Showing posts with label Master's Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Master's Word. Show all posts

Saturday, November 16, 2024

A Brother Asks: The Lost Word

  

 

A Brother Asks: If you study the cultures where Brother Pike takes you, do you come to
recognize the real lost word is geographically East and it is philosophically non-Hebrew and non-Arabic.

Coach: The problem us that Brother Pike uses the term "The Lost Word" to claim it is "The Sacred Name" and The Creative Word" in his 13 degree lecture. Unfortunately, "The Lost Word" is a term that also refers to what was lost in our third degree drama.  As a result, far too many believe "The Master's Word" is "The Sacred Name" and "The Creative Word."

THE Central Issue that has to be addressed before you understand what The Lost Word actually is has to do with understanding what that “Lost Word” is referring to within context!

Is this "Lost Word" the same as:

  1.       "The Divine Name"
  2. "The Ineffable Word"
  3. "The Creative Word"
  4. "The Master's Word" aka "The Master Mason's Word"
  5. "The Mason's Word"

My research says, "Not when you use the term "The Lost Word" to say that all these other terms are all one and the same."  

One must look to Ritual to understand why they are not that same.

Ritual refers to “The Lost Word” within the degrees which it is used.  

However, the term does refer to all of these other words when used in a general manner thereby equating all of them to each other. It is only referring to the word that was lost within the context of each degree.

From Ritual, we gather that:

The Divine Name and The Ineffable Word both refer to the Name of God solely. 

Furthermore:

The Divine Name IS The Ineffable Word AND neither are The Creative Word, The Master's Word nor The Mason's Word.

Moreover:

The Creative Word and The Master's Word are NOT The Mason's Word.

(The Mason's Word varies from one jurisdiction to another and is an effable word that is used for fraternal recognition purposes within that jurisdiction solely.)

Also:

The Creative Word IS The Master's Word. They are BOTH lost to any soul who has NOT done the Work the first two degrees direct us to do.

As an Aside:

The Master’s Word is literally spelled out (not ciphered) in the Trestle-board lecture of most 1st degree rituals.

However:

Even though It is spelled out, you will NOT understand it until you have done the demanding Work pointed toward by the first two degrees.

In Other Words:

You already have The Master’s Word.  If you do the Work, you increase your chances of both recognizing this and understanding It.

That being said, Brother Pike is half correct when he said (15:09-15:33) that "The Master Mason's Word" is found within nature.  Most all of our first degree rituals point us to a second source that is also part of "The Master's Word."  It would be wise to include this in your use of The Master's Word activities.

(Inspirational hat tip to Bro. Brad Parkinson!)

Saturday, June 17, 2023

A Brother Asks: TOP TEN QUESTION MASTER MASONS CAN ANSWER?

 

A Brother Asks: Hey, Coach!  I just got raised and want to continue exploring ritual.  What are some of the questions that Master Masons ought to be able to answer?

Coach:  First off, congratulations on your recent Raising!  Secondly, Great Question, Bro.!  It means you're still seeking further Light  and are not settling on just wearing the Master Mason title - Kudos! 

In light of your question, here are but a few of the many questions that Master Masons should be able to to answer fully had they actually done the Work of the first and second degrees and thought through what was offered to them by the third degree experience.

As you continue your quest, you'll hopefully be able to answer them for yourself.

--------------

THE TOP TEN QUESTION 
MASTER MASONS CAN ANSWER
(WHEN THEY ACTUALLY DID
WHAT THE FIRST TWO DEGREES
TOLD THEM TO DO!)

Question #10: What does the term, “The Work that Makes Good Men Better” mean?

Question #9: How and why does being a Ruffian keep him from knowing The Master's Word, and why can no one ever provide understanding of The Master's Word to a Ruffian?

Question #8: To what does the term, "The Temple of Solomon" refer in the Development of Master Masons?

Question #7: How does one Complete one's Temple?

Question #6: What is a Spiritual Building, how does it differ from the Completed Temple, and which one is required to build the other?

Question #5: What are the Secrets of a Master Mason, how are they brought forth, and how do they differ from The Master's Word? 

Question #4: What do the Secrets of a Master Mason have to do with understanding The Master's Word?

Question #3: What is our Masonic Purpose and where can one find that purpose within the first Craft Lodge Degree?

Question #2: What does the Master's Word have to do with our Masonic Purpose?

Question #1: Where do we find The Master's Word and how does one prepare oneself to understand it?

---------------

On a lighter note, you can find your answers to these and other questions by either doing the actual Work that the first two degrees direct you to do and then applying what you built toward what was offered to you by the third degree experience.  Complementing this course of action, reading good books on the subjects, or attending the next Building Better Builders Workshops to understand what that Work actually is can greatly enhance your efforts. 

Brother: Coach! What is this Building Better Builders Workshop that you refer to?

Coach: Ah!  Another Great Question!

This Workshop is a special program that was developed specifically for the planned for Grand Lodge of Florida's OFFICER'S TRAINING PROGRAM and was put together in early 2023 by the request of a member of the Florida Grand Line.

It was designed to Facilitate a Better Understanding of What is Hidden in Plain Sight, How to Access It, and How to Apply It in Lodge and in Life.

Brother: What can I expect if I attended it?

Coach: Here's what you can expect by attending!

RITUAL 101:
Understanding & Communicating Its Importance
to Member Interest, Recruitment, & Retention

Understanding Ritual is crucial to understanding the purpose of our Masonic involvement.  Those members who have in-depth understanding of Ritual, its meaning, and its purpose in “making good men better” are positioned as both organizational examples and well-springs for members who want to strengthen themselves and to maximize their participation in organizational fellowship, ceremony, and beyond. 

The BBB Workshops focus upon applications of Critical thinking & analysis, the Socratic Method, and the Trivium to Ritual to support Masonic pursuits, membership recruiting & member retention.

It includes, but is not be limited to, the following areas of focus:

1) Interpretation Basics and Improvement
2) Esotericism - Organizational & Personal
3) Realizing Masonic Perfection in an Imperfect World
4) The 11 EA Working Tools (Yes, ELEVEN!!!!)
5) The Actual Master's Word and not some mis-undestood Substitute!
6) Completing Your Temple & Beyond

All that is offered to the attendees is intended to help them recognize, understand, and be able to explain the answers to these ten questions, and much more.

Brother: WOW!  That's a lot!

Coach: Yes, and you'll be able to answer those question that all Master Masons should be able to answer.

Brother:  When is the next one planned?

Coach: The next BBB Workshop is occurring in Temple TX on August 26, 2023.