GRAND LODGE EDUCATION
Grand Lodge Education
Aspiring to Perfection of the Masonic Self Marcus A. Trelaine Grand Preceptor
here rests in every Mason the aptitude to acquire the knowledge of higher learning, of deeper perspectives, of profound revelation, and of personal leadership. To help set Masons on their path of discovery and service to Freemasonry, Most Worshipful Kwame Acquaah, Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia, has focused great attention on this important matter during his year in the Grand East.
T
Recognizing that knowledge is a primary source of self-efficacy, the Grand Master through his elected and appointed officers, has sought to deliver a series of innovative and thoughtprovoking educational programs. Two such seminars delivered in June 2009 took some major steps delving into the depths of serious inquiry and understanding of the Craft — symbolism and leadership. Symbolism
There dwells in every Mason the capacity to be greater than himself.
Numerous Entered Apprentices, Fellowcrafts, and Master Masons gathered at the Scottish Rite Temple on Saturday, June 27th 2009 to jointly discuss and explore the traditional history and esoteric meanings of symbols introduced in the three degrees.
Assembled into several alternating sessions, the brethren engaged in stimulating inquiry on the preparation, ceremony, lecture, and charge of each degree. Much was discussed, revealing not only the challenging demands to immerse oneself in the Craft and to contemplate the wisdom of the mysteries, but that a new way of thinking was also needed to identify, analyze and perfect the language and lessons of interpreting symbols. At first some believed this perspective somewhat trivial and obvious, but many quickly realized that the mystery of our Craft is hidden directly before
The Voice of Freemasonry
10
them, very often in representation of the Hermetic saying, “As above, so below”. To better understand this expression, all were asked to do as did our ancient brethren — cast their eyes upward to look upon the firmament as something much more than a collection of planets, stars and galaxies. In this way, men began to recognize the face of the whole of nature and its relationships to Freemasonry. One example illustrated why an Entered Apprentice is presented to the Master in the northeast corner of the lodge, that place midway between darkness and light. Reflecting upon the movement of the earth, it was learned the spring equinox demonstrated that point when the length of the day is equal to the length of the night, symbolic of equilibrium, as it moved along its orbit around the sun from east to west, via the south. By attending these and other programs offered by the Grand Master, brethren are offered unique opportunities to advance in their study of the Craft, and discover things before unimagined as new worlds are revealed. And in so doing, they can take fresh reflection upon the charge of an Entered Apprentice Mason to “keep sacred and inviolable the mysteries of the order, as these are to distinguish us from the rest of the community”. Leadership Still, Freemasonry is much more than the acquisition of arcane knowledge and fraternal bonding. Although pursuit of a higher level of learning and awareness of our divine connection to one another is critical to the precepts and application of the Craft, there is a component that is equally important, but not as fervently addressed in the rigors of our ritualistic lessons. There dwells in every Mason the capacity to be greater than himself.
