HOW WE BARRED HIRAM FROM LODGES

Solitication that would make a tele marketer blush; we didn't start like that but it has crept in unrelentlessly in our meetings.  Rather than approaching our work through the study of literature, history, philosophy and science, we have  replaced landmarks with things more familiar- marketing. 

Are we an Order that talks without speaking; hears without listening; thinks without understanding.  When did we replace the mentor and apprentice with merchant and customer?   We try to take labour out of learning and craftsmenship. Not that it is wrong to use better means to accomplish a task but we have crossed a line that is costing us too much.  The lessons have tasks performed to indirectly learn and understand patience and diligence.  But we have removed the fingerboard from the violin so the student cannot practice the skills needed to achieve mastery of the Craft. We have handed out the answer sheet without teaching how to do the calculations for themselves.

One would think contemplation would be a comfortable part of masonry, but it isn't much a practice in our lodges. Isn't the focus always on management; business first, ritual second and education only when there is time, if at all.

How do we teach mind development without using time proven methods. Shakespeare wrote in the 16th century, work that is studied and admired around the world for showing people the capacity of mind and word to enrich the expression of human experience. Freemasonry embraces similar goals, with archane language, odd costume and unfamiliar sentence structure.  It is a selective mind that notices messages in metaphores. Maybe we need to define ourselves as such and teach our students their talents will only be revealed through hard work and commitment.

...and by the way, I don't have any tickets to sell.