Comments on Widow Son

Rudy Olano, IM
Visalia Council No. 43
29Apr05

In a response to an article titled Widow Son by an unknown author, the writing was about two separate individuals. It relates to the Grand Master Hiram Abif of our Masonic legend and St. Paul, whose real name was Saul, a born again Christian, unknown and never mentioned in any Masonic literature. While it is arguable that both contributions to the human kind were stuff made from rich imagination, our unknown author might be tad generous in giving credit to both men. Allegories are based on fictional characters. The Hiram Legend of the Third Degree is a myth and should not be confused to the historical facts. Nowhere in the Bible even mentioned that Hiram Abif was killed. Some scholars suggested that Hiram Abif of the Bible could be a retired king of Tyre, even speculated from the meaning of the name that he might be the father or father-in-law of Hiram of Tyre. The point is whoever he was, Hiram Abif was a man of some high statute and somehow completed the construction of the first King Solomon’s Temple.

Our Hiram Abif was killed by standing steadfast to his principle. Accosted by violence, he paid the price for not divulging information to the unworthy. That was the main story. My Brethren, let me point out that however the sacrifice was in the highest order that was not the lesson in Third Degree. The message is not about holding on to the secret in face of torture and death but it is about losing and searching for something very important. A concept that one has to travel from West to East on the journey to a better life.

There is no secret in today’s Freemasonry that is worth of Brethren or anyone's life. Contemporary Freemasonry does not keep secret that is so valuable that the Craft teaches us to endure torture or death for its protection. That notion is what Hollywood movies were made of. Walking in Hiram Abif footstep might be noble but I submit that it might be misstep. We have to look a little farther in understanding the Hiram Legend. On the surface the lesson is an example of one fidelity to his duty but a more closer look through a veil or to the totality of the Legend and its appendant rituals, the real lesson or mystery is directed to an individual soul--- to realize something was lost and to inspire him to the most exalted idea of rediscovering of something that which was lost. A journey of our lives.

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Happy Birthday to my wife, my apology for 30-years worth of troubles

and

farewell to SSgt John Charles "from my cold dead hand" Heston, B-25 RO/Gunner, 11th AF, WWII