You there stand…
experience than when the youngest member is placed in Northeast corner of the Lodge. Masonic scholars agree that the metaphor of the candidate’s journey to the NE represents the physical, intellectual and spiritual passage from darkness into light. As the North is a place of darkness and the East a representation of perfect light, the candidate symbolically transitions, having received light as yet partially. However, as important as the destination is, the preparation for the journey is equally so.
The Senior Warden gives the first crucial Masonic instructions. “Advance on step… your feet forming the angle of an oblong square; your body erect.” These simple directives are in fact the most important moral instructions we have communicated to our brother thus far. To the hoodwinked candidate these are merely awkward actions and don’t seem terribly impactful as yet. The significance of these easy commands are soon made more meaningful when our newest brother is “placed in the proper position” by the Senior Deacon in the Northeast corner. The Master emphatically conveys the deeper meaning of these actions in his charge when he states, “You there stand a just and upright Mason.” The physical position of his feet, that of an oblong square, is symbolically transformed into a moral position, that of justness. His physical stature, “body erect” is symbolically transformed into a moral position, that of uprightness.
The candidate is admonished to be “just”, that is to behave according to what is morally right and fair, and he is further commanded to be “upright”, in other words, strictly honorable and honest. This charge is not negotiable, as our brother is “…given strictly in charge to ever act and walk as such.” These are absolutes; there is no room for equivocation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind!!! These primary Masonic lessons form the foundation upon which the rest of the brothers’ temporal building will be erected.
The merry merry month of May is here and with it comes the gentle warmth of spring. Our regular communication will be held on Tuesday the 3rd, which will also be the night of the DDGM’s fraternal visit to Trinity Lodge. On Tuesday May 17th, MSL will hold a Fellow Craft degree for our newest brothers, and on Wednesday RW Gregory Stahl will be paying a fraternal visit to Quinsigamond Lodge. On Tuesday May 24th at 7:00 pm, the 23rd district there will hold its Lodge of Instruction at the Worcester Masonic building. Last on the calendar for May, we will organize a “ladies night” on the fifth Tuesday, May 31st -- details to come!
Looking ahead to June, I just want to remind the brethren that we are actively planning our lodge’s first biennial “Isaiah Thomas day” on Saturday June 11th, We will also confer the Master Mason degree on Tuesday June 21st and are expecting to host more special guests that evening! And lastly, the annual Morning Star Lodge Table Lodge of Instruction will be held on Wednesday June 22nd at the Grill-on-the-Hill, to make a reservation contact RW Robbie Burnett!!
Brother John F. Sullivan, Master
