In addition to the lessons taught in the Lodge room, there are several lessons that are taught by it. The candidate in Masonry participates in it's ceremonies, not to afford the Lodge an opportunity to perform it's ceremonies, but to prove his manhood and to demonstrate his belief and faith.
Secondly as he makes the angles of the oblong square, before the alter of Masonry, it also typifies the invisible world in which he must, in the secret recesses of his soul, fight the battle that will determine the success of his Masonic undertaking. To gain self-control, to have self-respect, and to have respect for all constituted authority, both Masonic and spiritual, requires a man to be "form square" to the Craft and to the world.
Third, the Lodge room is dedicated to God, not to Masonry, except in so far as Masonry becomes an instrument in His hands, to bring Masons to see the true light and to so live that their own light, expressed by right living, may be seen by other men.
Fourth, as the Holy Bible is the Great Light in the Lodge room, so should it be in the Masonic home. If the Bible is to seal an obligation, it should also seal a Mason's life.
Fifth, the most prominent object in the Lodge room is the altar which occupies the center of it. Whatever other conceptions of it's purpose, this altar is erected to the "Most High". If, in ceremonials, the altar suggests anything, it is this: the Masonic life is a life dedicated to the right purpose, high ideals, and noble ambitions.
Sixth, in the Lodge room, we face the East, it is a ceremonial that suggests that Masons should so live that they face with courage and fortitude the problems of life and, squarely, all their fellow men. Only men of high character can do this, and there should be no higher character than that produced by Christian Masonry. This was the ideal of the founders of speculative Masonry. The Lodge room is is the sanctuary of endeavor to develop those qualities of mind and heart that will make us Temples, fit abiding places, for the "Most High".
When a man becomes a Master Mason, he has a large responsibility to himself, to his Lodge, and to his community. His responsibility to himself is to try to improve himself. When a man is raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, he has taken a great step in his life. He has been received into a fraternity that will have a profound influence upon him if he grasps the meaning of the ceremonies through which he has passed and realizes what the real meaning is embodied in those forms. He will have entered a lifelong search for the truth, and in his search he will learn the significance, and the value, of moral and spiritual ideals, to a degree that both amazes and delights.
The study of Freemasonry, pays handsomly for all efforts given it. Even the man who shows but little interest to pursue it further and to improve himself is benefitted to some degree. By an activity in connection with Freemasonry, he is better for being a Mason, even though he makes a poor one. He may not add anything to Freemasonry, but it is fairly certain, that Freemasonry adds something to him.
The more a man tries to do something for Freemasonry, the more it will do for him. The drone receives nothing of value in comparison with the Craftsman who always follows the designs upon the trestleboard and is faithful to his Lodge. The Mason who realizes what it means to continue to try to improve himself, to make himself a little better informed, and a better worker in his Lodge is the one who draws the deepest admiration.
The period in which a candidate is being brought into the Freemasonry, is most important. The Mason, or Masons, who coach the candidate also have a responsibility. If the impression is deeply made that Masonry is not a meaningless ceremony, but that each step and every phase has a significance that the candidate should know, and realize as well, then Freemasonry would have a deeper hold on each member.
It is a grave mistake to let the thought abide in any Mason's mind that the ritual and a few perfunctory observances are all that there is to it. The Mason who doesn't get through the superficial and into Freemasonry more deeply, by continuing to improve himself, cheats himself of the real meaning of Freemasonry. The Master Mason's responsibility to his Lodge and to his community is to build, we are all builders. We all agree; that Freemasonry is a splendid fraternity; that it is steeped in tradition; that it numbers many great men of the past and the present as it's members; that it has a beautiful ritual; and that it is also a great honor to to be a Freemason. However, in the final analysis, the future of Freemasonry depends not upon these things, but on the influence it exerts in the life of each one of us.
If a society is to be successful and lasting, it must live and breathe the principles on which it is founded. It must be workable and this means that it's individual members must live in the spirit of real brotherhood. To assume obligations of friendship, morality, and brotherly love are but empty words if they are not practiced in our daily life. In this sense we, as present day Masons, could very well classify ourselves as operative Masons. Our Lodge is not just a room. It is not merely a place in which to enjoy fraternal fellowship. It is not an organization which replaces the Church. It is not the means of promoting one's self in business. What our Lodge really is, is a group of men, a group of brothers, who have dedicated themselves to a common task, and that is to build. A builder of character, a builder of a better community, a better nation, and a better world in which to live. Such should be the real meaning of Freemasonry to each of us. If not, then we should re-dedicate our lives, right now, to those principles of Freemasonry to which we have all obligated ourselves to accept, to learn, to keep, and to exemplify. This is the responsibility of each and every Freemason and, if it is practiced by each and every one of us, our fraternity will certainly grow stronger and our community will be a better place for everyone to live.
Author unknown. Provided by Brother Charlie Daniel, P.M. Horizon Lodge #299, Pennington, NJ
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