The 2022 North Carolina Middle Chamber education series: My Own Hero’s Journey in Masonic Education - Part Three

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

Part Three of Three: Master Mason

Planning for the Middle Chamber sessions began for me in January when I first began conversations on this topic with Brother Matt. I originally planned to drive each session as yes, twelve hours is a long drive but certainly doable, and I have a very comfortable truck that affords me the luxury of not being exhausted at the end of such a drive. However, my inability to fly this year to Esotericon left me with some unused flight credits on Southwest Airlines. Weighing the thunderstorms and the wrong way driver I encountered the previous trip, I opted to take my chances with flight delays and a lack of pilots instead.

I flew into Raleigh-Durham airport, and Brother Matt who lives in Raleigh graciously volunteered to pick me up and drive us to Greensboro. While St. Louis airport was busy but navigable, there was an eerie lack of people at RDU. I inquired of a local TSA agent about the use of Clear and Pre-Check, and he gave me an amused answer of there was no Clear at RDU as there wasn’t enough traffic. I caught up on some reading in the terminal until Brother Matt could get off work. The time spent with Brother Matt was well worth the entire trip, and to add the capstone Middle Chamber class on top? Pure magic. Brother Matt and I might have found JR Cigars giant outlet warehouse (giant walk-in humidor, multiple display stands of closeout deals…) on the way to Greensboro.


We arrived at the hotel again this trip well ahead of the gathering, and the Brothers already onsite proactively grabbed a table at the sports bar. The Brothers were just as excited as we were to begin the evening’s festivities. We were early to the bar and late to the party it seemed. After dinner, we retired to the bar’s outdoor patio instead of the April trip’s poolside tables and chairs. This was nice in that we continued to get good service, but the bar converts to a karaoke and DJ setup later in the evening.  There may have been a few cigars out on that patio along with the steady service from the bar until close to midnight when it was definitely time to no longer be around the karaoke.

The Master Mason class started again on time, and this presented a bit of a challenge as the side entrance to the temple that we normally used led into a dining hall being used to proctor their certified lecturer testing. We kept as quiet as possible to avoid disturbing the test takers and made our way up into the lodge room. The capstone class was memorable and somewhat eye-opening. I took notes just as I had previously, this time taking 14 pages of notes throughout the day. Some of these were observational, some were items I thought were interesting in how they were presented, and some were insights I remembered from the books but brought to new life by the instructors.

Brother Matt and I exchanged very deep philosophical conversations and concepts on the way back to Raleigh, and Brother Matt introduced me to a local barbecue from a nearly 75-year-old restaurant. Even though my tastes run more Kansas City or Texas barbecue, I have deep respect for all three Carolina styles, Memphis’s dry rub, and so many more. This was an excellent barbecue and a fitting ending to the evening.

I spent early Sunday morning at the airport Hyatt reviewing some papers and catching up on other reading, and Brother Matt picked me up a bit later for brunch before my mid-afternoon flight. We found a great little Irish pub and enjoyed yet another deep philosophical conversation on topics ranging from our own martial arts experiences to variations of the symbolical teachings of the Middle Chamber course overall. I cannot put into words my gratitude and appreciation for Brother Matt’s kind hospitality and friendship.

The Middle Chamber course from the Grand Lodge of North Carolina is legit. My own Hero’s Journey began when I heard mentions of this really cool education going on in North Carolina, and the more I learned about it the more I just knew I had to attend as if being guided there. It became a want, then a need, to get out of my jurisdiction and travel for this course. As with any good story, there were obstacles to overcome, regrets in missing out on events at home as I traveled, and the feeling of accomplishment in completing the three journeys logging almost 5000 miles. I met friends who guided me, I met mentors who taught me, and I definitely passed an initiatic experience of leaving the old
toward the new self.

The fourth part of this circle of education? The missing song from the Trilogy of Four Parts? That’s the initial free class from January, the hook as it were, that begins the journey again. I am humbled and honored to bring this series of Masonic education to Missouri, and I am deeply indebted to all those around me who helped me on my own Hero’s Journey of self-discovery to make this possible. I created and presented to the Grand Lodge of Missouri’s Education Committee the proposal to train the trainers next year and launch the Missouri version of the Middle Chamber in 2024. This decision now rests in the hands of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. What did we learn during The Middle Chamber series of
classes? Sign up for the Missouri classes to find out, or better yet, sign up for the North Carolina sessions as I found them to be truly excellent.

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30-plus years of teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12-year span. Randy is a 32nd-degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, a full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

A Mason Dropped the Bomb

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Robert H. Johnson

The atom bomb was no 'great decision.' It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness. ~Harry S. Truman

When we remember Truman, there are so many amazing things that come to mind. He is celebrated as both a great Mason and a great president. He always seemed like such a down to earth individual. Several articles have been published about him, right here on the Midnight Freemasons. 

Michael H. Shirley and Todd E. Creason have both written of his amazing talents, great leadership and of course, his Masonry. Todd and Steve Harrison cover him and some interesting stories in their respective books, Famous American Freemasons and Tales from the Craft (available on amazon). 

One thing we always joke about and what has been food for countless conspiracy theorists is that Truman is the only President to drop the Atomic Bomb in a conflict. Truman's words above, seem to echo the sentiment of a certain matter-of-factness that only he exhibited, in his own way. 

He never treated the act as some sort of thing to be held over anyone or nation. To him, it was a tool, an instrument and dare I say a working tool in a different kind of act. 

Click the link below to read some of Truman's thoughts on the A-Bomb from his diary and letters.

http://www.doug-long.com/hst.htm

~RHJ

RWB Johnson is a Co-Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is the current V:. Sovereign Grand Inspector for the AMD in IL. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry", "The Master's Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self - Annotated Edition" and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way.

Shifting Pride

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

R.H. Johnson

This last week, I received a stack of state-level Masonic magazines and The Northern Light (the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction). It was amusing that I received a stack of them on the same day. After taking them out of the mailbox, I hopped in the car to run to the pharmacy—I had to pick up a prescription, and I decided to use the drive-thru.

While waiting, I decided to check them out. It was a lengthy wait in line. As I went through the magazines, I noticed they were all very well put together—a substantial amount of great organizational news, Grand Master messages, and spotlights on charity work. There were also a couple of other things that caught my attention—well, maybe not directly.

The Masonic Education contained within these magazines was almost wholly historical information, celebrating charitable works of the past and telling stories about famed individuals like pioneers, doctors, philanthropists, actors, and more. I imagine any third party observing my page flipping saw me with what probably looked like the famed 1000-Yard-Stare—as if an unknown post-traumatic stress reaction somehow struck me.

My mind began to reel. Today’s Freemason isn’t necessarily concerned with what we might 1call the foundational philosophy of Freemasonry. Those basic lessons we’re taught and exploring practical applications, reflection, and sharing are essentially ignored. What is not ignored is a seemingly glorious and romanticized past. Why would we want to write about how the Level has affected us when we can talk about John Wayne? Perhaps it’s easier to connect with something iconic—like a movie star of yesteryear.

What’s clear is that overwhelmingly Freemasonry has taken the approach of riding historic coattails to engage its members. Maybe this works—It doesn’t work for me. I’m reminded of something an artist friend once told me—“I make art that I want to see.” Maybe it’s the same for the seasoned editors of these publications. Perhaps they project what they want to see and read within those glossy thin pages. Attaching ourselves to these types of stories at times feels antiquated—and at the same time, feels like constant pressure against new generations of Freemasons that traditionalists might even call “woke.” It seems antithetical to what we say we are—“…a progressive moral society.”

There’s no pleasing everyone, and often, the minority loses—a cognizant democracy. If the vast majority of the Craft isn’t into any work on the self, then I suppose it’s in our best interest to continue to pander to those who enjoy the romanticized successes of yesteryear—regardless of how it would be viewed today. We are called to be happy for our Brothers, and I am genuinely delighted that what’s being printed in these magazines has value for them. It’s also leaving out much of what the men of today are asking for.

It’s more than a club. It’s more than a tribe to belong to. A good friend of mine recently said to me, and I agree with him—“It’s like, if you’re a Freemason and you hold the door open for a little old lady, all the sudden, you’re a Super-Mason—a patriot” Some might think this is fine. I think perhaps this is just being a decent human being. All that matters is back patting and self-congratulatory ego-stroking.

What will the Freemasons of 2060 write about if we continue this way? Are there Masonic heroes like Audy Murphy living today? Ben Franklin? Who the heck will we write about? Maybe the key will be holding out until we find ourselves in editor roles, producing the content we most desire.

Until then, I need to remind myself, and perhaps we all need a little tap on the shoulder that Masonic content that drives engagement at any level, things that might cause someone to be more than a dues payer, is probably good content. We should be happy when our Brothers are fulfilled–good things will come our way.

~RHJ

RWB Johnson is a Co-Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is the current V:. Sovereign Grand Inspector for AMD in IL. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, and works full-time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry," “The Master’s Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Annotated Edition” and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way.

The 2022 North Carolina Middle Chamber education series: My Own Hero’s Journey in Masonic Education - Part Two

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

Part Two of Three: Fellow Craft

Amusingly, my 1,600-mile round trip in June for the Middle Chamber’s Fellow Craft session tested me just as EA’s should be tested before the second degree. I opted to leave again very early Friday morning, and I met serious resistance in driving through three separate severe thunderstorms and several other heavy storms along the route. The severe thunderstorms were definitely big ones as I saw trees bending as much as sixty degrees at mid-point and large limbs down in many places. Fortunately, my truck handled the storms with ease, and I was only delayed a couple of hours by traffic, not so much by the weather itself. I pulled into the Greensboro Wyndham Garden hotel at almost 7pm having left St. Louis at 3:30am, and I found amusement in the timing as we had unofficially adopted 7pm as our meeting time in the restaurant. Not a bad guess at timing the drive after all. 

Brother Matt and several of the instructors had some health issues pop up, so Brother Ben Wallace met us in the restaurant with a smaller crowd of about eight Brothers this time as fewer stayed at the hotel. Along with the eight or so Brothers at dinner, I had another nice long conversation with Brother Ben who assured me of the blessings and encouragement of all the instructors to expand the Middle Chamber education to Missouri. We enjoyed a long evening of fellowship and good times before retiring for the next morning.

Brother Ben kicked things off right on time, and he adapted on the fly to most of the instructors out from illness or previous commitments. In a testament to the depth of knowledge and teaching skills of the North Carolina instructors, Brothers Ben and Randy Browning alternated sections, guiding us seamlessly through the material. The only issue we encountered, maybe almost humorously, was the lunch break being early enough the downtown restaurants hadn’t yet opened. Several Brothers were late returning to the Temple and missed a bit of the afternoon lecture. This seems a bit trivial until I assure you every instructive word was memorable and worth considering.

For the Fellow Craft trip, I opted to drive home after the class ended rather than stay overnight Saturday. I stayed briefly for a personal guided tour of the temple by several very knowledgeable Brothers, I found a gas station, and I didn’t stop again for about 400 miles. Calling back to being tested on the road this trip, I was driving around 1:00am somewhere near Evansville, Indiana on Interstate 70. As I pulled into the left lane to pass a car, I noticed headlights in the distance, and it took me a moment to realize these headlights were actually pointed at me, not in the normal oncoming lanes. I pulled back over into the right lane and began slowing down, and sure enough, the wrong-way driver flew past me in my own passing lane easily exceeding highway speeds. Guessing they were DUI, I said a silent prayer for anyone behind me that they might meet. I also didn’t have any issue remaining awake for the last three hours of the journey home.

Next part: bringing it all together

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30-plus years of teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12-year span. Randy is a 32nd-degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, a full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

The Magick of King Solomon

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. James E. Frey 32°

King Solomon before the Djinn by Jacobus de Teramo, 1473

"I pray thee, O king. Listen to what has befallen all that thy child hath. After we are all released from our work on the Temple of God, after sunset, when I lie down to rest, one of the evil demons comes and takes away from me one half of my pay and one half of my food. Then he also takes hold of my right hand and sucks my thumb. And lo, my soul is oppressed, and so my body waxes thinner every day." (Testament of Solomon, v4)

My Brethren, one tenant of the Masonic system is the constant reflection of the self. We must re-evaluate who we are morally as well as psychologically. It is this constant progression of self understanding that makes us face our archetypal shadow and conquer the negative aspects of the self. This is best personified by the Archetype of Wisdom in the Masonic system, King Solomon. King Solomon is interesting because his archetypal characteristics are found throughout Mediterranean cultures. According to the Old Testament King Solomon was charged to build the Temple of Solomon and was known as the wisest of all men. In the Islamic tradition Solomon is regarded as a prophet and representative of Allah. But there is a hidden side of King Solomon, a side that has been repressed from the western mythos, just as we hide the darker aspects of ourselves.

In the Christian tradition there is a separate myth that recounts Solomon not only as a wise King, but a very powerful Ceremonial Magician. This tradition is recounted in the 15th century Grimoire the Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon, and the Testament of Solomon, a Christian text dating to around the 1st and 5th centuries CE. Although the author of these obscure texts is unknown, its legend holds that it was the secret firsthand account of Solomon himself. Solomon’s Testament deals with a variety of astrological and magical themes that even deal with acting as a bridge between Greek Mythology and Christian Theology. The book deals with vast legions of demons, summoning spirits, and magick rings.

The legend begins with a young man who is favored by King Solomon, one day he is attacked by a demon by name of Ornias who used his demonic powers to suck the vitality and life from the Youth’s spirit. Upon hearing this news Solomon summons the archangel Michael through the magickal practice. According to the Lesser Key of Solomon this magickal practice was known as the Almadel, which is how Solomon was said to have received wisdom from the angels. Michael arrives to the troubled King and entrusts him with a magick ring bearing the six pointed star, or seal of Solomon, upon it. With this ring Solomon gained the power to summon demons and sprits using his will to control them and command them to complete tasks.

Solomon then took control over Ornias who then infiltrated the demonic Prince Beelzebul granting Solomon power over the legion of demons. According to the lesser Key of Solmon of the Ars Goetia, there are 72 demons that are paralleled to the fallen angels described in the Book of Enoch who rebelled against God because they lusted after the daughters of man. It is important to note that these fallen angels also first brought sorcery and the magickal arts to the material realm. Beelzebul reveals how he was once a high ranking angel before the fall. It was the four archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel that descended down with their 72 angels of the Almadel and banished the rebellious demons unto the four watchtowers of the universe.

With King Solomon in full command of the 72 demons he commands them to aid in the construction of the Temple of Solomon. This is where the legend of the Goetia and the Masonic system begin to meet. The Goetia’s connections can be found in various places throughout the Masonic system, but often hidden so that the true initiate sees not the Adept’s design. The Angelic names bore on the cross of the older versions of the 29th degree Knight of St. Andrew are a prime example. There is nowhere else in Kabbalistic or Magickal lore are these Angelic names referred to, except the Greater Key of Solomon as the last pentacle of the Sun. But these angels are referred to in Phoenician legend, so it seems to understand the importance of the Testament of Solomon we must look at it from the theological perspective of the time. This book acts as a way to reinterpret Pagan Gods of various cultures and rework them into the roles of demons. I believe King Solomon was chosen by Christians as the Master Magician because of his close association with the worship of Pagan gods to please his many foreign wives. 

Solomon’s Magick Circle, Lesser Key of Solomon

According too Talmudic texts and the Book of Tolbit King Solomon soon was placed face to face with the king of demons Asmodeus. Asmodeus is known for tricking King Solomon into gaining his ring of power that he then cast to the sea where it was swallowed by a fish. This allowed the legions of demons under King Solomon’s power to rise up against the king. Asmodeus then cast the King 400 miles outside Jerusalem. Solomon then lived as a beggar wandering from city to city, working in kitchens and doing hard labor. Ancient Rabbis claim this was a divine punishment by God for Solomon worshiping foreign deities. Years later he was walking in a market and bought a fish for his supper, the same fish that held the Magick ring in his belly. King Solomon then returns to Jerusalem to expel Asmodeus and his demonic rule. Asmodeus is said to be thwarted by the Archangel Raphael who binds him. According to a tale found in the 1001 Arabian Nights King Solomon is known as a master of the Djinn, and captures all the Djinn or demons into a brass vessel and seals it with a magickal symbol and casts the vessel out to the sea trapping the Djinn whom he first summoned to build his temple. This legend is the bassis for the Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon. 

The Lesser Key of Solomon, or the Goetia, is a medieval magickal text that claims to give the techniques and materials needed to embark on the mystical path of Solomon. It gives directions for casting magick circles, and invoking demons and dark Djinn into the consciousness of the magician. Here like Solomon the magician must unleash the demon from the brass vessel and symbolically slay the demon with a magical sword. Like the Djinn trapped in the magick lamp, the demon may also grant the wishes and desires of the magician, but it is the test of fortitude for the magician to resist these temptations and expel the demon from his mind.

"The spirits of the Goetia are portions of the human brain. Their seals therefore represent methods of stimulating or regulating those particular spots (though the eye)." (Aleister Crowley, The Initiated Interpretation of Ceremonial Magic in the Goetia.) 

If we as masons want to look at this in a philosophical sense we are all seeking to be the wise King Solomon. We must unlock the brass vessel of our own unconscious mind releasing all the aspects of ourselves we care not to let out. Each demon can be seen as an aspect of our personality that we keep hidden from the world. It is the goal of the magician with the aid of angels and magickal weapons to face the dark aspects of him and symbolically slay and expel those forces from our own spiritual nature, thus purifying him. This medieval system of what some would consider “black magick” is simply a way to reflect upon the aspects of our own psyche. If we as individuals wish to gain the wisdom of the archetypal king, we should face the shadow of ourselves and the demons that well in the void of our own nightmares. 

Before one sincerely attempts to evoke these demons, one should first spend some time invoking the 72 counterpart angels of the Almadel. The Almadel is a very enlightening experience and puts the magician in touch with the aspects of virtue within the psyche of the individual. This should be required for two reasons, one: one should be in touch with their inner strength before they face the demons, and two: the angels of the Almadel have direct control over the demons of the brass vessel. The Almadel is a system of scrying into a crystal ball over a altar made of wax upon which are engraved the Holy names of God. Remember that invocation is to call down a power within your spirit and mind, so you invoke angels to bring them closer. The Magician will evoke demons, to to bring from within ones self into manifestation. 

Almadel Altar

After one has made meaningful contact with his own inner angelic forces, he is now mentally and spiritually prepared to venture into the darkness of his own being. This system of High Magick should only be attempted by those who have magickal training, or are learned practitioners of ceremonial magick. This system to the unprepared is VERY DANGEROUS, and can be disastrous for those who approach the subject manner with a light heart or contempt in the mind. A short exert from the Lesser Key of Solomon will show the level of seriousness this system deserves. 

“Curse you and deprive you from all your offices and places of joy and place and do bind thee in the depths of the bottomless pit, there to remain until the day of judgment; I say into the lake of fire and brimstone… let all the company of heaven curse thee… let the hosts of heaven curse thee, I curse thee into fire unquenchable, and torments unspeakable as thy name and seal is contained in this box, chained and bound up and shall be choked in sulphurus and stinking substance and burnt in this material fire… which is prepared for thee damned and cursed spirits and there to remain until the day of doom and never more remembered of before the face of God which shall come to judge the dead and the world by fire.” (Lesser Key of Solomon, Book 1: Ars Goetia)

The Goetic demons require quite an elaborate array of magical implements such as a magic robe, wand, sword, circle, ring, brass vessel containing the 72 sigils of demons, black mirror within the magick triangle, and a very good memory. These evocations are quite lengthy and the magickal ritual can last quite awhile, especially when in a hypnotic trance which is required. 

Bro. Carroll Poke Runyon, 

before the Dark Mirror 

of the Goetic Demon

For those of you who simply wish to greet your shadow self and do some soul searching, I recommend you find a mirror and paint it with up to 7 layers of black paint, light some candles in a darkened room as gaze into the mirror without evoking the Goetic demons. This is a form of meditation similar to Trataka yoga techniques and can be very beneficial for self-discovery, or to just scare yourself the way kids have been doing while playing “Bloody Mary” for years. 

For those of you inspired to follow in steps of the archetypal King Solomon, to gain insight of the self or wisdom for above, with a sincere nature this system can be very beneficial and enlightening, even life changing. But for those of you who dabble, or foolishly rush into such things and unleash the spirits of the brass vessel Solomon trapped so long ago… well… like the ancient Djinn say… be careful what you wish for.




~JEF

James E Frey, 32° is a Past Sovereign Prince and current librarian of Valley of Danville AASR. Founder of the R.E.B.I.S Research Society he sits on two Blue Lodge Education committees as well as a guest lecturer on Occultism and Esoteric studies in masonry. He is also a Member of the Oak Lawn York Rite, Medinah Shriners, and Golden Dawn Collegium Spiritu Sancti. He also works as a counselor with emotionally and behaviorally challenged children.

The 2022 North Carolina Middle Chamber education series: My Own Hero’s Journey in Masonic Education - Part One

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

Part One of Three: Entered Apprentice

Instead of My Own Hero’s Journey, I almost named this article An Education Trilogy in Four Parts, with a nod to my favorite percussionist and lyricist Neil Peart (RIP) of the rock band RUSH.  Neil wrote his Fear Trilogy in four parts.  Yes, that was purposeful.  He also wrote the series backward with the last song (Witch Hunt) on the Moving Pictures album, then progressing through Signals (The Enemy Within) and ending with Grace Under Pressure (The Weapon).  By design, there was no intended fourth part.  I associated my curriculum reading assignment with Neil’s trilogy.  I read the required reading material for the Middle Chamber out of order with Brother Chuck Dunning’s Contemplative Masonry well ahead of the other books, and I saw the second required movie Life of Pi many years prior to watching 12 Angry Men.  I am forever grateful to the course instructors for a couple of extremely rare favors granted in order for me to attend.

The North Carolina Middle Chamber education program is sponsored by and through the Grand Lodge of North Carolina.  Brothers Ben Wallace and Shaun Bradshaw wrote A Path to Providence: The Creation of the Middle Chamber Program about their creation of the class, and I recommend it.  The overall structure of the Middle Chamber is broken into three major courses each consisting of an all-day Saturday class.  The course requirements include reading five prescribed books by well-known Masonic authors and critically watching two films.  I went with the full intention of working hard to learn the material and earn the blessing of the creators: Brothers Ben and Shaun.  I intend to bring Middle Chamber to Missouri and teach it myself.

I began this Winter engaging my good friend and Brother Matt Parker who is the administrator-facilitator for the Middle Chamber program.  He is their backbone who gets the media setup prepared, sign-up sheets put out, hotel negotiations completed for discounts, and more work behind the scenes than you can imagine.  Brother Matt assisted in my own out-of-state registration and kept me informed as to the hotel and schedule.  In early spring I made the decision to drive the 800 miles from St. Louis to Greensboro.

It was a 12-hour drive in perfect conditions, and the Entered Apprentice session on a crisp, cool April weekend turned out to be a perfect drive.  I left St. Louis Friday at about 4am, and after a couple of stops for food and fuel arrived at the Wyndham Garden in Greensboro not much after 5pm.  Remember there’s an hour time difference.  My drive was unknowingly well-timed both coming and going as I witnessed nature’s splendor through Kentucky horse country about mid-morning and majestic West Virginia mountains in the afternoon before driving out of the mountains into the rolling forested hills of North Carolina.  I checked into the hotel, got about a 15-minute nap, then joined a dozen brothers at the hotel-attached sports bar for dinner.  There may or may not have been a round of cigars and excellent Scotch a bit later in the seating area by the hotel swimming pool.  The cool temperatures precluded us from anything more than a good 90 minutes.  The North Carolina Brothers exceeded their amazing reputation for hospitality as I immediately felt as if I were at home with all of them.

After a quick hotel breakfast, we met at the Greensboro Masonic Temple, and I cannot do this temple justice in this short paper.  It is a magnificent building, well maintained, and worthy of your time should you be in the area.  The class began promptly, and with minor adjustments, we stuck to the schedule provided.  The instructors are both crisp in knowledge and smooth in delivery, and they cycled through different sections with different instructors taking lead in different areas they obviously enjoyed teaching.  Immediately the class bonded and the energy was just electric as we all knew why we were there, and together we focused on that goal of learning.  

The Entered Apprentice class let out at 4pm with an hour of open Q&A following, and I went to dinner with another good friend and Brother Mark Bagley who traveled a couple of hours to meet me for the class.  We had a great dinner at a small local restaurant, and we went our separate ways, Mark leaving for his two-hour trip home and me back to the hotel.  Many of you know I’m a note-taker, and I shared my notes with Brother Matt and Brother Ben Wallace as a courtesy.  I was surprised by a phone call from Brother Ben that evening telling me how happy he was to receive such candid feedback.  We stayed on the phone for over two hours talking through the class and many other topics.  The feedback was all positive with a few observations that I thought might be something I needed to keep in mind for my own classes, so I was surprised by the call.  I decided to leave at about 4am Sunday morning and had a beautiful drive home through snow-capped mountains and a different perspective of the views I experienced Friday.  The twelve hours of driving seemed to fly by as I spent much of the windshield time mentally reviewing the class content and wondering if I could do this material justice.

Next part: being tested

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30-plus years of teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12-year span. Randy is a 32nd-degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, a full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

Rainbows and Unicorns, Approaching Masonic Symbolism Gently

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

I recently experienced a sad exchange where a Brother told me he liked Masonic education, but he didn’t want to hear about any rainbows and unicorns ie: esoteric stuff.  His Freemasonry had no room for such nonsense, even though he heard it in several appendant bodies.  He went on to tell me I was part of only a fraction of Freemasons, maybe twenty percent at most, that even cared about the deeper esoteric meanings of symbolism and ancient mysteries because “Freemasonry is a Fraternity”, a Brotherhood. 

He had a valid point.  Freemasonry was seriously diluted about a hundred years ago with the influx of membership into a social fraternity.  This is true.  The old lodge records of long discourse of philosophy during lodge show we used to encourage deep thought and reflection on Masonic symbolism.  That changed.  Mackey, Wilmshurst, et. al. wrote extensively about what they termed “Parrot Masons” who are perfect ritualists and can recite the basics of what each symbol means, but what about these same Masons who are so admired for their memory work and delivery?  They never seem to take it to the next level of contemplation and understanding.  Yet we give these Masons rewards.  We give them cards where they might proudly show others that they have tested and passed with only a handful of mistakes.  Many Masons simply stop there. 

A few weeks ago, I witnessed another sad exchange between Brothers again looking to remove a Brother from a group conversation because he had a different opinion that grated against the first individual.  This is hardly the first exchange I’ve witnessed of a Brother looking to ostracize another Brother for not doing Freemasonry the way another Brother thought it should be done.  I am saddened that societal influences crossed over into the fraternity to the point I see Brothers looking to kick out or censor other Brothers’ opinions, no matter whether good or bad.  The point is an open debate, dare I say, open rhetoric?  A difference of opinion is healthy, and all the way back to the early great works of the thinkers, open debate is the mark of civilization.  I may not like your opinion, nor your particular view on some moral issues, but to censure or expel based on opinion and views? 

The same Brothers who were wanting to ostracize another Brother may be shocked to see they belong to the (very vocal) minority.  Eighty percent of the Fraternity is not as esoteric as these Brothers would like us all to be, and attempting to ostracize those who don’t practice Freemasonry, in the same way, would backfire.  Those pushing would then be the ones pushed out.  Maybe that’s not a bad thing.  There, I said it.  Maybe the esoteric Masons who are pushing their opinions and beliefs on others SHOULD be kicked out of the Fraternity.  After all, are not these esoteric hot heads the ones being closed-minded as to giving the freedom to other Masons to do as they wish? 

That’s a lot to take in for the moment.  My position is to highlight the folly of both positions or opinions.  Expulsion from this Fraternity should be the VERY LAST RESORT and never spoken of in normal conversation.  Censure and other means of Masonic discipline exist for a reason, and they also should never enter a normal Masonic conversation.  What I witnessed in both extremes of not wanting any esoteric education, as opposed to kicking people out or shunning them for not being esoteric enough is just silly.  Both extremes are just childish.  We are Freemasons.  We are those set apart from society who are charged with approaching concepts and philosophies on the level, and that means being level-headed too.  I don’t see any explanation except neither side spent enough time working on Entered Apprentice lessons, and they speak from pop culture lessons and social values, not from Freemasonry’s philosophical teachings. 

We must take a step back from both extremes of philosophical approaches, and that requires a gentle touch.  Ritual is important, and how you approach your own personal ritual is even more so.  Esoteric symbolism is important, and how you approach your own understanding of your relationship with Deity?  How is that not the most important part of your life and work as a Freemason?  

The gentle touch might be too subtle for some.  We must go back to silence being the first lesson and simply listen.  What would happen if we held on to our opinion for just 24 hours of contemplation before stating it to others?  How much more powerful would it be to analyze our own opinions of Rainbows and Unicorns before telling others we are closed-minded to symbolism and philosophy?  Conversely, how much more powerful would it be to analyze our own opinions of those less esoteric before pushing the narrative the less esoteric should be expelled for not thinking the same way?  We do not live in the shoes, or lives, of our Brothers, and we must not push our beliefs onto others.  We are taught to use a very quiet whisper in the ear, almost never censure, and where would that leave expulsion?  Whether the other Brother wants to change?  Not ours to make happen, but we can and should always remember each other in our prayers.

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30-plus years of teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12-year span. Randy is a 32nd-degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, a full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

Brother Tim Horton - A life of success and tragedy…

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Steven L. Harrison, 33°, FMLR

If a Canadian Brother ever takes you out for a cup of coffee and a doughnut, odds are he won't take you to a Starbucks, a Dunkin', a Krispy Kreme, or anywhere other than a Tim Hortons. 

Founded in 1964, the Tim Hortons chain, has become a popular and iconic Canadian establishment which has expanded worldwide with nearly 5,000 restaurants in Canada, the US, the UK, Mexico, and other countries. It even has over 20 restaurants in Communist China.

In our neighbor to the north, Tim Horton is a household name, but who was he? There are at least two things many people, especially youth who only know "Timmies," as a hip place to gather, do not know about Tim Horton. First, he was one of the greatest hockey players ever. Second, he was a Freemason, raised in Kroy Lodge 676 in Toronto.

Born in Cochrane, Ontario on January 12, 1930, Brother Miles Gilbert "Tim" Horton played in various levels of youth hockey as he steadily grew into a mountain of a man.  A young standout, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1949, where he played for most of his 22 years. At the time there were only six teams in the National Hockey League. It was more popular in Canada, and there were no big million dollar salaries. His first contract paid $9,000 per season – not enough to make him rich, yet enough to provide for a comfortable living. Tim married Delores "Lori" Michalek, an Ice-Capades performer, in 1952.

Scouting reports on Horton claimed with his size and strength, he had the potential to become hockey's greatest defenseman. The reports were not wrong, as he skated his way into becoming a member of four Stanley Cup teams, an NHL all-star, and eventually a member of its Hall of Fame. In 2016, the Toronto Maple Leafs retired his #7 jersey and the following year he was named as one of the 100 greatest NHL players ever.

Horton's ability and strength became legendary in the NHL. Hockey great Bobby Orr has said Tim Horton may have been the league's strongest player ever. Tim's trademark during a fight was to wrap his arms around an opposing player in a crushing hug. Hockey writer Bob McKenzie remarked, "You didn't get out of that vice grip until Horton let you out." 

A player Horton once punched was asked in an interview what it was like to take such a hit from the hockey superman. "I'd rather he hit me," he said, "than get me in one of his bear hugs."

Horton's fairy-tale career and even his life nearly came to an end in 1955. In a game near the end of the season, Chicago defenseman Bill Gadsby slammed into him with a blow so hard it sent Tim to the ice where he sustained a concussion, broken jaw, and broken leg. Gadsby later said it was the hardest hit he ever gave anyone. Back then, a disabled hockey player did not get paid. Horton missed the remainder of the '55 season and half of the next year as well. In the interim, Constantine "Conn" Smythe, Maple Leafs owner, gave him a job as a truck driver. The job helped, but did not meet his family's financial needs. This gave Tim incentive to work hard to get back into the game.

In 1964, in order to supplement his hockey income, Tim opened the first of his coffee and doughnut shops in Hamilton Ontario. In 1967, he brought in Ron Joyce, an acquaintance who owned a local Dairy Queen, as a partner.  The chain, known simply as "Tim Hortons," was an immediate success and, together, Tim and Ron continued to expand the business.

For the next few years the restaurant chain and Tim's hockey career went well. Lori, alone at home, weary of Tim's absences and bored, developed problems with alcohol. At the end of the 1973 season, she asked Tim to retire. Tim had fallen into the trap of drinking to celebrate his victories and also to drown the sorrows of his losses. He had been traded to the Buffalo Sabres by then, and he agreed to end his career. However, George "Punch" Imlach, the Buffalo coach offered him $150,000 and a new Ford Pantera if he would play just one more year.

Brother Horton agreed. Near the end of the season, he was injured and taking prescribed painkillers so he could continue to play. After a late season game in Toronto, Tim had a few drinks with his teammates, then called Lori and said he was driving home. She could tell the combination of painkillers and alcohol had affected him and begged him to wait until the next day to drive. Tim insisted he was okay, and in the early morning hours of February 21, 1974, headed out in his new Pantera. In that car, his pride and joy, he only had two speeds: zero and greased lightning. Lori called the Ontario Provencal Police, and they set up roadblocks to stop him. He made it as far as St. Catherines, near the US border when he lost control of his car. It flipped several times and Tim was thrown from the vehicle and killed. He was 44.

After Tim's death, Lori said, "I went into a daze for about 15 years." She sold her shares in the restaurant and all rights to use Tim's name to Ron Joyce for one million dollars. Years later, after she stopped drinking, she realized the sale was a mistake and, in 1993, sued Joyce. She lost the lawsuit, which cost her most of her remaining savings. 

Tim's life was a cocktail of stellar success and tragedy. Today, his remaining children and grandchildren have no rights to the empire he built or his name; and to them it may be of little consolation that name is so well known in his country that it has become a part of the Canadian culture.

~SLH

Bro. Steve Harrison, 33°  is Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri. He is also a Fellow and Past Master of the Missouri Lodge of Research. Among his other Masonic memberships is the St. Joseph Missouri Valley of the Scottish Rite, Liberty York Rite bodies, and Moila Shrine. He is also a member and Past Dean of the DeMolay Legion of Honor. Brother Harrison is a regular contributor to the Midnight Freemasons blog as well as several other Masonic publications. Brother Steve was Editor of the Missouri Freemason magazine for a decade and is a regular contributor to the Whence Came You podcast. Born in Indiana, he has a Master's Degree from Indiana University and is retired from a 35-year career in information technology. Steve and his wife Carolyn reside in northwest Missouri. He is the author of dozens of magazine articles and three books: Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi, Freemasons — Tales From the Craft and Freemasons at Oak Island.

Freemasonry IS NOT For Everyone

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Taken at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. (photo by Greg Knott)

Believe it or not, I don't carry petitions in my pocket. I don't walk around handing out petitions the same way banks walk around college campuses handing out credit card applications to students. I'm a quality over quantity guy. I'm looking for specific characteristics. I'm looking for men of good character. I'm looking for men with a desire and a capacity to learn. I'm looking for men who are trustworthy and personable. When I find that guy, that's when I might be inclined to bring up the subject of Freemasonry. I was told recently that makes me an elitist. I disagree. It makes me selective. 

Freemasonry has always been selective. Sometimes we forget that. We get all wrapped up in bringing in numbers, we forget there is a larger purpose. We're supposed to make good men better. Good men. The Fraternity has always looked for men of good report and well recommended. We're not looking for warm bodies, we're looking for men who want to grow--men who possess certain desirable traits.  We want a man that will not only benefit from Freemasonry, but will be a benefit to Freemasonry. 

I have an old friend who is angry with me. I've known him for decades--since we were kids. He was angry that a couple of our mutual friends have joined the Fraternity at my suggestion, but that I've never invited him to join. I decided to spare him my full reasoning and focus on the one thing that makes that impossible--he's an atheist. He just laughed and said that was no problem at all--he said he had no problem saying he believed in the existence of God. 

And that's exactly why I could never recommend him. 

So don't look for warm bodies to fill your rosters--that benefits nobody. What you should be looking for are men who would make good Masons.  When you start looking for those men, you might just be surprised at how many you'll find.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and continues to be a regular contributor. He is also the author of the From Labor to Refreshment blog, where he posts on a regular schedule on topics relating to Freemasonry.  He is the author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. He is a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and currently serves as Secretary, and is also a member of Homer Lodge No. 199.  He is a member the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, the York Rite Bodies of Champaign/Urbana (IL), the Ansar Shrine (IL), Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees, Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL), and a Fellow of the Missouri Lodge of Research.  He was recently awarded the 2014 Illinois Secretary of the Year Award by the Illinois Masonic Secretaries Association.  You can contact him at: webmaster@toddcreason.org

Are You Duly and Truly Prepared?

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

Bro. Ira Gilbert, PM, PDGM

My Brothers, you became my brothers as soon as you took upon yourself the obligation of the Entered Apprentice degree. When you entered the door of your Lodge for the first time two questions were asked of you. The first was whether your entry into the Lodge was of your own free will and accord. The second was asked of the Junior Deacon, who was conducting you on your admission into the Lodge, was whether you were duly and truly prepared. These two questions are inter-related.

Was your entry into our fraternity of your own free will and accord? Did any one entice you into becoming a Freemason? When the Investigating Committee spoke to you and your significant other were you asked the reasons for your desire to become a Freemason? Were you offered a copy of “On The Threshold” a pamphlet that explains the journey that you are now undertaking or some other material given by your Grand Lodge?

As an extension of the query of your free will for entry into Freemasonry, you should have been informed that being a Freemason grants you entry into an elite fraternity of brothers. A Masonic Lodge is far more than being merely a social or charitable organization. The social and charitable activities of your lodge are important. You may be attracted to the social and charitable endeavors of the lodge. These are certainly laudable activities for every lodge to undertake. However, a Masonic lodge is also a place for moral and philosophical enlightenment.

As experienced Masons, we envy the path that lies ahead for you in our brotherhood of Freemasonry. After taking your obligation in the Entered Apprentice Degree, you heard an explanatory lecture on the symbolism and meaning of the ritual that you had just completed. In the ritual for each of the three degrees in Blue Lodge Masonry there are some ninety items that require symbolic explanation. The explanations presented to you in the degrees are only a start in understanding what Freemasonry really means.

Bro. Rollin C. Blackmer edited and produced a series of lectures about our fraternity. His book was entitled, “The Lodge and the Craft”. It was first published in the year 1923. In the first lecture Bro. Blacker remarked that in the year 1923 there were approximately 100,000 brethren in the State of Missouri. Of these 100,000 brethren only about 75 men had made a significant study of the symbolism, philosophy, and history of this Brotherhood to which they belonged.
He went on to state that it was a lamentable state of affairs that the majority of its members were ignorant of most everything connected with Freemasonry. There are many reasons for this regrettable state of affairs.

The first of these reasons lies in the fact that our fraternity is now approaching the 300th year of its existence. Much has transpired in the past 300 years. The fraternity cries out for its new brethren to take upon themselves a study of what the principles of our brotherhood really are and mean.

You have joined a group of men who are the elite of society. You should consider yourself a Masonic brother to George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, John Hancock, thirteen signers of our United States Constitution, and nine signers of the Declaration of Independence. You are a brother to a myriad of other Freemasons, such as Gene Autry, Ernest Borgnine, W. C. Fields, Clark Gable, Roy Rogers, Davy Crocket, George M. Cohan, Irving Berlin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, General Douglas MacArthur and General Leonard Wood. I can go on and on listing the brethren who you can now call your brothers. You are fortunate, indeed, for having been welcomed into this great fraternity.

Were you duly and truly prepared to enter the Lodge hall to take upon yourself the obligations of Freemasonry. This query can be considered on two levels.

First of all, you were asked to divest yourself of all metals and wear a suit suitable to your degree. You were hoodwinked (blindfolded) and a rope (cable-tow) was placed about you. The meaning of these preparation and symbols were explained to you. In this context you were undoubtedly duly and truly prepared to enter to lodge hall.

However, were you also duly and truly prepared in your mind and ready to start your journey in Freemasonry? In Freemasonry, it is true that your family and means of earning a living are predominant. And, I do not mean to imply that you are expected to become a Masonic scholar, while this would certainly be a laudable accomplishment. But, it is important that you understand what it really means to become a Mason. Are you duly and truly prepared to attend the meetings of your lodge, to the best of your ability? A Masonic Lodge is only as good as the brethren that are active in its affairs.

Are you duly and truly prepared to learn what it means to be a Mason and live according to Masonic precepts? Freemasonry is an organization dedicated to making good men better. You are already thought to be a good man or you would not have passed the test of the ballot box and been admitted to your Lodge. A study of Freemasonry will give you the tools to become a better man. Properly implemented, your family and society, in general, will applaud your dedication to Masonic principles.

So, my Brother, I welcome you into our fraternity. There are many in your Lodge who will aid your quest into the philosophy, symbolism, and history of our Order. You should find something that piques your interest in our Brotherhood. There are five basic areas of interest in studying Freemasonry. These are history, philosophy, symbolism, law, and ritual (its memorization and meaning). Find an area that is of interest to you and pursue it. There are dedicated brothers who will help you as you take upon yourself the journey to learn what it really means to be a Mason.

My Brothers, I will close this presentation with a saying by the noted Masonic author, H. L. Haywood. His words may indicate to you the basic premise of Freemasonry, “Not More Men In Masonry, But More Masonry In Men”.

~IG

Bro. Ira Gilbert was raised on January 8, 1968 in Isaac Cutter Lodge #1073 and was Master in 1972. Isaac Cutter Lodge merged with Chicago Lodge #437 and he is now now a member of Chicago Lodge. Bro Gilbert is a member of A. O. Fay Lodge #676 as well. He is also a member of the Valley of Chicago Scottish rite. Bro. Ira's dedication to Masonic Education has afforded him the ability to serve on the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education and the Grand Lodge Committee on Jurisprudence. Bro. Ira comes from a Masonic family, his father being Master of Universal Lodge #985, now a part of Decalogue Lodge through a series of mergers. His father was also a Grand Lecturer. His main interest in our fraternity lies in the philosophy and history of our ritual and in Masonic Jurisprudence. Bro. Ira was a DDGM twice, once in the 1980's and once four years ago. He is also a fellow of the Illinois Lodge of Research and the ILOR awarded him the Andrew Torok Medal as well.

The Three Degrees of Chi Kung

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Ken JP Stuczynski

In the West, we tend to boldly demark the concepts of body and mind from one another -- the physical from the psychical (mental and/or spiritual). The traditional Chinese perspective looks at the body (or one's being) being a composite, with the physical body as a component of one's self. It's not merely a shell, and certainly not sinful or oppositional by nature as in Western traditions.

Mind you, there's nothing wrong with a simple Body-Mind duality. The Square is about actions and is used to measure relationships in a three-dimensional existence; the Compasses are a drafting tool for discernment and willful boundaries.

But perhaps a more pertinent model for our various Degrees is the trinity of body, mind, and spirit. According to George Harold Steinmetz, in "The Royal Arch, its Hidden Meaning", as well as other Masonic authors in various works, the Degrees show a progression of growth through those parts of our being. It isn't hard to see how the Entered Apprentice Degree deals with the physical, the Fellowcraft with the mental, and Master Mason Degree with the Spiritual. We go from the quarries of measuring and manipulating the objects of the physical world, to the arts and sciences, to the transformation of our mortal, yet immortal existence.

It is no wonder the Square takes precedence in the configuration we first behold at the Altar, the Compasses at last, and a partial transcendence of the physical into the spiritual when we are Passed. The ritual describes our progression in our Moral Science as being -- by necessity -- by degrees.

So why bring up an Eastern model of human existence? Because there are aspects of the model that grant us other insights. Any framework of understanding can yield results unique to it, and Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of them, particularly in its Taoist roots.

The ancient Taoist physiology focuses on the "Triple Burner" system -- three energy fields in the body called dan tiens. These are NOT point-like chakras and are often poorly equated with them or other Indian concepts. And most martial arts don't even mention there are three of them, as only the lower one is used in martial training.

The lower dan tien, just below the navel, could be described as the home of jing, physical essence. I teach my students that it is the geographic center of the physical body, and if it were stiff, dead weight, that's where you could place a fulcrum to balance it like a see-saw. (Don't try this at home.)

The middle dan tien, around the diaphragm, is the home of chi, literally meaning breath. Of course, the concept of breath is hardly limited to moving oxygen but is an energetic, whole body (or even body-and-beyond) experience. (I've written on this subject before, but won't get into its metaphysical nature or theological implications here, as it would detract from the point of this article.)

The upper dan tien could be thought of as the "third eye", or seat of spirit. This completes a trinity of places to focus the physical (body), the non-physical (spiritual), and the bridge between them (chi).

So, where am I going with this? The ancient Taoist text, "Cultivating Stillness"*, expounds a regimen of chi kung (roughly meaning "breath training") for the purpose of immortality. Let's not argue over how literal or possible its goal is intended to be. The important thing is that this is a journey for the whole person. Every aspect of one's being affects the others. The progression described is an effort to use the jing to "purify" the chi, and then the chi to purify shen.

Like the deep lessons of our degrees, you can't jump ahead. It would devastate the impact of the Third Degree by not having experienced the first two. The power of the Royal Arch Degrees would be wasted if endowed upon the profane -- there's a reason you have to be a Master Mason to receive them (and be a Past Master, but let's not bog ourselves down here explaining that).

Each Degree builds on the former. The First sets the foundation for the Second, which in turn prepares you for the Third. We can't move on until we have purified the baser part of ourselves. We must use simple tools to circumscribe and divest our physical actions and passions to be ready to cultivate intellect. Then we must use our learning to cultivate our faith.

But do we have truly suitable proficiency before moving on? If we appreciate any of this, we must admit a Progressive Moral Science that can only be taught and experienced by Degrees. How could one-day classes even be considered acceptable? (Although some Brothers have succeeded in spite of them.)

We give little or no thought to why we do the Degrees in their order, They are simply dates on a Trestle Board, a train with three stops. Saying the journey is important isn't a cliche. The process is the work, and the work is the whole point.

But it's never too late. Each time we see the Degrees, we have a chance to revisit where we are and know better where we need to be. Just like an advanced practitioner of chi kung or martial arts can always deepen their practice through the simplest exercises, we can allow ourselves to be an Apprentice or Fellowcraft again. 

*First translated into English by Eva Wong, who incidentally is local to my area and a student of Master Moy of the Taoist Tai Chi Society. His art is the first of many styles of Tai Chi that I have studied over the years.

~JP

Bro. Ken JP Stuczynski is a member of West Seneca Lodge No.1111 and recently served as Master of Ken-Ton Lodge No.1186. As webmaster for NYMasons.Org he is on the Communications and Technology Committees for the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He is also a Royal Arch Mason and 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, serving his second term as Sovereign Prince of Palmoni Council in the Valley of Buffalo, NMJ. He also coordinates a Downtown Square Club monthly lunch in Buffalo, NY. He and his wife served as Patron and Matron of Pond Chapter No.853 Order of the Eastern Star and considered himself a “Masonic Feminist”.