The First Lesson in Freemasonry: A Forgotten Prologue
Rediscovering Freemasonry's first lesson - 'asking' - a subtle, forgotten act that ignites lifelong learning and wisdom.
I hear all too often from Apprentices and Fellowcrafts, “I’m not learning”. Master Masons on the other hand provide a similar statement upon being presented with their certificates.
There are of course two sides to this very statement, those that must submit & learn (EAFs, FCF and MMs) and of course, those who rule and teach (IMs). We know, humility in both is an essential qualification.
I will digress here a little to address an important distinction “Past Masters”.
Brethren, there is only one “Past Master” and that is the IPM of the Lodge - he is an Officer of the Lodge. But, those who have been Master of a Lodge, what are you?
You are an Installed Master.
You never stop being an Installed Master. The Address to the Brethren which I quoted above, has a direct reference to you. You are the Teachers. The Worshipful Master is the ruler. It is your duty as an Installed Master, charged in the Address to the Brethren to teach.
Teach your Apprentices, Fellowcrafts & Master Masons the lessons & meaning of the words and phrases in our ceremony. Not to memorize them. If you yourself don’t know what they mean, then is it not time for you to discover them yourself in order to teach?
Do not wait for them to come and ask! You yourself are still charged with the task of “asking”. You need to be asking them questions about the moral lessons.
You have the Knowledge & Wisdom, they have the Time. The richest place on earth is the cemetery where all the knowledge, wisdom & ideas that were never transferred to the next generation have died. Keep them eternal by passing them on.
For our Apprentices, Fellowcrafts and Master Masons. Freemasonry’s rites and rituals are rich with symbolism and allegory, inviting you to delve deeper into profound questions of morality, truth, and personal growth.
But to embark on this journey, one must first learn the initial lesson - an entryway to the layers of wisdom & knowledge that Freemasonry offers.
Curiously,
This initial lesson, arguably the most crucial, is also the easiest to forget.
Why do we forget this first lesson? Because it seems so self-evident, so simple, that its profundity is easily overlooked.
The first lesson is this: to become a Freemason, you must first ask to be one.
This echoes Biblical wisdom:
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7).
Simple, isn't it? But this act of asking is not merely a formality to gain admission.
It represents an essential principle - the constant cycle of asking and receiving, the interplay between curiosity and knowledge. And this principle extends far beyond our Masonic halls.
When we stop asking, we close the door to learning, growth, and most importantly, our potential.
Ignoring this first lesson may lead to a sense of stagnation, a feeling that we are merely going through the motions.
The vibrancy of Freemasonry's teachings fades into a dull hum, a monotone recitation of words devoid of their true meaning. Freemasonry becomes a mere club of rituals, its potential for personal growth and transformation unexplored.
Our inattention to the initial lesson has grave consequences.
We may find ourselves stuck in the mire of complacency, our thirst for knowledge unsatisfied. We may spend years within the fraternity, mechanically mouthing the rites, while missing out on the depths of wisdom and enlightenment they offer.
It is akin to standing on the shore of a vast ocean, yet never venturing out to explore its depths.
We become like the man who has a library at his disposal but never opens a book.
Neglecting to apply this first lesson can lead to a kind of spiritual malnutrition. We starve ourselves of the wisdom, insight, and personal growth that Masonry can offer.
By failing to ask, to seek, to knock, we remain locked outside the doors of knowledge.
The richness of Freemasonry's teachings remains tantalizingly out of reach.
We may perform the rituals, and participate in the ceremonies, but without the act of asking, the deeper meaning remains obscured.
So how do we rectify this oversight?
How do we relearn and apply this first, vital lesson?
The solution is as simple as the lesson itself. We must make a habit of asking.
Not just in the beginning, not just during our degree, but continually, throughout our Masonic journey.
We must learn to perceive the symbolic, allegorical lessons embedded in Freemasonry's teachings. We must approach our study not with the aim of merely learning about Freemasonry but to learn from it.
Begin with the Masonic rituals and catechisms.
For example, instead of merely memorizing the questions and answers, take a week to reflect on each individual question.
Ponder on its symbolic meaning and its allegorical message.
Ask yourself, what is it teaching me? How does it apply to my life?
Here's a simple exercise to get you started.
Pick a phrase from your Masonic study. Break it down, and define each word. Ask yourself three questions:
Why is this important?
What happens if I don't do this?
Can I recall a situation where I applied this principle and one where I didn't?
Reflect on your answers. This exercise should not take more than five minutes of your day but it will make your Masonic study more meaningful and enlightening.
To illustrate, let's take the phrase, "first prepared in my heart:
'Prepared' means to make something ready for use or consideration.
'Heart,' in this context, is a metaphor for love and emotion.
Reflect on why this is important, the consequences of not being emotionally invested, and compare situations where your heart was in it and when it wasn't.
Another example is how I write this very newsletter:
Pick a word or phrase, starting from page 1
(if you open your First Degree book, you may just that some of the earlier articles are at the very beginning of that book.)Google the Definition of each word. I also like to discover the etymology (the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.) of each word because that gives great insight into the original meaning of the words & phrases
I ask myself, what this means in the context of Freemasonry - what is physically happening during this moment when the words are said.
What did it mean or how would our ancient brethren apply it physically or practically
Why is this lesson important in Freemasonry, but more importantly, why is it important in our Personal & Working life
What are the pain or negative consequences of not applying this principle to the lesson?
What are the practical steps I can take to apply this lesson - how do I actually apply the lesson in my work and personal life?
In conclusion, the first lesson in Freemasonry is simple, but its simplicity belies its profound significance.
Asking is not merely a prerequisite to becoming a Mason. It is the key that unlocks the door to Freemasonry's wealth of wisdom and insights.
It is a guiding principle that can lead us to personal growth and enlightenment. It is the prologue to our Masonic journey, a prologue that we must remember and apply as we traverse the labyrinth of Masonic teachings.
As Freemasons, we must never stop asking, for it is through asking that we receive, through seeking that we find, and through knocking that the door of wisdom opens to us.
Now, of course, this may seem like a big ask to do all of this yourself.
But there is a simple solution if this seems a little too hard.
That is to subscribe to Daily Masonic Progress.