🚀 go-pugleaf

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     The work is proceeding according to the plan of the Great Architect.
None of the masters or workmen know why the Temple is being built or
what use is to be made of it after it is built. Nor do the master or the
wardens or any of the workmen know the whole plan. The Architect
furnishes only designs, drawn on a Trestle-Board, from which each
craftsman is given the details he must know in order to carry out that
part of the work which it is his duty to perform. The workmen merely
know that each must work with all his heart and soul and strength and to
the utmost of his ability and skill, because the Great Architect has
ordered it so.
     Each understands that the successful completion of the work depends
not only on his individual effort but also on the united cooperation and
harmony of the Craft. Each understands that their can be no cessation of
the work until the Temple is completed, at which time the Great
Architect has let it be known that the whole design will be disclosed as
well as the object and purpose of its building. This is no fanciful
picture designed for an evening's entertainment, but is intended to
represent and does faithfully represent the life of man.

     He finds that in this world he must work if he is to receive the
wages of life, which consist not merely of a 'living': food, clothing,
and shelter; but those equally essential satisfactions: interest in
life, happiness, and contentment. He finds that he cannot choose the
work he would like to do, but must adapt himself to conditions and
circumstances imposed by a power outside himself. He gets his direction
for doing his work from study of forces and the laws that govern the
natural world and from written words of wisdom embodied in what are
known as Sacred Volumes, or Bibles. He finds that he cannot work alone,
that his work is dependent on mankind, and they on him, wherefore are
formed governments, societies, and other organizations for cooperative
effort. H sees many things happen to himself and to others, the reason
for which he cannot fathom.A some times the world seems good, at others
bad. Sometimes the work he is doing appears without purpose and without
result. He continues to put forth effort only because he must.

Admission to the Middle Chamber->
     The passage from the outer porch to the middle chamber represents
man's journey from ignorance to enlightenment. His wages as a
Fellowcraft are received in the Middle Chamber. These wages are a symbol
of knowledge that can be gained by a closer relationship with his
Creator.
     The candidate must also find the doors to knowledge -- the inner
and outer entrances. To enter one of these, he needs a pass. To go
through the other, he must have a word. Help is given to him in each
instance, but such assistance is limited. This signifies that man must
acquire knowledge through his own effort, though he is often dependent
upon others for some help.

     The ritual of Masonry harmonizes these discordant impressions. The
Temple that is being built is the Temple of character; the great books
of nature and revelation are the Trestle-Board; the voice of conscience
is their interpreter; man is the workman; and the Supreme Architect is
GOD.

     Parts of the preceding text comes from the Manual for Lodges of
Instruction from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, A F & A M.

                        The Ancient Landmarks

     While there is considerable disagreement over the number of
"official' landmarks of FreeMasonry, and each Grand Lodge accepts a
different set, there are currently 7 that are universally accepted. This
article will attempt to lay those seven out.
     First what is a Landmark? -- Landmarks in FreeMasonry are certain
universal, unalterable, and unrepealable fundamentals which have existed
from time immemorial and are so thoroughly a part of Masonry that no
Masonic authority may derogate from or do aught but maintain them.

Now the 7 Landmarks.

 1)  Monotheism is the sole dogma of FreeMasonry. Belief in one God is
     required of every initiate, but his conception of the Supreme Being
     is left to his own interpretation. FreeMasonry is not concerned
     with theological distinctions. This is the basis of our
     universality.
2)   Belief in Immortality is the ultimate lesson of Masonic philosophy.
     "The soul of man is the highest product of God's creative
     handiwork. Now, after God has spent untold time in creating man and
     endowing him with a soul, which is the reflection of His image, is
     it reasonable to suppose that man lives here on earth for a brief
     span and then is extinguished by death?"  (Michael Pupin)
3)   The Volume of Sacred Law is an indispensable part of the furniture
     of a Lodge. Usually in the United States this is the Holy Bible,
     but any candidate not a Christian may have substituted for it any
     other volume he considers sacred: e.g. the Old Testament, Koran,
     Vedas, or Laws of Confucius. In many parts of the world it is not
     unusual for a Lodge to have more than one Sacred Book on its altar.
     The candidate may then be obligated on the book of his choice.
4)   The Legend of the Third Degree. This is the most important and
     significant of the 'legendary' symbols of FreeMasonry. It has
     descended from age to age by oral tradition, and has been preserved
     in every Masonic rite, practiced in any country or language, with
     no essential alteration.
5)   Masonic Secrecy includes only methods of recognition and of
     symbolic instruction. It does not extend to everything relating to
     the institution. A secret society is one whose members are not
     publicly known, and whose existence is concealed from the world.
     Masonic bodies, however, meet openly; there is no secrecy
     concerning membership or officers, and Masonic symbols and
     philosophy are discussed in thousands of books accessible to
     anyone. In fact there is much discussion about this on computer
     bulletin boards such as those on the Prodigy and CompuServe time-
     sharing networks. And I have posted much myself on those bulletin
     boards about this subject.

6)   Symbolism of the Operative Art means that Masonic Symbols are taken
     from architecture. Almost without exception they relate to the
     building art: Square, Level, Plumb. Ashlars, Pillars, Trestle-
     Board, etc. The grand idea of Masonry is that the development of
     character is like the Building of a Temple; the same rules apply to
     both. There must first be a plan, then a foundation and framework,
     and finally, proportion and harmony of line. There must be 'wisdom
     to contrive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn all great and
     important undertakings". This is a  practical truth of the
     universal application to all forms of achievement. The symbols of
     FreeMasonry are drawn from the experience of the ages.
7)   A Mason must be a freeborn adult male primarily because he must be
     master of his time, his resources, and himself. In Operative
     Masonry women and young men could not work at the mason's trade; so
     traditionally membership in the Craft has been confined to male
     adults, and from long usage this practice has become imbedded in
     the Fraternity as a Landmark.

     The seven Landmarks laid out above are the 7 universally accepted
by all Grand Lodges. They were first expounded by Brother Roscoe Pound
for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1916.

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