Of What Are We In Pursuit?

by Jason E. Marshall

(This Piece was originally published in the Nov 2012 Edition of Living Stones Magazine)

The question of what we are in pursuit of is posed to each Mason throughout  his initiatic journey. While there is generally a canned response, this question, and the true response that each mason has in his heart, has profound implications on a personal level, as well as what the fraternity has become, and what it can become in the future.

During my E.A. degree, I was asked this seemingly simple question; however, my conductor was asleep at the wheel, and instead of providing me with the normal M:.L:. response, he left me hanging out to dry. So there I stood, alone, blind, destitute, in a wholly alien environment, full of apprehension. As I stood there in a cold sweat, I tried to come up with an honest response, my mind raced: What did I really want? Why had I come to the door of the preparation room? Was I there because both of my grandfathers were active Masons? Was I there in order to fulfill a need for fraternal belonging? Was I there to gain some deep hidden knowledge? Did I truly have any idea why I was really there?

After what seemed like an eternity I had an epiphany, a true anagnorisis moment, where I truly understood why I had come there, what my intentions were, and where I intended my future path to go, so I firmly responded, “divine knowledge to understand myself and my creator”. I was of course quickly provided the correct canned response of M:.L:., and on went the initiation.

Throughout the masonic system, and in several other esoteric groups and orders I belong to, the seemingly simple question of what my intentions are, is almost always asked during the initiatory process.  While there may or may not be an appropriate canned response, I always take the opportunity to truly use the question to reflect upon what my intentions are. Why am I joining that order or group? What do I hope to gain from my membership or involvement? Am I joining just to join, and add another dues card to my wallet? I also, use the question in my life outside of the Tyled lodge room, to really get to the core of my desires and intentions. Why do I want to take that job? Why do I want to start or end a friendship? Why do I want to take on or deny a project or responsibility?

When I am confronted with this question, or I hear it asked during the degrees, I always flash back to my E.A. degree, and the accompanying anagnorisis moment. Anagnorisis in classical Greek literature is the moment when the character has a sudden flash of realization regarding his/her true nature and place in the world. Aristotle defined anagnorisis as, “a change from ignorance to knowledge, producing love or hate between the persons destined by the poet for good or bad fortune”.[1] In my moment ofanagnorisis during my E.A. degree, I came out of the darkness of my own ignorance regarding my true intentions, into the light of KNOWING what my desires truly were.

The realization on what my intentions were upon my first admittance into a Lodge room, has had a profound effect on my masonic journey. Since my true purpose for wanting to join was in order to gain a deeper understanding of myself and the Creator, I have naturally gravitated towards the esoteric and inner-work aspects of our Craft. Had I primarily wanted to join for the social or fraternal aspects of the craft, then I would have naturally gravitated towards those aspects.

The declining membership numbers and participation levels that our fraternity is currently experiencing, is due in large part to unfulfilling experiences that leave many members, new and old, wanting and frustrated. Regardless of your esoteric or exoteric leanings, something brought each of us to the door of the preparation room. We each were looking to have some need fulfilled in our life; and let’s be honest, I highly doubt that any of us knocked on the door of the preparation room for dully performed ritual, and boring recitations of minutes and bills.

It is often said that the purpose, or underlying objective, of Freemasonry is to “Make good men better”. However, in order to accomplish that goal, it is essential to understand what men are truly seeking when they join, which is why the seemingly simple question regarding the initiates true desires is so essential. While our fraternity offers many paths to its initiates, depending on their particular interests, it is essential that the initiate truly understand why they joined the fraternity to begin with. What brought them to the door of the preparation room? Because, if one does not have a firm understanding of what they seek within the Tyled walls, it is easy to get lost in the myriad of paths offered, or simply to become disinterested and disengaged. Also, if the fraternity does not have a real understanding of what its membership is seeking, then it cannot effectively meet the desires and expectation of its membership.

In order to make ourselves the best person we can be, and the fraternity the best that it can be, we must be honest in answering the question of what we are in pursuit of on individual basis, as well as for the fraternity as a whole. If a man has esoteric leanings, then he should be directed to groups and lodges that will fulfill that desire, without fear of being shamed or shunned. Similarly, if a man seeks to join for the social or philanthropic aspects of the fraternity, he should be directed to the proper channels, without fear of being looked down upon. There shouldn’t be a tug-of-war between camps of “esotericists” or “exotericists”.

By clearly and honestly defining motivations, intentions, and expectations, members can get the most fulfilling experience possible, and the fraternity can regain relevance in the lives of its members, and society at large. Therefore, we must continually ask ourselves, “of what are we in pursuit?”, and we must be willing to work and strive to make the fraternity a place where those desires are met in a harmonious and fulfilling fashion.

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Thank you for reading The Laudable Pursuit! If you enjoyed this piece, please feel free to share it on social media sites, or with your Lodge.

For more information on Bro. Jason E. Marshall, please CLICK HERE.

Bro. Marshall is also the author of: LivingInTheNow.net

Our Body Is Our Temple, Let’s Keep It Well

Bro. Juan Sepulveda

Here is a guest post from Bro. Bro. Juan Sepulveda, with a sobering reminder that we as Freemasons must keep our external (physical) temple well maintained, if we are to properly undertake our external (material) and internal (spiritual) endeavors.

I have two little children and whenever we go to our favorite supermarket, we have a ritual that we practice almost every time. If I forget about it, the children will certainly remind me. At Publix, which is a wonderful supermarket chain here in Florida, they have a scale to weigh yourself near the exit. It’s not one of those fancy digital scales, it’s one of those elegant ones with the giant dial on the front and the needle that speeds up to the number of shame (or pride if you have been behaving well).

I am writing this shortly after the Holiday season and of course you can imagine that the sight of that needle approaching my all-time highest weight was a sobering thing. Of course for the children this is a fun activity, but I must confess that when I recently stepped on that scale I almost called the Manager of the store because there had to be something wrong with that cruel machine!

The experience was sobering because I am almost at the heaviest I have ever been, I am sure it is not new muscle mass. Which brings me to the topic I want to share with you; Our body is our Temple and if we only focus on keeping our brain in good shape, while neglecting our body’s well being, then we are fooling ourselves into believing that we are progressing as much as possible.

Don’t worry, I am not about to try to sell you the latest diet pills or convince you to join my P90X team (which in my case is imaginary), but I am going to tell you that it should become a priority in your life and I am trying to make it a priority in mine.

“When we focus on making our body healthy, we are better stewards of our role on earth.”

How did I pack up the extra few pounds? by not eating right, sleeping less and by decreasing my physical activity. It is nobody’s fault but my own, which is why I have to shake this off myself. The worse part of the weight gain is not the appearance factors, but rather the decrease in energy, the irritability and the lack of focus, which ends up affecting my productivity.

Here is where the word Temple comes in. A Temple is a sacred place, where one can get closer to the Great Architect of The Universe. If we are cheating ourselves from having a healthy body, we are not presenting the best version of ourselves before the Creator. Not to say that He is concerned with our new waist size, but when we focus on making our body healthy, we are better stewards of our role on earth. The more focus and energy we have, the better we can help others. If we have enough energy, then we can work harder and smarter to become the best version of ourselves.

Just like a well maintained machine can perform its tasks with ease and reliability, when we work on keeping our Temple healthy, then we can perform our duties with zeal, determination and effectiveness. We owe it to ourselves and to those around us to continue becoming the best we can and this is not limited to our mind and spirit… Our body is our Temple, let’s keep it well.

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Bro. Juan Sepulveda is the host of The Winding Stairs Freemasonry Podcast, a program dedicated to Masonic Education and The Art of Self Improvement. He is also a professional artist, whose paintings are included in private and corporate collections around the world, including the permanent collection of The Museum of Freemasonry in Sydney Australia. To learn more about the Artist, The Masonic Podcast and to see examples of his growing Masonic Art Collection, visit www.TheWindingStairs.com

There Is Much To Do…

by Jason Eddy

One question that is not new to Masonic discussion is “What is wrong with our Lodges, and how can we fix it?” I have recently been involved in a few of these discussions and wanted to share some of what I have heard from others.

The majority of Brothers, when asked what is wrong with the Fraternity, seem to immediately bring up the decline in membership. Fortunately, many are now coming to share my own belief which is that Quality is much more important than Quantity. They believe that if we improve the Lodge experience for those already within the Craft that the effect will be noticed by the Profane and they will then seek to understand what we are all about.

Others, however, claim that there is nothing wrong with our Lodges. That our Lodges are perfectly fine and that we should keep doing what we are doing and all will work itself out. It is to this idea that I wish to offer thoughts.

I must first ask the question “Why would any Brother make such a claim?” Perhaps they are seeking to keep Harmony within the Lodge and feel that any comments concerning flaws in how Masonry is currently being practiced might upset that balance. Perhaps they are concerned that any negative comments might be attributed to the influence that they have had in their time within the Craft. Or perhaps they truly do believe that there is absolutely nothing wrong with our Lodges. In my opinion, all of these reasons are inherently flawed.

I digress. The rough ashlar, and its symbolism, is presented to the Mason very early on in his Masonic journey. In the state of Ohio, it is presented in the Entered Apprentice Degree. We are taught that we are all rough ashlars, and that we must use the working tools provided to us to effectively remove all of our rough edges so that we might become a perfect ashlar. I am not personally one who believes that we will ever actually achieve perfection, or the symbolic state of becoming a perfect ashlar. As such, I find it to be utterly flawed that a Society of men, whose purpose in grounded in self improvement, should ever claim that “there is absolutely nothing wrong”. Do we truly believe that we have reached perfection?

Beyond the principled disagreement with the statement, I find it to be inherently dangerous to share such an idea or claim with men who are seeking guidance. Essentially, many Brothers who are seeking guidance on how to improve themselves in Masonry may perceive that they are being told that no improvement is needed. The damaging effects of such statements are potentially immeasurable.

I share this for one simple reason, my Brothers. We all have a voice, and those who choose to use that voice can and will most likely be heard. Recognize that words have power. Words have meaning. Use Prudence in choosing what you say and where you say it. Many may hear such a claim and confirm their own flawed belief that we have already achieved perfection. Many others may hear such a claim and be discouraged in their efforts to improve our Lodge Experience due to a lack of support from their Brethren. Be willing to recognize both your own personal imperfections and those of the Lodges seeking to practice our Gentle Craft. Do not attempt to convince yourself, and certainly do not attempt to convince others that all is well. There is still work to be done.

There are designs upon the Trestle Board. Ensure that you are not calling the Craft from Labor to Refreshment prior to the completion of the Temple.

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Thank you for reading The Laudable Pursuit! If you enjoyed this piece, please feel free to share it on social media sites, or with your Lodge.

For more information on Bro. Jason Eddy, please CLICK HERE

Bro. Eddy’s Blogs:

Musings Along The Road Less Taken

Musings Of A Light Seeker