Other Rites: Le Parfait Maître Irlandais

Somewhere in the nineteenth century, a creeping  amnesia came across the Americas and it was known by the name of Preston-Webb. I will readily admit my bias in regards to ritual. Before I even began to wrestle with the myriad ethical and procedural disappointments which mainstream Freemasonry represents to me,  I found myself aesthetically disenchanted with its foundational ritual. In all fairness, there is nothing wrong with the Preston-Webb rituals. It is perhaps unfair to call them the "white bread" of Masonic rituals although I read or heard some mainstream mason describe them that way. I understand a bit of the history of the adoption of Preston-Webb rituals in North America and it is completely appropriate that a person sees the beauty in those traditions with which they are accustomed. My critique is simply based upon a personal aesthetic which values variety.

That there are a host of good reasons for people to be exposed to the rich and varied range of rituals which we all as masons can claim as our heritage. It is another reason why I view regularity and its raft of offensive descriptions of the "Masonic other" to be perhaps the most serious flaw in our society. It separates and robs people of their rightful heritage which should comprise all of Freemasonry. The issue of maintaining secrecy and restricting access to your own rituals is understandable and grounded in a variety of esoteric issues, despite some masons' desire to deny that there exists an esoteric component to freemasonry. However, apart from in North America, almost all rituals are readily available to Mason and Non-Mason alike. The important secrets do not lie in the words of the initiation, but rather its legitimate experience, and that, no administrative body or Grand Lodge controls.

The isolation which is typical of North American Freemasonry often includes a lack of even the most basic familiarity with other forms of ritual apart from the fairly homogenized Anglo-American forms. I hope this short presentation of an important 18th Century Higher Degree ritual translated from the French will serve to whet the appetite of those North Americans who have not included this aspect of masonic study in their own education to date. Apart from the fact that it is a glaring gap in their education, I believe that most who explore this subject will find it not only valuable but quite enjoyable.  Because of the length of this ritual, and its attendant lesson, it will be posted in two entries.

Le Parfait Maître Irlandais or the Perfect Irish Master

In the early years of Freemasonry in France, the higher grades began to develop primarily under the influence of the Jacobite followers of the Stuart Kings in Exile who had been defeated by the Hanoverian pretenders to the throne in the Islands. While these grades eventually came to be identified primarily with the Scottish, before the rise in popularity of Scottish or Ecossais masonry, a number of Irish degrees had circulated in France. This is not surprising when one considers that there were many Irish and Scottish soldiers and aristocrats who had been forced into exile in France, Spain, and Italy. Over time, the Irish component became incorporated into developing systems which subsequently came to be called Scottish or Ecossais. One such degree is that which is called the Perfect Irish Master which follows. The version presented here comes from a translation of the Cayers Maçonniques: Rituals of the Lodge of Perfection by Gerry L. Prinsen. 

This degree was the 7th Degree in a system including the the first three degrees, which in essence is a version of that Rite most commonly known today as Morin's Lodge of the Royal Secret, the immediate predecessor to the Modern Scottish Rite.

Decoration of the lodge

The lodge shall be decorated in blue, as are the altar and the throne, with curtains in which hang cords, all spread with golden stars. Under the canopy must hang a case of ebony wood and a triangle next to it. It encloses the letter Gஃ and Aஃ intertwined. At the other side, the letters JஃHஃSஃ, also intertwined. It is lighted by sixteen lights placed in fours on the four corners of the tracing board, which represents the Temple of Hiram and the unfinished tomb of Hiram. With the title of Very Perfect Illustrious he holds in his right hand the royal baton and is, as are all brethren, decorated with a pair of gloves and an apron of white leather doubled and trimmed with red, the apron decorated in the centre with a small pouch of the same colour, accompanied by three rossettes placed in a triangle with the point raised: one red, one blue, and one black. In the center is the picture of a case of ebony wood. Besides this he and all the brethren are decorated with a large collar of a fiery colour to which hangs a golden key. The golden key of the Master should be enclosed by a triangle of the same metal and accompanied by the letter Gஃ and Aஃ at each side. Regarding his apron, his gloves and his collar, they are all trimmed with golden lace and fringes.

The Senior Warden us at the West and the Junior Warden outside the lodge in order to wait for and instruct the candidate on the excellence of the degree he is going to receive, as well as on the duties he is going to take. Everything thus arranged the lodge is opened as follows.

Opening of the Lodge

The Very Perfect Illustrious, having assured himself of the dorrs being tyled and of all brethren being masons, gives four knocks with his mallet on the altar in this manner: • • ... • •, which ser as a signal to all brethren to rise and to stand to order. The wardens having repeated same with their own mallets, the Very Perfect Illustrious asks some questions from the catechism to the senior warden and ends by saying
Q. What is the hour, my brother?
A. Six or seven o'clock.
Q Why do you so answer thus?
A. Because the truth of the Very Illustrious Prefect Irish Master has to be made known at all hours of the day.

After this answer the Very Perfect Illustrious says to the whole assembly: My brethren, let us set to work, we shall have the visit of our deacons. The lodge of Perfect Irish Masters is opened, let us do our duty. The Senior Warden repeats the same to the two columns, they all give the Sign, the claps each with sixteen knocks, by four times four as before, with their hands. Then each resumes his place and the proceed to the initiation as follow.

Initiation

When the lodge has been opened, the Brother Preparer, on the order of the Very Perfect Illustrious, leaves and goes to see the candidate in the chamber of preperation. There he takes from him his sword and all offensive and defensive weapons. Being disarmed he has him decorate himself with the attributes of the last degree he has acquired and then conducts him with free sight to the dorr of the lodge., where he finds the Junior Warden, who as was said before, instructs him about the excellence of this degree and also about the duties he is going to assume. When the candidate is instructed thus, the Junior Warden gives four knocks as before on the door of the lodge. The Senior Warden having heard them informs the Very Perfect Illustrious, who orders him to see who knocks thus.

This brother goes immediately to the door, where he gives four knocks and then opens the door and says to the Junior Warden:
Q. What do you demand, my brother?
A. It is a Master, who desires to be initiated as a Perfect Irish Master.
Q Is he worthy of this?
A. Yes.

Upon this answer he closes the door, returns to his place and gives the answer of the Junior Warden: A Very Perfect Illustrious, who has asked the candidate whether he be assured that he was worthy of it. Having heard that the answer is yes, the Very Perfect Illustrious says to him: let him enter. This brother goes to the door again, where he knocks as before, upon which he opens and receives the candidate from the hands of the Junior Warden. He introduces him into the West of the lodge, where he has him say: 'Givi', upon which he has him kneel on the right knee. In that posture the Very Perfect Illustrious takes the word and prounces: 'Ki'.

Upon that answer the Senior Warden has the candidate rise and then places a drawn sword across his throat and subsequently has him thus make four times the perambulation in the lodge. Upon his return to the West he has him advance by four great steps to the East, the right foot behind the left leg forming the figure 4. In that posture the Very Perfect Illustrious has him place his right hand on the Volume of the Sacred Law and says to him: It is with joy that I recompense your zeal for Freemasonry and your attachment to Masons by constituting you Prevost and Judge over all workmen of this illustrious lodge. Assured as we are of your discretion, we shall not make any difficulty in confiding to you our most interesting secrets. May the peaceful Genius, who presides over our order procure you, by the will of the Supreme Being, source of perfection,  the same fervour for the degree to which we are going to elevate you, that you had for those or have for them. You will partake in the possession of the heart of Hiram, which we preserve in a golden urn since we discovered him assassinated. Try to have sufficient firmness not to divulge what is going to be confided to you about this degree, even if you are forced by the most terrible torments. Please Answer.
A. I assure this on the same oaths I contracted on entering the order and promise to render justice to all my brethren.

After this answer the Very Perfect Illustrious has him rise and pass to his right side, where he gives him a knock with his royal baton on each shoulder, saying to him: By the authority I have received and the unanimous consent of this august assembly I receive you as a Perfect Irish Master. While saying these things he decorates him with gloves, apron, collar and jewel of which the description was given above. Having decorated him thus, he embraces him and gives him the Sign, Words and Token as will follow.

The Sign is given by forming with the thumb and index of the right hand a square and bringing it to the chin as if to support it.  The answer to this Sign is by supporting the nose with the two middle fingers of the right hand in the form of compasses.

The Token is given by knocking once with the end of the little finger on that of the examinator, who will answer by two and so on.

The Sacred Word is Tito and the password is Xinchen, which is spelled as that of an Apprentice.

After the Very Perfect Illustrious has given to the candidate the Sign, Words, and Token, he sends him out to have himself recognized as Perfect Irish Master to the whole lodge, which is done. Upon his return he has him take a seat among the brethren. When the initiation is concluded he proceeds to the lecture as follows.

The Lecture will follow in the next Posting. 

Happy Holidays!

Masonic Blogosphere - Last Refuge of Masonic Morality!

Given the almost constant string of scandals issuing from (primarily southern) jurisdictions one could be forgiven for concluding that Freemasonry is synonymous with immorality and a lack of ethics. Now, I have heard and from sources that usually are credible, that such is not the case. I'm beginning to question the traditional characterization, however.

It also seems increasingly clear that the only place where morality and ethics has any expression within mainstream Freemasonry in the US is through the blogosphere. It appears to be totally absent on the Grand Lodge level, and those who are committed to the current establishment too easily forget their vows. It also appears that the average mainstream mason has interpreted, wrongly I might add, that loyalty to the fraternity is measured by loyalty to the dictates of a corrupt establishment managed by leaders devoid of any ethical compass.

The fact that the rest of the Grand Lodges largely avoid the unpleasantness of commenting on the sins of their sister lodges rather than allowing them to avoid "contagion" results in their mutual moral culpability. At a certain point, one can no longer remain moral if you remain silent. Delay only makes matters worse.

Fortunately, a few Masonic bloggers have spoken out on this sad series of affairs.  Brothers Mark Koltko-Rivera and Frederic L. Milliken have taken the brave and moral decision to speak out in active ways to correct these most recent injustices. Brother Koltko-Rivera has begun a petition to void the Grandmaster's ruling in Florida to ban masons who are pagans as a violation of masonic rules, and Brother Milliken has called on other jurisdictions to pull recognition from the Grand Lodge of Arkansas for their most recent mishandling of the Shriner situation, but also in light of all the other banishings they have engaged in in recent times.

Visit their links and read them for yourself:

http://themasonicblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/resolution-to-revoke-floridas-ruling.html

http://www.freemasoninformation.com/category/bee_hive/

More importantly, support and join their efforts.

Doubtlessly, both these good brethren will be challenged and insulted by the mindless followers of mainstream Grand Lodges and I will, yet again, be told, as a "bogus mason" to piss off. It's a small price to pay for occupying the only moral position in this debate. Well done Mark and Fred! I am proud to count you as brothers and friends whether you are allowed to share in masonic discourse with me or not.

Lisbon & Barcelona — The Modern Rite

Lisbon-Barcelona (Modern French Rite) ADDENDUM
Revista. Riot Francés


When the French Rite magazine was first visualized a year ago, and eventually offered for download, there was a major issue that Victor Guerra spoke of in his announcement post that accompanied the magazine, but it was not referenced in the magazine.  The subject in question concerns the two announcements that were issued with respect to the Modern French Rite by Lisbon and Barcelona.

                     Kadosh Degree            Addendum to Magazine                     

Click on link below each journal to download them in PDF

The first, published in Lisbon is linked to the General Grand Chapter of GODF French Rite, and the other was born as an answer to that effort and led to the Unión Masónico Universal Rito Moderno (UMURM) and relates to the Modern Rite in Barcelona.

Arguably the first intended to be "Union Center", and the second is intended to be "Unity Center", which may appear synonymous, but isn't because the first part reflects an Andolusian heritage which is tied to the hegemony of GODF Freemasonry, and the other is the daughter of the projected balance "Régulateur du Maçon."

These two famous Charters: Lisbon and Barcelona marked two milestones, and two ways of equidistance, and which were the reason why for the No. 1 magazine French Ritewas led off by  Brother William Fuchslocher, one of the first to have studied and worked on the French Rite in Spanish.

From this distant perspective I ordered analytical work on these letters and full freedom once I had published several articles published low these titles: Live the Caenas and also: Analysis of the Charter of the French Rite, signed in Lisbon.

The analysis of these two works is delivered today as an addendum, after almost one year in the making.

These articles can be reached by the links below:

Unión Masónica Universal Rito Moderno

Academia Internacional del V° Orden del Rito Moderno


Gracias a Victor Guerra

Dreams that Matter; Books that Reveal

Dreams That Matter: 
Egyptian Landscapes of the Imagination
Amira Mittermaier
University of Califormia Press
Berkeley Los Angeles  London
2011


There are some books which deal directly with Freemasonry and yet are peripheral to Freemasonry's essence, and there are some which do not touch on the subject of Freemasonry directly, but could not be more central to them. Dreams That Matter Egyptian Landscapes of the Imagination by Amira Mittermaier 

The official description that the publishers offer states that 

"Dreams that Matter explores the social and material life of dreams in contemporary Cairo. Amira Mittermaier guides the reader through landscapes of the imagination that feature Muslim dream interpreters who draw on Freud, reformists who dismiss all forms of divination as superstition, a Sufi devotional group that keeps a diary of dreams related to its shaykh, and ordinary believers who speak of moving encounters with the Prophet Muhammad. In close dialogue with her Egyptian interlocutors, Islamic textual traditions, and Western theorists, Mittermaier teases out the dream's ethical, political, and religious implications. Her book is a provocative examination of how present-day Muslims encounter and engage the Divine that offers a different perspective on the Islamic Revival. Dreams That Matter opens up new spaces for an anthropology of the imagination, inviting us to rethink both the imagined and the real. "

Mittermaier writes an interesting and connected account of her research on contemporary oneriology* and anthropology in Cairo. The obligatory academic self-insertion in the discourse is in this case sufficiently muted. What does such a text have to do with Freemasonry? Well, it is concerned with dreams in Egyptian society. In spite of centuries of Islamic control, Egypt, is a country with profoundly old cultural roots. Pre-Islamic traditions permeate Egyptian society, from the Coptic language and church to pre-Islamic folk practices including spirit possession. 

Masons who are intrigued by the links to Egypt and Hermeticism must want to learn more about the spiritual traditions of the realm of the Gods on the Nile. Hermeticism, in its current form, modern esoteric orders not withstanding, is essentially a tradition of personal and self exploration. Techniques of self exploration utilizing dreams is foreign neither to modern society, islamic traditions, nor to African traditions. Lest westerners try to forget, Egypt is an African nation. 

While her focus is largely on dreams of Jihadist inspiration, she none the less gives a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual and religious interaction in the realm of dream and dream symbolism in contemporary Egyptian culture. Although her focus is rooted in Islamic traditions, it must be emphasized that nothing in Egyptian culture is solely Islamic in character. When we speak specifically of spirituality as opposed to religion, we find the geography is less well marked than we expect. Islam and Christianity exchange traditions and behind the mask of contemporary folk and popular practices, we may find ancient Egyptian mysticism in a modern form.

Vincent Crapanzano  remarked  about Amira Mittermaier's book that it is a"sensitive, intellectually challenging, indeed a courageous, investigation of the psychological, ontological, and ethical assumptions that lie behind dreams, visions, and dream-visitations in contemporary Egypt-where the dream is a vibrant site of political, religious, and interpretive contest."

Anyone interested in dreams, visions, psychoanalysis, meditation, or Hermetic sciences, will find this book a worthy and thought provoking addition to their library.

 *from Greek ὄνειρος, oneiros, "dream"; and -λογία, -logia; the scientific study of dreams. 

A few words from Julian Rees.

I don't usually simply repost a blog from elsewhere. However, a blog by as significant a figure in the contemporary English Language Freemasonry as Julian Rees cannot be overlooked, especially when it speaks so clearly and so pointedly about the major crisis which Freemasonry is struggling with at this time. Nobody can say it better, or speak more directly to North American Mainstream Masons as Julian Rees, and nobody can demonstrate more precisely as to what should be done about it and he offers his own decision as the ultimate example.

Last year we all read, and I hope more greeted the pronouncement made by the UGLE in it's PR statement on Freemasonry in the 21st Century with dismay than resignation, the one in which it declared that Freemasonry had nothing to do with spirituality. The Craft, the UGLE now insists, is nothing more than a boy's club.

Well, I am sad to say, although not surprised, that the US mainstream community made no public statements at all. A little nervous chatter followed, swiftly supplanted by the usual silence.

Thankfully someone has spoken, and someone who has not only the requisite male glands and the stature to be heard and taken seriously by the audience which needs to attend to this message. Julian Rees was initiated into Kirby Lodge No. 2818 in London, made Master in 1976 and again at the centenary of the Lodge in 1999, and and also of the German-speaking Pilgrim Lodge No. 238 in 1978. He was a regular contributor to the quarterly magazine Freemasonry Today. He is the author of several books on Freemasonry and has been the focus of several videos.

My advise to Mainstream masons is to follow his example and do as he has done. There is no time like the present.

My hat's off to Julian Rees. Read on!

Here's the link to Julian Rees' excellent post:



It's Time to Put the Record Straight - Julian Rees


Thanks to Mark Elliot.

A Festive Lodge for a Festive Season

A Masonic Table Lodge

A tradition which is far too rarely observed these days, and which truly ought to be more widely practiced is the Table Lodge. Of course, since the rest of the country has gotten around to ending prohibition, it is sort of silly that Masons, most of whom run off to Shriner events to drink themselves under the table, don't allow a dignified drop of the pure stuff at a proper Table Lodge. Given that the earliest Freemasonic Lodges recorded had taverns, Inns, and Public Houses as their meeting places, it seems silly not to respect this tradition in the correct way.

To encourage that, I have included below the details of a typical Table or Wet Lodge. Assume that it is best accompanied by a good Single Malt Scotch. I hope you all enjoy. Huzzah, Huzzah, Huzzah!

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

If the number of attendees permits, the Table should be laid out in a horseshoe shape. The Worshipful Master is at the Center Table (East); the Brother 1st and 2nd Wardens are at the end of the wings, to be precise at the table-ends, so that their columns form a line, with the Worshipful Master and Dignitaries are seated in the East facing them.

If only Masons are attending the Banquet, they all wear the Master’s sashes or tie and jewel of the Lodge, the Worshipful Master and his Wardens wear their Collars. The ritual candle are placed in front of them, as in the Lodge.

If regalia is not worn, the Worshipful Master and Wardens can wear their Master’s sashes. In all events they carry their gavels in hand.

If the Banquet is “white”, and if there are profane guests, no Battery or ritual Acclamation is given. One may still beat the bans, followed by the acclamation “Vivat! Vivat! Vivat!”

If the Banquet is “white” and if it is desires to give it more ‘luster’ (for example, when it follows a “Ceremony of Conjugal Recognition”, the Apprentices, Companions and Masters may all wear the Master’s sash during the Banquet, just as during the Ceremony; the Officers wear their Collars of Office.

FIRST TOAST 
If there are no profane visitors, they all give the battery and then the acclamation: “Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!”

FIRST DUTY

WM: – Brother Senior and Junior Wardens, kindly invite the Brothers (and Sisters, as well as our Visitors) on each of your Columns at the Table, to ready themselves for a Toast which I will have the honor to propose...

 “en bout de Table”. In line with the military tradition of the Table Lodge, the phrase “de façon à prendre leur Colonne de Table en enfilade...” where ‘enfilade’ suggests in line of fire or gunfire direction along the line of a formation. Cravates. “Blanc” in this context means in presence of profane or non-Masons.  Battre des bans.

SW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated  on the Columns of the North and South at this Table, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you in each of your Columns to ready yourselves for a Toast which he will have the honor to propose...

JW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Column of the North, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you to ready yourselves for a toast which he will have the honor to propose...

Scottish Musicians such as might be present
at an Early Table Lodge

WM (raising his glass to the height of his forehead, then his heart, then his lips, says): – To the Nation which, in history, was the first to erect columns on its frontiers bearing this inscription: “Here begins the Country of Liberty...”! To that country which was first to give the World the notion of the Rights and Duties of Man! To France, our country, and to the Republic... (he drinks, and all do the same). With me my Brothers (and Sisters, if there are any present), in a triple battery and a triple vivat..

SECOND TOAST

If there are no profane visitors, they all give the battery and then the acclamation: “Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!”

SECOND DUTY

WM: – Brother Senior and Junior Wardens, kindly invite the Brothers (and Sisters, as well as our Visitors) on each of your Columns at the Table, to ready themselves for a Toast which I will have the honor to propose...

SW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Columns of the North and South at this Table, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you in each of your Columns to ready yourselves for a Toast which he will have the honor to propose...

JW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Column of the North, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you to ready yourselves for a toast which he will have the honor to propose...

WM (raising his glass to the height of his forehead, then his heart, then his lips, says): – To Freemasonry Universal, to the Grand Lodges and Grand Orients of other countries, to: (name other Obediences with which we have de facto relations, including Feminine Obediences)... With me my Brothers (and Sisters, if there are any present), in a triple battery and a triple vivat...

Orner – lit. decorating.  In French the archaic words Septentrion and Midi, rather than the more modern Nord and Sud, are used for ‘North’ and ‘South’ throughout this ritual.

THIRD TOAST

If there are no profane visitors, they all give the battery and then the acclamation: “Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!”

Another Table Lodge

THIRD DUTY

WM: – Brother Senior and Junior Wardens, kindly invite the Brothers (and Sisters, as well as our Visitors) on each of your Columns at the Table, to ready themselves for a Toast which I will have the honor to propose...

SW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Columns of the North and South at this Table, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you in each of your Columns to ready yourselves for a Toast which he will have the honor to propose...

JW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Column of the North, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you to ready yourselves for a toast which he will have the honor to propose...

WM (raising his glass to the height of his forehead, then his heart, then his lips, says): – To the antique land of the Mysteries of Holy Initiation, to Old Egypt, to the depth of its genius, for that Gnosis to which we owe so much, to the Rites which perpetuate them, to their past glory, to their present renaissance, and to their future... With me my Brothers (and Sisters, if there are any present), in a triple battery and a triple vivat..If there are no profane visitors, they all give the battery and then the acclamation: “Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!”

FOURTH TOAST

If there are no profane visitors, they all give the battery and then the acclamation: “Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!”

FOURTH DUTY

WM: – Brother Senior and Junior Wardens, kindly invite the Brothers (and Sisters, as well as our Visitors) on each of your Columns at the Table, to ready themselves for a Toast which I will have the honor to propose...

SW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Columns of the North and South at this Table, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you in each of your Columns to ready yourselves for a Toast which he will have the honor to propose...

JW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Column of the North, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you to ready yourselves for a toast which he will have the honor to propose..

WM (raising his glass to the height of his forehead, then his heart, then his lips, says): – to our Sisters, Masters, Companions and Apprentices of (name the Lodge of the Obediences represented), to you, Ladies and to you, Honored Guests, who have been pleased to show your confidence and friendship by coming her to join us in this fraternal and social Festive Meal (Agapé), we lift our glasses to you... May Prosperity accompany your steps, may Joy inhabit your lives, and may Light shine in your heart...With me my Brothers (and Sisters, if there are any present), in a triple battery and a triple vivat...

FIFTH TOAST

If there are no profane visitors, they all give the battery and then the acclamation: “Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!”

FIFTH DUTY

A Masonic Cannon

WM: – Brother Senior and Junior Wardens, kindly invite the Brothers (and Sisters, as well as our Visitors) on each of your Columns at the Table, to ready themselves for a Toast which I will have the honor to propose...

SW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Columns of the North and South at this Table, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you in each of your Columns to ready yourselves for a Toast which he will have the honor to propose...

JW: – Brothers (Sisters and Visitors) seated on the Column of the North, on behalf of the Worshipful Master I invite you to ready yourselves for a toast which he will have the honor to propose...

WM (raising his glass to the height of his forehead, then his heart, then his lips, says): – To all Freemasons dispersed across this cast world, whether happy or unhappy, celebrated or ignored, free or in irons; to those who, beneath the lamp of philosophy, seek knowledge of truth; to those who at all times, and especially in our own times, fight against the intolerance and fanaticism in which they live; to Wisdom, and to the Future... With me my Brothers (and Sisters, if there are any present), in a triple battery and a triple vivat...Chain.

If there are no profane visitors, they all give the battery and then the acclamation: “Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!”

My Brothers (and Sisters, if there are any present), let us form the Fraternal Chain.

This is done in silence. Then:

My Brothers (and Sisters, if there are any present), let us break the Chain.

Rough Ashlar No. 2

Doubtlessly those of our brethren resistant to the idea that working on the rough ashlar means changing that with which one is comfortable, will accuse me of being unjustly critical of the status quo. I thank them for the complement. I am simply noting the truth. If someone doesn't find the truth comfortable, change it.

With that advice in mind, I will from time to time present a rough ashlar. A rough ashlar is a pithy fact that points out where we, as masons, need to do as we say, rather than as we do. I think that is self explanatory.  These may be observations of my own, or quotes of others. Either way, they represent a specific aspect of our experience which needs improvement. That is after all, what we are supposed to be about, is it not?

Masonic Landmarks and Regularity

"Of the ancient landmarks it has been observed with more or less foundation of truth: 'Nobody knows what they comprise or omit as they are of no earthly authority, because everything is a landmark when an opponent desires to silence you; but nothing is a landmark that stands in his own way." 

- Robert Freke Gould (1836-1915)

"However, it is sad to see men of enlightened reason, who should no longer be swayed by prejudice, indulge their passions and blindingly behave as sectarian clerics."

- Gerard Encausse (Papus) (1865-1916)

As I have noted elsewhere not so long ago, the only "Regular" mason is one who uses Exlax. The idea of regularity as used by masonic jurisdictions is so unmasonic as to be laughable. Or, it would be laughable if it hadn't been used since that non-event, the foundation of the Grand Lodge in London in  1717, to commit immeasurable harm to many sincere brothers and sisters. Every so often, an idea is just so bad it deserves to be ridiculed, and "regularity" is one of those ideas.

Regularity is supposedly based upon two factors. The first is that the masonic institution in question was founded in a correct way by a similarly correctly founded institution which preceded it or exists above it in hierarchy. The second factor which speaks to the maintenance of regularity after it is established is grounded upon faithfully maintaining the landmarks of Freemasonry.

There are two problems with this concept and the way it might play out. The first is that as noted by Gould in the quote above,  landmarks are about as slippery as a pig in mud, not to mention about as clear. They are in short, a fraud. I know, I know, this amounts to sacrilege; except, I thought Freemasonry wasn't a religion. Everyone knows the truth and nobody wishes to speak it. It is the 3 ton elephant in the room. Landmarks are dragged out for three things - to write pieces of architecture for lodge, to impress potential candidates with what a tradition bound and hoary institution Freemasonry is, and the most common use, to charge some other mason or masonic body with being irregular. Since nobody really cares about the first two, it must be that the main purpose of landmarks, is as Gould said, to deprecate our competition.

The other big problem, as I see it, with regularity, is that the least regular of the masonic organizations make the loudest claims about being regular. Let's draw back the curtain fully for a minute and let the light of day stream in. I know, that's unmasonic, but let's do it for a minute. We can all deny it ever happened afterwards and strike it from the minutes. 

If we seek more light, something which it seems, most masons prefer to talk about rather than do, we will have to admit that there is no substantive evidence, apart from the word of a man known to fabricate falsehoods professionally some 25 years after the purported event, that the convocation of the first Grand Lodge in 1717 ever took place. There are no minutes, no official documents, no charters... nothing. OK, that strips the Blue lodge of regularity. Now, if we look at the Scottish Rite, apart from the fact that it is generally acknowledged that the Morin Rite upon which the Modern Scottish Rite was founded was an invention by Morin himself, there is a small matter of the falsehood, broadly hinted at by Pike himself eventually, of the supposed charter issued by Frederick. It was a fake. And it would appear, Pike entered the Scottish Rite under a Cerneau initiation. Further examples of "irregularity." 

Isn't it really high time, that along with bigotry, racism, sexism, and general pomposity, we ditch regularity and show that we are adult enough to not call each other names? Heck, even the Pope is able to break bread with the Archbishop of Canterbury.