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Abolishing Passion

Do you understand just how challenging it can be to put what you really mean into words? There are, after all, over 170,000 words that are considered to be current English.

It was late on a Monday evening when I was Initiated into Freemasonry. As so many who had gone before me, I was trying desperately to retain everything I had experienced, yet finding myself lacking. I just knew I was missing something, perhaps several things, and I was worried I might not have the opportunity to learn them again. Thankfully, before the evening was over, I was informed of the numerous ways I could experience the Initiation again, even if I was not the candidate any longer.

There seemed to be so many expectations. There were things I should be learning about, things I should be doing, things I should be saying, ways I should be acting – and, naturally, those which I should not. While I found myself recalling those instructions, one thing I never once heard was that I had to abolish all passion from my life. I think of that now because, interestingly, this topic of passion seemed to keep reappearing throughout my progression through the degrees – it was inculcated to me.

What did I hear? I recall the word “subdue” being used frequently. The recited prayer to open Lodge requests for Deity to help us “subdue every discordant passion within us.” In fact, in our Fellow Craft degree it explicitly says, in plain English, “By Speculative Masonry we may learn to subdue the passions…” I was even given a symbolic representation and told that the Compasses teach all Freemasons to “circumscribe their desires and keep their passions and prejudices in due bounds with all mankind…” I was even warned that if I failed to understand and respect this teaching, my passions or prejudices could betray me.

Hold on… We… “may learn…”? That is not a very committed phrase. Does that make it… optional? Certainly not. What it refers to is our own capabilities to actually subdue our passions.

Too often men expect Freemasonry to “teach the test”. The concept being that a test is coming and there are 10 questions on it, yet the source material on those 10 questions is 10 books long… but if I just teach you the answers, then you learn nothing. Freemasonry does this with a hearty helping of terms like “may”, “should”, “recommended”, “consideration”, and other seemingly non-commital phrases. However, that is a mis-representation. Instead, I believe it to be a recognition that I, as another man, cannot force you into any of these items. You must want it, you must seek it.

Accordingly, I know of no place where Freemasonry explicitly says: “Step 1 on Subduing your Passions:…” What I do know is that I have been informed of where to look – what books to read, if you will – that will help me prepare for the ultimate test – that time when my passions flare and it falls on me, and me alone, to subdue it. Now, I say “me alone”, but let me remind you of that opening prayer for Lodge, the true “Step 1”. What I mean to suggest is a situation where there is not another Brother there to whisper good counsel.

Freemasonry recommends to our consideration what I later learned was called the Trivium. Rather than just some archaic yet elementary sounding education, it turns out that the Trivium – Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric – are the basis of classical education; skills deemed necessary for taking part in society at large. Necessary: as how breathing and consuming food and water are necessary for life. An understanding of Grammar gives you the ability to form sentences which clearly portray your intent. Logic lets you analyze the Grammar of others, and yourself, to find facts and truth. Rhetoric naturally follows as a combination of Grammar and Logic, which results in instruction or persuasion. By way of example, this entire article is an exercise in Rhetoric.

These three tools, Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric, require both study and use in order to hone and perfect them. As with any craft, trade, or profession, you will produce better work the longer you have performed such tasks. You cannot show up on day 1 and expect to produce the same quality work you will produce in year 5. You certainly should not expect that by year 5 you will still be producing the same quality work as you did on day 1!

Then, without warning, comes our test. Something flares my passions and every cell in my body cries out to either express my passion to others, or to respond with passion to the passions of others. Freemasonry never told me to abolish passion. It is not only natural to have passions, but also my right to have them, and for them to be different from yours. However, I was given instruction on how to leverage my passions in the most effective and useful way.

– This video speaks about effective communication –

Step one… do you remember?

Following that, I have to process my statement, comment, reply, or rebuttal, through the Trivium. Am I forming my language with proper grammar, where the word groupings make sense and are clearly defined? Have I checked the logic of my arguments? Did I then use this knowledge and understanding to wisely convey my intended message?

I sincerely believe that as it relates to what we say, this is how we are to subdue our passions.

Freemasonry does not want you to remove passion from your life. Moreover, Freemasonry does not even want you to become less passionate, or to water-down your passion. Freemasonry wants you to structure your passion, validate it, and convey it in a manner that strives to produce positive results.

Have I accomplished that here? Perhaps not. But I am willing to try, as it helps me become better, just as Freemasonry said it would, and perhaps, next time, I will have improved.

Here is one thought I would like to leave you with. Remember those 170,000 words? I do not know them all, and perhaps you do not either. I find that when I read or hear something that stokes my passions in a negative way, a very useful way to temper them is to ask for clarification. It may sound unusual, but rephrasing what another person has said into your own words and asking if that is what the person meant can be extremely helpful in our efforts to subdue our passions. In asking, you clearly inform the other party that you wish to understand them fully before you offer your rebuttal. In fully understanding them, you can reply in an effective, rather than emotional way. Does this communication take longer? Typically, yes. Will it produce better results?

Always.

Written by:
RW Jared Stanley, Grand Secretary
The Grand Lodge of Mississippi, F. & A. M.

Grand Secretary’s Emblem

In April, 2020, I offered several coins & pins to the writers of the best essay describing this emblem.

It was my expectation that a few dozen Brethren would make the attempt and, in an effort to engage as many of them as possible, I offered up 5 prizes. However, ultimately, only 4 submissions were made.

I am publishing those articles here, not only so that you might enjoy having thoughtful interpretations to ponder, but so that perhaps it will expand how you look at… anything!

Here are the Essays:

Grand Prize: WB Taylor Nauta (Click Here for his Essay)

1st Place: B Johnathon Smith, Jr (Click Here for his Essay)

2nd Place: B Uroš Pinterič (Click Here for his Essay)

3rd Place: B Kevin Standen (Click Here for his Essay)

Lessons from the Beehive

Introduction

This article was written by myself, Jared Stanley, and submitted to the Mississippi Lodge of Research, No. 640. Please click here for a PDF Version with full citations.

You can watch the video presentation of this article here:

A Short Lesson from the Beehive

In Freemasonry many symbols and hieroglyphs are explained to the newly raised Mason that are not typically found within the ceremony itself. These symbols may not even be found in our lodges, or when perhaps represented in some way, lack any further explanation of the lessons behind that symbol save the paragraph or two presented in the lecture itself. One such symbol is the beehive.

Drones in the Hive

The beehive is a curious symbol for a fraternity. In a beehive the term “drone” is synonymous with “male bee”. They do not harvest pollen, nectar, resin or water. They do not make honey. They do not help in the processes of cleaning the hive nor are they even equipped with a stinger to assist in defending the hive from intruders, despite their larger size. Yet they live there and eat the honey made by the tens of thousands of other bees in the hive. With this understanding of what a drone is, it is easy to see why, in various places, a candidate is told that if he performs the tasks he has agreed to, the lodge will be pleased that they have not received a drone into their hive. Despite these apparent failings, “Drones are essential to the health and survival of future honey bee colonies.” So, what are we to learn from this symbol?

Brotherhood

For ages, Freemasonry has taught the Brotherhood of Man, under the Fatherhood of God. This provides a clue as to the use of this symbol – that of dependence on others. This drone depends on his kin to provide for his needs, to uplift and support him throughout his life – just as child depends on others, we lean upon our friends and Brothers throughout life, and just as we, no matter our age, depend upon Deity.

Throughout our adult life we may find instances where we depend upon each other for our protection and security, food, and the other necessities of life. This dependence is not a failing, but a design of the Great Architect. Not only in the humbling of our egos to need such assistance, but in the uplifting of our soul when we are the ones who are able to provide it. This interdependence is the Brotherhood of Man and is one minute way in which we can curiously trace Nature through her various windings and thereby discover the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Grand Artificer of the Universe.

Industry

If we delve further into the concealed recesses of this beehive we can better understand the most common theme revolving around it, that of being a symbol of industry. Two simple words provide one definition of industry: Hard Work. It is indeed hard work to be a colony of bees.

From birth to death every bee in the hive serves a purpose, and that purpose changes over time. The worker bee is not simply born into a single job, but rather assumes nearly every task within the hive at some point in her life. She progresses, if you like, in degrees. And, as with the origins of Freemasonry, there are just two major sects of her life, that of being a house bee and that of a field bee. Before a worker bee ever sees the sky, she is put to work cleaning, feeding, and caring for the others in the hive. She then begins to fly, build comb, handle the stores of materials collected by others, and guard the hive. Only after bearing all this burden is she then sent into the world to collect their needed supplies, like nectar and pollen, to scout out resources, or perhaps even a new home.

Do you see the similarities to what we promote in our lodges? How a new Entered Apprentice is tasked to assist – being involved in nearly every aspect of the required upkeep of a lodge and its members while constantly learning new tasks? Then to eventually travel out into the world where he gains more knowledge that he brings back to the members of his lodge and, perhaps, potentially attracts the attention of others who, in time, he brings back to the lodge with him?

We can note that the worker bee never stops working until it dies. From the moment it emerges until the moment it dies, it is engaged in some beneficial work. The worker bee performs the task, as we are taught, of ever being industrious, never sitting down contented. Are you so engaged in your task?

The Beneficial Drone

But what about the drone – what purpose is it serving? In nature, the drone bee has but one task – to mate, which seems like an easy burden to bear until we learn that it dies upon doing so, but this task is more important than face value presents. The patterns of nature repeat themselves from the microscopic to the cosmic, and colonies of bees are no different. Just as each bee in a hive depends on each other, there is at least one way in which every individual colony depends on one another as well – and the connections are the drones.

It is commonly held that a drone does not mate with his own queen. Instead, each colony produces males only for the purpose of mating with other queens. In nature, this provides the genetic diversity necessary to maintain the population as a whole, and not just the individual colony. Contrary to the lazy image given to a drone, a drone will spend his whole life finding a queen to mate with.

When successful, the genetics this drone passes on will change the life of the hive of the queen he mated with, as these genetics determine many factors of how efficiently and effectively a hive is run.

In our lodges, this is the Mason who is not content to only labor within the walls of his lodge, but who instead extends his lodge from earth to heaven, and from the surface to the center. He discovers new concepts, learns new truths, and practices those virtues everywhere he travels. By action or word, he spreads the light he has gained and, inevitably, changes the lives of those individuals and lodges he has encountered. Are you ensuring that you only affect the lives of others in a positive way, even at the risk of detriment to yourself?

The Practical Beehive

In this way, the beehive should not be relegated to just a few words in a monitor. It is worthy of study, admiration and emulation. It proves the wonderful properties of nature, while demonstrating the more important truths of morality. We must remain constantly engaged, being industrious, and not shirking the hard work. We must inspire every member of our hive, or our lodge, to be involved in the work in some measure.

One might ask – what happens to the drone who never finds a queen – does he still serve some purpose. In short, no – he does not. The rest of the colony casts him aside for the benefit of the body as a whole. These are the drones we are typically referring to, and we must be willing to part ways and not harbor them within our hives, ever extending our resources and weakening the colony. Yet, so long as that Mason is making that effort to find the Light for which he is searching, it is our divine duty to support and keep him.

As we pray at the parting of a deceased Brother, we must remain open to the Light from Deity, because he will make every duty plain to us and fortify us by His Spirit against the temptations that may assail us. To find this Light we must observe the designs which He laid down, studying nature, of which we are a part, supporting one another and all humanity. Just as divinity ingrained this concept into the bees, He has written it upon us as well, if we will but take the time to notice.

Man, not Millennial

Per all of the conventional wisdom I can find, I am a Millennial. The funny thing is, I thought I was Jared.

Every time I hear it mentioned that we have to find a way to reach, appeal to, and engage Millennials, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up just a little.

Consider this conversation from another perspective. Why can we not get better attendance from baby boomers? What an incredibly, yet unintentionally insulting question. Should you find yourself in the “Baby Boomer” generation, I suspect that you would rather be considered as an individual, not as some vague group spanning across two decades. YOU may attend lodge regularly, or YOU may not attend lodge for several reasons, but how dare anyone assume that someone else’s reasons are also yours.

Conversations over coffee still go a long way. Some things never change.

Yes, generalizations can be made, but most do not hold water. Sure, people born after 1981 have never known a world without computers. Similarly, those born after the 1970’s never knew a world without central air conditioning, those born after the 50’s never knew one without nuclear power, and those before the 20’s may have never expected the automobile to become commonplace. You get my point. Times change, and we change with them – yet still, the individual remains.

Moreover, focusing on Millennials is already old news. Generation Z, those born after Millennials, are already old enough to petition for membership.

Here is something: Men over… oh, pick an age… know exactly what attracts a 20 year old to Freemasonry, because it is the same thing that always has: The example of other men in their life, a sense of being part of something larger than yourself, and a dash of mystique thrown in. The only “catch” in all of this is if the man is more interested in the mystique, or our ‘mysteries’, or if he is mostly there for the fellowship. His age does not guarantee which of those might be the case – but I might make a suggestion…

What were we taught about Youth, Manhood, and Age?

So, here is some input from just one Millennial:

  • Everyone is an individual, treat them as such. Just because I get communication from a text, email, or Facebook message, rather than a telegraph, does not make me all that different than you.
  • Give me something to do. If I am just sitting around idle then all I will think about is all the other things I could be doing with my time. Engage me, or lose me.
  • Educate me. Those Liberal Arts & Sciences were all well and good in school – but YOU can teach me how to apply them practically, to lead a project, a group of men, and more. Mentor me.
  • Expect questions. On first pass, our rituals lead to a lot more questions than answers. If you are not prepared to answer esoteric questions, please be prepared to refer me to someone who can. I promise to come back to you for learning my catechism.
  • Give me a chance. You cannot save the Lodge by doing everything yourself out of the fear that I, in my youth, might ruin our centuries old Fraternity. You save the Lodge by whispering good counsel in my ear, not by never letting me hold the gavel, so to speak. No, I will not do everything just right, but if you let me fall off of the bike, and you are there to encourage me to get back up, we can all work through any tumbles that might happen.
  • Finally, before you question a new method being used to accomplish some goal, such as using a Facebook message group rather than using a call tree or sending out letters, remember that there just might be a Lodge minute book out there, somewhere, where Brethren debated if the cost of electricity in the Lodge was really better than candles. As you soak up the air conditioning while you ponder that – smile to yourself and realize that everything will be okay.

In This Sign

This article is a printing of the Grand Orator’s speech that was given at the 201st Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi.

There is a podcast / m4a recording, here: Hear Audio Only

Download the slideshow for your use, here: Download Slideshow

You can watch the video, which includes all of the accompanying slideshow, here: Watch Video

In This Sign

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Grand Lodge Officers, Distinguished Guests, and Brethren All: I am humbled to stand before you today to act, pro tempore, as your Grand Orator. While Right Worshipful Brother Jordan Downs is unable to address us today, I am sure that you will join me in recognizing him and expressing our gratitude and appreciation to the Great Architect of the Universe for this inestimable Brother still being among us.

Brethren: From Ptolemy’s recording of the ancient constellations, including Cygnus or the Northern Cross, to the eventual adoption of the Crux or Southern Cross, humanity has sought in the sacred pages of the celestial hemisphere an understanding of the sign of the cross. As ancient and enduring as the stars are, nearly every human culture and numerous faiths have also used variants of this symbol for their own purposes. Of the multitude of Christian related crosses in use today, four form the basis of these variants: Crux Quadrata or the Greek Cross, Crux Decussata, commonly known as Saint Andrew’s Cross, Crux Commissa, or the Tau Cross, and Crux Immissa, or the Latin Cross. However, before Christianity adopted these crosses, there were two other forms of crosses that humanity widely used.

Perhaps the most ancient cross-type symbol is the Crux Grammata, or Swastika. Variants of this symbol can be found throughout ancient history in the Ukraine, England, Bulgaria, Iran, India, Africa, and more locations into recent history. While individual cultures use the symbol for more specific iconography, its most ancient use appears to be to symbolize the rotation of the Earth, as well as the Sun, other astronomical objects, or the absolute God or His emanations. Seen as being composed of four Greek capitals of the letter Gamma, it is marked on many early Christian tombs as a veiled symbol of the cross.

The other ancient cross is the Crux Ansata, or Ankh, which is generally accepted to be representative of life. This symbol, used since approximately 3,000 BC, was probably derived from an even earlier symbol, the Tyet, which symbolized protection. As such, the Ankh was depicted in several forms, including the Egyptian gods feeding the Ankh, or life, into the Pharaohs. It was adopted, in a slight variation, by the Coptic Christians of Africa.

In ancient Babylonia, predating the Latin cross, a variant of the Greek cross was used to symbolize the sun-god Shamash, with equilateral arms pointing to each of the cardinal compass directions, and was the first cross used by the early Christian Church. It is believed to have represented the Church, as opposed to the sacrifice of the Christ. It too can be found used in conjunction with the Ankh. The equilateral nature of the 4 arms has numerous esoteric applications which are much worth the effort to research.

Equally simplistic in its design is the Saltire, or Saint Andrew’s Cross, named such for its association with the tradition of the martyrdom of that Apostle. As such, it bears all of the characteristics that have been associated with Andrew the Apostle. It has been adopted as a heraldic symbol by many groups and countries and can be found represented in flags, such as the flag of the Great State of Mississippi, and is used in symbology throughout the world.

Thanks to its design, the Tau Cross is sometimes linked to numerous symbols used throughout antiquity from a vast array of cultures, including the Druids, Egyptians, and more. Potentially the cross form more appropriate to the actual crucifixion of the Christ, the Tau is traditionally connected to the Father of all Monks, Saint Anthony. The Tau is particularly familiar to Freemasons for its use in the Triple Tau. However, understanding the Tau, or T, as the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Tav, and how its written symbol is reminiscent of a gate, the adept may draw out many further meanings.

The Latin Cross, perhaps the symbol we are most familiar with, takes on many deep meanings as well. From representing the redeeming act of the Christ, to the characteristics of patience and humility which He displayed while in the mortal flesh. While these symbolisms are more than satisfactory, a deeper learning can be had by considering the earthly horizontal bar with the heavenly vertical one, their intersection, and so much more. From the Latin cross, many other adaptations have been made, such as the Cross of Salem, the Patriarchal Cross, and the Jerusalem Cross, just to name a few.

In all, the cross, in whatever form, has always been used to represent that which brings light and life, and to symbolize the most honorable and venerable characteristics of mankind. How will you conquer through this sign? Will you adopt those same venerable characteristics? Will you be the light that is not hidden under a bushel? My Brethren, whatever your understanding may be, I assure you, when you seek to apply it well, in this sign, thou shalt conquer.

How Charity leads to Peace

Throughout life you have heard the scripture of Luke 2:14 repeated, especially at Christmas time. It reads: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” As that this message is reaching you at the beginning of a new year, I would like to suggest an understanding of this scripture that suggests why it should be on your heart constantly, and might be of further benefit to each of us, even to help us in our efforts to live by the Scottish Rite Creed.

The message of Luke 2:14 seems clear cut – the birth of the Messiah, something we should praise the Divine for the gift of, will bring peace to the earth and spread good will among men, or mankind. This message is, undoubtably, critical to the whole human race. However, we can perhaps take away another message if we consider the original Greek it was written in. Those words were “ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας” and, by today’s understanding of language translation, means “on earth peace to men of good will”. This passage, taken alone, would seem to suggest that the peace to be felt will only be experienced by persons of good will.

This “good will”, synonymous with compassion, kindness, benevolence, and charity, ought to speak to every Freemason and ought to reinforce not just the charitable nature of Christianity, but also answer a time-old philosophical question: How do I find happiness?

I’d like you to imagine happiness. Feel it. Is it not a sense of satisfaction, a sense that all is right, a sense of… peace? Throughout the scriptures, more especially with the New Law or Law of Love, we can consistently see the importance, for better or worse, of actions we perform for, or on, others. And, similarly, when others perform acts of kindness on us. Perhaps the meaning in the scripture, as translated in the KJV, is to say that through the teachings of Christ mankind can achieve peace. Deeper still, these lessons are teaching us about the death of the ego – another lesson we ought to be taking away from our various Masonic degrees, especially in the Scottish Rite.

What does all this mean for you? It means that if you want to find peace, true happiness in your life, you can only do so by being more concerned for others than yourself. You will have to practice good will to your fellowmen. This good will does not have to be monetary or extreme. Open a door for someone, offer to help a Brother with whatever project he is involved in, visit the sick. There are simply so many ways to practice good will.

Now, then, is this peace something you only want to feel for a few weeks a year – or through your whole life? And, now that you know, what will you do about it?

By Jared F. Stanley, 32°, Wise Master, Chapter Rose Croix

Originally Published in the Jan-Mar 2019 Meridian Valley Scottish Rite Bodies Newsletter

The Master Mason Scripture

Under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, every Master Mason Degree includes a reading of Ecclesiastes 12:1-7. These passages are replete with symbolism about the importance of faith, the frailty of age, and our ultimate mortal death. While I am not a theologian, I would like to offer up an explanation of these verses for your consideration. Some of my explanations may well match up with descriptions you’ve heard before, or imagery that came into your mind naturally when you first heard or read this lines. However, others may not match up so well.

Watch the Video

Whether you are Christian or not, these verses are important and have deep meaning to your life, and the lives of those around you.

You can download the PDF of my analysis here. Please feel free to study it, share it in your lodge education segment, or anywhere else you wish.

Master Craftsman Certification

Scottish Rite Master Craftsman Medal
The Scottish Rite Master Craftsman Philosophy Medal, with one device attached.

I have yet to meet a man who joined Freemasonry who isn’t in the Fraternity, in part, because of the fellowship involved. Said plainly, the majority of us like to “hang out with the guys.” However, Freemasonry is so, so, much more. Being around good men can certainly have an affect on you and enable you to better yourself, but learning the lessons of the philosophy of Freemasonry will go much further.

When I joined Freemasonry I envisioned a room of men pondering the finer points of life, but that is not what I found. I found men who were good, even great, and fun to be around, though they took the ritual work of Freemasonry with the utmost discretion and dignity. Some of these men know a good deal about the lessons Freemasonry endeavors to inculcate in its members, but the majority don’t know anything beyond what is printed in our ritual monitor, known locally as the Blue Lodge Text Book.

When I leaned about the Scottish Rite Master Craftsman Program (SRMC), I instantly signed up for the first course they had at the time, History & Ritual, the prerequisite course for Philosophy. Having now completed both of those I am returning to the newest course, now billed as the first course, called Esoterika. It takes a lot of time to complete this learning, and the overall cost is low ($165 total for all 3 courses, but paid individually per course, ranging from $40-$65 per). Buying the books alone, without the tests, costs $227.95 (That’s Esoterika, Morals & Dogma, Monitor & Guide, and A Bridge to Light), so you can see the value in ordering the program and not just buying the books!

There are no time limits! I myself took a hiatus during the History & Ritual portion, with several months in between a few of the quizzes – but it was never a problem – you can just pick up and keep going whenever you are ready. Self-paced is more than an apt term for this program. Indeed, they’ll encourage you to take a lot of time, and that the courses were developed with the intent to require you to take a lot of time – which enables you to soak in more of the lessons.

After all, are we not told that we are to “study the legend carefully and learn, if you can, its symbolic and allegorical meanings.”?

At the August business meeting of the Valley of Meridian in the Orient of Mississippi, I received my medal for completing the Philosophy course. With it comes two devices or pips that are Teutonic or Potent Crosses. The devices signify your completion of the other 2 courses. Of course, if you complete all 3 courses in their current order, by the time you get this medal you will have completed the other two courses – so you would pin these devices on your medal to signify that. Since I still have 1 more course to go, I only installed one of the pips.

Whether you are a Freemason or not, you can take these courses. And, whether you are in the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite in the USA or not, I know you’ll find value in these courses. I hope you consider taking them and then spreading the knowledge you gain to others, and inform them where you learned it, so they might take the course as well!

I very much appreciate the Supreme Council for this course, and for leaders such as the Supreme Grand Commander, the Grand Archivist, the Editor for the Scottish Rite Journal, the Director of Member Services, Grand Cross Recipients, and many other staff members who took the time to review and grade my tests. It is a great lesson to see these busy men taking the time to review and grade tests from members and not just leave the task to an employee who might not even be a Freemason. Thank you, Brethren.

Always, always, keep seeking more light!