Page 7 - Mason Digest.cdr - 8 PAGES

July 2019

THE RITUAL IS NOT THE MAIN THING - Rabbi E. Geffen

There are many Masons who know nothing about the morality of portals, regardless that they are familiar with the exact
Masonry, or what their duties are, for the reason that they are only phraseology of the ritual.
interested in the ritual. The ritual is only a small part of Masonry; Masonry has its science and its literature, and to these the
steps should be taken to call the attention of the Craftsman to the attention of the Masonic student should be directed. The ritual is
morality of the Craft, and to what their duties as good and true its alphabet. A know of it is, therefore, it is true, necessary to a, full
Masons are, and the nature and extent of their obligations. The comprehension of its language; but he who has gone no further
ritual is undoubtedly not to be neglected, inasmuch as it is the than the alphabet, however competent he may be to instruct
medium through which we acquire our lessons of symbolism, by others in the same rudiments, can hardly discharge the duty of a
translating the mystical in real conduct of life. The ritual is also teacher of the science.
important, because by its means we separate ourselves from the Such ritualists, who do not know the history and morality of our
rest of the world, and obtain the means of mutual recognition. But Order, are like some ignorant servitor in a public library, who can
it is, after all, the weakest part of Masonry. The ritual alone will no readily point out the shelf or spot occupied by every book, and
more make a true Mason than the manual exercise will make a even give from memory a correct rendition of its title-page, and
true soldier. The moral and intellectual teachings of the Order - its yet who knows no more concerning the intellectual treasures
intention as a great religious institution, occupied in the search contained within its locked leaves than the binder who put them
after Divine Truth, should always engage the attention of the together.
Masonic student, and form a prominent part of his studies. We It is time that Masons should come to the conclusion and realize
unfortunately, know too many Masons who are completely that something more than a mere knowledge of the words of a
ignorant of the history, the nature, the design and the true ritual are necessary to make a "bright" Mason or a competent
symbolism of the Order, as if they had never entered within its teacher in Masonry.

THE RUSTY MASON - THE MASONIC REVIEW - 1862

Once on a time I sought to know I pledged myself then, that the tools to me given,
The mysteries of Masonry, and seeking Should never find rest till the cap-stone was laid !
Knocked, and found the door wide open for me.
And when I looked within And my lamb-skin, if spotted, should know but the stain
Of Masonic cement, while on life's rugged road.
I saw a band of men all clothed in white This pledge was freely given,
Around an altar; and on the altar For I meant to act as Masons act;

Lay the word of God with square and compasses. And if my memory serves me right,
Of that band of men, I started for the work, but found the world
All cold and selfish, and then I feared
I saw one more kingly than the rest, To make the effort.
For on a throne he sat, and gave to each
And all, lessons of wisdom. I never used my tools one hour,
He came and gave to me And all are lost, save this - this rusty trowel.
It seemed to me it might have kept its brightness
A lamb-skin, pare and white, and
Told its meaning. If never used, but as I laid it by

He told me, too, that good great men The rust began to gather, and now
Long had worn it, and how free it was It has no affinity far any, save
Untempered mortar.
From stain, or spat, or blemish. I hope some Craftsman true has found
He gave me tools to work with,
A guage, a gavel, level, plumb and square, My guage, my gavel, level, plumb and square,
And last of all, a trowel that had no spot And laid them by for better workmen.
Inactive as I was,
Of rust upon it, for earth's noblest sons My lamb-skin gathered dust,
Had used it ages long upon the Mystic Temple.
And with the gathering dust,
He told me, too, I stood an upright Mason It lost its whiteness; and now that, too, is gone.
He spoke to me of Temperance, Fortitude, If I remember rightly, they taught me
How to know my brethren.
Of Prudence; and of Justice.
I listened still with wondering ears Though they were truly given,
To learn a Mason's tenets; They were not safely lodged.
And when they song of Faith, of Hope, And now, to tell the summing
Of this matter, this much I know -
And Charity, the true steps that lead
From the level of time to the Grand Lodge on high, I once was made a Mason!