Building Athens Scavenger Hunt and Symbolic Challenge

Building Hiram - 05/20/10

Hello Fellow Travelers!

33 Questions and Challenges for “Just Passed” Masons to Explore, Perpend and Respond to...

(Based upon the book: Building Athens – Uncommon Catechism for Uncommon Masonic Education – Volume 3 by Dr. John S. Nagy)

The Work of a Passed Mason does not end with his Passing and proficiency. If he did his Work well, he should be able to understand the source and purpose of that Work.

Below are questions designed to assist him toward that end.

1. Entered Apprentice Masons Work upon what type of Ashlar? Show this symbolically.
2. Fellow Craft Masons Work upon what type of Ashlar? Show this symbolically.
3. What should Fellow Craft Masons have developed prior to being Passed? Show this symbolically.
4. Where may the cradle of “Western Civilization” be found? Show this symbolically.
5. What Athenian writing discusses City-State Governance, who wrote it and how does it relate to Masonic development? Show this symbolically.
6. What training did “Guardians” and “Philosopher-Kings” receive and how do each relate to Masonic development? Show this symbolically.
7. Who is the Athenian Widow’s Son? Show this symbolically.
8. What is “the divided line” and how is it represented? Show this symbolically.
9. What Raises a Mason’s ability to Work with Symbols? Show this symbolically.
10. What one specific skill development do Fellow Craft Masons Work upon that Raises their ability to Work with Symbols? Show this symbolically.
11. What do the words “Trivium” and “Quadrivium” mean and to what do they refer? Show this symbolically.
12. What does the word “Scholasticism” mean and what was the primary reason for its use in medieval schooling? Show this symbolically.
13. Describe the difference between “Symbols” and “what they represent.” Show this symbolically.
14. Describe idolatry and its affect upon Symbol understanding, use and Work. Show this symbolically.
15. What well-known author warned others of specific types of “Idols?” Show this symbolically.
16. Describe the concept of “The Pass” as it relates to Masonic Development and how does it relate to the Checkered Pavement? Show this symbolically.
17. What Hebrew word symbolizes “plenty”, what Hebrew word symbolizes “burden” and how are these two words both related and dissimilar? Show this symbolically.
18. What brings Order to Chaos? Show this symbolically.
19. What areas of the brain are focused upon during Entered Apprentice Work? Show this symbolically.
20. What areas of the brain are focused upon during Fellow Craft Work? Show this symbolically.
21. Identify the specific areas of the brain that each Liberal Art and Science develops. Show this symbolically.
22. Studying Grammar develops what skills in Masons? Show this symbolically.
23. Traditionally, how are Logical statements constructed? Show this symbolically.
24. What do Masons have to be mindful of when dealing with Flawless Logic? Show this symbolically.
25. What are Rhetorical Stratagems and Canons and how do they support Rhetorical purpose?
26. What are the four fundamental operators of Arithmetic and how are they related functionally? Show this symbolically.
27. How are Rhetoric, Music and Geometry related and what is their collective primary goal? Create a symbolically analogy showing how each relates to the other.
28. How does the study of Rhetoric, Music and Geometry support understanding of Astronomy? Show this symbolically.
29. Once FC Masons study the Trivium, what should they be able to do? Show this symbolically.
30. Once FC Masons study the Quadrivium, what should they be able to do? Show this symbolically.
31. In traditional Guilds, what was another word used for “Fellow Craft” and what did this word mean? Show this symbolically.
32. Traditionally, what wages could Entered Apprentice Masons, Fellow Craft Masons and Master Masons expect? Show this symbolically.
33. In traditional Guilds, at what point in a Fellow Craft’s life would he be accepted into a Guild and be considered a Master? Show this symbolically.

Fraternally,

Brother Coach N.