Letter from the East
I was handed this the other day after a DLI meeting, thinks it's worth posting.
Brethren,
Throughout human history institutions have been established to insure the continuity of a founding idea, belief, or philosophy.I cannot think of a better idea than that of making good men better.
A better belief than the belief in Morality, Brotherly Love, & Charity. A better belief than the search of truth..
So, how do we insure our continuity as Freemasons?
Historical & sociological evidence points out that successful institutions , over time have considered ritual as key to meeting that objective of continuity.
Rituals preserve institutional memory and reinforce cohesiveness and a sense of common purpose among members of the same institution.
So, is ritual important? Our survival as Masons depends on it.
The use of symbolism in freemasonry makes a lasting impression upon a man's consciousness . It evokes reverence to those new to freemasonry by allowing them to experience the solemnity of a centuries old tradition.
Our ritual makes a tightly-woven brotherhood as each brothers role depends on one another's support. Repetition and symbolism allow for the principles of freemasonry to become ingrained in our minds and motive us to live
according to those tenets.
With every ritual that is performed each member has the opportunity to learn different roles. In doing so, we, as brethren, are able to learn more about the allegory of the craft with fresh eyes every time we advance in our stations & rituals.
Ritual brings the symbols to life and enhances our understanding, therefore, solidifying our bond and continuity of a brotherhood.
As brother Elias say: The day Freemasonry starts to neglecting its rituals, it will be the beginning of its end.
True. Thanks for posting.
