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"The BEE HIVE is an
emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all
created beings, from the highest seraph in heaven, to the lowest reptile
of the dust. It teaches us that as we came into the world rational and
intelligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones; never sitting
down contented while our fellow-creatures around us are in want, when it
is in our power to relieve them, without inconvenience to ourselves.
"When we take a survey
of nature, we view man, in his infancy, more helpless and indigent than
the brutal creation; he lies languishing for days, months and years,
totally incapable of providing sustenance for himself, of guarding against
the attack of the wild beasts of the field, or sheltering himself from the
in clemencies of the weather.
"It might have pleased
the great Creator of heaven and earth to have made man independent of all
other beings; but, as dependence is one of the strongest bonds of society,
mankind were made dependent on each other for protection and security, as
they thereby enjoy better opportunities of fulfilling the duties of
reciprocal love and friendship. Thus was man formed for social and active
life, the noblest part of the work of God; and he that will so demean
himself as not to be endeavoring to add to the common stock of knowledge
and understanding, may be deemed a drone in the hive of nature, a useless
member of society, and unworthy of our protection as Masons."
Now in that short
comprehensive explanation of the Bee Hive there are more than a few
subjects of Masonic interest, such as: the Bee as an insect, industry,
relief, beasts of the field, the Great Creator of heaven and earth, and
knowledge. But for now I would only like to look at 'the bee as an
insect,' and 'industry.' Industry goes right along with labor and labor is
significant in Freemasonry. Freemasonry is a fraternity that teaches and
honors - honest intelligent labor. Evidence of this is repeated each time
a Lodge is commencing to go to, or retire from, labor in the opening and
closing ceremonies of the Lodge. We are then reminded that the Master is
to set the craft to work and give them good and wholesome instructions for
their labors. In the old Masonic Manuscripts it was a universal charge
that "all Masons shall work honestly on working days that they may live
creditably on holy days."
The Septuagint Version
of the Old Testament which was the first translation into popular Greek
before the Christian era, says: "Go to the bee, and learn how diligent she
is, and what a noble work she produces: Whose labor kings and private men
use for their health. She is desired and honored by all, and though weak
in strength, yet since she values wisdom she prevails."
The Ant and the Bee as
insects are both noted for their industry; "but the Bee is the one
mentioned as 'a noble work' since in her labor she renders service, and is
therefore better fitted to symbolize that virtue as taught by Masons. The
labor of the bee was looked upon as an important part of wisdom: That
higher wisdom which looks beyond the transient pleasures of the pleasant
hour to the needs of the future, and to the welfare of others."
The Bee it seems to me
is one of the original teachers of a powerful truth, and that is the
difference between pleasing methods or pleasing results. As Masons we know
that to get the results we want we cannot always employ only pleasing
methods - working hard and working smart leads to pleasing results, and
the results Masons strive for are the kind that will benefit our fellowman
without regard to any Masonic connection.
The Ant in its
instinct and industry surpasses most other insects, and since the ant was
an insect that was in great abundance in Israel during King Solomon's
time, as it is here in all parts of America today, it is mentioned in the
book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible; Proverbs 6:6 & 30:25.
Those Bible passages
do not tell us that we should never rest, because the Great Architect of
the Universe has given us the Sabbath, but the Ant is used as an example
because the Ant uses its energy and resources economically and from its
example we can learn about preparation. You might also find this
interesting: Coneys (Badgers) teach about wise building; Locusts about
cooperation and order; and Lizards about fearlessness.
The Masonic symbol for
industry is the Bee Hive and not the Ant Hill, because of the bee's noble
work. Freemasonry is a fraternity that honors and encourages labor; in our
fraternity idleness not labor is a curse. The Latin _expression "Laborare
est orare" means "to Labor is to pray," which Brother Mackey says is the
great truth and which he teaches; "labor is worship." In Freemasonry we
learn that as God himself is a builder, (as in Great Architect of the
Universe) we as men can only prosper through industry.
Mackey says that one
of the most beautiful features of Freemasonry is that it teaches not only
the necessity, but the nobility of labor. From the time of opening until
the time of closing, the Lodge is said to be at Labor. "This is one of the
numerous instances in which the terms of Operative Masonry are
symbolically applied to Speculative Masonry."
"Labor is an important
word in Freemasonry; indeed we may say the most important. For this, and
this alone, does a man become a Freemason. Every other object is secondary
or incidental. Labor is the accustomed design of every Lodge meeting. But
do such meetings always furnish evidence of industry? The labor of an
Operative Mason will be visible, and he will receive his reward for it,
even though the building he has constructed may, in the next hour, be
overthrown by a tempest. He knows that he has done his labor, and so must
the Freemason labor. His labor must be visible to himself and to his
Brethren, or, at least, it must conduce to his own internal satisfaction.
As we build neither a visible Solomonic Temple nor an Egyptian Pyramid,
our industry must become visible in works that are imperishable, so that
when we vanish from the eyes of mortals it may be said of us that our
labor was well done."
In the book of Exodus
it is said that the promised-land is a land flowing with milk and honey.
The dry climate of that part of the world, the rocks that prevail there
and the flowers that bloom there provide an ideal place for Bees to live
and work. In ancient times, as it is today, the honey produced by Bees
could be harvested and back then as it is today honey was used as
merchandise, something that's harvested, sold and bought.
By the way, the name
Deborah is the Hebrew name for Bee. As you know Deborah was the name of
the fourth and only woman to be a judge of Israel, one of the lessons we
can learn from her life is that we should spend our efforts on what we can
do rather than what we cannot do. This is also a lesson to be learned from
the Bee.
There is a poem by
John Oxenham. It is sometimes used in the little pamphlets that are given
out at funerals. To me this poem provides the sentiments some Masons might
have when the time comes to enter the Celestial Lodge where the Great
Architect of the Universe presides.
Lord, when Thou seeist
that my work is done,
Let me not linger on,
with failing powers,
Adown the weary hours
- a workless worker
In a world of work.
But, with a word, just
bid me home, |
The following students
were presented bicycles at High Desert Middle School on May 12. Victor
Waterman & Katherine Mounce. Anthony Gonzales was presented a bicycle at Kornegay Jr. High mid December and Jeff Miller on May 20th at
the awards assembly. Many thanks to Bill Sneyd for presenting the bicycles
at High Desert and Paul Dore' and Bill Greenen at Kornegay Jr. High. The
picture shows the winner Jeff Miller with Principal Sue Hocking of
Kornegay Jr. High.
