THE COACHES COACH: Speculation on the Letter “G”

Good Day My Fellow Travelers,

Here's an article published in September 2014 based upon my previous work, "The Coaches Coach" Videos 1 & 2 that might be of interest to you. 

Fraternally and Sincerely,

Bro. John S. Nagy

Building Better Builders Series Author

 

 

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 The Coaches Coach: Speculation on the Letter “G”

To get a firmer Grasp for what takes place when Brothers help to Build Builders and not just membership in the Freemasonic Fraternity, I share an example with you.  This example reflects one of the paradigms that shifts and helps men to understand better what is required to Build Builders.  It has to do with a Mason’s ability to see beyond things that can and do mislead others.  The example that is offered has to do with the Letter “G” found in the center of the overlapping Square and Compasses.

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There has been much Speculation on this Letter “G.”  Some say it stands for “Geometry”, others say it’s symbolic for “God”, a select few say it represents the Greek letter “Gamma” (which looks like a square “'”) and still others say it represents the “Grand Geometrician of the Universe”.  This addition to these Speculations is not intended to add any confusion.  It is intended to bring some much needed clarity and insight for those Brothers who desire more from Freemasonry.

It should be evident that there are problems with all these Speculations, mostly due to all the different languages one can find from one jurisdiction to another. Discussions of these problems can be found in abundance elsewhere, so they shall not be covered here.

What is offered though is an uncommon Speculation as to what the Symbol actually represents and it is inclusive of that which has already been discussed.  This Speculation comes from an out-of-the-box thought that fits well the mold that Masonic Training encourages its members to undertake.  To Grasp it requires you to step out of the box of preconceived notions though.  It also requires that you look past the actual symbol itself and not associate it with anything that you might typically assign to it.  It furthermore requires that you see the source that projects the image of this Symbol upon the cave wall.  Adhering to all these requirements shall hopefully prepare you for what is shared in this simple example and beyond.

The Symbol at the Center of the Square and Compasses Represents "Structure".  It is Structure that conveys the only possible link between any Symbolic Conveyance and the Objective World.

This Speculation is best supported and encapsulated by the following quote attributed to the late Polish-American Philosopher and Scientist, Alfred Korzybski:

“If words are not things, or maps are not the actual territory, then, obviously, the only possible link between the objective world and the linguistic world is found in structure, and structure alone.”

Just as in Language, it is Structure that makes Masonry what it is.  It doesn’t matter what tongue that it is spoken in, what culture that renders it or which Masons employ it.  The Structure of Masonry is unique and, to those Raised within it, Recognizable in the Dark as well as in the Light.

And it is that very Structure that both conceals and reveals the Code that spells out what’s required to Build even the most uneducated into Builders.

The current Freemasonic Structure of the three Degrees employed throughout most of the United States preserves the Code which spells out what Masons must do to Build themselves. Unfortunately, it does not require that this Code be Executed.  Current Degree preservation efforts only assure that the Code remains intact enough for each generation to rediscover it, should they take the time to Examine it.  It is up to the Coaches & Mentors of each generation to help those Freemasons who come through the Three Degrees and hear this Code to Step beyond Preserving it and into actually Applying it toward Building the Builders of this and future generations.  Until each new Freemason Discovers this Structure, it remains concealed and assumed lost.

All this is Alluded to by the Letter “G”.  Whether you want to believe it represents either the Geometry or the Geometrician involved, the common thread is the Structure hidden within both.   
 
Can you find It?

For Further Light:

The Masonic Ledge - Are you a Member?

The Masonic Ledge[i] -- Are you a Member?

It’s unfortunate that it happens all too often, and if you’re someone fortunate to experience it for yourself, then you know exactly how it feels.   

ae) LOOK AROUND YOU )fb

Hello my Brother.  Yes, it’s me and I know that you’re standing there.  You’re not as stealthy as you want everyone to believe.   Sure, I know the vast majority of your Brothers can’t see you there but I know you’re there.  You don’t have to believe me though.  You don’t have to invest anything into my words, but it’ll change nothing about my awareness of your situation.  Your Ledge activities are more obvious to me than most.  This shall never change, ever.

You might be wondering about how I could possibly know that you’re there.  You might even be trying to figure out how you can move one or two Steps to the Left or Right to Better conceal yourself from spying eyes like mine, but you’re not going to succeed in any of your efforts whatsoever.  You’ve not got the ability yet to conceal yourself and standing on that Ledge isn’t going to hide you.  It’s only after thoroughly searching your heart that you shall understand how I know that you’re there. 

No.  It doesn’t take much “know how” to know such things.  It’s simply a Strong sense you get about others after you connect solidly to your own Heart.  Once you do, you get really good at picking up on all those “on-the-Ledge” vibes others give off and without much effort too.  Ere you’ve been there yourself, you just don’t have what it takes to pick up on the Ledge activities of others.

And I can very much tell you that you’re there on the Ledge due to tremendous frustrations and repeated disappointments.  You expected something different from your involvement or your Brothers or both!  And you believe that you’ve been let down, or even misled by them!  And you believe that you didn’t get what you wanted, don’t you?  And you asked for something and something was given to you, but you didn’t get what you truly wanted, right?  And you sought something that you thought you’d wanted, but what you found was utterly unsatisfying, true?   You knocked upon a door, and sure, it was opened to you, but did you actually walk through it – really?

Yes.  I’m sure that I’m being unusually brutal in my questions and observations.  I know that I am.  And I can tell you without reservation that most Brothers get disgusted by this kind of bluntness.   They expect more “candy coating” on such things. 

And perhaps that’s exactly why you’re on the Ledge.  You might have expected everything that you asked for to be sweet when you got it.  You might have expected everything you sought to be acceptable to your past conditioning and views.  You might have expected every door that you knocked upon to swing open effortlessly so that you could enjoy what you thought was on the other side.

But the reality that you found was probably overwhelmingly real, unbelievably demanding and perhaps very much unacceptable to the point where you’re still a bit Speechless and have not gotten your Head back upon your shoulders quite right.   If it was presented properly, what you saw put out before you were sets of conditions that required Work from you; Work that you knew required you to Transform yourself from a child to an adult; Work that was not exactly what you wanted to invest your Heart in either.   And you know that what you heard were conditions that had to be met for true growth to come to Fruition.  What you felt most likely was your gut being pulled in two differing directions, intuitively knowing that neither direction was truly right for you.

Yup.  Without a doubt, the Masonic Ledge you’re currently on is possibly experienced as a place of solitude and maybe for some time now.  It’s were you found yourself after you were whisked through your Degrees, participated in your fair share of mind-numbing business meetings and engaged in endless “service” work.  It was where you found yourself when you finally took a good honest look at what you were involved in and recognized that you were starving for something else that such participation would never give you.

And I’m here to tell you that you’re exactly where you should be – on the Masonic Ledge! 

You’re almost certainly for the first time looking down at Masonry believing that you’re getting a good bird’s-eye view of its offered Reality.  But you should by now realize too that the view that you currently see is one of your own making.  You chose to see your involvement this way.  You chose to do what others have done and all that got you was on to that Ledge. 

And that is a good thing!  Your choices mean that you created this condition and your view so that you could see where bad choices can lead you. 

But it ain’t all that bad!  If anything, you can redirect your Masonic choices and recreate them so that you do get your needs met and perhaps lead others by example toward more nurturing Masonic activities.

 

Ledge Membership

You can start by choosing to look at your situation differently.  You have already made it through the Initiation, Passing and Raising and now you have your Traveling Papers.  Think about it!  This paper allows you to go anywhere that Recognized Brothers have inter-visitation.  What’s even better, now that you have your Papers, you can make connections worldwide with other Brothers who are on the Ledge with you. 

Yes!  You heard me right.  You’re not alone on this Masonic Ledge.  There are countless other Brothers just like you taking in that view.  The ones who have stuck around have recognized three important things about it. 

The first is that the Ledge is filled with Brothers just like you who want more.  They each realized that they weren’t going to get more from participating in the usual venues and that they could get what they wanted much easier Working with other Ledge members. 

The second is that the Ledge is an illusion.  They each realized that they were actually standing on the Ground Floor of a rich Foundation laced with valuable Veins of Light ready for the getting. 

The third is that the Ledge is all about each of them and not about others.  Rather than stepping off the Ledge, each of them stepped into its Light by Taking Personal Responsibility for their own Transformation.  Each of them no longer relied upon others to give them what they needed and wanted. 

In short, they all embraced Adulthood and all that comes with it and left youthful dependence behind.

Are you truly ready for Better?  Then take a Step in the Right Direction and join them!

Points to Perpend: 

1)  Who do you know who’s on the Ledge?

2)  How would you coach them to get their needs met without directing them back into the Lodge?

3)  What’s your plan to help Lodge members from becoming hopeless Ledge members?

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[i] 1) A cut or projection forming a shelf on a cliff, a solid wall, or a rock wall; a raised, horizontal, or projecting edge or molding intended to protect or check

2) An underwater ridge, rock shelf or reef

3) A narrow flat surface or shelf; especially one that projects from a wall of rock; rock that is solid or continuous enough to form ledges

4) A level of rock-bearing ore; a vein; a lode

 

NEW BOOK RELEASE! Building Free Men - Uncommonly Freeing Masonic Education - Volume 8

Good Day My Fellow Travelers,

Here's a link to my new book, "Building Free Men - Uncommonly Freeing Masonic Education - Volume 8", that was published on July 14, 2014. 

Enjoy!

Fraternally and Sincerely,

Bro. John S. Nagy

Building Better Builders Series Author

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Tampa Bay, Florida - July 2014

Masonic Light is near impossible to obtain if you don't know where to look. In “Building Free Men”, Volume 8 of the “Building Better Builders” series of Uncommon Masonic Education books, Dr. Nagy shares twelve jammed-packed chapters filled with insights and information designed to help you to train yourself toward recognizing when you are faced with a growth opportunity, help you understand what you can do to be a Better man and help you take more effective actions in dealing with Brothers and yourself on a day to day basis. Masons on the Masonic path will glean tremendous Insights into what they can do to Better their options, choices and abilities, in these respects. Dr. Nagy’s book contains:

• The True Purposes behind Proficiencies.
• What it actually takes to Cultivate Free Men.
• Exploration into the roots, histories, backgrounds, and meanings you won’t normally hear about some important Words & Phrases used within the Organization of Free & Accepted Masons.  Words & Phrases like: “Freemason”, "Free Mason", “Freeborn”, “Freestone”, “Acceptance”, “Admittance”, “Scholarship”, “Operative”, “Speculative” and “The Word”.
• Critical connections, ideas and concepts that help you better Recognize, Understand and Apply this information toward Bettering yourself and supporting others toward this same end.

And, as usual, Insights and Light on the Challenges that all Brothers face in Cultivating a better Understanding of the Craft overall. Thought-provoking development questions and exercises designed to stir and support your Skills and Masonic Transformations. Invaluable fodder for Masonic Discourse between Brothers within the Lodge and without. Assorted Masonic Ciphers and other information intended to challenge, delight and support the concepts Masons need in their Work. And much more... Dr. Nagy provides you with yet another interesting, entertaining and thought-provoking guide to improve, strengthen and support your Masonic awareness and clarity. He shares key information and insights that will help you better understand how facets of Blue Lodge Ritual fit together to help you in all your present and future Building efforts.

BUILDING FREE MEN (Chapter IV): Accepting & Admitting Our Differences

Accepting & Admitting Our Differences

 

One of the most Unfortunate Aspects of the Craft is that what has been Lost is Nowhere Understood, is Wholly Misunderstood and is not even Missed.

 

Just as the meaning behind the word “Free” has been both misunderstood and misapplied within the Fraternity for over three centuries, the meaning behind the words, “Accepted” and “Admitted” have been erroneously communicated to all those so Initiated.

 

be)))))fa

 

It wasn’t until I was in the Organization for several years that the phrase “first prepared in my heart to be made a Mason” began to catch my attention.  It was often misquoted by well-meaning Brothers who eagerly communicated that they were made a Mason in their heart first.  It caught my attention enough over the years to earn a permanent position in my ready to comment list.

It’s not that I personally don’t believe that men weren’t being Made Masons in their heart first and perhaps foremost.  It’s because I have a clear understanding what a Mason is for me.  My understanding was driven home as a result of some investigation into the background of the word, “Accepted”, that occurred recently.  What I found was both enlightening and disturbing.

 

Entry

 

Just as many others before me, I have been told repeatedly that the word “Accepted” refers only to the “Speculative” Brothers within the Craft.  This is based upon the mistaken belief that the Craft phrase, “Free and Accepted” referred to the “Operative and Speculative” members respectively.  Numerous writers over the last three hundred years have drawn this conclusion, trying to make sense of something that was not well understood. Reviewing available resources though shows that this interpretation is not the case and that such conjectures are both erroneous and wrong.

There are countless sources of Light on this matter of which I shall only mention four.  Brother Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry has been a favorite starting point for many of my Masonic Quests.  In this tome he is credited with writing under the heading, “Accepted”, the following:

 

“Accepted. A term in Freemasonry which is synonymous with "initiated" or "received into the society… …The word accepted, however, as a synonym of initiated, has now become obsolete [underline added]."[1]

 

Furthermore, in other parts of his “Lexicon of Freemasonry” and “Encyclopedia of Freemasonry”, he is credited with the following entries:

 

“Make. ‘To make Masons’ is a very ancient term, used in the oldest charges extant, as synonymous with the verb ‘initiate’.” [2]

 

“Make. ‘To make Masons’ is a very ancient term; used in the oldest charges extant as synonymous with the verb to initiate or receive into the Fraternity. It is found in the Landsdowne MS., whose date is 1560. ‘These be all the charges .... read at the making of a Mason.’” [3]

 

It’s clear from several sources that the words, “Accepted”, “Initiated”, “Received”, and “Entered” were at one time synonymous for non-members who were joining the Organization of Masons.  It is most unfortunate that this clarity was not available to many writers who concluded differently.

 

Speculations

 

An example is provided by Brother Mackey:

 

 “Accepted”: “The modern idea of an accepted Mason is that he is one distinguished from a purely operative or stone-mason, who has not been admitted to the freedom of the company; an idea evidently intended to be conveyed by the use of the word in the Charges of 1722, already quoted.”

 

However, when one examines the 1721 through 1723 General Regulations in total[4], it becomes apparent that the words, “Make, Made or Enter’d” in contrast with the word “Admitted” have entirely different meaning and direction.  Furthermore, none of them have anything to do with new members being distinguished from Operative members. 

Moreover, the word, “Made” was at one time synonymous with the words, “Enter’d”, “Accepted”, and “Initiated”.  The word, “Admitted” was applied strictly to those Brothers who have already been “Accepted”, as in, those members who have already “joined” the Society of Masons.  Hence, existing members of the Society, whether they were Apprentices, Fellows or Masters, who joined specific Society Lodges, were referred to as “Admitted” members. Those “Entering” the Society in general, as in, “becoming members of the Society”, were referred to as, “Enter’d”, “Made”, and “Initiated”, regardless of their intentions to learn or not learn the Operative aspects of the Craft once they join. 

Acceptance into the Society was not limited to Apprentices only.  Just as Apprentices, Journeyman (Fellow Craft) and Masters who were not members of the Society were also Accepted first into it and then Admitted into Lodges as members.

There are many Masonic historians and authors who have written similar supporting thoughts on the word, “Accepted” being applied only to the Speculative members Entering the Fraternity.  One such author was Edward Conder Junior.  In his book, “Records of the Hole Crafte and Fellowship of Masons” (1894), he continually uses the word, “Accepted” to refer to the Speculative members only.  In doing so, he misinterprets John Aubrey’s handwritten note[5] to mean there was a convention of Speculative Masons rather than a convention for newly Initiated Members. His misunderstanding of the words, “Accepted”, “Admitted” and “Admission” plagues his book and his conclusions.

Once you understand the intended original meanings and uses of the word, “Accepted” in contrast with the word, “Admitted”, you recognize that his conclusions are incorrect[6].   As many authors and historians have done before and after him, they assumed that “Free Masons” were Operative and “Accepted Masons” were Speculative.  This was not true then and is still not true now.

Prerogatives

 

The Light provided to us by knowing that the words, “Made; Initiated; Received; Enter’d; Accepted” were at one time synonymous for “men joining the Society” opens up a whole different understanding of our Fraternity.  In specific, one of the much quoted Ancient Landmarks that is recognized and honored within many Jurisdictions becomes clearly understood.  This group of Landmarks was provided in writing to the Fraternity by Bro. Anderson around the time of the founding of the Grand Lodge Era; not all jurisdictions recognize them.  The Landmark in question though refers to the exclusive right or privilege of the Grand Master of any Recognized Grand Lodge “to make masons at sight”[7]^{, [8]}. 

This Landmark is reasonable and understandable when one considers that a previous Landmark[9] provides for prerogatives that naturally dovetail into this one.  The Grand Master, by virtue of his position, has the authority to dictate when and where men can be Initiated by others, or using the ancient now obsolete meaning of the word, “made masons”.  This authority naturally extends to him, by virtue of being part of the Craft.

 

Finding Acceptance

 

Troubles arise though for members of the Craft who take the Words, “Made”, “Initiated”, and “Accepted”, out of context.  In the context of the original sourced, “to be made a mason” meant “to join the society and become a member”.  Such members are called “Accepted” masons as in “Initiated”.  

Taken out of context, “to be made a mason” leads members to believe that they are actual “Free Masons”. This action confuses unknowing Brothers.  There is a huge difference between being Initiated into the Society, thus becoming one of its members and being thought of or referred to as something other than a newly Enter’d Mason.  To be Made a Mason, does not mean that you are qualified to do Masonry, and more especially “Free Masonry”.  It merely means that you are only a newly Initiated member of the Society – An Accepted Mason! A Member.

Additionally, when you have done nothing further to Improve yourself in the Art and Science of Masonry[10], you’ve done nothing to transform yourself from a Good man to a Better man.  Moreover, referring to yourself as a “Free Mason[11]”, as it was originally meant centuries ago, and believing and acting as if you are anything other than an “Accepted” Mason, misleads yourself and all others who desire the Betterment that Free Masonry exemplifies. 

 

Points to Perpend

 

1)  What are your thoughts as to the difference between Accepted and Admitted Masons?

2)  How different is the current Craft understanding of the words focused upon herein from that of years past?

3)  What impact would Better Understanding these differences have upon present and future Brother Development?

(SOURCE: Building Free Men - Uncommonly Freeing Masonic Education)

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[1] Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.

[2] Mackey’s Lexicon of Freemasonry

[3] Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.

[4]  Excerpts from General Regulations highlight the use of the words, Make, Made, Admitted, and Enter’d:

   IV. No Lodge shall make more than Five new Brethren at one Time, …

     V. No man can be made or admitted a Member of a particular Lodge, …

   VI. But no man can enter’d a Brother in any particular Lodge, or admitted to be a Member thereof, …

VIII. No set or Number of Brethren shall withdraw or separate themselves from the Lodge in which they  were made Brethren, or were afterwards admitted Members, …

XIII. At the said Quarterly Communication all Masters that concern the Fraternity in general, or particular Lodges, or single Brethren, are quietly, sedately and maturely to be discoursed and transacted; Apprentices must be admitted Masters and Fellow-Craft only here, unless by a Dispensation. … Here also the Master or the Wardens of each particular Lodge shall bring and produce a List of such Members as have been made or even admitted in their particular Lodges since the last Communication of the Grand Lodge.

XXV. The Masters of Lodges shall each appoint one experienced and discreet Fellow-Craft of his Lodge, to compose a Committee, consisting of one from every Lodge, who shall meet to receive, in a convenient Apartment, every Person that brings a Ticket, and shall have Power to discourse him, if they think fit, in order to admit him or debar him, as they shall see cause; Provided they send no Man away before they have acquainted all the Brethren within Doors with the Reasons thereof, to avoid Mistakes, that so no true Brother may be debarr'd, nor a false Brother, or more Pretender, admitted. This Committee must meet very early on St. John's Day at the Place, even before any Person come with  Tickets.

[5] John Aubrey, the author of The Natural History of Wiltshire, next claims our attention, chiefly from the fact that he is one of the few authorities quoted when an endeavour is made to prove that Sir Christopher Wren was a member of the Fraternity.   In the Bodleian Library, Oxford, there is the MS. of Aubrey's History, dated 1686, and on the reverse of folio 72 of this MS. is the following note in Aubrey's handwriting :—

“1691   Mdm this day [May the i8th being Monday after Rogation Sunday] is a great convention at St. Pauls Church of the fraternity, of the free  ^Accepted Masons; where Sir Christopher Wren is to be adopted a Brother: and Sir Henry Goodric . . . of y^e Tower and divers [diverse] others. – There have been kings that have been of this Sodalitie*.”

   In this case Aubrey has himself erased the word free, and substituted accepted, to denote the Speculative Masons.

* Author’s Note: a sodality is a form of the "Universal Church" expressed in specialized, task-oriented form.

[6] At this date, and extending from the early days of architectural development, there was a peculiar esoteric division in the communities of masons, which at times admitted persons, in no way operatively connected with their craft, into fellowship with them when they met for the purposes of speculative masonry, and these persons who were so admitted were termed Accepted Masons, perhaps at first to distinguish them from the Operative or Free-Mason.

But as time went on the two words became synonymous, and at length were used conjointly to distinguish the strictly speculative from the operative masons.

Having obtained this evidence as to the value and intention of the words "Accepted Mason," it will now be my purpose to show in what way the London Company of Masons was connected with the Society of Free and Accepted or Speculative Masons.

[7] Anderson’s Ancient Landmarks; #8. The prerogative of the Grand Master to make Masons at sight.

[8] Please note that this does not say, “make a freemason at sight”, which makes sense since he is making an “Accepted Mason” not a “Free Mason”.

[9] Anderson’s Ancient Landmarks; #4. The government of the fraternity by a presiding officer called a Grand Master, who is elected from the body of tile craft.; #5. The prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every assembly of the craft, wheresoever and whensoever held.; #6. The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for conferring degrees at irregular times.; #7.  The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensation for opening and holding lodges.

[10] other than memorizing things that you do not understand with no intention to understand

[11] Literally, “Masterful Builder”

The Coaches Coach: Drawing Distinctions – Operative and Speculative

Good Day My Fellow Travelers,

Here's an article published in February 2014 based upon my upcoming book, "Building Free Men - Uncommonly Freeing Masonic Education - Volume 8", due out in about 2 months that might be of interest to you. 

Fraternally and Sincerely,

Bro. John S. Nagy

Building Better Builders Series Author

________________

 

The Coaches Coach: Drawing Distinctions – Operative and Speculative

 

When you rely solely upon what others tell you, you risk knowing only what little you are told.

 

I’ve come across enough instances where the use of words was so twisted off course that the meaning behind their original intent was no longer recognizable.  Such instances occur regularly in life and, not surprisingly, within the Freemasonic Organization.  These instances can often appear overwhelming and certainly disconcerting, especially to those who enter into Freemasonry’s knowledge game with the preconceived notion that what is shared within its hallowed halls is complete, factual and unwavering.  Such is the case with the words associated with Operation and Speculation as used within the Fraternity.  Should you accept without waver what is offered by your Brothers, further scrutiny of these words shall neither occur, nor bring fresh Light to shuttered eyes.

________________

 

When I Entered the ranks of the Fraternal Order, I was led to believe that I was now part of “Speculative” Masonry only, not Operative Masonry in any way and my Brothers reinforced this division.  I was further told the distinction between the two had to do with their focuses and activities.  I was moreover informed that Operative Masons were those individuals who plied their trade upon physical stones only. Speculative Masons, on the other hand, erect a spiritual temple, a house not made by hand, eternal in the heavens.  It was implied that the division between the two had to do with physical versus mental work.

 

Soon thereafter I earned the right to Travel, I quickly became aware that there were some very different definitions used outside of the Fraternity associated with the words used within the phrases that differentiated modern day Freemasons and Masons who existed as members prior to Grand Lodge Era.  These differences were startling.

 

As time unfolded, I noticed a continuous decline in member participation within the craft over the relatively short time that I was part of the organization.   I began asking myself and others if we were missing something in our instructions that might provide a clue to this decline.  Was there something in our training that was not being conveyed that should be?  Did we somehow miss an important aspect of the Craft that brought upon us the very decline that we wanted to avoid?  I was sure that there was something, but I was not clear as to what it was.

 

Speculation

 

My search for answers to these questions led me to look into the very words put before me and many other Brothers during Instruction.  One of many words I started examining was the word, “speculative”.  At first, my search led me to definitions and I didn’t like what I found.  As the word, “speculative[i]” is defined today, it means, “engaged in, expressing, or based on conjecture rather than knowledge.”  This definition had me scratching my head.  I didn’t like the phrase “rather than knowledge”, especially since it was Light that attracted me to the Organization.  I also took the time to look up the word, “conjecture[ii]”, since I was now questioning a lot of things including what I thought I knew.

 

The definition for the word, “conjecture”, provided me with very little comfort.  In fact, it was quite disquieting!  It said that a conjecture was “an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information” and it was the opposite of “fact”.  Surely this was not what was behind the meaning of “speculative”!  Surely this disturbing definition was not behind why so many Brothers knew so little about the role that speculation was supposed to play in their own lives!  Rattled, I dug deeper.

 

Going into the etymology of the word, “speculative[iii]”, provided some much needed comfort and relief.  It said that it originally meant, “purely scientific [iv], in theory only”.  I could easily embrace that.  The etymology also said to look at “speculation[v]”, and so I did.  I found it meant, “intelligent contemplation, consideration; act of looking”.  I liked that phrase, “intelligent contemplation”.  I knew what being contemplative[vi] meant, or at least, what it meant to me.

 

Stepping back from the quarry dig, I realized the word, “speculative”, had undergone a tremendous shift in meaning over the years.  Much like the words, “Mason” and “Freemason[vii]”, its general use today reveals it had gone through a semantic shift and doesn’t mean what it did many years ago.  Its originally meaning denoted, “prolonged theoretical thought”, and connoted, “the liberal arts as opposed to the ‘mechanic’ arts (i.e., arts requiring manual skill)”.  It is clear that the intent of the word, “speculative”, was not to engage in unfounded thinking but to use it as a bridging metaphor for building toward the application of techniques used to “build builders of men” by way of the liberal arts study rather than the manual arts.  In essence, Speculative Masons are supposed to be “Well-Founded Cultivated Thinkers”.  Such Cultivation doesn’t occur without Operative elements.  This means it requires Work!

 

Operation

 

Eventually, I operated consciously and deliberately away from speculativism[viii], I turned my attention to the word, “operative[ix]^, [x]”.  The word appeared to be straightforward in its definition:  functioning, having effect; a worker. Further investigation revealed that not much had changed in its overall meaning over time, other than wider applications.  What were more telling to me though were the archaic meanings and roots:  done by labor; creative; formative.  Its antonym was “invalid”, affirming the lack of results that non-operation would bring forth should one not engage oneself actively in one’s endeavors.  These pieces all dove-tailed very nicely with the slogan that I heard years before I joined the Organization of Free and Accepted Masons: Masonry Makes Good Men Better.  Or, as I have said many times before: No Work, No Transformation!

 

Further speculation into the label that Speculative members put forth to differentiate themselves from their stone carving Brothers brought forth an interesting question.  If Operative members of the Organization did all the labor, and Speculative members did all the thinking, wouldn’t the Organization need both functioning together to accomplish anything of significance? 

 

Results

 

The response to this question is that it is not as clean cut and divided a Craft as many members might want to conclude.  Although the labels originally put forth by our Speculative progenitors were done so with the best of intentions, it doesn’t take any deep speculation to quickly realize they do not do justice to the Craft if one assumes and acts as if a separation actually exists:  to accomplish anything of great importance, one must both Speculate and Operate[xi].  Even Rituals today in many different jurisdiction state quite succinctly that “our ancient brethren worked at (wrought in) both Operative and Speculative Masonry[xii]”.  This makes sense too for anything that Masons diligently Operated upon would have to be backed by well-founded Speculation toward what was to be Built if such activities were to have any lasting value.

 

And, as in ancient times, the same goes for our modern day Brothers.  Rituals say that “…as the Operative Workman Erects his temporal Building…, so should we (“Free and Accepted Masons”), both Operative and Speculative, Endeavor to Erect our Spiritual Building… [xiii]” connoting that both functions must occur, along with the assignment of the labels “Operative and Speculative”, even when the erections that current modern day members strive to bring forth are that of Spiritual Temples. 

 

Unfortunately, creating a division, due to any unfounded Speculative belief that Spiritual Temples require no Operative involvement to bring it forth only confuses the Builders of such temples.  Severing them in twain mistakenly divides one from the other in our current Craft efforts.  This either           1) prevents Building altogether due to lack of Operation, or 2) when such Building goes unguided for lack of well-founded Speculation, only Rubbish ensues.   

 

What’s more, neither of these outcomes are the desired results that any man intent upon Betterment should accept!  As much as Freemasonic Training offers to its members opportunities to think; little to no Work is required.  Masonic Training however requires you to Operate as a Well-Founded Cultivated Thinker; this requires Work!  To obtain Better, Operative and Speculative Functions must unite within you and Work together. 

 

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Points to Perpend

 

1.    Do you believe speculation is the only activity required to improve yourself?

2.   If you were to take upon yourself activities that actually “have effect” upon your personal improvement, what would those transformative activities be?

3.   Should you look upon your role in your life as a responsible proactive Speculator and Operator, what do you believe your future activities would include?

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[i] speculative (adjective) 1.engaged in, expressing, or based on conjecture rather than knowledge. [synonyms: conjectural, suppositional, theoretical, hypothetical, putative, academic, notional, abstract; tentative, unproven, unfounded, groundless, unsubstantiated]; 2. (of an investment) involving a high risk of loss. [synonyms: risky, hazardous, unsafe, uncertain, unpredictable; informal, chancy, dicey, iffy]

[ii] conjecture (noun) 1. an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information. [synonyms: speculation, guesswork, surmise, fancy, presumption, assumption, theory, postulation, supposition; inference, (an) extrapolation; an estimate; informal, a guesstimate, a shot in the dark, a ballpark figure]; [antonyms: fact]; 2. an unproven mathematical or scientific theorem. 3. (in textual criticism) the suggestion or reconstruction of a reading of a text not present in the original source.

(verb) 1. form an opinion or supposition about (something or someone) on the basis of incomplete information. [synonyms: guess, speculate, surmise, infer, fancy, imagine, believe, think, suspect, presume, assume, hypothesize, suppose];[antonyms: know]; 2. •(in textual criticism) propose (a reading).

Origin: late Middle English (in the senses ‘to divine’ and ‘divination’): from Old French, or from Latin conjectura, from conicere ‘put together in thought,’ from con- ‘together’ + jacere ‘throw.’

[iii] speculative (adjective) late 14c., “contemplative,” also “purely scientific, in theory only” (opposed to practical), from Old French speculatif “worth great attention; theoretical,” or directly from Late Latin speculativus, from past participle stem of speculari (see speculation). Meaning “given to (financial) speculation” is from 1763. Related: Speculatively.

[iv] scientific (adjective)1. based on or characterized by the methods and principles of science. [synonyms: technological, technical; research-based, knowledge-based, empirical]; 2. relating to or used in science. 3. informal: systematic; methodical. [synonyms: systematic, methodical, organized, well-organized, ordered, orderly, meticulous, rigorous; exact, precise, accurate, mathematical; analytical, rational]

Origin: late 16th cent.: from French scientifique or late Latin scientificus ‘producing knowledge,’ from scientia. Early use described the liberal arts as opposed to the “mechanic” arts (i.e., arts requiring manual skill).

[v] speculation: (noun) late 14c., “intelligent contemplation, consideration; act of looking,” from Old French speculacion “close observation, rapt attention,” and directly from Late Latin speculationem (nominative speculatio) “contemplation, observation,” noun of action from Latin speculatus, past participle of speculari “observe,” from specere “to look at, view”.   Meaning “pursuit of the truth by means of thinking” is from mid-15c. Disparaging sense of “mere conjecture” is recorded from 1570s. Meaning “buying and selling in search of profit from rise and fall of market value” is recorded from 1774; short form spec is attested from 1794.

[vi] contemplative: ( adjective) 1. expressing or involving prolonged thought. [synonyms: thoughtful, pensive, reflective, meditative, musing, ruminative, introspective, brooding, deep/lost in thought, in a brown study]; 2.involving or given to deep silent prayer or religious meditation. 3. a person whose life is devoted primarily to prayer, esp. in a monastery or convent.

[vii] The Coaches Coach: Drawing Distinctions – Freemasonry and Masonry; Dr. John S. Nagy (2014)

[viii] speculativism: the excessive use of speculation.

[ix] operative: (adjective) 1. functioning; having effect. [synonyms: in force, in operation, in effect, valid]; [antonyms: invalid]; 2.(of a word) having the most relevance or significance in a phrase or sentence. [synonyms: key, significant, relevant, applicable, pertinent, apposite, germane, crucial, critical, pivotal, central, essential]; [antonyms: irrelevant]; 3. of or relating to surgery.; (noun) 1. a worker, esp. a skilled one in a manufacturing industry.; [synonyms: machinist, (machine) operator, mechanic, engineer, worker, workman, blue-collar worker]; 2. a private detective or secret agent; [synonyms: agent, secret agent, undercover agent, spy, mole, plant, double agent; (archaic) intelligencer]; 3. detective, private detective, investigator, private investigator, sleuth;

Origin: late Middle English: from late Latin operativus, from Latin operat- ‘done by labor,’ from the verb operari

[x] operative (noun) “worker, operator,” 1809, from operative (adj.); sense of “secret agent, spy” is first attested 1930, probably from its use by the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a title for their private detectives (1905).

 (adjective) “producing the intended effect,” early 15c., from Old French operatif (14c.) or directly from Late Latin operativus “creative, formative,” from operat-, past participle stem of operari. Weakened sense of “significant, important” is from 1955.

[xi] operate (verb) c.1600, "to be in effect," back-formation from operation, or else from Latin operatus, past participle of operari "to work, labor, toil, take pains" (in Late Latin "to have effect, be active, cause"). Surgical sense is first attested 1799. Meaning "to work machinery" is from 1864 in American English.

[xii]Which is preceded by “We work as Speculative Masons only…” with few Brothers realizing that the words “work” and “operate” are synonyms, inferring that they must be Operative in their Speculative Practice.

[xiii] And as the operative workman erects his temporal building in accordance with the designs laid down upon the trestle board, by the master workman, so should we, both operative and speculative, endeavor to erect our spiritual building in accordance with the designs laid down by the Supreme Architect of the universe, in his great book of nature and revelation, which is our spiritual, moral and masonic trestle board.