In the Address to the Brethren, most masonic rituals have a line that goes along the lines of “can patiently await the arrival of that awful moment when the soul shall take wing…”.
My take on it is this: awful is intended to first mean the modern definition: horrible, repulsive, and dreadful. However, the use the word in the context of a ritual triggers the mind into begging the question: “Is this truly a horrid thing? It’s triggers an intense feeling- a double edged emotion. I think the focus should be less on the definition, but more rather of the quality of the emotion experienced.
My take on it is this: awful is intended to first mean the modern definition: horrible, repulsive, and dreadful. However, the use the word in the context of a ritual triggers the mind into begging the question: “Is this truly a horrid thing? It’s triggers an intense feeling- a double edged emotion. I think the focus should be less on the definition, but more rather of the quality of the emotion experienced.