Discomfort in uncertainty

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Erik Marks

This will be brief. I want this post to be brief because I don’t want to muddle the message. From the start of my journey in Freemasonry, there was uncertainty. What will happen next to me next? I could have turned away from the unknown and uncertainty, not knowing what would happen. That would have been bad. Freemasonry has support for uncertainty because we have one another. Even if we disagree on this or that, there is the possibility of withstanding uncertainty together. Withstanding doesn’t mean comfort, necessarily. When we work to change ourselves, it is uncomfortable, there is discomfort and there is a lot of uncertainty. “If I break off this part, this habit, this idea, this ideology, what will happen to me?"

Then I realize I don’t have to worry, I’m not alone. I can see my cherished individualism may be a barrier to greater knowledge. Therefore, I lean into the collective for support to help me change, myself. There is a lot of uncertainty in the world. The uncertainty can be good. However, it can feel uncomfortable and it can cause me to be reactive, rash, and impulsive or reflexively try to get back to former comfortable ideas—to hide in old ideas, behaviors— to get away from the light. That would be bad.

So, I hope when each of us feels discomfort in uncertainty, we will take long slow breaths, and turn to one another. Next, that we will lean on the symbols, tools, and structures, and talk it out. If we are willing to do so while managing and maintaining our inner harmony, we will learn and grow individually and collectively; of that I am certain.

~EM

Brother Erik Marks is a clinical social worker whose usual vocation has been in the field of human services in a wide range of settings since 1990. He was raised in 2017 by his biologically younger Brother and then Worshipful Master in Alpha Lodge in Framingham, MA. You may contact brother Marks by email: erik@StrongGrip.org

William Schaw and the Schaw Statutes

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Steven L. Harrison, 33°, FMLR

William Schaw, born sometime around 1550, is best known as the Great Master of Works to James VI of Scotland. As such he was responsible for overseeing all royal castles and palaces. Having the complete trust of the King, he also served him in several other capacities, including accompanying him to Denmark to return with the new queen, Anna of Denmark.

Within Freemasonry Schaw is best known for setting forth the first and second set of Schaw Statutes to be observed by all the Master Masons within the realm. He issued the first set in 1598. Written as a part of his responsibility as Master of works, he directed both statutes primarily to operative Masons; however, these are among the first documents alluding to the esoteric and speculative aspects of the craft.

The first set of statutes specifies 22 rules and regulations designed to govern the work and behavior of Master Masons and their apprentices. Many of the rules set forth a penalty for disobedience. These regulations call on all Masons to "observe and keep all the good ordinances established before... to be true to one another and live charitably together... and be honest, faithful, and diligent in their calling." In it he admonishes masons never to undertake work they can't perform nor take away another master's work. He limits the number of apprentices in a lifetime to three and prohibits the selling of apprentices to other masters. Schaw also outlines rules governing the resolution of grievances and stipulates penalties collected shall go to charity.

The Second Schaw Statute, written in 1599, establishes in order, Edinburgh, Kilwinning and Stirling as the principal lodges in Scotland. It establishes the election of the wardens, deacons and secretaries and some of their duties. It reaffirms the use of fines for charity and dictates exclusion of all who fail to live up to the statutes. It requires every fellow of the craft and apprentice to demonstrate their skills annually and forbids association with cowens.

The inscription on his tomb bears the most reliable source of his biographical information and reads:
"This humble structure of stones covers a man of excellent skill, notable probity, singular integrity of life, adorned with the greatest of virtues – William Schaw, Master of the King's Works, President of the Sacred Ceremonies, and the Queen's Chamberlain. He died 18th April, 1602.

Among the living he dwelt fifty-two years; he had traveled in France and many other Kingdoms, for the improvement of his mind; he wanted no liberal training; was most skillful in architecture; was early recommended to great persons for the singular gifts of his mind; and was not only unwearied and tireless in labours and business, but constantly active and vigorous, and was most dear to every good man who knew him. He was born to do good offices, and thereby to gain the hearts of men; now he lives eternally with God."

His tomb also bears what may be the earliest mason's mark. It is a complex sculpture of all the letters of his name, an S-C-H-A-W, inscribed over a square and compasses. His epitaph concludes, "Queen Anne ordered this monument to be erected to the memory of this most excellent and most upright man, lest his virtues, worthy of eternal commendation, should pass away with the death of his body."

~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.

Contemplative Cornerstone: An Upright Zeal

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Erik Marks

In this installment, I wanted to offer a practice based in the plumb line connecting heaven and earth. The line we hear from Amos of God: “I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel.” C. H. Spurgeon, who was published in the Sword and Trowel in the 1800's, offers three interpretations of this statement:

I) To measure the uprightness of a wall, or in our case, that of an individual stone.

2) In the construction of the individual stone temple or the larger temple between, and for men.

3) In the leveling or destruction of said walls, stones, or temples when not morally or ethical verticality.

Though there was no evidence that Spurgeon was a Freemason, people may have suspected then and continue to speculate to this day. Our regular usage of the plumb is offered in these interpretations, but also, the use of the plumb or plumb line to determine when correction, or even demolition is needed to build anew.

We read in President Brother George Washington’s farewell address to the nation: “…that, after Forty-Five years of my life dedicated to [our nation’s] service with an upright zeal…” In this statement we observe two masonic ideas, that of being upright, upstanding, or of moral or ethical rectitude; and the idea of zeal. The word zeal comes into usage in or around the 14th century and which we today know as an eagerness or ardent interest in pursuing something.

Taken to an extreme, and without uprightness or moral compass, zeal turns someone into a zealot: a fanatical partisan; something our first president was not and warned against in his farewell address. To the negative, zealous outcome, masonry has safeguards. The plumb or plumb line direct us towards both measuring our truth and its dispensation against the morals and ethics of our chosen religion and the ideals of masonry in harmony with one another. When upright zeal turn to a zealous departure from the common good, the plumb line will surely indicate the need for correction.

Therefore, our contemplation regarding standing uprightly could similarly and regularly test, in a practical or living way, our uprightness using the metaphor. First, Am I living in alignment with my professed ideals? Second, am I building a life in harmony with and for my neighbors and myself—are we aligning one another, righteously and harmoniously, or disrupted by discord? And third, am I willing to tear down my internal walls in the service of correcting wrongs I have imposed on self, an other, or society?

For this practice, stand. Taking three long, slow, deep breaths, center yourself to the here and now. Rock gently from front to back until you find the right center point of balance. Do the same rocking side to side until you find the right Center Point of balance. Continuing to focus on the breath, drop all other thought from your inner dialogue. As you exhale the third time, imagine a line of light stretching from the highest reaches of heaven to the center of the earth, directly through your torso. Is your spine aligned? Is your mind aligned with breath, body, spirit? Are your thoughts aligned with the ideals you hold towards being a force of good in the world as a mason? Are your words and actions aligned with the vows, obligations, and sacraments?

In this state, you could choose to recite in your mind the obligation from a degree or focus on one part of a degree obligation. It could be a part that pertains to something that happened the day before, if your practice is in the morning. Or, if you are practicing in the evening, from that day. Does the activity of the day align uprightly with the words to which you have obligated yourself? This practice can be employed at any time. The more we practice grounding and centering the more rapidly our mind will settle into a state of contemplative dialogue with our chosen section of ritual or obligation.

Please consider these other sources about the plumb and plumb line in your deliberations:

http://www.masonicacademy.com/2016/11/07/the-plumb-line/

https://www.biblia.work/sermons/the-plumbline/

http://tulsasr.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-Plumb-and-Its-Masonic-Uses.pdf

https://masonicworld.com/education/files/artoct02/three_scripture_readings.htm STB!

http://www.themasonictrowel.com/Articles/Symbolism/general_files/the_plumb_rule.htm

http://anglicanhistory.org/misc/freemasonry/vandewater_plumb1912.html

~EM

Brother Erik Marks is a clinical social worker whose usual vocation has been in the field of human services in a wide range of settings since 1990. He was raised in 2017 by his biologically younger Brother and then Worshipful Master in Alpha Lodge in Framingham, MA. You may contact brother Marks by email: erik@StrongGrip.org

Hope

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor
WB Gregory J. Knott

Tomorrow will be beautiful

For tomorrow comes out of the Lake

By Emanuel Carnevali, December 1921

The world seems to be in complete turmoil due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, businesses and the economy suffering, and the recent protests across the globe in response to the death of George Floyd. Then there it was all of a sudden, as I looked out the window, Hope.

The beautiful sunset that you see in the picture above on June 8, 2020 from the prairie of Illinois was nothing short of spectacular. It was as if God himself was speaking to all of us, saying that no matter what storm you may be traveling through, on the other side there is hope waiting for you.

As Freemasons we frequently hear the word Hope in our lectures; “Faith, Hope and Charity…”, but do we truly consider what it means beyond the shallow everyday usage? We say as Brethren: “I hope enough brothers show up to open the lodge”, or “I hope we don’t spend so much time on the minutes” or “I hope we get a petition soon.”

The Hope I am thinking about is boundless in meaning. It is the Hope for the potential of a world where all mankind can truly meet on the level. Where the opportunity for equality is not a goal but an expectation.

Hope requires work on your part and mine. It takes a persistence that even when we might be tired or exhausted, we need to keep moving onward. It means looking inward into one’s self and giving yourself an honest evaluation of who you are or more importantly who you could become. Hope is the great gift to all mankind.

I saw Hope in the beautiful sunset for a beautiful tomorrow.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons blog.  He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. He is a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D. and serves as its Secretary. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters. You can contact him at gknott63@gmail.com