What is a Mason

Truth about Freemasonry

General Masonry

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.

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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.

Mississippi’s Roots – Ancient or Modern?

The attached paper was submitted by me to the Mississippi Lodge of Research, No. DCXL, in conjunction with a District 18 meeting, at the meeting immediately prior to the Bicentennial Celebration of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi. A previous rendition was also presented at a District 15 meeting. This is the first paper that I have submitted to the Lodge of Research. It exemplified for me the concept that we are our worst critics. (As, I suppose, we ought to be) No, I don’t hate my own paper, but I am not immensely pleased with it either. I believe this is due to my nature of continually hunting for more explanation behind events. However, once this paper reached 5 pages, and about 17 minutes of read-time, it was clear that if my intent wasn’t to write a book on the matter, I would have to suffice with leaving something out.

Nevertheless, many Brethren stated that they really enjoyed the paper and that they were able to take something away from it, whether they were newer Freemasons, or well seasoned ones. I was also pleased that one non-Mason who was visiting the open District 15 meeting, said the information contained herein was exactly the information he was asking his Masonic friend about earlier that day.

I hope you find it equally useful. It is geared toward a small portion of the history of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, but perhaps it will encourage you to look for other type of historical information within your own jurisdiction. Or, if you are in Mississippi, perhaps you too will find those sentences where you wish I had provided further information, and you will take it upon yourself to seek it and, perhaps, write about it.

You may download the PDF copy of Freemasonry in Mississippi – Ancient or Modern, here. Should you use it for any of your own research, all I ask if for proper citation. No prior approval needed to use it in your lodge education segment, for posting it online, anywhere, or the like.

Thank you, and good luck with all your learning!

Noble Contention

I recall the words of counsel, when I was made a Master Mason, that harmony should prevail among Masons and that the only disunity that should arise among us is “… who can best work and best agree.”

I heard those words spoken to me during my degree, but it was not until later, when I was studying the degree, that I really thought about them. When I did I managed to overlook the critical conjunction, “and”. I read this as a singular statement which, without the “and”, turned into a whole new statement in my mind, one which said: “Agree who can do the best work”.

While there may be some semblance of use to that phrase I no longer believe that is the message that is intended here. I now recognize this as two separate items, best working AND best agreeing – separate, yet inseparable to the Freemason.

By best agreeing we may, to preserve harmony, agree to disagree. Should our disagreement be known to other Freemasons and they should see our ability to focus on what we can agree upon, rather than escalate those things which we do not, they may well walk away with a lesson well learned and be able to put that effort into action in their own interactions with mankind.

But what about work? In Freemasonry, we work towards our proficiencies. We do floor work in our rituals. But is that all the work to be had in Freemasonry? Certainly not.

Work happens when you display the virtues of a Mason in your daily life, at home, at work, in public – and in the lodge.

Work happens when you discuss the principles of our institution with other Brethren and lift each other up.

Work happens when instead of making a motion to buy some trivial item for the lodge you merely buy it yourself and donate it.

Work happens when you act on the lesson of charity that we were all taught, whether that charity is displayed in a monetary contribution, or by Brotherly Love.

Work happens when you whisper council into a young Brother’s ear, because you know that a well-returned proficiency does not make a man a Mason.

Work happens when you help another brother study the lessons found in Freemasonry – whether that means reciting a proficiency, working a chair or giving a lecture.

Work happens when you tell that brother what all those lessons mean and where they came from.

Work happens when you show up to a meeting and fellowship – and in so many other ways.

Are you the best in whatever way you “work” Freemasonry? I do not know, and perhaps neither do you – but you do know if you work at all. Brother, let us put on our aprons, go to the quarry, and work together. If we can agree to do that, I am confident our work will be well received.

By Jared F. Stanley, PM

Originally Published on the What is a Mason Website.