge in Tewksbury. I do not know why people outside TTL venture here. Well, I understand that there is a lot of interchange and sharing among Lodges.
I really like the enveloping symbolism of Freemasonry. I am reminded of tarot cards, because every detail is meaningful. In saying that, I do not want to equate Freemasonry with tarot.
Cipher training helps explain the ritual through which we went. Andy and Chris and a past Master who is now Marshal led the training. I am getting better at reading the cipher. The cipher is basically a mnemonic to help you recall the rituals that you have been through.
I attended the business meeting afterwards. The Masons have a CHPs program, child identification, which I will volunteer for. I will probably also join Thomas Talbot Cooks. Other Lodges hire TTL cooks to prepare meals. Lodges pay for the service and it is, like the breakfast, a way to add to Thomas Talbot’s coffers.
This coming Monday is another Lodge of Instruction.
Tuesday was the regular meeting. I wasn’t sure but had a feeling that there would be more degree work. When I arrived, once again late (I guess I should aim for 6:00, not 6:15), the person in charge of floor work was explaining what would happen.
We were not allowed to attend the opening of the Lodge because we are all First Degree and the Lodge was opening on the Second Degree. The previous meeting was opened on the First Degree, but we were yet to reach that level. The next meeting will open on the Third Degree, and we will again be restricted. Once raised to the Third Degree, we are Master Masons, and can attend the opening of every Lodge. That is my best understanding right now. I think I have proven that my best knowledge is not exactly perfect.
There are no higher degrees in Freemasonry, that is in Blue Lodge. Blue Lodge is the first three degrees. I have it reliably that the derivation of Blue Lodge is unclear, and in fact, I have rarely heard the term used. If you want to press on to further degrees, you join Scottish Rites. York Rites is another path that you can take. I am pretty sure my grandfather held high degrees, so he must have been in Scottish Rites.
The Lodge was quickly opened then recessed for dinner. Once again, candidates were not allowed to pay. I welcomed the meal because I missed lunch. Meatballs, bread, salad, and soup made the meal. Andy, who was in charge of the breakfast, and who is Junior Deacon not Junior Warden (I looked it up), sat with us. As the meal was breaking up, he called me over to ask if I would be Exemplar. Shucks yeah!
I had inferred that the previous Exemplar (who was in attendance, maybe I just missed him at the other recent events) had practiced his part but a fellow Candidate sensibly said no. The Officers practice their parts, but the Candidates do not. That is the point for Candidates, moving from darkness—ignorance—to light. I think the secrecy associated with Masonic ceremony is intended to allow Candidates to feel the essential power of the ceremony freshly.
I went upstairs with Andy, and he quickly explained what I would be doing. It was roughly what the previous Exemplar experienced. I had to change out of my suit into a pajama-like outfit. This outfit resembles a cross between a karate gee (gi?) and a hospital johnny. It featured inscrutable tie strips that I never figured out. When Andy saw what I had managed with the outfit, he performed correction.
Outside the Lodge Room door, a blindfold was put on me and more was explained as to what I would do and experience. A number of people accompanied me. They kept me informed and reassured.
At some point, before I entered the Lodge Room, hands were off of me, and I got the idea that I was supposed to kneel. I think people thought that I panicked. I didn’t, I was just confused. I did not correct the impression that I panicked because I did not want to sound defensive. In addition, I felt it right to be humble, and not let the impression others had (or thought they had) rule me.
I was led in by Andy, Junior Deacon, and handed off to Chris, Senior Deacon. Chris took me to the various stations. There was a lot of walking, with rectilinear turns.
At the altar the Master had me and the other Candidates recite a very long passage. Besides this, I had to speak only two other times, answering questions.
After the blindfold (or hoodwink) was removed, the Senior Deacon led to me various pictures on the walls. I do not know if these pictures have always been there. Probably so, because they all had lights on them. The Senior Deacon had extensive speeches to recite to me, explaining the pictures. These pictures, I hope I am not revealing too much, concerned the Temple of Jerusalem, and the Masonic symbolism found therein.
At one point, the Senior Deacon spoke of the various types of columns, Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian, plus the two Roman ones, which I cannot recall the name of. I recall being taught about Greek columns in elementary school. I do not know why columns were important to be taught back then, but the lesson stayed with me.
I was led from the floor, and told to get back into my suit. I missed the vote but I was not eligible to vote anyway, as was the case with the other Candidates. The ceremony finished with us lining up to receive the handshake of the Master, and another cipher book.
The meeting was recessed for ten minutes, then continued with some business. The Chaplain Emeritus was awarded a certificate from the Grand Council for his years of service, a few upcoming events were adverted, and the floor work was praised.
When the meeting closed, I made a point to thank Andy for asking me to be Exemplar. I also complimented the Master and the Senior Deacon, because they both had a lot to memorize. The Senior Deacon said that the reason that I was chosen was my participation in the breakfast. I am glad that I had the opportunity.
This ceremony touched me more than I might have predicted. The sense of being brought into the light was keenly felt.
This Sunday, the Lodge participates in a Red Cross blood drive. I will try to work that. Cipher training is possibly the same day, and the week after, Lodge of Instruction.
The Sunday breakfast is open to anyone who wants to help, so I volunteered. I am comfortable as a cook, though I did not expect to be offered cooking chores right off, and I have professional experience: I was a dishwasher at a convent when I was in high school.
I arrived at the Lodge some time after 5:30. One person was there, the person in charge of the breakfast. He is Senior Deacon, I think. I do not know what that position is yet. Soon after, the Senior Warden arrived. I know the Senior Warden is second in command at the Lodge, but I think command is the wrong word. He led the meeting that I attended last month.
Note: I am afraid that I am proving to be out to lunch as regards the Masonic offices. I am unsure if I have identified the offices of the above people correctly. As this blog proceeds, I will try to correct my errors. And I may resort to names, just to be clear.
The Senior Warden and I diced potatoes for hash browns and corned beef hash. It was probably 10 pounds of potatoes and took a while to deal with. My sponsor arrived bearing coffee and doughnuts from Dunkin Donuts. Other people arrived as time went on. One Brother stopped by to say that an emergency at work meant that he would be unable to help till maybe later. He was sincerely troubled that he was not available as he had planned to be. The sense of community was strong, as it has been in all functions that I have attended.
We talked as we worked. Someone brought up Jeff Beck, so I felt in my element. People introduced me to new arrivals. It felt convivial.
By 7:30, we were largely ready. Most items were prepared ahead, except the eggs, which are cooked to order. Toast was continuously toasted. There were around 6 people working in the kitchen. One focused on scrambled eggs, one on other styles of egg. One focused on toast, one on pancakes, and there was someone who did clean up.
As prep wound down, the Senior Warden fried eggs, ham, peppers, and onions together and made sandwiches for us. I was getting peckish by then.
I was to work the floor once people arrived. Newbies are sent onto the floor as a way to meet people. Two others, including the Master of the Lodge, joined me in serving. They had already set up the tables.
Nine tables were set up, with a couple others available in case of need. A group of runners, presumably Masons, had asked that the breakfast remain open for them till 11:00. They wanted to run then eat.
To order, people fill out slips indicating their choices. The menu included eggs, ham, sausages, bacon, pancakes, French toast, and beans. We offered coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, and toast when people sat down.
A couple came in and I rushed to serve them. I got them coffee and juice, probably neglected to bring toast, and took their orders. No sweat.
When things got busy, there was sweat. I committed all the errors that a new waiter or waitress—or waitron, does anyone remember that non gender specific term?—commits. I gave it the college try but I am sure that I forgot some requests. Some confusion occurred because we did not have areas of concern. I might approach a table only to discover that someone else had already covered it. I think I provided the same concern for customers as offered by others, at least.
Errors happened, as I have said, but customers always declared that it did not matter. The order slips were sometimes misread, and sometimes people filled them out improperly. Were this a real business, the tension level would be much higher.
As the morning wore on, I found myself racing about. It was fun but I knew that I was not entirely on top of the situation. But close enough. That is, while I certainly wanted to provide good service, people were willing to overlook errors that would have bothered them at a restaurant. Nobody’s a professional here, and that is taken into account.
My wife, who worked Saturday night, arrived after nine. Brothers chided me to sit with her but I did not want to give the impression of being unreliable, so I kept busy for a while. Eventually, I collected some items for breakfast and sat with her. The breakfast had wound down. We left after 10:00. The runner group that was expected arrived, I learned later, around 11:00. By then, only pancakes were available.
Candidates were required to attend Lodge of Instruction. A dinner preceded the event, which took place at a Lodge in Lowell.
I do not know why LOI occurs at Lowell. Probably a pooling of resources. LOI is instruction on the degrees of Freemasonry. Several Lodges attended.
The Lodge in Lowell sits across the street from Town Hall. The Lodge building is a four story high brick structure typical of mid-19th century Lowell architecture. I do not think the front entrance is used, I entered by way of what seems to be a side entrance.
Down a few steps I entered a large hall. There I was greeted by the Lodge Master. I saw my sponsor, at a table giving out tickets. I went over to greet him. I was told that I would not be paying for the meal. Those who did paid $8.
I learned later that this Lodge actually houses four separate Lodges. Each Lodge schedules separate days to meet, though from the looks of it, the building could contain several Lodge functions simultaneously. Lodges from other towns also attended this event.
I noticed a table with several other candidates, and other members of Thomas Talbot, including the Secretary, so I sat there. After a while, a meal of pasta and sausages, along with a salad, was laid out buffet-style. A waiter made sure that water and coffee supplies were maintained.
After the meal, we went up to the Lodge Room and took seats on the North side, near the East end. Each of us took from the supply of generic aprons, and put them on. In ceremonies, the aprons are more ornate. I guess each degree has a different one,
The Lodge Room was noticeably larger than Thomas Talbot. It was hard to hear speakers at the West end.
Women attended the dinner and also attended the meeting. I wonder if at least some of the women might be allowed in as widows of Masons, not that the women that I saw were especially old. This is one more instance where I just have yet to learn what is what.
Us Candidates were there for instruction, but were brought to this first part of the meeting for a reason. A Mason who is a teacher in the Lowell school system brought in a Lowell student and a women from the school. The girl, a junior, uses a wheelchair. Alas, and horrifically, her wheelchair was stolen. Stored in the wheelchair, an electric model, was her laptop. She uses speech recognition to help her with her schoolwork, so the loss of the laptop was critical.
The woman with her explained that it took a year and a half to get the laptop through the school system. As a junior, she would likely be graduated before she could get another. The Masons presented her with a new laptop, and discussed ways to finance a new wheelchair.
This is a clear value to an organization like Freemasonry. Freemasonry is a social network. Part of that network is the opportunity to work together in such ways.
At this point, Candidates were led away to the actual instruction. Three groups were formed, by degrees. I and the other TTL Candidates were in 1st Degree. The Master of Tewksbury Lodge led us to a smaller Lodge Room. Included in our number was someone from the Lodge in Andover. If I haven’t noted it before, the fellow who was Exemplar has not attended a meeting since that ceremony, or so far as I know he hasn’t.
This room was called the Egyptian Room because of its decoration. The West wall bore a mural of the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, and there are other Egyptian symbols and decorations. As with the whole building, things looked somewhat worn.
As was announced at the business meeting that I attended, instruction has been changed. Instead of someone lecturing us, a more dialectical approach has been installed. We were encouraged to ask questions. The Master spoke about the organization. He revealed nothing that I would deem a secret.
One thing that caught me was when he said that the floor of the Lodge Room, or maybe the Lodge Room itself, is called the Level. The import of this is that whatever is said in the Lodge Room is honest and to be trusted, that it is on the level. This is the basis of the fraternity. I could not quickly find if this derivation is correct, but the idea is good.
After about an hour of Q&A, our teacher offered to show us more of the Lodge. The exciting feature for most was the game room. It is a large room with several pool tables and several card tables. It is the site of the popular cigar dinner that someone told us about at dinner.
The cigar dinner is a full prime rib dinner. Included with the meal are six fine cigars. The game room smelled as if quite a few cigar dinners had occurred there. I have no interest in cards, pool, or cigars, so I doubt that I will partake of such an event. I appreciate the opportunity, however.
We returned to the main Lodge Room for the second part of the meeting. This consisted of more Masonic business. It seemed like there was more joking around than in TTL. It was good-natured and not inappropriate.
The meeting ended in a timely fashion.
Part of the packet that came with the handbook was a small blue book. This book is the cipher book. It presents the ceremony which I saw and participated in, in cipher. Why in cipher?
I think the main reason at this point is tradition but I will avoid supposition here, and merely state that the ceremony is not especially secret. The handbook that I was given does not reveal the ceremony per se, but it explains the ceremony’s symbolism. I glanced through the book when I received it, but since it was not immediately readable, I waited till we met for cipher training to study it.
Sunday evening, the Candidates met at the Lodge. I wore tie and jacket, because the handbook stated that for official Masonic functions, one should be so attired. A couple of the other Candidates dressed similarly, but everyone else was casual. I will go casual next time.
We gathered in the Lodge Room with a Lodge Officer. I am afraid I am unsure which office he held. I actually did not immediately recognize him, though he was part of the Candidate ceremony. I may not have mentioned earlier that the Officers were all dressed in tuxedoes with red bowties at the ceremony, but here this officer was dressed in jeans.
He sat us in the seats on the North side of the lodge (the dark side) and explained the cipher book. I do not know if the cipher really actually is a cipher. The cipher is merely a removal of some letters from words, rather than some letter replacement scheme.
The book represents the text of the ceremony. The officer read it to us. A number of other Masons attended unofficially. They supplied help when the officer could not recall or divine the proper interpretation. There was also some good natured kidding. Some of the text is not in cipher, for some reason.
After one read through, someone suggested that we do it again while going through the motions of the ceremony. I should add that the person who had been Exemplar did not attend, and in fact has not attended a function since.
We finished after about an hour. Directly following was a regular meeting, to which we were invited. Doughnuts and coffee were available in the kitchen. Tables in the Great Room were arranged in a large square, and everyone attending sat down.
It was a crisply run meeting, well moderated by whichever moderator it was. Reports about the various activities of the Lodge were given. It amounted to quite a few reports.
There were reports about the game room project, the Sunday breakfast, the New Year’s Eve party, the various Masonic charities, and much more. I was impressed to learn that if a student at Billerica’s schools is found to lack shoes or clothing, the school will get in touch with the Masons and the Masons will supply the want. The Masons have larger charities to which they contribute but this community minded one touched me particularly.
The meeting was businesslike, as I have already indicated, but it did not lack for kibbitzing. There is a good sense of camaraderie evident. I have zero idea what such organizations as the Elks or Moose are like, but the Masons fulfill what I imagine they should be like.
During the meeting, the moderator suggested that anyone who knew a blogger, or was himself a blogger, that writing about things Masonic was encouraged. Thus I write this blog. As of this writing, I have yet to make this blog public. I wanted a fair amount of substance before I release it. Soon. Next chapter will concern my first Lodge of Instruction.
I was finally invited to the ceremony at which my Freemason candidacy was confirmed. This ceremony is the first step in becoming a Mason. It is the First degree. I was told to wear a jacket and tie, but I would have anyway. This is something instilled in me by my father. It is a sign of respect.
I arrived at what I thought was the right time. I tried the front door, but it was locked, so I went around to the side. Candidates were already gathered in the vestibule there, and a Mason was explaining the upcoming ceremony.
I had been told by the Lodge Secretary that one person would be the Exemplar; he would undergo the ritual while the rest of us watched. With nine Candidates, the ceremony would have been long if all nine had to go through the rituals one at a time. I do not know how the Exemplar was chosen but he had been through two rehearsals with, I gather, all of the relevant Lodge Officers.
The Mason, another Past Master, reiterated the message that the Exemplar would not undergo any discomforts or embarrassments, nor would the rest of us either. It was not a hazing. That sort of stuff is malarkey. I would have left if there were such silliness.
We were brought upstairs and waited outside the Lodge Room. The Exemplar had to change into I do not know what to call it, a long shirt. One of his shoes was removed, and he was hoodwinked: blindfolded.
When he was ready, he knocked on the doorknocker (or someone did, I could not see). Someone within asked who was there, he answered, and we entered.
I forgot to mention that by the other entrance to the Lodge Room sat a Mason. He was the Outer Tyler, or sentinel. I do not yet know where that term comes from. I mean I do, because much of the terminology of Freemasonry comes from the stoneworkers guild. But I have yet to do my homework. The one on the inside answering the knocks was the Inner Tyler.
Okay, so we enter. Now that I think on it, I guess the Exemplar has yet to enter. The rest of us come in and sit in the seats on the North side of the Lodge. Seating was arranged so that each of us had a Mason as a neighbour. This Mason assisted us in following the ceremony properly.
Once we were settled, the Exemplar entered, with ceremony. It was quickly clear that the ceremony was a performance. All participants had lines, all was performed with formality and drama. It was further clear that this was a way of teaching.
The wording of everyone’s lines, if I can put it that way, are anachronistic, originating in pre-Colonial days when Freemasonry began in this country. This anachronism provides a sense of wonder, one might say. Shifted from present day vernacular, the vocabulary is straightforward yet grounded in a timeless sort of imperative. It is how the King James version of The Bible differs in impact from the more modern translations.
I envied the Exemplar. I would have liked to experience the ritual first hand. A Mason (the Marshal, I think) led the exemplar by hand throughout the ceremony. The symbolism of moving from darkness to light was powerful. The Marshal led him to the various stations in the ceremony, and helped him kneel when that was required.
I cannot repeat from memory all that went on in the ceremony. The Exemplar was quizzed by an officer. I am still unclear on all the Masonic offices, so I will not try to specify who did what. The Exemplar was asked, essentially, why he wished to become a Mason. The implication is that the Candidate is an infant, ignorant, waiting for light.
Much of the ceremony was at the center of the room, by the altar. The altar has the Bible, and the Masonic square and compass. A spotlight is directed on the altar.
The Bible is, in this jurisdiction (Massachusetts), the standard holy book on which Masons swear, but each person can choose which holy book to use, Quran, Talmud, Book of Mormon, or I do not know what else.
There is an organ on the North side of the Lodge. The Organist played music when people moved from place to place. His selection of music struck me as odd. I recall “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Edelweiss”, the same sort of music you might hear at a roller rink. I would expect classical music, but who is to say?
Eventually, the hood was removed from the Exemplar, as he entered the light of Freemasonry. I am reminded of William Blake’s Poems of Innocence and Experience. I wonder if Blake was a Mason. He was probably too poor, and I do not see him joining organizations, but it certainly was possible.
The rest of us Candidates were brought before the Master, who shook our hands and presented each of us a packet including the Freemasonry handbook, the Lodge newsletter, and a card indicating that we had passed the initial step, or degree, in Freemasonry.
The handbook is not secret, and in fact we are encouraged to show it to friends and family. It provides a history of the organization, information on how Freemasonry works, explanations of the degrees, and descriptions of the organizations affiliated with Freemasonry, like the Shriners, Eastern Star, and Scottish Rites.
We were also given aprons, such as stonemasons used. These are worn at Masonic ceremonies. We will wear this initial apron three more times, and at our funeral, if we choose to have a Masonic funeral. As one goes up in degree one gets different aprons. I hope I am not too far off in my information.
When the ceremony finished, we went to the big room for dinner. The Candidates were not allowed to pay for the meal, everyone else paid $5. It was a simple meal of ravioli, meatballs, and salad. I sat with several of the Candidates. We were eventually joined by a Mason, or Brother. The conversation included Freemasonry but ranged into gardening, weather, and such.
After the meal, we went back to the Lodge Room for the second part of the meeting. An Officer explained the ceremony to us, doing so verbatim according to the ritual. A lot of memorization is required in these ceremonies. Whenever someone went up on their lines, a specific Officer—and sometimes other Brothers—would supply the hint.
Following the explication, the meeting moved to routine Masonic business. A couple of new officers were conducted around the Lodge Room to applause. Two other Brothers were acknowledged as having risen in degree.
There were votes on a couple of issues. One vote was for two prospective Candidates. I guess such a vote already occurred for me and the other Candidates. These people were not in attendance. My memory fails me, but I think this vote was by black ball. Brothers lined up, reached into a wooden box containing black and white balls, and deposited their choice somewhere in the box. A black ball indicates NO.
This voting was another example of streamlining the process. With multiple candidates, one still voted with one ball only. If a black ball appears, some procedure is followed to determine which person received the black ball. I think it is rare that a black ball is employed. I am afraid I cannot remember if the results were announced. I think they must have been.
The other major business was a vote on whether to disperse money from a fund to pay for the new game room. The sum was substantial. One Brother was concerned that there was no breakdown of the expenses. Another stated that repairing the elevator should take precedence. There are many older Brothers, as well as others who have difficulty with stairs.
The concerns were well answered, if I may be allowed to say so. The fund would be paid back by donations from a list of already committed Brothers. The elevator repair was already in process. A Brother, the Past Master who sponsored me, spoke against the lack of trust evident in the request for a breakdown of expenses. He put his trust fully in his Brothers working on the game room. And he believed strongly in the worthwhile nature of the project, of Brothers getting together to work on the Lodge. It was stated that whatever funds remained once the game room was completed would be returned to the fund. The debate got a little spirited, but the vote, by raised hand, was overwhelmingly in favour of releasing the funding, and the storm blew over. The Candidates, I should add, were not allowed to vote. A breakdown of expenses was promised.
The meeting finished with ceremonial flourish. Candidates were advised that there was Cypher Training coming up on Sunday, which we were required to attend. Cypher Training, then, is my next chapter.
To find out more about Freemasonry, I checked online. I discovered a website for the Lodge in town and called. As I learned, there is no staff or regular Lodge hours. I left a message. Sometime later, a Mason called and invited me to have a tour.
The Thomas Talbot Lodge in Billerica sits across the street from the town green, between the library and the Unitarian church. That is a pretty common New England set up. Some 200 Lodges spread across Massachusetts, with I guess a similar spread across the country. American Freemasonry began in Massachusetts in 1733. Freemasonry worldwide is much older, but I do not know the history yet. I will refer to people by their Masonic titles, which is their function in the Lodge. My aim is to speak of the organization, rather than the people.
The building was built in the late 19th century. I assume that it was built for, and possibly by, the Masons, because it is laid out sensibly to the organization’s needs. It is not unlike the secular parts of most churches. In saying that, and despite the religious overtones to some of the organization’s accouterments, Freemasonry is not a religion.
[Note: I have since learned that the building was initially a store. For a while it continued so after the Masons bought it. I certainly did not notice but a fellow Candidate pointed out that the East/West orientation of the Lodge Room does not exactly conform to the East and West travels of the Sun outside. The symbolism remains effective even without celestial accuracy.
The Lodge features a large kitchen, a large function room, and numerous smaller rooms. On the second floor is another large room where ceremonies are held, and more small rooms. The roomy 3rd floor attic is being converted into a game room.
Throughout the building are pictures of members past and present, as well as symbols of the craft. It is a well-worn but vibrant building.
My cicerone was a Past Master. A Past Master is one who has served as Master of the Lodge. One can serve only once as Master, for a term, currently, of one year. The title Past Master can be regarded as an honorific.
The Past Master explained the organization while showing me the sights. I expected the Lodge Room, where ceremonies are held, to be off limits, but he took me in and explained the details of how it is laid out (which I will do shortly).
Symbolism is central to the Masonic manner of teaching. Freemasonry is regarded as a spiritual path, and I cannot disagree. The Lodge Room illustrates this symbolism.
The Lodge Room is an oblong square, i.e., a rectangle, or imperfect square. It is modeled after the Temple of Solomon. The rectangle runs along an East/West axis. Formal chairs, like thrones, are set at the East, West, and South for Masonic officials. Electric candles are also displayed at these points. The North sides is dark in imitation of the Temple of Solomon (which sits so far up the elliptic that it receives no light inside from that direction). This darkness also fits the symbolism. Benches for everyone else run along the North and South walls. In the center of the room is an altar with the Bible. The effect of the room, with its careful lighting, is both dramatic and thought-provoking.
When we finished the tour, we sat and talked. I was asked directly if I believed in God, which I affirmed. The Past Master invited me to the monthly breakfast the following Sunday.
My wife and I attended this breakfast. It was the sort of perfect early autumn day that New England can throw at you occasionally: clear sky and just slightly cool. The front door of the Lodge was open and the place bustled. I found the past master who invited me in the kitchen. During the interview, he offered to be my sponsor, which every candidate needs. He told me to go in and have breakfast.
The meal was a reasonable $5 a head. A woman collected money at the door, and women (and lots of children) attended the breakfast, but all cooking and serving was done by Masons.
We were given slips to check off what we wanted for breakfast: bacon, sausages, ham, eggs, pancakes, coffee, oj, and beans. Might have been more to the selection than that, but that is certainly enough.
We were joined by a man, with whom we conversed. We were new to Billerica and he was a longtime resident, so we talked about the town. I assumed that he, and all the men there, were Masons, but indeed he was not. He just liked the meal.
The breakfast is a way to make money for the Lodge, and is deemed successful in that way. It also develops camaraderie among the Brethren as well as provides a way to show off Freemasonry. I think a change in the organization occurred some few years ago that allowed a more active pursuit of members. Radio ads began appearing, featuring Ben Franklin.
After the meal, my sponsor came to take me away. He brought me to a table in the hallway outside the Lodge Room. He gathered a quorum of 3 other Masons. It was like a job application. I filled out an application, which included references.
While so engaged, I heard some noisy music. Someone was passing behind me, and I thought he carried a radio or something. After a moment I realized that it was my phone. Not my phone, really, but that of my son. I had inadvertently grabbed his instead of mine. He uses his phone as an alarm clock, hence the loud (and obnoxious) screaming of the ringtone. I apologized but it was just an amusing moment.
They inquired of my interest in Freemasonry, asked if I believed in God, and made other similar queries. I mentioned my grandfather and father-in-law. One of them said that he could look up my grandfather in the records.
After the formalities, I returned to my wife with my sponsor. We chatted briefly. He made it clear that my wife was welcome in one of the sister organizations, and my son, being over 18, could become a Mason, too.
I heard nothing from the Masons after that. I understood that it took a while to process applications. I do not know how rigourously they follow up references but I know of no blots on my ‘scutcheon, so I was surprised my this lack of communication. I finally called my sponsor, who was surprised that I had heard nothing. He put me in touch with the Lodge Secretary, one of the people who interviewed me.
The Secretary remembered me, and said that they were deciding how to handle the applications that they had. An open house sometime mid-October pulled in a goodly number of prospective members. They were working on the logistics of how to get all initiated.
It was not until January that the Secretary called me. A mailing that he’d sent out had been returned. My address had been transcribed wrong. He indicated that I was invited to the initiation. I shall speak of that ceremony next.
Before detailing why I began this journey, and recount events as they happen, I shall state how far along I am. This far:
1. I researched Freemasonry online, found the local Lodge, and called for more information.
2. I met with a Mason at the Lodge, who showed me the building and gave me the Freemasonry 101.
3. I attended the monthly Sunday breakfast with my wife. The breakfast costs $5.00 and is open to the public. After eating I met with several Masons and filled out an application.
4. Along with nine other men, I participated in the first ceremonial step in becoming a Freemason.
5. Along with the nine other new candidates, I heard the first lecture. This lecture explained the symbolism of the ritual that I participated in. That same evening I sat in on the monthly Masonic meeting, during which people reported on the various projects and functions of the Lodge, including repairs of the building.
There, I have set the scene. An introduction, in which I explain why I chose to explore Freemasonry and speak of early experiences more fully, follows this preface.