Speculative Masonry in ancient China

The following article is presented with the compliments of the
HOLDEN RESEARCH CIRCLE.

The article may be freely used for masonic purposes only.

For all other purposes the approval of the
Circle President, W Bro Graeme Love
must be obtained.

THE GENUINE SECRETS OF A MASTER MASON

by WBro A.L. VASSIE, HRC President

Delivered before The Circle on 5 May 1995

(This was Alan's LAST discussion paper before
he passed to The Grand Lodge Above on 10 June 1995)

We are told - Freemasonry is -
A Peculiar System of Morality veiled in Allegory and Illustrated by Symbols.
A) We learn Freemasonry therefore through Symbols and Allegory,
i.e., a Simple Wrapping to Hide the Real Thing.
B) A thorough knowledge of ceremonies of the lodge essential but that of itself is not
enough -we must search for the hidden meaning.
C) Freemasonry is not merely a system of Signs - Tokens - Ceremonies,
but underlying them are Principles -
If we fail to get a glimpse of these underlying principles -
we are not really freemasons in the true sense
D) Every part of our Ceremony/Ritual is Symbolic underlying a lesson
E) Opening in the 3rd Degree - Questions of the S.W. & J.W. by the W.M.
Do we understand them BECAUSE their Esoteric meaning in not clear.
i.e., The Great Objects (and Questions) of Freemasonry are involved in these
questions & answers.

First - 4 points of symbolism involved in these questions &
answers necessary to understand the Hidden Meaning.
For Example:
The East in Freemasonry is the Symbol of the Spiritual World.
(Where is Life - Light - Wisdom)
(The Sun Rises in the East to bring a New Day)
(Nothing can live without it on Earth)
Thus - any wonder that Ancient People believed the Sun was
Reborn for Them each morning - and worshipped it as God.
F) Man has a 3 fold nature comprising - Body - Soul - Spirit.
Soul & Spirit are used synonymous - and in the Symbology of Freemasonry;
J.W. = the Body of Man
S.W. = the Soul of Man
W.M. = the Spirit of Man
(Spirit means: The acquisition of superior knowledge and wisdom)
Notes:
1) We are told that Learning/Wisdom originated in the East and spread their
benign influence to the west.
2) The W.M. not only represents King Solomon - renowned for his wisdom -
but also The Humble Representative of the Creator - The Source of ALL Knowledge
- the East therefore is the Symbol of the Spiritual World
where there is - Life
Light
Wisdom

Second - West (the Antipodes of the East)
is the Sphere of the Material World.
(Where there is Death - Darkness & Ignorance)
Thus - East = Life - Light - Wisdom
West = Death - Darkness - Ignorance
Our Ritual tells us -
The S.W. is in the West to represent The Moon which governs the Night (Darkness)
In the West he closes the Lodge as the setting Sun closes the Day.
(He is the Representative of Darkness & Death)
His Jewel of Office - The Level reminds us of the Great Leveller - Death.
Notes:
A) The Perfect Ashlar in the west has a significance as not only representing
the Closing of the Lodge but also the Closing of Life.
(Someone goes west or gone west)
B) (Note no orientation)
2nd Tracing Board correctly oriented in the Centre of the Lodge -
The Winding Staircase leads from the South (Noon Day or Middle of Life)
up the Stairs of "Life's Journey" to the Close of Life in the West -
Death (the End of Life's Journey)
C) The W.M. represents the Soul (the Immortal Part of that which is striving to
return to its own sphere, i.e., to the Masonic East - the Spiritual World - to GOD.

Third - The Lodge is a Symbol of our own individual selves.
D) And as we tyle our Lodge to keep off all cowans and intruders to Freemasonry,
so we should tyle our bodies to keep out all Harmful and Hurtful things.
(Cleanse ourselves mentally)
- Before entering a lodge we should get rid of all such things as -
- Bitterness - Hatred - Jealousy - Pride - Hypocrisy
- and all other things AND so make room for what is BETTER AND NOBLER.
NOTE: As a flower opens its petals to the Sun to receive Light & Life - so the
Opening of the Lodge of Freemasons
is the Opening up of the Human "Heart and Mind" to God.
REMEMBER NEXT TIME WE OPEN A LODGE - KEEP IN OUR MIND -
WE ARE OPENING OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO THE G.A. OF THE UNIVERSE.
(Making the Members more receptive for the good to be obtained from Freemasonry)
That is the great lesson and purpose of the lodge -
Not merely to enjoy the beautiful ceremonies and the Society (companionship) of our brethren -
BUT to learn
THE GREAT MORAL LESSONS OF FREEMASONRY
AND
TO HELP EACH OTHER TO MOULD AND STRENGTHEN OUR CHARACTERS.

Fourth - Point of SYMBOLISM is that the CIRCLE is the symbol of God.
A Very Old Symbol.
"GOD is a CIRCLE -
Whose Centre is Everywhere and whose Circumference is Nowhere".
The Centre of a Circle is Invisible -
That is why the Centre of the Circle is the Symbol of "God"
and the Circumference that of the Universe.

REMEMBER THOSE FOUR SYMBOLS -
1) FIRST - The East in Freemasonry is the Symbol of the Spiritual World
where there is LIGHT - LIFE - WISDOM.
2) SECOND - The West in Freemasonry is the Symbol of the Material World
where their is - DARKNESS - DEATH - IGNORANCE (The opposites to the East)
3) THIRD - The Lodge is the Symbol of our OWN INDIVIDUAL SELVES -
tyle to keep out all harmful and hurtful things.
4) FOURTH - The Circle (Lodge) is the Symbol of "GOD" in Masonry.
The Point Invisible - is Everywhere -
The Circumference is Nowhere - The Circumference of the Universe.
If we bear in mind those 4 Symbols - I think we shall understand the questions and answers
at the Opening of the Lodge in the 3rd Degree.

REMEMBER - Our Souls came from "God" and will return to Him,
3rd Degree Ritual - "THE SPIRIT SHALL RETURN UNTO GOD WHO GAVE IT".
Taking again the questions asked in the Opening of the 3rd Degree.
We know that the East is typical of the Spiritual World where "God" is.
Our Souls have come from "God" and we are now wandering towards the West,
in the material World - Searching for what has been lost.
- We have not reached the extreme west because that means Death.
(We are directing our course towards the west and when death will/does eventually overtake us) -
We will then know what are the Genuine Secrets of a Master Mason -
The definite truths of the Mysteries of our very existence - of Birth - of Life -
and of Death.
- All of these Secrets are with "God" -
So it is "God" for whom we are Searching - Where do we hope to find them? -
On the Centre - Why on the Centre? -
Because that is the Point from which a Mason CANNOT ERR.