Great Divinity

by RmOlano
22Apr12



… could you, at least, articulate on this phrase which forms part of the lecture … "it is the inspiration of that great divinity whom we adore and bears the nearest resemblance or affinity to that supreme intelligence which will never, never, never die"? — Bro GabeS


Freemasonry was described by Bro Albert Pike as "a system of morality, veiled in allegories and illustrated by symbols." Majority of lessons or mysteries we heard through lectures are not to be taken literally which includes the Masonic Obligation. This iconic Masonic furniture is about teaching the value of individual honor through keeping his word. The graphic description of penalties of violation are just metaphors and only lunatic would ever execute such commitment. Like the ever popular volume of sacred laws by many religious beliefs, the stories, parables, and yarns were intricate if ever can be historically verified. The main purpose of the documents is to deliver messages of faith and to strike fear to the subjects. For lack of better word, many of these volumes could be described in contemporary times as “sound bites” whose aim is to deliver the concept and influence the intended audience. In previous relatively modern times, the written media is known as propaganda and in Western spiritual realm it is called Bible. In Judeo-Christian writings, the only written instructions made by God were inscribed on stone through lightning bolts. All others were written by men claiming divine intervention.

As to the inquiry, my take on the phrase is that it suggests the existence of a "lower or lesser" divine being that looked or appears to be like the "higher or greater" being. If we are to place the drama into religious context, a Christian follower could interpret this statement as the sacrifice of their Lord to save His followers as instructed by His Father. The Roman Catholic Dogma of Holy Trinity could easily rationalize the issue of three being is really one. If we subscribed to Islamic faith and substitute this character as the prophet Mohammed, the phrase would make sense as the prophet never declared himself as God and demand the people unquestioning obedience to the rules of their faith. The concept of divinity class might be foreign to Eastern spiritual practice as they beleive that those mortals who strive to attain the level of perfection or enlightenment accepted that the state of happiness can be found when equilibrium rules the universe.

Aside from standard stage of initiatory rites with mandatory “death” experience, one of the messages of the second section of our Masonic education was about standing for what we believe despite of adversity or even in the face death. By looking into the face value of the drama, the message was clear and does provide a rudimentary sense for candidate going through initiatory experience. The use of the word “divinity" in summarizing our Masonic drama however, throw a curved ball into what could be otherwise a straight lesson of honor and mortality. As there is no reference ever that the main character---GMHA is/was god or divine, the insertion of the word “divinity” allow the students of the Craft to contemplate a notion that mortals were fashioned with the likeness of immortals and to be with God, we have to be like-god---- a heretical idea to some religious entity but then again, whose religious clique you are with?

…