Meeting Calendar 2006

        Jan                Feb                  Mar              Apr                 May

   5- OES #8    2 - OES #8     2 - OES #8   6 - OES #8    4 - OES #8   

 14 - WM #3   11 - WM #3   11 - WM #3     8 - WM #3    13 - WM #3   

Something to Think About

Why I Love the Masonic Fraternity
(for my Masonic coach)
By; Tom Lyle

So many years ago some Masons shared
the light they came to know with one who cared.

Those concepts filled my heart and helped me see.
They were my tools to start my "Me" to "We".

My ring (each hour) I earn, but not alone,
my brothers help me learn and "We" have grown.

Here's what I want to say, of this I'm sure --
brotherly love's our way (and God's our cure).

This publication is issued with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. and A.M. of Minnesota.
 

In a Masonic Lodge there are more than a few references to Three's. The Three Principal Tenets, Three Great Lights, Three Lesser Lights, Three Fixed Lights, the ancient Orders of Architecture; Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, Three Principal Officers, Three Knocks, Three Steps, Three Degrees, and a couple of others as well, not the least of which is Corn, Wine and Oil. If we were to make a list of all the instances of three's in Freemasonry it would make quite a list.

Every once-in-a-while the subject of three's will come up and the question about whether there is any relationship to the three's in a Lodge; which is not so obviously explained in the degree work of Freemasonry.

Well there are. Take for instance the Three Principal Tenets of Freemasonry; Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. We all know these are first explained to the Entered Apprentice on the occasion of his First Degree. For now let's just take a look at those items and how they are represented in a Masonic Lodge.

The Three Principal Tenets are closely represented by the Three Principal Officers of the Lodge. In the East of the Lodge Room sits the Master of the Lodge, the Column of the ancient orders of architecture which represents his station is the Ionic, which is the column of Wisdom, and the column of wisdom represents Truth because the rays of Truth penetrate and enlighten the inmost recesses of the Lodge.

In the West end of the Lodge Room is the Senior Warden of the Lodge, the Column of the ancient orders of architecture which represents his station is the Doric, which is the column of Strength, and the column of strength represents Brotherly Love because it is Brotherly Love which binds us as one family in the indissoluble bond of fraternal affection.

On the South side of the Lodge Room is where we will find the Junior Warden. The Column of the ancient orders of architecture which represents his station is the Corinthian, which is the column of Beauty, and the column of beauty represents Relief because relief is represented by the tears of joy of the widow, and the orphans prayers of gratitude that are more valuable than the ornaments which adorn the pillars of the porch of the Temple.

By the way, the columns of the pedestals of the Junior and Senior Warden here in Minnesota represent the pillars of Jachin and Boaz. You can tell this by the way these columns appear. Also by the disposition of these columns is a visual reminder of who is assisting in the governance of the Lodge. The Senior Warden's Column is erect when the Lodge is at Labor signifying that he is assisting the Master at that time. During the hours of refreshment the Senior Warden's column is no longer erect, and the Junior Warden disposes his column in an upright position signifying that he is in charge of the craft while at refreshment. 

The Three Fixed Lights are also represented by the Three Principal Officers of the Lodge. In the old Masonic Lodges it is said that there were supposed to be windows in the East, West and South of a Lodge Room "to light the workmen to and from their labors." Everything is symbolical, and the principal officers of the Lodge represent these lights to give the Brethren the light of knowledge about Freemasonry, which is to give them the light they need in their Masonic Labors.

The Labor of a Mason is to be a seeker of Truth; and Truth is represented by the Master of the Lodge who, while the Lodge is at Labor, must always have the Three Great Lights in view. The Holy Bible, the Great Light of Masonry, is a great reservoir of Truth to which we, as Masons, may go "with perfect assurance that we will there find the spiritual knowledge we need to choose the right and reject the wrong."i  The search for Truth is the great object of Freemasonry, and whether we call it the search for the word, for light, for truth or for God, these are only different phrases for the same great quest.

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