112 On The Level Masonic Magazine for St. John Fisherrow No.112
Issue No.7
January 2020
Brethren, it is with deep sadnesss to report the passing to the Grand Lodge Above of Brother Thomas White (12 August 1939 – 17 December 2019) Professional Footballer, Initiated 5th February 1964, Passed 4th November 1964, Raised 27th March 1965, Life Membership September 1975.
Tom was one of three brothers of who were all professional footballers, all from Musselburgh. His Brother John, was a Scottish International football midfielder and sometime inside right who played a significant role for Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) during their Double winning season in 1960–61 playing together with the likes of Dave MacKay and Jimmy Greaves managed by Bill Nicolson.
John was killed at Crews Hill Golf Course, Enfield, by a lightning-strike on 21st July 1964. His Brother Eddie played for for Musselburgh Athletic, Falkirk, Bradford City, Arbroath and Alloa Athletic.
Tom played for Bonnyrigg Rose before becoming a prolific scorer during his early career with Raith Rovers, White's time at Rovers was shortened by two years of National Service, during which time he played for the British Army. He also played for St Mirren, then managed by Jackie Cox. White joined Hearts for £8,000 in November 1963 and was soon dubbed "Goal-a-game White" by the local media. His attacking partnership with Willie Wallace was particularly effective and earned the sobriquet the "W-formation", White's abrasive, bustling style complimenting Wallace. In tandem, they scored 48 goals during the 1963–64 season; however, White's progress was interrupted when he suffered severe injuries in a car crash in Wallyford.
White moved to Aberdeen, then Crystal Palace, playing in the Second Division, in May 1966, in a combined deal along with teammate John McCormick. He scored 14 times for Palace in 40 appearances, in all competitions, before moving to Blackpool in February 1968. He finished his playing career with a short spell at Crewe Alexandra in 1971–72. He later became a director of Blackpool for 12 years only to be ousted by the then new chairman of the club, Owen Oyston.
He was also a successful Hotelier of The Silver Howe Hotel and later The Boston Hotel both in Blackpool. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with Tom’s family at this difficult time.
SMIB
Brethren, it is also with deep sadnesss to report the passing to the Grand Lodge Above of Brother Bill Allen, who sadly passed away on New Year’s Day. Bill was very active in 112 taking up the role of Secretary for many years, he was also an excellent supporter of the Lodge until poor health prevented him from attending.
Brother Bill affiliated from The Lodge of Brotherly Love 1428, on 19th April 1978. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s family at this difficult time. SMIB
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The Right Worshipful Master Brethren, welcome to another edition of ‘On The Level’ and I hope you enjoy reading the contents. may I start by wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year for 2020. Where has the time gone?
Brethren, how many of us have sat at a Regular Meeting within the Temple and in a moment of sheer idleness, lazily gazed about the Lodge Room and wondered fleet ingly, where a particular Brother was on that evening ? Suddenly the realisation hits you that you haven’t actually seen them within the Lodge, either at a meeting or socially for quite a while. We strongly suspect that each and every one of us have all done it on more that a few occasions and then just as promptly completely forgotten about our missing Brother, just as easily when distracted. It is amazing just how soon a brother, who is rarely absent from more than only the occasional meeting, can rather quickly become a forgotten face if, for whatever reason, his absences become prolonged and as time slips by he finds it harder and harder to find the time to attend his Lodge. Eventually he stops going altogether, more often than not simply because he has grown out of the habit of attending, and is embarrassed to return. An all too familiar scenario in modern Freemasonry, especially within the Scottish Craft, and one which must cause concern in all Lodges in these days of falling attendances.
Without doubt, if we put our mind to it, without too much effort, we could probably come up with a long list of Brethren who no longer attend their Lodge and are lost to our Fraternity, possibly for ever. With this thought in our mind, surely each one of us could make a determined effort to coax an absent Brother back into the fold with a few well-chosen words of encouragement.
This is a fairly simple and easily achievable task which we could all undertake during the course of our normal routine. So, let’s set ourselves a target in the months ahead. Let’s identify a particular Brother of the Lodge who, for whatever reason, has strayed away from the Lodge and make a concerted effort to entice him back to his meetings. The end result could be extremely profitable, not only for the Lodge, but for the Brother in question as well. And who knows who that “long lost, but now found” Brother could in turn reintroduce to the Lodge. The possibilities are endless, and for a small amount of effort, just think of the results. Our Ladies night is on Friday 28th February and I would like to encourage the brethren to support the Ladies night by bringing their wifes, partners, families and friends to which I have no doubt will be an excellent night.
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The Right Worshipful Master Bro. Brian Ritchie receiving the Stag Golf Trophy from Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No.1 Right Worshipful Master Bro. Ian Tudhope at No.1’s Annual Golf Dinner held in November.
Bro. Andrew Raeburn P.M. assisting the Master on swapping the ribbons around on the stags antlers.
Lodge St. John Fisherrow No. 112 Annual Ladies Night Friday 28th February 2020 Tickets £25pp or £45 for 2 7-7:30pm - Carriages 12:30 Tickets from Bro. Douglas Hoy P.M. D.S.M. 4
Knowing this, it seems the trail grows cold in the search for Hiram Abiff’s title of “The Widow’s Son”. The Grail legends were written in a way that lends itself to allegory and therefore, the story cannot be just assumed to mean that Hiram was literally just a son of woman who lost her husband. These legends early on establish this title and what it means, which is a descendant of Ruth or more aptly a descendant of Boaz, either the 31st or 30th generation from Adam if you rely on Luke's genealogy.
Who Was.. The Widows Son?
The answer might seem easily answered, but when one reads of legends, scripture writings, the Apocrypha and other historical documents it becomes apparent that perhaps we cannot answer this question so easily.
In the writings of Masonic scholars we learn of Hiram Abiff, “The Widow’s Son”. There are others referred to as “The Widow’s Son”. It seems this is a title to which more than one can be named. The use of the title is actually traced back to the Grail lore traditions which speak of a descended blood line and specifically reference Ruth.
Could Hiram Abiff be related somehow to the historical Jesus the Nazarene? The Gospels leave either a cold trail or a definitive “no,” since he isn't mentioned at all in the genealogy given by Luke or Mathew.
Ruth, a woman of the Moabite tribe, was married to Boaz, and she was a heroine of the Old Testament. She was also the Great Grandmother of King David. That King David, the father of King Solomon, who built the Temple? Ruth became pregnant, and married Boaz. He was quite a bit older being 80, while Ruth was 40. The book says that Boaz dies the next day. That must have been some wedding night.
Determining that the term “Widow’s Son,” a flip flop of the term “Sons of the Widow,” was not actually meant to refer to a man whose father had passed, but rather the epithet given to the offspring and lineage of Ruth, heroine of “The Book of Ruth” or “Scroll of Ruth” presented in the Old Testament.
From this point on, all the descendants of Ruth, were known simply as “Sons of the Widow”. A genetic title if you will. A genealogy can be traced. Ruth gives birth to the first “Son of the Widow”, Obed, who grows up and bears his son Jesse, who bears his son David who bears his sons Solomon and Nathan.
When Hiram Abiff is referenced as being a “Widow’s Son”, it is implied that he was of the line of Ruth, who was married to Boaz and from them, according to Luke, a continued line to King David, King Solomon and eventually to Jesus the Nazarene. The problem here is that nowhere in the lineages mentioned in Luke or Mathew does Hiram show up. Was he a distant relative or cousin?
Using the lineage given in the Gospels of the Christian Bible, Jesus the Nazarene is a descendant of Ruth, making him also, a “Son of the Widow” or “Widow’s Son”. To Jesus. This leaves an interesting problem for us as Masons. Nowhere in the lineage here are forty-five generations from Ruth mentioned in the Bible does it refer to Hiram Abiff.
King Solomon was also a “Widow’s Son” in the sense of being of the lineage of Ruth. Is this why King Solomon called for a Tyrian which was handpicked to be the architect of the Jewish Temple of the God of Israel? Could Solomon have hired Hiram since they were family?
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Doing detective work in genealogy can be taxing enough when researching ancestry just a few generations removed from the researcher, a task made much more difficult using biblical origins as references.
vaults with an altar where on the “Stone of Creation” and the Tetragrammaton were said to have been hidden. These legends are featured in the York and Scottish Rites namely the 7th degree in the York Rite called “The Holy Royal Arch” and the 13th degree of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction, called the “Royal Arch of Solomon”. In recent years it has even been suggested that Enoch was the builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza. The ancient Egyptians are said to have known the Great Pyramid as “The Pillar of Enoch”.
The lineage of Jacob is vital to this story. Twelve generations prior to the time of King Solomon, and eight generations prior to the time of Boaz, the twelve sons of Jacob were the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. The fourth son of Jacob, Judah, was of the line that included the wise King, and extended through him to Jesus the Nazarene. The sixth son, Naphtali, was the founder of the line that included Hiram Abiff.
A somewhat obscure reference to that is found in the Bible, “In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt…” Isaiah 19:19.
It is elementary to suggest that at the time of Jacob the designation of “Widow’s Son” had not yet been used, however, in his offspring, through time until we reach the time of Ruth, and from then on, it is not so unthinkable that the lineage would have used this epithet when speaking of their heritage or when scholars were recording the history of the time or even the Gospels.
Noah of course built the mythological Ark to house all of the creations of God that were spared in the legend of the great flood.
Abraham or Abram and his son Ishmael are purported to have built the Kaaba, a cube shaped building in Arabia which is one of the holiest sites for Brothers of the Muslim faith.
What is it about this lineage which draws the title to it? What was so special? The three largest monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam all regard it [the lineage] with reverence. After all, this lineage contains Adam, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, David, Solomon, Nathan, Zerubbabel and Jesus the Nazarene. Perhaps the coincidence which ties this lineage together is the ability to create. According to Luke, the line starts with Elohim (The Great Architect of the Universe) and then to Adam. The Christian Bible does not specifically make any magnificent claims to what Adam had ever built, however several other men in this lineage in fact are great builders.
King David built a city and his palace and had sons, one of whom was King Solomon, who was responsible for the Temple of Solomon, which we all know is at the center of the teachings of our noble craft. These builders in the original line or “Alpha Lineage” the line that according to Luke starts with God and leads to Jesus the Nazarene go on and on with fantastic accomplishments. Let us not forget however that there is the allusion to the building of the spiritual temple, a spiritual artificer which Jesus the Nazarene seemed to personify and ages
Enoch was the builder of the mythological underground temple consisting of nine
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Mount Moriah
before then the character Freemasonry calls its patron, Hiram Abiff. The handpicked chief architect of the Temple of God. A man to emulate in his duty and fealty to his brothers, both Hiram of Tyre and King Solomon, this is the man we learn about in our degrees and indeed try to emulate.
An eminence situated in the southeastern part of Jerusalem. In the time of David it must have been cultivated, for it is called "the threshing-floor of Oman the Jebusite," from whom that monarch purchased it for the purpose of placing there an altar. Solomon subsequently erected there his magnificent Temple. Mount Moriah was always profoundly venerated by the Jews, among whom there is an early tradition that on it Abraham was directed to offer up his son. The truth of this tradition has, it is true, been denied by some Biblical writers, but it has been as strenuously maintained by others. The Freemasons, however, have always accepted it and to them, as the site of the Temple, it is especially sacred, and combining with this the Abrahamic legend, they have given to Mount Moriah the appellation of the ground floor of the Lodge, and assign it as the place where what are called the three grand offerings were made.
The “Alpha Line” is synonymous with “The Widow’s Son”. It could merely be the separation of the generational gap and a more coded obscure way of saying “of the Tribe of Judah” without being abrasive.
It could be that the Tribe of Judah was the main branch of this line and that The Widow’s Sons are an offshoot of the original line but whose closeness to the original line needed to be preserved by means of a title given to these builders.
In the end, we will never know if Adam, Jesus the Nazarene or Hiram were truly related, however it is clear that The Widows Son is a title given to the offspring of Ruth and her descendants. It is also clear that Freemasonry calls its patron Saint Hiram Abiff a “Widow's Son", who was a builder and that the lessons taught philosophically within our Masonic system have much to do with building as well, the main difference is that we are building our spiritual temples. In the Masonic system we follow in the footsteps of Hiram Abiff but we not only represent him, we physically become him in the degrees and in the end we all end up a “Widow’s Son”.
Did Ye Ken!!!........
The pre-eminent number for Craft Masonry - Namely E.A. Degree, F.C. Degree and M.M. Degree. In the three Craft Degrees there are: Three make a Lodge, Three Principal officers, Three Grand Masters, Three Supporting Pillars Three Great Lights, Three Lesser Lights, Three Movable Jewels, Three Immovable Jewels, Three Knocks, Three Steps.
Becoming a Master Mason we all end up being builders of fantastic edifices of hearts, minds and souls. So brethren, I ask you, “Who is the Widow’s Son?”
Look in the mirror brothers and you will surely see him. Author: Bro. Robert H. Johnson
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Famous Scottish Freemason
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)
Born in Edinburgh in 1771, he was struck down at the age of 18 months by polio which left him lame in right leg, and as a result he spent much of his early childhood at his grandparent’s farm near Kelso in the borders, and it was during this time that he grew to love that wild region and its history. At the age of 6 he had recuperated enough to be able to return to his family home in Edinburgh. He attended the Royal High School, where he excelled before moving on to Edinburgh University where he studied law, before being admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1792.
Whilst his legal career flourished, with appointments as Sheriff Clerk Depute of Selkirkshire, and later Principal Clerk to the Court of Session, his main interest in life was literature. In 1797 he married Charlotte Charpentier, and they settled in Castle Street in the capital, and raised 2 sons and 2 daughters. In 1802 he published his first work ‘Minstrelsy of the Scottish Borders’ and in the following years was highly productive with a series of biographies, historical documents, poems and works of prose. He had skill in reviewing literary works and published in a series of much-acclaimed essays.
In 1801 he was initiated in to Lodge St David, No.36, his late father’s Lodge, and whilst an enthusiastic and active Freemason in the company of his good friend, and printer, James Ballantyne, he never aspired to high rank, content to support his Mother Lodge. Scott was an active member of the Highland Society and served as President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was ordained as an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Duddingston and sat in the General Assembly. In 1813 Scott was offered the position of Poet Laureate, but declined, as he wished to retain his literary independence. He published his first novel ‘Waverley’ - a tale of the Jacobite rising, anonymously in 1814, and there followed a succession of novels over the next five years, each with a Scottish historical setting. Mindful of his reputation as a poet, Scott maintained his anonymity, and during this time Scott became known by the nickname "The Wizard of the North". In1815 he was given the honour of dining with George, Prince Regent, who wanted to meet the ‘Author of Waverley’.
In 1818 the Prince Regent gave Scott permission to conduct a search for the ‘Honours of Scotland’ which had been stored in a large locked box and forgotten about for over 100 years. Scott and a small team of military men found and opened the box, and "unearthed" the honours from the depths of Edinburgh Castle. A grateful Prince Regent granted Scott the title of baronet, and in 1820 he became Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet.
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After Prince George's accession to the throne, the Edinburgh City Fathers invited Scott, to stage-manage the 1822 visit of King George IV to Scotland. With only three weeks for planning and execution, Scott created a spectacular masterpiece, designed not only to impress the King, but also in some way to heal the rifts that had destabilised Scots society. In 1826 the financial failure of both his publishers and printers, of which he was a partner resulted in a financial crisis for Scott, who chose to attempt to repay the debt of ÂŁ150,000 rather than accept insolvency. His house was sold and he embarked upon a frenzy of works in his efforts to repay his debts. Unfortunately the strain caused him to suffer 4 strokes, and he died at Abbotsford in 1832. On the death of Sir Walter Scott in 1832, the great and good of the city came together to agree on a fitting monument to this outstanding Scottish literary figure.
In 1836, an architectural competition was launched, inviting designs for an appropriate memorial. Two years later, the trustees approved the design submitted by George Meikle Kemp, and construction began in 1840.
The tower is 200 feet 6 inches (61.11 m) high and has viewing platforms reached by a series of spiral staircases giving panoramic views of central Edinburgh and its surroundings. The highest platform is reached by a total of 288 steps. It is built from Binny sandstone quarried near Ecclesmachan in West Lothian.
It is placed on axis with South St. David Street, the main street leading off St. Andrew Square to Princes Street, and is a focal point within that vista, its scale being large enough to screen the Old Town behind. Its location appears more random when seen from the south side and Princes Street Gardens, but it dominates the eastern section of the gardens through its scale and elevated position.
John Steel was commissioned to design a monumental statue of Scott to rest in the centre space within the tower's four columns. It is made from white Carrara marble and shows Scott seated, resting from writing one of his works with a quill pen, his dog Maida by his side. The monument carries 64 figures of characters from Scott's novels, sculpted by Scots sculptors including Alexander Handyside Ritchie, John Rhind, William Birnie Rhind, William Brodie, William Grant Stevenson, David Watson Stevenson, John Hutchison, George Anderson Lawson, Thomas Stuart Burnett, William Sherriffs, Andrew Currie, George Clark Stanton, Peter Slater, Amelia Robertson Hill (who also
made the statue of David Livingstone immediately east of the monument), and the otherwise unknown Katherine Anne Fraser Tyler.
The foundation stone was laid on 15 August 1840. Construction began in 1841 following permission by Parliament's Monument to Sir Walter Scott Act and ran for nearly four years. It was completed in the autumn of 1844, with Kemp's son placing the finial in August of the year. The total cost was just over £16,154. The monument was inaugurated on 15 August 1846, but George Meikle Kemp was absent. He had fallen into the Union Canal while walking home from the site and drowned on the foggy evening of 6 March 1844.
In the early 1990s it was proposed that the stonework should be cleaned. There were views for and against cleaning and a scientific/geological investigation, including cleaning trials on samples of stone, was carried out. It was decided not to clean the stone due to the damage it would sustain. A restoration programme was undertaken involving replacing old repairs and damaged areas with Binny stone for which purpose the original quarry was re-opened. The fresh stonework contrasts with the smoke-darkened original.
The overall cost of the restoration was £2.36 million and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council.
Honorary Membership
A fantastic Night was had by all at the Right Worshipful Master’s Greetin Meeting on Wednesday 4th December 2019. 112 Members and visitors witnessed the Office Bearers work a 1st or Entered Apprentice degree on Bro. Ian Logan.
Following the degree the RWM Bro. Brian Ritchie conferred Honorary Membership upon the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No.1 Right Worshipful Master, Bro. Ian Tudhope.
At the harmony board Bro. Ian was absolutely delighted to accept his Honorary Membership and thanked the brethren of 112 and his own brethren in his deputation that had supported him on the evening.
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The Ancient use of The Cable - Tow
Fortitude
When in Masonic Lodges we talk of the length of our cable- tow’s. Many centuries ago any yarn, fibre or string was called a “Tau”. Sometimes people would use several pieces of “Tau” weaving them into rope.
We may note, in passing, that the penalty for improper disclosure at the dawn of the Grand Lodge era was quite different from ours. But, in terms of our subject of interest, if the Fraternity could assume the right to hang a man for improper disclosure, if it were able to take a member's life, it could only do so then, as now - if the member gave that right! And so, the Cable-tow still retained its symbolism as a token of submission. As far as I am aware, the Cable-tow is part of the preparation of every Freemason in the world and in every ritual it carries a connotation of submission, of humility, of servitude.
“Fortes”, the Latin word for Fortitude, and denotes strength. It also means courage in pain, therefore equating to bravery.
Fortitude is that noble and steady purpose of the mind, whereby we are enabled to undergo any pain, peril, or danger, when prudentially deemed expedient. This virtue is equally distant from rashness and cowardice.
The rituals of the modern lodges all show a practical use for the halter: to lead an "untouchable" failure out of the Lodge or to restrain an impetuous candidate - to kill him, even, if he resists. Even in the early ritual document cited earlier, it was the practical means of carrying out the penalty of the obligation. However, none of these uses resembles the purpose of the item of builders' equipment which gave its name to Freemasonry's halter. And this very disparity should lead us to suspect that Freemasonry's Cable-tow has a symbolic, rather than a practical, meaning - that and our own knowledge that the Gentle Craft excels, as no other organization, in loading the most ordinary objects with esoteric meaning. I asked you earlier to note a point - the number of times the Cable-tow was wrapped around a certain part of the body.
Thus when we add Fortitude to a mason we emphasize the strength of his character. In the face of adversity do we as masons have the strength of character to maintain our Masonic principles and philosophies. Thus brethren, the masons who are in possession and hold the cardinal virtues have the strength to stand up to the challenges of our ever changing lifestyles.
A mason learns to lives the Masonic principles and philosophies, characteristically becoming part of the everyday necessities in life which gives us the fortitude to think for ourselves and have control of our decisions.
Thus brethren as we travel through the degrees of freemasonry we exhibit self control and strength of character.
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An anither hing tae.........
Did Ye Ken!!!!!.......
Among our Masonic emblems we learn of the Hour Glass, a symbol of human life.
“The effect that Masonry has on a man’s heart is aided by the mechanics of Masonry; Temple, Lodge Room, dignity of the order, it’s public appearance, the respect it shows to the dead, it’s educational work, appeal to the general public, secrecy, the reputation that it has above politics, the alliance it has with every religion and it’s participation in none. These make Masonry objective, but they are outward in semblance of the inward spiritual Masonry. These you ought to know yourselves; Charity, Relief, Brotherly Love, Truth, Knowledge, Self Sacrifice and Tolerance.
We as masons are convinced that the stream of Life flows unending, age to age, universe to universe, and within this stream joy, power, brotherly love and an eternal existence. Each individual in this colossal theatre being guided from darkness to light is daily and hourly absorbing the fine grains of sands experience. These experiences in life furnish the lesson by which we rise and fall, as we conquer or submit to the rigors of the action.
An anither hing tae.........
The arenas the drama are as numberless as the sands within the hour glass. The glass in its transitory mansion of earthly living may exhaust its grains but we only have to reverse the glass on another stage of the drama, and the sands of discipline and resultant knowledge flow unending, so long as conciousness shall be, which is forever.
Our Grip
The whole wide world knows at large, that our freemasons grip has caused a lot of jesting, but the grip is not so strange as the mere fact that shaking a persons a hand, is a gesture of faith and confidence was used the symbolism of Roman Law and has since been used to this present day.
The hour glass, therefore, symbolises to us that there are many mansions in the Father’s house: a myriad of ashlers composed of the minute sands, from which to fashion the Temple. The sands of experience may rub harshly here and there, yet life threads immutably forward and we make of it only what we have make of it. So if the times seems harsh and fraught with momentary doubt, there is solace in the knowledge that we are bound together as brethren in every phase of life. Even if in the moments of the pang of loved and lost we know they are not dead, but are watching the hour glass of a new experience, and we utter to them in full confidence:
Some writers consider the tangible object such as a piece of metal or coin should be employed, but as this is not necessarily be so the word comes from an old German meaning to “indicate” or “to point out”. The grip or token was and is used in recognition of skills obtained. In Mark masonry, members have a marked token.
“Hail, but not farewell”
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But the everlasting principles upon which our Beloved Ancient Craft was founded are as intact today as when they emerged from the very shadows of history. Since its founding, dynasties have come and gone, nations have been born and buried, and countless orders and societies have been organized and passed into obscurity.
Freemasonry Defined Freemasonry is the science by which morality is taught through the visible symbols and instructive traditions associated with the erection of King Solomon's Temple some 3,000 years ago. Like every science and permanent institution, Freemasonry is built on certain conceded principles. These include a belief in the one living and true God, a revelation of His Will, the resurrection of the body, and the immortality of the soul. When we say, "one God," we refer to the supreme and benevolent being in which a man places his ultimate trust. We are a nondenominational institution accepting men of all faiths. Freemasonry is however, supportive of every religion believing in one God. It denies to no man his particular theological or secular beliefs, but rather complements those beliefs.
Our Order has maintained its ancient organisation, teaching its lessons of love, peace on earth, good will toward men, and is today a great and strong organization. It is true that our Fraternity no longer has cathedrals and monuments of stone to build, but it has even more noble work to perform than ever before.
Freemasonry is a broad system of ethics, a science of human duties, and a system of morals accepted by all religions as essential to human excellence based upon the recognition of Divine Truth, that mankind has a common origin and a common destiny; that God is the Creator and Father of all of us. Out of that relationship with Deity grows the Brotherhood of Man. Freemasonry's great purpose is to intensify that relationship.
Without an expressed belief in these principles, no man can ever become a Freemason. Acceptance of the Fatherhood of God is the very foundation of the Masonic Institution. From the Fatherhood of God logically flows the Brotherhood of Man.
The Masonic Fraternity stands before the world today, not merely as a marvelous monument of antiquity, but older, larger, and more widely spread than almost any other human institution, having maintained for so many centuries the essentials of its primary organisation. It has long outlived the circumstances which gave it birth. The necessities which called Freemasonry into being have long ago ceased to exist.
Originally a company of stonemasons and builders whose monuments of rare skill now adorn almost every part of the old world, the hand of time has brought those operative labors to a close.
Freemasonry teaches love, faith, and duty; unites man in the strong embrace of fraternal fellowship, and induces emulation of who can best work and best agree. Freemasonry thus becomes a school wherein are taught not only the virtues, but the useful lessons of everyday life.
The Temple of King Solomon signifies to us the Temple of our bodies, that is, our Inner Spiritual Temple. The tools and implements used in the building of Solomon's Temple signify to us the cultivation of the virtues to be practiced in the erection of the
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inner spiritual temple of man. The traditions associated with Solomon's Temple serve as worthy examples for our imitation, and inspire in us a love of what is good and true.
It has ever been the enemy of any power that suppressed free thought and the enslavement of the mind. It rejects bigotry, superstition, and persecution of all types; and the ignorance and fanaticism that invented instruments of torture and deprivation. The study of nature brings man's soul nearer to his Creator; and that knowledge drives out ignorance and superstition. It has taught mankind that, after he has detached himself from the vices that tyrannize and oppress, he must learn to govern himself wisely by practicing the Cardinal Virtues of Freemasonry: Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice.
Freemasonry teaches us that the most important part of life lies in the discharge of our duties toward God and our fellow man. That eminent patron of Freemasonry, St. John the Evangelist, so old that he had to be carried in the arms of his friends into an assembly of children, lifted himself up and said, "Little children, love one another." When asked, "Have you nothing else to tell us?" he replied, "I say this again and again, because if you do this, nothing more is needed." That is the foundation of Freemasonry.
Man is a social creature. As such, our nature compels us to seek the companionship of others. We, therefore, see our Brothers and their families, animated by the same noble purpose, meeting in the Lodge where they can feel the hearty touch of the hand, hear words of inspiration and encouragement, and enjoy the pleasure, entertainment, and fellowship of this time-honoured institution. While gathered in assemblies, we confer our ceremonial degrees, provide relief to the indigent, assistance to the worthy, and administer systems of care to those who are less fortunate. Freemasonry is all of this and much, much more. Beneath and beyond all of these is the deep, permanent passion for the betterment of the Brotherhood of Man. Freemasonry, ever supportive of religion, benevolence, and morality, places before man the incentives to goodness through the contemplation of the Holy Principles of Divine Truth.
Freemasonry is not a mere pastime; nor a mere amusement. It is an active, living principle. Its ritual, its symbolism, and its drama are not empty ceremonies. They serve to exemplify and impart important truths for mankind. Freemasonry adapts its theories, its ethical thought and its teachings to the practical relations of life.
There are no dogmas in Freemasonry. Its so called "secrecy" is confined to simple means of communication and methods of recognition. Its tenets are universally approved. What Freemasonry condemns no good man upholds.
The essence of Freemasonry is character. A man is what he does. The Mason's life and worth is not measured by wealth, fame, or fortune, but by faithful, consistent, and unselfish service. In like manner, the measure and worth of any institution is the effect it has upon the individual and society. What has Freemasonry given to mankind and society? It helped pave the way for freedom of speech.
SMIB
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The tenets of our Ancient Order are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, and first among them is Brotherly Love. It is the very cement which holds together the social edifice of this world. No one can measure the extent of human sympathy or brotherly love, but we know it to be one of the mightiest social forces of all time, and that without it, life would be a merciless and cruel existence. We know that when there is an unselfish love in the hearts of men, the better nature within each of us responds in kind. It is this kindly spirit of brotherhood, the gentle touch of the hand, and the sympathetic word that brings forth a harvest of good deeds, noble thoughts, and the highest aspirations of mankind.
alleviate what is harsh and cruel in social conditions, and science shall have unraveled the mysteries of the universe, there will still be the necessity for a kindly smile, a helping hand, a cup of water, and a quiet word of encouragement. It is because Freemasonry has ever given the cup of water, extended a hand to one who has fallen, and spoken words of comfort and cheer, that millions of good men of every religion and culture, and from every comer of the world have knelt at its altar. It is these same men, Brothers in spirit and deed, with eyes uplifted and hearts responsive to the needs of those who are journeying through life with them, that form the Masonic Fraternity throughout the world. It is the good and true men of this Brotherhood that live with the great satisfaction which comes only from relieving suffering, dispensing happiness, and to aid the unification of mankind.
Freemasonry has ever been the patron of learning. Its votaries long ago discovered that ignorance was the cause of nearly all of the evils and dangerous environments that afflict humanity; that education dispelled this evil, set free the victims of its influence, and put a smile where terror and despair had planted sorrow. In its unending efforts to eliminate such human afflictions, Freemasonry has perhaps performed its greatest labor, in helping to break down the walls of religious hatred and intolerance that for too long divided men into opposing sects and hostile camps. The great religious ecumenical councils of today, and the religious tolerance and mutual understanding they endeavour to convey, have been the foundation and practice of Freemasonry since time immemorial. The Freemason is thus prepared through ceremonies, ritual and moral lessons to undertake his Grand Mission to teach, by precept and example, all that is beautiful and useful in this life.
This, my Brethren, is Freemasonry. May it live on, through us, for countless ages, and may we be ever worthy to spread Masonic Light for the generations yet to come. To these, our principal beliefs and poetic truths, we say as our forefathers did before us:
After all of the great lectures on philosophy have been delivered, when the wisest statesmen shall have done their utmost to
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OFFICE BEARERS FOR 2019-20
Right Worshipful Master.....................................................Bro. Brian Ritchie Immediate Past Master......................................Bro. John R. Thorburn P.M.
Depute Master..........................................................................Bro. Tom Edgar
Substitute Master...............................................................Bro. Robert Ritchie Senior Warden..................................................................Bro. Robert McNeill Junior Warden......................................................................Bro. Alistair Scott
Secretary.............................................Bro. Andrew M. Raeburn P.M. D.S.M.
Treasurer................................................Bro. Douglas W.M. Hoy P.M. D.S.M. Almoner....................................................................................................Vacant Chaplain....................................................................Bro. Gilbert Meikle P.M.
Senior Deacon......................................................................Bro. Harry Bryson Junior Deacon.....................................................................Bro. Derek Mather
Master of Ceremonies............................................................Bro. David Innes
Ast. Secretary...........................................................................................Vacant
Ast. Treasurer...........................................................................................Vacant 2nd Master of Ceremonies..........................................Bro. James Rutherford
Jeweller.................................................................................Bro. Kenneth Ross
Bible Bearer.......................................................................Bro. Brian Marwick Architect......................................................................................Bro. John Tod Sword Bearer.....................................................Bro. Richard Hadden (BEM)
Director of Music......................................................Bro. Robert Ross D.S.M.
Organist..........................................................................Bro. Robert Law P.M. Marshall..................................................................................Bro. Stewart Lee
Standard Bearer.......................................................................Bro. Kris Edgar
Inner Guard...................................................................Bro. Stuart McDonald President of Stewards...........................................Bro. George Fraser D.S.M. Stewards: Bros: G. Neill, A. Brooks, R. McCart, G. Innes
Tyler..........................................................................................................Vacant