The District Light

information and Masonic Education May, 2019 ( Niagara B District ) bhodwitz@gmail.com

What is it?

Each of us has struggled with trying to tellsomeone about masonry. But the concept is sodiverse and personal that we cannot encapsulate the whole into any convenient sound-bites. Any attempt to do so creates errors by omission; what we don’t say leaves gaps in the understanding.

Are we a fraternity, or a secret society, or amystery cult, or a self-improvement group. Yes.

On a personal level, we each are drawn towhatever our interests are. Sometimes we wantcompanionship, sometimes education, sometimes immersion in esoteric analysis.

The fact is thatmasonry can offerwhatever we need – not as a gift, but as a goal worth the effort to engage ourselves. It’s there if you want it, but you have to apply yourself to the search.

TThe ideals of masonry are lofty and appealing.

How does it work? By formal presentations, by personal research,

and by masonic interaction, we develop ourselvesand, as in any educational process, when one set of questions is answered, we look in a differentdirection to get clarity for our next area of interest.

So there is no one answer to how masonry works,but we can contemplate the process that we observein lodge and remind ourselves of the journey we are attempting.

The first ‘step’was our curiosity or interest, followedby immersion in thepractices andprotocols.

District Light May, 2019 p.2

The Beginning

Think back to how you got started in masonry.Here is one man’s recollection:

When I first got interested in Freemasonry, my proposer invited me down to the lodge so that I could meet the guys and get a betterunderstanding of what it's all about.

While there, I asked to see the Templeupstairs, which the W.M. politely declined, saying that it's best to experience it during a working ritual i.e; my EA initiation.

Truth be told, I was a bit taken aback with thisbut after going through that experience, I have to say he was right in refusing me entry beforemy degree.

I understand why it would have spoiled the experience as soon as I had "seen Light"during my Initiation.

Some good advice forthe Entered Apprenticecan be found here.

The Northeast Corner

The symbolism of the Northeast corner in the Entered Apprentice degree is taken from the ancient practice of laying thecornerstone in the Northeast corner.

He who stands there in the lodge, "a just and upright Mason," is himself a cornerstone of the lodge which will be. A lodge is erected not only by, but upon, her sons. The EnteredApprentice of today is the veteran Mason andlodge member of tomorrow.

The Ashlar

A Rough Ashlar is a stone which has comefrom the quarry, unfinished to its final shape. It is used as a symbol for an untutored man.

A Perfect Ashlar is a stone that has beensquared and smoothed. It is a symbol ofenlightened manhood.

Since the Perfect Ashlar resides within the Rough Ashlar, so a man has `goodness`withing him. The Masonic experience tends to draw out and enhance the noble qualities latentin the character of men who come to our lodges.

Don't Expect Perfection

Don't expect perfection in a man because he is a Freemason. If you do, you will bedisappointed. Masonry makes a man better, but no human agency can make him perfect.

If the man is a Mason, you have a right to presume he is a good man, but do notcondemn Masonry even if a few Masons turn out bad.

The aim and purpose of Masonry is to receivenone but good men, keep them good, and makethem better. Judge the institution not by a fewfailures, but by the average of its successes.

That average is high and it consequently gives standing to its members, but it cannot be an infallible guide. (Author Unknown)

District Light May, 2019 p..3

Beginning the Jouney(Taken from the writings of Carl H. Claudy)0

The masonic journey is long. No man has the mental capacity to absorb and understand in one evening, even the introduction to whatFreemasonry knows;

No degree, no matter how impressivelydelivered, can possibly take him far along this road. All that the E.A. degree can do is to point the way, and give the seeker sustenance by which he may travel.

And equally true it is that while men do receivethe degrees of Freemasonry at the hands of theirbrethren, if he is not willing to sacrifice sometime, give some effort, some study, ask somequestions, digest some philosophy, to make it truly his own, there is no Freemasonry in hisheart.

The candidate is designated an EnteredApprentice because we have conferred theinitiatory degree, in which he took a central part.

No man however, can in reality be "Entered"unless he is willing to enter.

In the character of a candidate you were broughtinto a large place – a very large place – a universalbrotherhood. Henceforth a pathway lies beforeyou, and whether you will travel blindly or not,depends only and wholly upon you.

An Entered Apprentice is barely born,Masonically. He must learn and learn well, if he is to enter into his heritage. That which is worth having is worth working for.

You have crossed the threshold of a very oldand very ancient craft. What you do in the future,and how well you learn the lessons taught you as an Entered Apprentice, will be the yardstick by which your craftsmanship is measured.

The Beginner’s Mind

If we are to be in a constant state ofknowledge acquisition, then it should follow that our mindset should always be one of anEntered Apprentice – a learner.

There is a term in Zen Buddhism whichmeans "beginner's mind". It refers to havingan attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions while studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner in that subject would.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

A Masonic Quest

"All that I contend for is, that when a candidate enters the fold of Masonry, he should feel that there issomething in it better than its mere grips and signs, and that he should endeavourwith all his ability to attainsome knowledge of that better thing."

Albert G. Mackey

District Light May, 2019 p.4

Continuous Improvement(taken from a talk by R.W.Bro. Tom Wills)

A long time ago I met an expertritualist, one of the best I have seensince joining Masonry. I asked himhow he achieved his incrediblememory work and dramatic flair. His answer was “to work eachday, word by word, improving and building on what I learned until I am the best I can be.”

I asked him why he felt he had to work so much on the ritual, and he said, “Because the candidates deserve it”.

The concept of continuous improvement is embodied in the Japanese word, Kaizen, The philosophy of Kaizen is based on the conceptthat instead of making big changes at once, the continuous improvement approach focuses on making small improvement over time.It has served their manufacturing empire well.

How can it help us enhance our personal lives,and how can we apply Kaizen to Masonry?

Kaizen is often referred to as the “strategy for 1% gains”. It is these 1% gains that athletesfocus on to improve their performance. The 1%gains are incremental and if you keep building on the 1% gains the rewards are phenomenal.

Masonry is a continual struggle towards the Light. Continuous improvement is not aboutreaching the big goals in life but about takingsmall steps and improving and refining yourselfalong the way. It is is a journey of personal growthwhere you are making long-term steady progressby incremental achievement.

When you follow the philosophy ofContinuous Improvement, you won’t radicallychange your life, or Masonry, but over timewith diligence and commitment, you will findthat you are living your life to the fullest – empowered, resilient and thriving.

A comfort zone is a pleasant place, but nothing grows there.

Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.

Norman Vincent Peale

District Light May, 2019 p.5

How We Learn

The Lodge is a place of learning by listening,questioning, copying, and practicing.

We expect to be in the company of teachers,mentors, and leaders who care about the work and want to communicate their understanding and appreciation to us.

We want our needs to be satisfied.

The Art of Mentoring

The mediocre mentor tells.The good mentor explains.The superior mentor demonstrates.The great mentor inspires.

Cognitive Apprenticeship is a theory that implies that we learn from one anotherthrough observation, imitation, and modeling.

Think about the difference between a Brotheryou have heard who has memorized ritual versus a Brother who has mastered his role.There is a massive difference in their confidence,and their ability to articulate and convey thelesson's point.

Masters of the work become good teacherswho teach great students.

Bro. Michael Arce

Within the Lodge

There is much formality in the lodge. The language used is often `traditional` and the work can be classed as rites.

A Rite is an established ceremonial, usuallyreligious, act.

Rites can fall into three categories: rites of passage, communal rites and rites of personal devotion. Interestingly, lodgeactivities can fall into all three categories. During the ceremonies of initiation a candidategoes through a rite of passage allowing himto become an active member of their lodge. By regularly attending lodge, a Freemasonparticipates in communal rites in the opening and closing ritual work of the lodge. By becoming a Freemason he devotes himselfto becoming a better man in his life, creating that "house not made with hands, eternal in theheavens."

Freemasonry is by its nature is a Rite.Freemasonry is a ritual-based society.Understanding the rites of a ritual-based societyallows you to better understand and betterdescribe to others the ideals and prinicpalsinculcated (taught) by the organization.

Leadership

Members want to be proud of their lodge, its accomplishment, and its aspiration.

Since these needs and desires are important, it becomes so necessary for masters and officersto play a major leadership role in facing the head-on challenges which each year brings.

It is the responsibility of the master to ensurethat thoughtfully conceived and well-plannedprograms become an integral segment of theoperation of the lodge.

It is the responsibility of every officer to present his part with sincerity and understanding.

It is the responsibility of every member to be attentive, to be present, to be respectful,and to befriend every other member he meets

District Light May, 2019 p..6

My Pledge, as a Member

I will do more than belong I will participate.

I will do more than care I will help.

I will do more than believe I will practice.

I will do more than be fair I will be kind.

I will do more than forgive I will love.

I will do more than earn I will enrich.

I will do more than teach I will serve.

I will do more than live I will grow.

I will do more than be friendly I will be a friend.

I will do more than just pay dues I will be an active member!

A Better You

Whether you are a Masonic beginner or Masonic leader, if you assume an attitude of a beginner and believe something can belearned from everyone you encounter, you will begin to experience the power of other positive leadership qualities. You will find yourself:1. Practicing Humility – My title means

nothing and my Brothers are my equals.2. Listening – I must listen to understand.

If I am listening, I am learning.3. Building Relationships – As I listen I begin

to know more about my Brothers and how I can help them become better men.

4. Being a Servant – My focus changes fromlooking inward to looking outward.

5. Remaining Teachable – I will look for ways to gather more knowledge.

As an Entered Apprentice we were allplaced in a particular location in the lodgeroom to begin our Masonic life. We must daily continue to build from there.

(Source: masonsleadbetter)

My Chance to VolunteerOne of the vanssuppliedand drivenby themasons of

Manitoba

In the April issue, I was pleased to see the nice Charity plug for Masons of Manitoba. I regularly drove those Vans into Winnipeg at least once a week, sometimes more often, for almost 10 years. It was one of the mostrewarding experiences I've had; not alwayseasy, as some of the passengers didn't win the fight with cancer.

But a compassionate ear on the 2-hour tripalways gave them some comfort. It wasn't in the speaking; it was being willing to listen. They all had a story.

R.W.Bro. Terry Metcalf

We masons are the fortunate ones who are taught to meet together with othersof possible opposing or competitive ideas

and yet respect each other as brothers.

District Light May, 2019 p.7

My Quest of My History

Bro. John Macbeth has six Lewisjewels hanging from his suit pocket.He plans to visit each of the lodges to which his ancestors belonged.

How much do we know about ourancestors? Names, dates, born anddied, children, and maybe where they lived? Ananecdote or two? A household item touchstone?The further back, the vaguer things become.

But what of their inner selves? Since Masonic rituals change little and the

outside forms are known for some we can know a bit of that inner life.

The Lewis jewel allows one to recognise and honour those who went before. If a man was a mason, he wanted to better himself internally and perhaps the externalities would follow.

Was your father a mason? Was his father? How far in your patronymic can you go?

I knew my father was a mason and mygrandfather's obituary mentioned that he was.

Thanks to those family members who keptrecords, I knew names, dates an locations of the line back to the Selkirk settlers.

Grand Lodge keeps records. For fifty dollarsGrand Lodge will search a name and, if found, will tell you the lodge and initiation date. Ask.Now your fun begins.

Grand Lodge found that after the move fromManitoba to Ontario the first masonic ancestorjoined Simcoe Lodge in 1862. As the family grew and farmed they spread out to Kerr then Zeta, my father to Kingsway and me to Niagara #2,joining in respect of my first wife r.i.p. only afterBlacks were admitted.

Standing in lodge, hearing the words,understanding the rituals, thinking of those who went before, hearing and understanding the same thing maybe contextually different.

Now to gain a bit of that context, my fall projectis to visit each lodge where my ancestors joined.

We'll see.

Displaying the Symbols

Masonry employs some distinct images. We all have experienced the pleasure ofrecognizing masonic imagery on a building or a vehicle. Some of us even imprint such images on our bodies:

At the Opening

Several Lodges make this announcementjust before Lodge is opened:

Brethren, at this point, please silence all cell phones.

Please be aware that the fire exits arelocated _____. In the event of a fire, proceedto one of these exits and make your way to______ (the marshalling point) immediately.

The Tyler will bring the register so that we can ensure that everyone has exited thebuilding.

The AED (Automated ExternalDefibrillator) is located ______.

Should there be an emergency, Bro. ______ will take control. Please listen to and follow his direction.

The Secretary has his phone and will beresponsible for contacting emergency servicesif needed.

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome,

indescribably magnificent world in itself.”

District Light May, 2019 p.8

There are several opportunities for MasonicEducation this month.

On Tuesday, May 7, at 7:30, there will be a Meet the Candidates evening at Ivy Lodge in Beamsville. during their regular meeting. Brethren who are running for Deputy GrandMaster, Grand Senior Warden, Grand JuniorWarden, Grand Registrar, and the Board ofGeneral Purposes will be introduced and have the opportunity to speak.

On Wednesday, May 15, masons will gatherat Niagara No.2 in Niagara-on-the-Lake at 7:00.R.W.Bro. Michael Locke, the chairman of theCondition of Masonry Committee, will host alodge of instruction for the explanation anddiscussion of lodge matters relating to rituals,reception of guests, and banquet procedures.

On Saturday, May 25, a Masonic Educationforum will be held in St. Catharines from 9:00to 4:00. Details will be transmitted through thelodge secretaries.

Testimonials

It is refreshing to have other brotherscomment on their masonic experiences.

From Bro. Rudyard Kipling: author:

I was Secretary for some years of the Lodge of Hope andPerseverance, Lahore, India, which included Brethren of at least four creeds. I was entered by a Hindu,

passed by a Mohammedan, and raised by an Englishman. Our Tyler was an Indian Jew.

We met, of course, on the level,

It Brings Me Joy I had thought about joining the Masons since I was a littleboy. To me it's a brotherhoodof men that will go above andbeyond to help each other outthrough the thick and the thin. I feel as if I have joinedsomething that many men, be they a king or the lowest

of beggars in the street, have been accepted into and considered brothers, to which they have been. Masonry is a family and brings mejoy every day to be a part.

Bro. Michael Fortin, Merritt Lodge

What it Means to Me

Freemasonry to me is acomplicated yet simple answer.

My father passed away when I was seven years old and I wasraised by my grandfather LouisComuniuk who was a member of Adoniram lodge 573.

He taught me values and howto be a man. I admired him, I looked up to him, I wanted to be just like him.

He had strict morals and would alwaysexplain to me why or why not something had to or could not be done, and over time as I grew I leaned that he was a Freemason.

To this day I can still remember the firstconversation I had with him about it. I askedhim about his Masonic ring and what it meantand why he wore it and he explained.

I then asked him if I could join and he smiledand told me, “Seek out a lodge and fill out anapplication” the same way that he did years ago,He told me that it was hard but it was the bestthing he’s ever done.

Freemasonry to me personally is more than just standing in lodge, it’s aboutfellowship, bonding with other men who share your views and values for what menshould be like; it’s about helping the communityand being the best you can be.

Lenn Heafey, Palmer Lodge