Have you ever been to a lodge where they just ran through the opening Masonic ritual as if it was a “who can talk faster”-competition? And where nobody paid attention to any of the words and sentences uttered…?
If not, you don’t visit enough! (Or you just didn’t pay attention)
For some, it is even boring to go through the same ritual again and again at the beginning of every meeting. Are they right? Ultimately, why do we even have a ritual – some might ask…
So, stop for a moment reading this and try to come up with a comprehensive, meaningful answer to the question:
WHY DO WE HAVE A RITUAL?
In my younger years, I used to be a member of a local student theatre group. There was this older actor who often came to help us to understand the intricacies of acting and directing, and also giving us the occasional lesson about Art. One day, during a rehearsal he happened to say: no one should enter the stage with dirty shoes! All of us, without exception, suddenly looked down to our footwear… The old wise man smiled and added quietly “That’s only part of it… more important is what is here, inside” he pointed toward his heart. Are you clean and ready to step onto the stage? We should remember that, most likely, the origins of tragedy as a play on the stage have sacramental roots and strong connections with the gods and demigods of the Greek mythology.
The old actor was telling us to leave the “dust” of the outside, mundane life off-stage and to come in clean, with the mind and soul ready to share the unique experience of the tragedy (or comedy).
The function and role of our Masonic opening (and closing) ceremony is very similar. We use the ritual to mark a clear delimitation between the outside mundane world and the inner, virtual space where “likeminded men” gather to create a different state of mind in order to share something that we have in common only and exclusively with the brethren present.
We all come from the hectic, chaotic world outside and our goal is to create our own inner world, a sacred space, if you wish, where we transition ourselves into a different realm to elevate our souls and minds into the state that is open to receive the spiritual and moral teachings and to build bonds. That is the “why” for the existence and use of the ritual!
Any lodge that is not capable or willing to create this sacred inner space for its members – for the enlightenment of Masons or, even more importantly, to initiate, i.e. to bring in an “outsider” into the sacred circle of those insiders that possess the knowledge – does a disservice to the Craft.
To have a chat and some “refreshment” without any kind of spiritual experience, one should join any dining club or a bowling team: there is male bonding, camaraderie, a drink or two, jokes and fun. There is absolutely no need to be in a Freemasons lodge to achieve these “goals”. If someone joined the lodge expecting only that kind of “fun” – he joined the wrong group.
However, we are just as guilty as the ignorant who came to be there by misunderstanding. If we ‘advertise’ ourselves as “service club” and “hobby” and “community organization” – we singlehandedly are killing the Craft… The only thing that separates us from the many fraternal institutions and social groups is our unique ritual with its rich and layered messages conveyed (almost) as an allegory play!
A Masonic meeting without creating an uplifting spiritual, intellectual and insider (remember, esoteric is insider!) experience is a futile exercise of going through the motions without ever understanding the meaning.
Perhaps, before bringing in new members that will soon run away disappointed, we should rethink the way we do simple things like opening and closing ritual. For as the opening is meant to create that inner sacred space for the initiated, so is the closing meant to remind us to preserve this unique experience in the silence of our heart before returning to the noisy mundane world.
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Article written by W.Bro. István Horváth, Master of the Electric Lodge 2018-2020.
Originally published in the District ‘C’hronicle, issue 139. March 2020; the District Newsletter of Hamilton C District.
