EDUCATION

"Ad Astra is a well-organized Lodge well versed in the Masonic teachings whose members strive for perfection through a professional and intellectual approach to their Masonic work. Involved in various projects Ad Astra is well known throughout the Masonic community."

"It is not enough to be positive in our approach to Freemasonry - understanding Freemasonry and attitude are essential elements to progress. Understanding comes with education. Attitude is developed from understanding. Without both, we are mere ritualists."
                                                                Source: S. C. R. I

The Three
Degrees of Masonry

An Address Before Keith Chapter Rose Croix
 Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite Halifax, NS
Easter 1954

By Reginald V. Harris 33*

 A Man’s Masonic stature is not to be measured by the number of degrees he has or the offices
 he has held. The titles by which he is addressed may be high sounding; the regalia he wears may
 be rich and gaudy, but neither means anything if they adorn a man whose spiritual stature has
 not increased as he advanced in Masonic knowledge.

 There are only three degrees in Masonry; some never get beyond the first degree; some do reach
 the second degree; I know of few who have attained to the third.

 It is a source of much interest to many outside the Craft as to why men join the Order. There is a
 ever-ending stream of petitioners knocking for admission. Some come prompted by the recollection
 that father or brother was a Mason; others conjure up a group of men, most of whom are
 influential in the business world, or public life, or the professions, and they be­lieve Freemasonry
 will help themselves. Another hears of Masonic banquets, of parades, of clubs and good times,
 and he seeks the circle of good fellowship. Still another wonders what there is in Freemasonry
 that is secret and he comes impelled by mere curiosity and inquisitiveness.

 Such men seldom mean anything to the Order; they get their degrees, attend a few meetings;
 they are on hand for festive occasions; they wear Masonic emblems on their fingers and coat lapels
 but when they hear Free­masonry adversely criticized they can say nothing in its praise; they
 conceal their emblems and deny their membership.

 Some of them have their eyes on other goals —we seldom see them again—but we often find
 their names among the suspended members.

 Some few go on and attain high office; they love the titles by which they are addressed and the
 plaudits of the crowd, but their swords are never drawn in the cause of Masonry. They have
 attained to the First degree, of which the Password is “Self.”

 But there are others—sincere in their declaration that they “solicit our privileges, prompted by a
 favorable opinion preconceived of the Fraternity, a desire for knowledge and a sincere wish to be
 serviceable to their fellowmen.” On such men must depend the very existence of Free­masonry.

 In their hearts they come—with a desire to ally themselves with all that is good, a desire to
 maintain a code of conduct emblematic of good citizenship. Outside the Order he may never have
 understood its aims and purposes. He may have never heard of “the Lost Word” or “Masonic Light”
 or “Truth,” but with such motives in his heart and once inside our doors he grasps something of its
 meaning; it lures him on in the cause of service wherever there is work to do without the hope of
 fee or reward. He may serve as keeper of the wardrobe, or audit the accounts, or visit the sick in
 the hospitals. He may direct a rehearsal or play a minor part in a degree. Outside the Lodge we
 usually find him serving his City or Town, in its Council or School Board, as a volunteer fireman or
 as a private in the ranks. He helps to solve the problems of his Church—serving on its com­mittees
 or boards; and when at last he lays down the working tools of life there are few to fill his place.
 Such a Mason has attained to the Second degree, whose password is “Service”.

 Before considering the Mason who has attained to the Sublime degree of Master Mason, let us
 review our earliest days as Masons.

 Each of us well remembers the occasion when we first stood outside the door of the Craft lodge
 and knocked. We were asked what we desired? We learned that the right answer was “Light.” In
 the Second degree we again knocked and asked for “More Light.” in the Third degree the answer
 was “Further Light.” We later heard of a “Lost Word.” In the Fourth degree we declared we sought
 “Truth and the Lost Word.” and so on. The answer we gave was “Light” or “Truth” or “The Lost
 Word.” Always seeking but never finding. In the 14th we were actually given the word but failed
 to hear it. In the 17th, we were still “a humble and patient seeker after Truth,” still seeking the
 True Light; in the 18th degree we found the Temple demolished, the tools and columns of Masonry
 broken and destroyed, the greatest confusion reigned (as in the Third degree, when there were
 no designs upon the Trestle Board). Our Shepherd was smitten and the Word was lost.

 Later we were told that Faith, Hope and Love were valuable aids to us in our search.We were
 told that by embracing the new law “to love one another” we would be led to the Word, which
 is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

 What is this Lost Word?

 Shall we find it if we explore other Masonic orders? Or go higher in the Scottish Rite?  Brethren I
 have explored all these so-called higher degrees and I am still seeking the Lost Word.

 In all ages and everywhere there has been this search for that which was lost. It is as old as man
 himself.

 On a clay tablet recently recovered from the ruins of a city upon the Euphrates they found a hymn
 about a Word—7,000 rears ago. Something that was lost—a Word.

 It is symbolized in the Egyptian mysteries; in those of Eleusis and Mithras; in those of Scandinavia
 and the Teutonic race; in those of the Celtic race and the Saxon peoples. We find it in the Legend
 of the Holy Grail, so beautifully told by Tennyson in his Idylls of the King, the sacred cup used at
 the Last Supper; brought to England by Joseph of Arimathea and laid up at ancient Glastonbury.

 After his death “the times grew evil and the holy cup was caught away to Heaven and
 disappeared.”

 The Knights of King Arthur see it in their hail covered and they leap to their feet and swear that,
 for a year and a day, they will take up the Quest.

The vision comes to each according to the soul of each.

 Sir Galahad, virgin in body and soul, alone achieves the Quest and goes with it into the City of
 God. He represents the immortal search for per­fection, the search for the Lost Word.

 Another example is the German legend of the Blue Flower, so well re­told by Dr. Henry Van Dyke;
 the Blue Flower, sought along many and various paths and with varied fortune, but never found.

 Then there is that other beautiful story of the other Wise Man, the fourth Magus led by a star on
 his way to join his fellow Magi in Bethlehem, who turned aside to minister comfort to a dying
 stranger, and arrived too late. He wanders for 33 years in search of his lost Christ, spending his
 substance in good works.

 He joins the crowd on that first Good Friday—hoping to catch a glimpse of Christ, but is turned
 aside by the cry of a girl sold into slavery, and in his dying moments he hears those wonderful
 words “In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it Unto Me.” Brethren,
 he found the Lost Word.

 In Alpine climbing there always seems to be another peak in the dis­tance which appears to be the
 summit—only to find on reaching it there is a still higher one in the farther distance.

 In Masonry there is no finality because the virtues it teaches know no limit of development short
 of the perfect standard of the Perfect Master.

We must go on; impelled to go on; guided by the virtues we profess to practice until we reach the summit, the humanly unattainable summit— until we find the Lost Word.

All through the pages of that wondrous book upon our altars, through the smoke of Sinai, through psalm and proverb, through prophecy and parable, is heard the everlasting truth of one God who is love—who re­quires of men that they love one another, do justly, be merciful, keep them­selves unspotted from the World and walk humbly before Him in whose hand they stand.

Our place as Masons is unique. We set ourselves high standards of conduct, are we not expected
 to follow them?—or are they merely beautiful ceremonies intended to entertain?

If I am consistent, then the obligations I have assumed at our altar must materialize into action for the good of others.

Masons are no longer ordinary men—content to grub along in the ebb tide of social responsibility. Masonry has failed in each one of us if it leaves us as it found us—content and satisfied with old standards.

We must be pioneers—with a vision of new and exalted standards, for the truths inculcated here,
 if truly lived, lead men in the way of God.

William Booth—the valiant founder of the Salvation Army, once sent an Easter message to his
 officers and members; just one word—”Others.” What a wealth of meaning is in that one word
 “Others!”

The life that counts is the life that serves. Let us by our service to others demonstrate that Freemasonry includes men who exert by the lives they live those benign influences of absolute
 justice, a conscientious discharge of public and private duty; a wholesome respect for law and authority and an unswerving allegiance to the cause of righteousness. Those are the standards
 set before us from the E. A. degree to the 33rd, and in every other degree in Freemasonry.

After all, the Sermon on the Mount and the Golden Rule are the rock­bed of Freemasonry and only
 the Mason who tries to live (I don’t say, succeeds in living) according to that divine teaching is seeking the Lost Word.

What is a Masonic Temple? Is it only a pile of bricks and mortar, concrete and stone? Is it
 only a collection of beautiful lodge rooms? It is all that and more. It stands, next to the Church of
 God, as an honest effort for the building of character, for the strengthening of faith, for the
 increase of patriotism. It serves no purpose unless it is a great power house which radiates out
 great forces and influences through the lives and the service of its members.

Only the consecration and dedication of ourselves to its cause and its ennobling influences will
 convince mankind that Freemasonry is not a pur­poseless order, that it will aid us in the
 search for Christ and will aid Christ in His search for us.

Such men, energized by the wondrous teaching of Freemasonry, radiate their influence into
 their service for others, their homes are homes of happi­ness where Christ is ever a welcome
 guest; their work for their Church speaks of the reality of their lives; their earnestness of
 purpose, their love of God.

If one-tenth of the members of the Craft in this city; if just those of the Scottish Rite, were to
 live for one year, or even for one month, a week or a day, in accord with the wonderful
 vision of Freemasonry, the emphasis it places on spiritual values, the insistent urging to seek the
 Lost Word, there would be effected in the life of our Province a transformation un­dreamed of
 by us now.

            "As King Arthur says;
“            A glorious company, the flower of men,
             To serve as model for the mighty world;
              And be the fair beginning of a time.
             I made them lay their hands in mine and swear;
             To reverence the King as if he were
             Their conscience and their conscience as their King;
             To break the heathen and uphold the Christ;
             To ride abroad redressing human wrongs;
             To speak no slander nor listen to it;
             To honour his own word as if his God’s."

Let me recall those great words of Dr. Joseph Fort Newton, who speaks of the true Mason as one”
 who finds good in every faith, that helps any man to lay hold of divine things; who knows
 how to pray, how to love, how to hope; who has kept faith with himself with his fellow man,
 with his God; to those ears no voice of distress comes in vain, whose hand no other seeks
 without response; who feels the benign influence of Freemasonry in his very soul; who
 seeks to ennoble others and himself—In his hand a sword for evil; in his heart a bit of a song,
 glad to Live but not afraid do die.”

Such a man has found the only real Secret of Masonry and the one which it is trying to give to all the world. Only such a man has found the Lost Word; only such a man has attained to the Sublime degree of Master Mason.

Reginald V. Harris 33* - Biography

 Brother R. V. Harris is one of the bright lights of Nova Scotia Masonic lore.

 He was born in March 21, 1881.  He was initiated into St. Andrew’s Lodge No.1 on August 5, 1913,
 passed on September 2, 1913 and raised on October 7, 1913.  He became Worshipful Master in
 his Lodge in 1918.  Dr. Harris was Most Wise Sovereign of the Keith Sovereign Chapter Rose Croix
 from 1924 to 1925.

 Dr. Harris was active in both the Scottish Rite and York Rite.  He was also very active in the Grand
 Lodge.  He was Grand Master from 1932 to 1934; Grand Secretary from 1945 to 1957; Associate
 Grand Secretary from 1958 to 1968; and Grand Historian Emeritus from 1965 to 1968.

 Dr. Harris passed to the Grand Lodge above on August 2, 1968.  He was buried in the family plot
 in Annapolis Royal.

 Dr. Harris was widely known throughout Canada in several fields of work and service.  He
 collected and recorded Nova Scotia history, especially its judicial and Church history.  He was also
 active in the affairs of the Anglican Church.  Dr. Harris was for many years Chancellor of the
 Diocese of Nova Scotia and the first layman in the history of the Anglican Communion to be elected
 Prolocutor of a General Synod.

 He wrote extensively.  His publications included: Catalogue of Portraits of The Judges of the Supreme
 Court of Nova Scotia and Other Portraits; The Oak Island Mystery;  and The Church of Saint Paul.  He
 wrote many essays on various Masonic topics, a number of which are available on the Nova Scotia
 Grand Lodge web site.

 Dr. Harris led a full life and was very active in the fields of Community and Public Service.  He made
 many valuable and insightful contributions to the body of Masonic writings.  In his time, he exerted
 great influence over the course of Masonry in Nova Scotia.  Dr. Harris was truly one of the great
 Nova Scotian Masons.

It is not the primary function of masonry to initiate candidates, or to enlarge its membership. Were it so, there would be no basis for our laws against proselytizing. The ordinary function of a Masonic Lodge indeed, the primary function of our Craft, is to train its members to an understanding of the truths which its ritual and its ceremonies are calculated to inculcate, to develop its members as benevolent men, to cultivate the social virtues among men, and to propagate the knowledge of the art.

The chief concern of the Lodge is with its welfare, the happiness, and the Masonic development of its members, not with the admission of those who seek entrance to its doors. Its success as a Masonic Lodge cannot be gauged by the length of its membership roll or by the size of its accumulated funds.

The beauty of our ritual, and the good fellowship among the members of our Lodges cannot be conserved when the chief aim is to make Masons and money- "For a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth"- and a Lodges life does not consist in its acquisitions, but in the contributions which it makes to civilization and society through the influence to those whom it has helped to train to what we call Masonic character. Therefore, it should be the duty of every Masonic Lodge to put in action a plan for the education of its members in Masonic history, symbolism and philosophy, devoting more of its meetings to this much neglected function. (Reprinted from the Dec. 2001 issue of "Masonry in Manitoba". Thanks to Barry MacLellan of CINOSAM for your continued contribution).

 STATED BY H. R. H. The Duke of Sussex
Grand Master 1813 - 1843

"When I first determined to link myself with this noble Institution, it was a matter of very serious consideration with me; and I can assure the brethren it was a period when, at least, I had the power of well considering the matter, for it was not in the boyish days of my youth, but as the more mature age of twenty-five or twenty-six years.  I did not take it up as a light or trivial matter, but as a grave and serious concern of my life.  I worked my way diligently, passing through all the different offices of Junior and Senior warden, Master of a Lodge, then Deputy Grand master, until I finally closed it by the proud station which I now have the honour to hold.  Therefore, having studied it, having reflected upon it, I know the value of the Institution; and, may I venture to say, that, in all my transactions through life, the rules and principles laid down and prescribed by our Order have been to the best of my faculties strictly followed.   And if I have been of use to Society at large, it must be attributed, in great degree, to the impetus derived from Masonry."

 

---

We invite our viewers!

Our Halifax - Dartmouth Masonic Learning Centre for Children with Dyslexia opened on September 17th. There are 7 tutors with 7 students receiving free instruction.

The Halifax Learning Centre needs
Tutors, Administrative Support, Receptionist, Supervisors.

You can make a difference in the life of a child, volunteer today.

If you are unable to volunteer your time consider making a financial contribution. A Donor Donations Form may be downloaded from the Members Area Downloads Page of the Grand Lodge Web Site.

Masonic Foundation Donor Contribution Form.pdf

Click below to learn more about our Halifax Centre.

MASONIC LEARNING CENTRE FOR CHILDREN HALIFAX

=================

Our Masonic Foundation of Nova Scotia gives financial support to the Centre.

=================

 

    YOUR GIVING 
                     YOUR SHARING

 

“May a Freemason’s charity have no bounds save that of prudence”

The Masonic Foundation of Nova Scotia Information Booklet "Your Giving Your Sharing" describing the Assisted Home Program, the Shared Funds Program, the Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship Program,  and the Administered Program may be read from the Grand Lodge Web Site Home Page, Masonic Foundation of Nova Scotia section.

http://www.grandlodgens.org/

The Application Form for Shared Funds has been revised. Form available from
GLNS Web Site Members' Area
Downloads Page.

=================

 

MASONIC TRIVIA

Ad Astra's Education theme is being extended by the publication of Masonic Trivia questions each month with the answers supplied the following month.  Please keep your own score

April 2008

Question 302

The answer is ....C .... The Source is: Illustrations of Masonry, pp. 164-165

The answer is ....B .......The source is: The Freemasons, p. 66

The answer is ...B . ...... The source is: More About Masonry, p. 11

Question 25

The answer is ....A ...... The source is: The Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia, p. 718

March 2008

 Question 458

This church was built by the Templars and consecrated on February 10^th, 1185 by Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem in a ceremony attended by royalty. This church still stands but is difficult to find in the lanes. In which city does this church stand ?
Choices:
A Paris
b Rome
C Athens
d London

The answer is ....D .... The Source is: Beneath the Stone, pp. 161-16