JRC Evans Memorial Lecture 2005/061 R.W.Bro. Phil Zubrycki Empire Lodge No.127, G.R.M., A.F. & A.M

JRC Evans Memorial Lecture 2005/06 1

R.W.Bro. Phil Zubrycki Empire Lodge No.127, G.R.M., A.F. & A.M.



We bring the past to the future daily. The youngest generation has no need to discover fire or invent thewheel. The knowledge of the ages of those that have gone before is used and improved on by each newgeneration. The past Masonic knowledge of “A BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM OF MORALITY” is the past to bebrought to the future. Freemasonry is “a beautiful system of Morality Veiled in Allegory and illustrated bysymbols” (The Work, 1996, p. 62).


A beautiful systemsystem of MoralityA beautiful systemsystem of Morality

Veiled in AllegoryVeiled in Allegory

and illustrated by symbolsand illustrated by symbols

What is Freemasonry?

(The Work, 1996, p.62)


The Masonic System of Morality

The veiled allegory directs us to the moral virtues.

Much like a person making their way through a fog of misinterpretation, misdirection,

and false assumptions the allegory remains mysterious, and obscured .



The symbols represent the moral virtues we endeavor to emulate and inculcate.


ILLUSTRATED BY SYMBOLSILLUSTRATED BY SYMBOLS



The Symbols may be pictures or words.

•secrecy •fidelity•obedience

•virtue •honour•mercy

•temperance•fortitude•prudence•justice

•faith•hope•charity•benevolence

These symbols are defined as each individual perceives them and understands their meaning.



The Symbols may be pictures or words.

These symbols are defined as each individual perceives and understands their meaning.









•secrecy •fidelity•obedience •virtue

•honour•mercy


What are these virtues?

What do they represent?


Temperance

Is that due restraint upon the affections and passions which renders the body tame and governable, and frees the mind

from the allurements of vice.


Fortitude

Is that noble and steady purpose of the mind, whereby we are enabled to undergo any pain, peril or danger,

when prudently deemed expedient.


Prudence

Teaches us to regulate our lives and actions agreeably to the dictates of reason, and is that habit by which we

wisely judge and carefully determine, on all things relative to our present, as well as to our future

happiness.


Justice

Is that Standard, or boundary of right, which enables us to render to every man his just due, without distinction.


Virtue

“A particular moral excellence.”

(Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1974)


Honour

“A keen sense of ethical conduct: INTEGRITY, ones word given as a guarantee of performance”



Mercy

“MERCY implies compassion that forebears punishing even when justice demands it or that extends help even

to the lowliest or most undeserving”



Faith

“firm belief in something for which there is no proof”


“faith in God”

(The Work, 1996, p.53)


Hope

“desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment”


“Hope in immortality”

(The Work, 1996, p.53)


Charity

“Charity, comprehends the whole…”

(The Work, 1996, p.53)

“Love of all mankind”



Benevolence

“To do good, an act of kindness, or a generous gift.”



Loyalty

“unswerving in allegiance”


“… a lively sense of the value of the institution of one’s country and of one’s fellow citizens together with an earnest will and endeavour to preserve the one and

serve the other.” (The Work, 1996, p.59)


Obedience

“submission to laws and authority”


“…be proved by a close conformity to all our laws and regulations……and by a perfect submission to the

Master and his Wardens whilst acting in the discharge of their respective duties.” (The Work, 1996, p.59)


Secrecy

“Marked by the habit of discretion. Something kept from the knowledge of others or shared confidentially with a few.”


“Secrecy may be said to consist in the inviolable adherence to the

obligations you have entered into, never to improperly reveal….” (The Work, 1996, p.59)

In the early lectures of the last century, now obsolete these questions were used as a test:Q - Have you any keys to the secrets of a Mason?A - Yes.Q - Where do you keep them?A - in a bone box, that neither opens nor shuts but with Ivory KeysThe Bone Box is the mouth, the Ivory Keys the teeth. The key to the secrets is the tongue.

BONE BOX by William “Ray” Fischer

Http://users.1st.net/fischer/SHORT48.HTM


Fidelity

“The quality or state of being faithful, showing allegiance, or loyalty.” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1974)

We lock up our secrets in the safe and sacred repositoryof our heart with fidelity….. (The Work, 1996, p.18)

“… fidelity must be exemplified by a strict observance of the constitution of the fraternity; by adhering to the landmarks of the order:…” (The Work, 1996, p.59)


What are the principlesof Freemasonry?


Are the fundamental principles of Freemasonry.

(The Work, 1996, p.56)

Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth


All of humanity is of one parent and all Masons are brothers of one large family of all humanity

and specially one Mason with another.



Brotherly Love


To relieve the distressed is a duty of all Masons, and particularly with our brothers. Together We

form a chain of sincere affection.


Relief


Truth is the foundation of every virtue. Hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us. Sincerity and plain dealing will distinguish us. The heart and tongue will join in promoting each others welfare and rejoice in each others prosperity.


Truth


Why are the columns of special importance?

Our Lodges are supported by three pillars


Our Lodges are supported

by three pillars

WISDOM STRENGTH & BEAUTY

Ionic CorinthianDoric


WISDOM

STRENGTH

BEAUTY

A beautiful systemsystem of Morality

BrotherlyLove Relief

Truth



•Faith•hope•charity•benevolence

•secrecy •fidelity•obedience•loyalty


“A beautiful systemsystem of Morality”

makes good men better.


Masonry makes good men better.

Masonry makes good men better.

It is in the Entered Apprentice degree the newly initiated brother gets his instruction to build his

moral future, his Masonic Character, and his Grand Lodge above.

Wisdom Strength Beauty

Brotherly Love Relief Truth

Master Sr. Warden Jr.Warden


fidelityfidelity must be exemplified by a strict observance

of the constitution of the fraternity; by adhering to the

landmarkslandmarks of the order:…” (The Work, 1996, p.59)


What is a “Landmark”?


The term "Landmark" is found in Proverbs 22:28: "Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set." In ancient times, it was customary to mark the boundaries of land by means of stone pillars. Removal of these would cause much confusion, men having no other guide than these pillars by which to distinguish the limits of their property. Therefore to remove them was considered a heinous crime. Jewish law says "Thou shalt not remove thy neighbours' landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance."Hence landmarks are those peculiar marks by which we are able to designate our inheritance. They define what is being passed on to us. In the case of freemasonry, they are called the landmarks of the order.

Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/landmarks.html (2005, Oct.)


1.The modes of RECOGNITION.2.THE DIVISION OF SYMBOLIC MASONRY INTO THREE DEGREES.3.The Legend of the THIRD DEGREE.4.THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRATERNITY BY A PRESIDING OFFICER called a Grand Master.5.The prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every assembly of the craft.6.The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant Dispensations for conferring degrees at irregular times.7.The prerogative of the Grand Master to give dispensations for opening and holding Lodges.8.The prerogative of the Grand Master to make masons at sight.9.The necessity of masons to congregate in lodges.10.The government of the craft, when so congregated in a Lodge by a Master and two Wardens.11.The necessity that every lodge, when congregated, should be duly tiled.12.The right of every mason to be represented in all general meetings of the craft and to instruct his representatives.13.The Right of every mason to appeal from the decision of his brethren in Lodge convened, to the Grand Lodge or General Assembly of Masons.14.THE RIGHT OF EVERY MASON TO VISIT and sit in every regular Lodge.15.No visitor, unknown as a Mason, can enter a Lodge without first passing an examination according to ancient usage16.No Lodge can interfere in the business of another Lodge, nor give degrees to brethren who are members of other Lodges17.Every freemason is Amenable to the Laws and Regulations of the masonic jurisdiction in which he resides.18.Qualifications of a candidate: that he shall be a man, unmultilated, free born, and of mature age.19.A belief in the existence of God.20.Subsidiary to this belief in God, is the belief in a resurrection to a future life.21.A "Book of the Law" shall constitute an indispensable part of the furniture of every Lodge.22.THE EQUALITY OF ALL MASONS.23.The secrecy of the institution.24.The foundation of a Speculative Science, for purposes of religious or moral teaching.25.These Landmarks can never be changed.

The Landmarks of Freemasonry, as compiled by Albert Mackey in 1858,Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/grandlodge/landmarks.html(2005, Oct.)


The Landmarks of Freemasonry, as compiled by Albert Mackey in 1858, are not universally accepted; they are not really landmarks at all. For example, the "three" degrees of Craft Freemasonry aren't a landmark. The Third Degree didn't exist at the time of the formation of the first Grand Lodge in England. Landmark 8 is also a controversial item in some jurisdictions. Landmark 14 is noteworthy since in some jurisdictions, visiting is considered a privilege. Landmark 20, regarding resurrection, raises theological questions which some jurisdictions feel unqualified to address.

This enumeration of Landmarks has not been accepted or authorized by this Grand Lodge and is only presented as an historical document.

The Landmarks of Freemasonry, as compiled by Albert Mackey in 1858,Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/grandlodge/landmarks.html(2005, Oct.)


“The best writers are unanimous on two essential points, the two point test: a landmark must have existed from the "time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary" and a landmark is an element in the form or essence of the Society of such importance that Freemasonry would no longer be freemasonry if it were removed. In other words, they are something perpetual and unchanging.”

Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/landmarks.html (2005, Oct.)


“In attempting to define the definition of an Ancient Landmark there are two essential points that must be seriously taken into consideration:

1. It must have existed from the time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.

2. It must be an element in the form or essence of the society of such importance that Freemasonry would no longer be Freemasonry if it were removed.”

(Masonic Civility, Fergusson J.A., p.57)


“If we accept the fact that an Ancient Landmark is such that it existed

from the time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary,

then we cannot in all honesty, attempt to document them in writing, under any circumstances”

(Masonic Civility, Fergusson J.A., p.57)



is

a “Landmark” in every sense of the word.



is what Masonry is!



- is not written.

- is veiled, hidden, a mystery, or a secret.

- cannot be held, transferred, or sold

- is illustrated to only Freemasons who understand.

- is locked in our heart.



is a “Landmark”.



is a “Landmark”.

•Masonic Morality has existed from before we can remember it not existing



is a “Landmark”.•Masonic Morality has existed from before we can remember it not existing

•Masonic Morality marks a boundary





•Masonic Morality is not written





•Masonic Morality is not written

•Masonry would not be Masonry if not for “Masonic Morality”


Ans. A beautiful systemsystem of MoralityAns. A beautiful systemsystem of Morality

Veiled in AllegoryVeiled in Allegory

and and illustrated by symbolsillustrated by symbols

Q. What is Freemasonry?

(The Work, 1996, p.62)

A question to a Masonic Brother:


The answer to the “question” has not changed

since the establishment of Masonry

as an organization of men of good moral standing.


We may have FORGOTTEN

the importance of this most basic

foundation of principle.


Perhaps the application and importance

of these values of “Moral Virtue” have lost

their prominence in our labour.


However I would prefer to believe that: -

These most basic values inculcated in the first degree may be so firmly integrated into our behavior that we practice them without conscious thought and forget the source of our wisdom, strength, and beauty; much like the foundation of a building is out of sight and forgotten, until it should fail.


So what might causes a Freemason to strictly adhere

to the basic principles of Freemasonry

with that certain strength of conviction

all Masonic Brethren profess to hold dear

and in high esteem?


We lock up our secrets in the safe and sacred repository

of our heart with fidelity….. (The Work, 1996, p.18)

“… fidelity must be exemplified by a strict observance of the

constitution of the fraternity; by adhering to the

landmarkslandmarks of the order:…” (The Work, 1996, p.59)


“A beautiful systemsystem of Morality”“A beautiful systemsystem of Morality”

3 Pillars of

WISDOM, STRENGTH & BEAUTY

constructed on a base of

BROTHERLY LOVE, RELIEF and TRUTH

resting on a foundation of

MASONIC VIRTUES

is the Landmark we must bring to the future


Before We act,

think

“What would a Mason do?”.


In conclusionIn conclusion

Bringing the Past to the future


“In the 21st century Brethren will be openly and honestly discussing the cultural importance of Masonry in terms completely acceptable to a community.

The heartheart of Freemasonry can never change, but the face of Freemasonry has been changing imperceptibly, and must continue to change in accordance with the outlook and attitude of a modern day culture if it is to remain relevant.”

(Allen, Stuart, Senior Grand Warden, G.L. of MB, presented to the Banff Conference)


WISDOM, STRENGTH, & BEAUTY


MASONIC VIRTUES

WISDOM, STRENGTH, & BEAUTY


MASONIC VIRTUES



is the Landmark we must bring to the future


is the past we must bring to the futureis the past we must bring to the future

Thank you for your attention.



Respectfully submitted by R.W.Bro. Phil Zubrycki

The views expressed are entirely those of the author and in no way, shape, or form represent the official position of any official Masonic Organization.

Documents

JRC Evans Memorial Lecture 2005/061 R.W.Bro. Phil Zubrycki Empire Lodge No.127, G.R.M., A.F. & A.M