Mackey's Twenty Five Landmarks

by RmOlano, IM
17Jul05

The twenty five Landmarks according to Albert Mackey has been discussed and challenged by other Masonic scholars such as Albert Pike, Roscoe Pound, R.F. Gould, etc. Not all Grand Lodges recognized or accepted all of the twenty five landmarks. Some accepted the portions of, while some such as California, “have half-heartedly adopted Mackey’s twenty-five.” Albert Pike’s Opinion of Mackey’s Landmark published in 1888, as a commentary to the Mackey, was I would characterize as little blunt to a point of rubbing off some tenets of Brotherly Love. I would agree on some and disagree on others therefore, the point is and always has is that there is no official written Ancient Landmarks that everybody agreed on. The Ancient Landmarks were intentionally vague because to “put it on writing” makes the Landmarks limited to certain issues. By “speaking” in general terms, the ideals of Freemasonry can be applied to multitude of issues limited only to ones imagination.

The following paragraph is an excerpt from Path of a Master Mason published by Educational Bureau, Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Mason:

“ In your journey through the three degrees of Symbolic Masonry and as you have learned the proficiency lecture for each degree, no doubt many questions have arise concerning the meaning of the ritualistic ceremonies, the historical implication and the "why" of the legends of Freemasonry.

Many believe the Sublime Degree of Master Mason to be the ultimate degree of Freemasonry and that all others are added and explanatory. However, most students of Freemasonry agree that the story of the Craft as presented in the three degrees is incomplete.

On the union of the Grand Lodges in 1813, a part of the compact of the union read, "Ancient Craft Masonry consists of three degrees and no more, namely, those of the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason including the Holy Royal Arch."

We trust that as a newly made Master Mason, you have been intrigued by the lessons and mysteries of Freemasonry which you have thus far received and that you will in due time investigate those available in the York Rite of Freemasonry in order to complete your Masonic knowledge.”

In the original form of Mackey’s The Landmarks, or Unwritten Laws, the Landmark Second quoted an article of the Union of Grand Lodges in 1813 regarding inclusion of Holy Royal Arch. important fact. I highlighted the factual quotation above. And just to intrigue our brethren mind, I would like to leave them with a short remark.

As a Master Mason, you received the substitute of the Lost Word. The substitute will not allow you to work and receive the Master Mason wages when you travel and work in foreign countries. As a Master Mason your journey is not yet complete.

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Higher Degrees

by RmOlano
30Dec05

“Higher degrees” are being work in “higher bodies” or more appropriately called, appendant bodies or Rites. Various Rites exists throughout the world, Scottish, York, Swedish, German, Egyptian, etc. Generally, any degrees after 3rd or Master Mason Degree are called or known as “higher degrees.” For lack of a better example which I hope that won’t offend other brothers who believed that they have already attained the Sublime Degree of Master Mason and all others are superfluous. The bottom line is that we can consider the Rite’s degrees as some sort of "college" level work after completing the Master Mason Degree.

The official explanation is that the additional degrees are not to be seen as a vertical progression but rather a horizontal expansion. It can be described as a trek to next the phase of travel or preparation prior to entrance to a door that offers promise of obtaining further light. The more portals one allowed to enter, the more unknowns could possibly be discovered. There are those brethren who subscribed to this concept and never joined the Rites and there are those who joined and understand that humility is a virtue. After all no one carries a college diploma in a wallet. It is usually left in the office or home. There are number of Brethren who still struggle to rationalize the notion of three is equal or not greater than 32. Unlike the Scottish Rite, the York Rite does not use numerical designation, but instead opted for a loosely organized structure. The final degree is called Knights Templar which requires that the candidate must be or be ready to defend Christian belief. Beyond that there are invitational bodies such as, Priory for KYCH of York Rite, AMD, honorary degrees such as 33rd of Scottish Rite, and others. I am not in a position to explain the prerequisites but the one thing that is common to all is that the Brethren don’t ask to be one but rather wait to get invited.

Masonry is a progressive moral science taught by degrees only; it is veiled in allegories and illustrated by symbols. In order to really appreciate the lessons or workings in York or Scottish Rites, a Master Mason must have a good foundation in his grade school before advancing into college works. It is a fact that majority of Masons believes that being a Master Mason or 3rd Degree is enough and contented thus missing what knowledge and opportunities that awaits them in the so-called appendant or higher bodies.

In the conclusion of The Higher Degrees’ Handbook by WB J.S.M. Ward, he wrote that, "... any man who has never gone beyond the Craft has still much to learn … Until he has taken them (Higher Degrees) he is in no position to form any kind of opinion, and after he has done so I feel sure that he will no longer speak slightingly of some of the greatest mysteries of this or any Age.”

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Moralist

Papers for Sequoia Council No. 228 (AMD)
RmOlano

10Oct07

It is amazing to watch how a subject of dirty pictures and green jokes could elicit so much interest in one of the popular Masonic yahoo group. Despite of personal appeals and clarifications from the owner and moderators to drop the subject, the repeated hits on the issue is simply remarkable. When one consider the level of participation on a subject which the VW Ben Apacible called "Recent Events in Philippine Masonry," one does not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out what issues takes precedence over the other in the minds of the participants.

Many interesting annotations and rationale were exposed in order to justify the attention. Some memorable comments were from father-knows-best insinuation that one should be man enough to tell the wife to mind her own business, using family as an excuse to oppose such contents in a Masonic discussion group, and to a sort of transcendental perspectivism philosophy which deduced that the subjest is only dirty if at least two people accepted it as dirty. You have to love that one! The jaw breaker was when someone who claimed to be a priest chimed in and briefly laid out a philosophical and historical connection between clothes and Freud’s psychological thoughts, another one posted a one liner asking for “any reaction from the self-proclaimed moralist?”

So before some of the pretenders start throwing rocks or promising again to host a "San Diego Jubelum Party" to this writer, allow me to quote some lines taken from a proverbial Masonic lecture about a symbol that is represented in every regular Lodge.

"A certain point within a circle – the point representing an individual brother, and the circle, the boundary line of his conduct, beyond which he should never suffer his passions, his prejudices or his interest to betray him. This circle is supported by two perpendicular parallel lines, representing Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, and on its top rest the Holy Writings. In tracing its circumference we necessarily touch upon the parallel line and also upon the Holy Bible, and while a Mason keeps himself thus circumscribed ..."

“Any reactions from the self-proclaimed moralist?” An intriguing question indeed if one would consider this familiar theme during conferrals of Degrees in Freemasonry.

In Entered Apprentice Degree, we heard the Charge, "...men preeminent for their moral and intellectual attainment have encouraged and promoted its interest..."

"Masonry is a progressive moral science divided into different degrees..." is in the beginning address of the Fellow Craft Degree Charge.

Freemasonry is an ideal, as Albert Pike wrote in 1888 in response to Albert Mackey's Landmark or Unwritten Laws, "…it is a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols." We can infer Freemasonry as a collection of thoughts acting in unison to live in a righteous conduct rather than law or customs though the use of partly concealed or decorated representation of models usually seen as signs. From the article, Concept of Freemasonry .

Relative to the subject of intriguing inquiry, maybe the question could be rephrased as "any thoughts from self-proclaimed Masons?

As Masons we are being taught to be morally upright and so forth and so on. Being at Master Mason stage, we should know what is right or what is wrong. For a member who cannot tell the difference between what is moral and what is not, may be should grow up some more before calling himself a Mason. Somehow, many of us still need to learn to subdue our passion and improve ourselves in Masonry. Some of us never get "it" in the first place. And a few of us should never get in at all.

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Questions of a Young Master Mason

A paper for Sequoia Council No. 228 (AMD)
By Rudy Olano
Sequoia Council No. 228 (AMD)
April2006

Somebody mentioned that it is far easier to ask for answers than knowing the question. Having said that let me say that searching for truth will depend on one’s acceptance of the perceived truth. You have asked me questions that seem to seek for the official view of someone of an authority in the study of our Craft. Forgive me for warding the issue but in my humble opinion, I am not in a position to speak for the rest of the brethren or the Craft as a whole. But if you will allow me to take a portion of the real seekers within the group, I would speculate that each of us is searching for our version of Truth, be it may, the Holy Grail, Fountain of Youth, meaning of life, one’s own self and quite possibly, our own Faith.

In the Blue Lodge, we are coached to seek for the Lost Word, as we were made aware of the substitute during the course of events following the Tragedy in the Temple. If the newly raised Master Mason deciphered one of the Mysteries or Lesson in the Blue Lodge and seek further light in Masonry, in the Royal Arch Degree, a seeker will find the Real Word safely deposited in the faithful breasts of true friends. Our Mother Lodge also imparted a valuable lesson of adorning great and important undertakings. In the Council of Cryptic Masonry, deep inside the vault of secrecy, an attentive ear will hear the importance of appreciation to the labor expended during the search of that which was lost---the preservation of the Word. Hence, accepting the fact that we lost something valuable is the first step of the search (Blue Lodge), then if even one is successful in finding what was Lost (Royal Arch Degree), it is not the end of the search, it is equally important to preserve or keep the object of the search (Cryptic Degrees). Finally, the Order of Knights Templar is about defending ones belief---the squaring of the circle which might or seems to represent the paradox of our existence. The Lessons or Mysteries of Freemasonry does not end in the Blue Lodge. There are more knowledge and opportunities beyond the Symbolic degrees.

As to the other lessons of the Temple Tragedy, note that not all Fellow Crafts will receive the Word, it is only reserved for those who will be found worthy. Even repentance of wrongdoings will not save transgressors from earning their penalty—it is simply wise to avoid the unsavory and expedient ideas in the first place. Guilty by association.---stay away from the bad crowds. Wearing of white gloves and apron has the same effect of washing hands--- it is only for show and does not work therefore, no excuse. It is the internal not the external that matters.

In your conclusion of the allegorical message of the Temple Tragedy, the answer will depend on how we see our search through the prism of our individual perception. Does knowing His Name is enough to gain admission to His place? Born Again Christians says all we have to do is to believe in Him--- Faith not Work. We Masons are taught to keep our apron spotless---Work not Faith. And mind you, we are not religion but we are religious. Knowing the Master’s Word will enable craftsman to expect to earn his just wages; however, he still has to work in order to receive the fruits of his labor. The mere possession of the Master’s Word is not a ticket to anyone’s salvation. Finding what was lost is not the end of the journey. An equally important question to ponder is what we mortals have to do once we find what we are looking for.

I am tempted to say that I hope I answered your query but rather I would wish that I provoked you for asking yourself for more inquiry. I am glad to meet a Brother who finds value of asking thought provoking questions--- a seeker of Truth.

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Published in The California Encompasser, the official publication of California York Rite Bodies, Vol 21, June 2006.