Ecclesiastes chapter 12

Brethren,

We are told that Freemasonry is a philosophic system comprised of allegory and symbolism; the three degrees, Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, reflecting the stages of our birth, life and eventual demise and rebirth.  Our beautiful ceremonies are filled with philosophic truths and are times to quietly reflect upon our own lives and our responsibilities to ourselves and to others.

Much of our quiet and dignified ceremonies is hidden in allegory.  The use of allegory to hide meaning from the unqualified or undeserving goes back well into ancient times.  By veiling spiritual truths in poetry or symbols, man has found that some of the highest truths could be placed out in the open to become part of history, while protecting there hidden meanings from people who would denigrate or ridicule things that they were not ready to understand. 

As the Freemason candidate circumambulates the lodge – making the same allegorical journey as the sun, moon, and stars-- marking the passage of time, we are allegorically reminded of our own journey through life – marking time, and passing from one stage to another.

One of the most beautiful allegorical illustrations of our life journey is familiar to all of our brethren and is taken from the 12th chapter from Ecclesiastes.  This beautiful and allegorical poem is said to be written by King Solomon himself and depicts the last stages of our journey here on earth.  It is a stark and hauntingly realistic account of our passage through the stages of old age. 

As it is written:

Verse 1:  “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Verse 2:  While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

Verse 3:  In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened.

Verse 4:  And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

Verse 5:  Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Verse 6:  Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

Verse 7:  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

This poem from Ecclesiastes is powerful and memorable as it is, but is there a deeper hidden meaning to it?  Many believe that there is, and once known, the verses carry an indelible message to all that hear it.  There are several interpretations, but most are similar to what follows.

Verses 1 and 2 (reread) admonish us to recognize and know the G.A.O.T.U. while we are still young, before we age and lose our joy of living – while our thoughts are clear and sound.

Verse 3 (reread) begins the depiction of our journey into old age with references to our youthful posture now bowing in age, and our teeth (grinders) and eyesight (windows) failing.

Verse 4 (reread) continues with mans’ aging by reflecting upon the loss of his hearing and the changes which occur in the timber of an elder’s voice.

Verse 5 (reread) refers to the unsteadiness and loss of balance to which we will eventually succumb.  The reference to the Almond tree, which blossoms white, is thought to be a reference to the graying of the hair.  The reference to the grasshopper is thought to be symbolic of mans struggles to overcome diversity – now more of a burden than it was when he was youthful.  “Man goeth to his long home” is a thinly veiled allegory not needing interpretation.

Verse 6 (reread) depicts the final stages when our minds and thoughts are affected.  The “silver chord” being our spinal column, the “golden bowl” being our minds, the “pitcher” being our heart, and the “wheel broken at the cistern” being our ability to control our bladders.

This allegorical journey into old age, this admonition to know the G.A.O.T.U. now while we still have time, is harsh and cold – but it is an admonition that, to my eyes, is filled with compassion and love.  This journey into old age is not a solitary journey; it is a journey which we must all take; a journey made necessary simply because we have been given life.  It is an admonition that life is precious and we must not wait to know the G.A.

   

Verse 7 (reread) – the final verse, holds the most mystery.  It says that all of us sitting here in this lodge came from the soil of this earth – “out of dust” – and that we shall return to it, and that our spirits shall return from whence they came.

I’d like to end with a favorite quote of mine from a spiritual writer, Brian Swimme, that encompasses both the mystery of life and its inherent beauty and love.  As you read this, remember verse 7 from the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes:  “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was.”

“You have molten rock,

and then, all by itself, it transforms into a human mother caring for her child.

That's a rather astounding transformation.

Of course, it takes four billion years.

You've got silica, you've got magnesium.

You've got all the elements of rock,

and it becomes translucent blue eyes and beautiful brown hair

and this deep sense of love and concern and even sacrifice for a child.”

(From Brian Swimme)

Brethren, I hope that you take from this little essay how sacred and mysterious life is, and how reverently each day that we have been given should be treated.  As Freemasons, we are reminded in symbol and allegory that life is precious, and that we are continually on a journey to the East, to Light, back to the G.A.O.T.U.

Respectfully submitted,

Brother Tavit Smith

The Profound Mystery

"The final mystery is oneself. When one has weighed the sun in the balance, and measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star, there still remains oneself. Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?"

Oscar Wilde
from: De Profundis

The Ineffable Secret

"Ineffable" That which cannot be spoken.

"Who can unfold the Royal Art?

Or sing it in a Song?

They're safely kept in Mason's heart,

and to the Lodge belong."

Chorus of "The Master's Song"

in Anderson's Constitutions of 1723.

The Masonic Secret as seen through the eyes of a Psychotherapist

As a retired Psychotherapist, I am often asked how I practiced my trade, or what I thought about during psychotherapy. The answer is not a simple one, nor is it limited to merely a few techniques. It depends as much on the client seeking help as it does on the therapist.

There is, however, one technique that bears a striking similarity to our search for the “secret” of Freemasonry. Despite the simplicity of its description, it is not easy to do and requires patience and practice. It is -- to simply watch and listen – but with a specific concentration on detail.

When someone walked into my office I was always careful to note how they were dressed, how they carried themselves and their facial expressions. I was aware of any facial and physical tension, and how they related to me as a new relationship in their life. I would watch how they inspected (or disregarded) their surroundings, how they sat, their eye contact, and their manner of speech.

I would listen carefully on as many different levels as I was able. I noted what they said, what I thought and felt they were “meta-communicating,” and what they were not saying.

I made a mental note of the conversation in the beginnings and endings of our sessions (both hold a lot of meaning for several reasons).

I noted my own interactions with the client, but most importantly I simply but intently watched and listened to what the client brought into the room.

The reason? Because in this microcosm of the universe, the consulting room became a real-life representation of the client’s world, and by being keenly aware of the room and the client’s interactions within it, I was very often shown how this person related to the larger world outside the office.

How and why does this relate to the Masonic secret? It does -- at least to my way of thinking it does.

Most often, my clients came to psychotherapy wanting to be TOLD the secret that would “cure” them of their dilemmas -- much the same way that new masons want to be TOLD the Masonic secret. My clients approached me in much the same way as many of us first approached Freemasonry. Ahh… if it were only that easy.

To my way of thinking, the secret which is contained in Freemasonry can be found in the same place where, I, together with my clients, would search for their own secrets – within.

In psychotherapy, the search is assisted by watching what goes on in the office. In Freemasonry, the answer (or secret) is also found within, and the search is assisted by the lodge which, when viewed metaphorically, is a representation of our own lives.

The secret is within each Mason, but we build our own barriers to finding it when we look to another to simply tell it to us, and we build barriers by not using the lodge (and our brethren) to monitor our own actions.

Until you give of yourself, and explore within, take it from an old retired therapist – you’ll never find the secret.

The mysteries of the lodge (both the metaphorical and the organizational lodge) are limitless if we take the time, and the heart, to search within. As we have been told so many times, “Know Thyself.” I would add -- "by giving of yourself."

Respectfully,

Bro. Smith

If you haven't experienced the Secret, you'll never discover it

"He said: tell me their secret, but I who knew it for so many years sought for a word, a moment of hesitation and in vain I tried to explain it.

Then I said: Love, but I suddenly knew it was more than that, a mystical significance, incomprehensible but still of this earth, for everyone as well as I.

It is music, a word, a gesture, a sign, and it shines in someone's eyes, it is in his heart and mine, it is the sacred covenant of all that is beautiful, bright and true.

He asked me: show me their secret, but I could not point to it in countless conversations.

Only he who already possesses it himself can ever discover the secret."

Dutch poet and Freemason -- Willem Brandt

One Mason's Perspective On The Freemason Secret

After much reading and contemplation and a great deal of self-analysis, I have come to an opinion as to the "secret" of Masonry.

It indeed is ineffable but not unknowable.

At first I supposed that an analysis of the history of Masonry would lead me to the alleged "answer", but it appears that organizationally the history only extends back approximately 300 years and is an amalgam of philosophies – very similar to other men’s' clubs that were popularized in that era and area. Perhaps it was based upon more historical groups such as the Templars, but perhaps not.

But it doesn't matter. For what I found more interesting were not the roots of the assembly, but the content of the rituals, both the words and acts. They intrigued me. 

This led to readings of the histories of the old and new testaments, mysticism, alchemy, sacred geometry, Pythagoras and Euclid, mystery religions and cults, solar and stellar cults, mystical art, Egyptology, theology, astro-theology, astronomy, Christian apologists, philosophy, and even to Shakespeare (who is quoted in the third degree).

I have been searching for a thread - a glimpse of understanding, and have been reading three to four books a week, searching old and out-of-print materials. I have pushed myself to approach this both intellectually and emotionally.

And, here and there, I have come across numerous small and large bits of history, philosophy and speculation reflected in Masonic ritual and catechism.

But the "secret" was more elusive. Yet, (I later found it to be) more intimate and near. At least, I think it is.

I no longer believe that the secret is exclusive to Freemasonry. It can be found buried in the roots of many philosophies and religions. But, to most, it has been forgotten.

So my conjecture:
Masonry is (to borrow a concept from psychology) a "projective stimulus" -- a sort of a spiritual Rorschach, if you will. It is amorphous enough that one can find whatever one looks for (albeit it clearly leans towards a ethical and spiritual journey). It provides structure while allowing the freedom of thought necessary due to the myriad of mindsets, intellectual capabilities, needs, and men, who make up a lodge.

Masonry (at least to me) is capable of taking someone desiring a spiritual journey on a whirlwind trip through time and mind; An exploration of philosophies and speculations that extends well before we can imagine.

The secret, in the end... and in the end, all seems to end up back at that allegorical "lodge" -- ourselves.

Awestruck, we stand wondering, whispering, under the sun, moon and stars, watching the never-ending journey that all life takes, and giving thanks not for what can be told, but for the ineffable: 

This moment, this feeling.

That, is the secret that I have found.

Respectfully.

Bro. Smith