SILVER JUBILLEE
CHAPTER 5560 – DIST. GRAND CHAPTER OF S.AMERICA N.D.
After 2017 and the innovations in approaching
FM derived from the 5-episode TV series “Inside the Freemasons”, we migrated
from referring to our Order as “a peculiar system of Morality veiled in
Allegory and illustrated by symbols” to a more consistently understandable
definition as “a one-act play” from which all members can extract teachings of
morality and behaviour.
The “plays” are all based on the
construction of the Temple to the Honour and Glory of God, referred to as
TGAOTU, TGGOTU, MH, and finally TTALGMH! In the first degree, many teachings of
conduct take place, about FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY, PRUDENCE. TEMPERANCE,FORTITUDE
and JUSTICE. The construction of the Temple is first approached when we mention
the N.E. Corner. Again in the 6th section of the First Lecture, We
are presented to a portion of the story of Moses, leading his people away from
the Pharaoh´s bondage.
The second degree is entirely
dedicated to the construction of the Temple, how the wages were paid, the size
and format of the Pillars, and finally B and J make sense! Even the “after ceremony
charge” is actually the tracing board of the degree, which explains all these
topics in detail.
Continuing the story, in the third
degree we are presented to tragic episode that took place during the
construction, the untimely death of our M.H.A. a lot of “tips” for the R.A. are
presented there! First when Hiram is accosted by one of the Ruffians to reveal
the secrets of a MM he answers:
“(…) that those secrets were known to but three in the world and that
without the consent and co-operation of the other two he neither could nor
would divulge them”
Later when King Solomon is imparted with the
afflicting intelligence he then orders:
“(…) them to return and raise our Master to such a sepulture as became
his rank and exalted talents, at the same time informing them that by his
untimely death the secrets of a Master Mason were lost”
This concept that the secrets were
lost and that we are “in search” of them, and that all signs and words we use
in the 3rd degree are mere substitutes, permeate the whole of the
degree from the opening to the closing!
Not even the ceremony of
Installation in Craft will deal with that problem, let alone other side
degrees, which all in their peculiar manner have a large amount of relevant
information to be dealt with, but no substantial information to solve that
puzzle.
We are then led to understand that there were 3
masters, or grand master as they will be reffered to in R.A. and according to
the Sojouners readings (introduced in 2016/17):
The Temple of King
Solomon at Jerusalem,which we learn about in the three Craft degrees, stood for
about 400 years, until it was completely destroyed by the Babylonians under
King Nebuchadnezzar.
After some 70 years
the Babylonians themselves were overthrown by the Persian Empire under King
Cyrus (…)
As a candidate for
exaltation, you will represent one of those exiles returning to the ruined city
of Jerusalem to help rebuild the Temple, or more accurately, to help build the
Second Temple.
(…) Just as the Second
Temple was built on the site of the First, you are about to discover that the teachings
of the Royal Arch are built on those of the Craft, to complete your journey in
pure Ancient Freemasonry.
JOIN A CHAPTER TO COMPLETE YOUR JOURNEY IN PURE AND ANCIENT MASONRY!
E. COMP. H. LIBER
SÃO PAULO – OCTOBER 08TH 2019
