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And those who would like to inquire within The following article is reprinted in an issue of the Fraternal review from the Southern California, research Lodge, but it is originally from a short talk, Bulletin May 2012 published monthly by the Masonic Service Association and I highly recommend you check out their website and their podcast. I think we're okay sharing these articles because we don't get any money. We don't pay, we don't request any money. We don't get paid for any of this.
We just do it to share information on. Masonry, this article is scripture passages in degree work by Thomas, L winter. Right, wash for brother. Winter is a past master of eclipse.
Lodge Number 2, 59 in the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, he is a past District ritual instructor and a member of the education committee and the committee on ritual for the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. This paper fully title scripture passages in the three symbolic degrees their meanings as they relate to Freemasonry was originally presented in 11 at New Jersey's, Masonic literary organization, the Society of st. John, and that's from the editor of the reprint, the Entered
Apprentice degree. Psalm 133, behold, how good, and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard. Even Aaron's beard that went down to the skirts of his garments as the Dew of Herman. And as the do that descended upon the mountains of Zion, For their the Lord commanded the blessing. Even life forevermore it is good and pleasant for Brethren to
dwell or me together in unity. This verse states, that his brothers we are joyful and at ease when we are meeting together Brethren, who are thus joined together, receive the benefits of the goodness. And pleasantness that Unity produces. That is why we should yearn for this Unity because it is right, good and fitting and because it is lovely attractive and appealing Verse two and three
offered two examples of unity. Aaron was Moses older brother and spokesman ham was consecrated Israel's High priests the precious ointment or sacred oil used in the consecration. Ceremony was infused with many spices and aromatics. This giving off a very pleasant Aroma and was only used in this one ceremony that of anointing the high priest. A small amount of this precious oil was enough to drip from his forehead, through his beard and
enter the cloth of his robe. Over Powering Earthly Aromas down to the bottom or skirt of His Garment. If one were to smell that Aroma again, it would bring back memories of a pleasant happy ceremony. The do of Herman would never have reached the mountains of Zion at Jerusalem as it is too far away. Thus, we must view, do as The Giver of Life in an arid region. Symbolically by comparing Unity to do. This togetherness was declared to be conducive to growth and
prosperity. Do is one of the sources of nourishment for strong and healthy plants as such Unity promotes strong. Healthy growth and prosperity. Therefore the Lord commanded that. It is vital the brother And live in peace and happiness with each other, by extending the fellowship of a lodge. We sense that Masonic Brotherhood will never end. Fellow craft, agree, Amos 7 chapter verses 7 and 8.
Thus he shewed me and behold the Lord, stood upon a wall made by a Plumb line, and with a Plumb line in his hand, and the Lord said unto me, Amos what seest thou and I said a Plumb line. And then said, the Lord behold, I will set the Plumb line in the midst of My People Israel. I will not again pass by them anymore. Now I'm going to make a quick editorial here. This is not, what is used in the fellow craft degree in California.
So this must be a New Jersey. In construction, the Plumb line tests, whether what was erected is perpendicular to the square, that is, if it is straight up and down or up, right? It provides a standard against which one can measure what he is. Built metaphorically, when God
draws near with the Plumb line. He's looking for those people who are living and abiding in his grace and his law as Freemasons. We treat the Plumb line as the emblem of Truth and right God was very disappointed with the Israelites. He and he alone delivered. The nation of Israel from Egyptian Slavery to Freedom. Freedom through his many miracles, he continued to prove his love for his chosen. People yet the Israelites continue to be stubborn and disobedient on numerous
occasions. God tried to bring his people back into fellowship with him. But the Israelites always fell back into their bad behavior. God chose to give Israel one more chance as the prophet. Amos described God standing on a wall, made with a Plumb line, this wall represented the founding of the just and upright nation of Israel.
However, the Plumb line and his hand represents God's strict view of the Judgment. He will use when judging his people's inequities further by stating that he is setting the Plumb line in the midst of his people. He is stating that he will be judging their actions, not from afar, but in their midst, there will be no mistake. And God will be with them viewing. Their behavior determining their righteousness.
Plums, squares and levels are all used in building, temporal edifices and must be accurate for the building to stay erect as Mason's. We are taught to use them symbolically to keep our morale. Building erect, the plum is specifically used to judge our own moral work, and the work of others as Mason's. We must judge our own work by our own Plumb line. Not using another's Plum. If our moral edifice has raised by our own Plumb square and
level. In other words, our own moral standards, then the Supreme Grand Master of the Universe Universe will favorably. Judge us. Now, I'm getting going to break away from the article and share the passage. That is read in the fellow calf. Turkey in California. Though, I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all Mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all Faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity. I am nothing and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. And though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me, nothing charity suffereth long and is kind charity envieth, not charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself.
Unseemly seeketh, not her own is not Not easily provoked, thinketh no evil rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth, all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things and now abideth faith, hope charity, these three. But the greatest of these is charity. And now back to your regularly
scheduled article. So now we're going to go through the Master Masons degree, Ecclesiastes, 12 verses 1 through 7. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days come, not nor the years
draw nigh. When thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them while the Sun or the light, or the moon or the Stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return, after the rain, In the day, when the keepers of the house, shall tremble, in the strong, men shall bow themselves, and the Grinders ceased because there are few and those that look out of the windows, be darkened and the door is shall be shut in the
streets. When the sound of the grinding is low and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of music shall be brought low. Also, when they shall be afraid of that, which is high and fear shall be in the way and the Almond Tree shall flourish in the grasshopper, shall be a burden and desire shall fail? Because man go with, to his long home and the mourners go.
Out the streets or ever, the silver cord be loosed or the Golden Bowl, be broken or the pitcher be broken at the fountain or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the Earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it? One can safely assume that the author of Ecclesiastes is Solomon as the writer identifies himself, as the son of David King of Jerusalem. This verse takes more steady than the others as its meaning for Mason's does not come
easily. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days come not nor the years draw
nigh. When thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them, this alludes to the fact that as we grow older each of us fondly remembers the Glorious Days of Our Youth. When all things were possible with the hindsight of age and experience advice is given to youth to gather the Harvest. While they are young, as we age, we change and are not able to enjoy things with the same lightness of heart tasks, that were easy in our youth take longer. Or are impossible to do.
While the Sun or the light, or the moon or the Stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return, after the rain, refers to the beginnings of the aging process. Failing eyesight is one of the first signs of aging. Also, as we get older the cloud and Rain reference alludes to a longer period of rest and
recuperation after activity. In the day, when the keepers of the house shall tremble refers to the hands arms and legs that trouble with age and the strong men shall bow themselves, as we age our spine contracts and as a result, we tend to stoop and are no longer able to stand tall and the Grinders ceased because they are few refers to tooth loss, common in old age.
And those that look out of the windows, be darkened, is another reference to failing eyesight and the door is shall be shut in the streets. When the sound of the grinding is low refers to Hearing loss, the elderly no longer can hear the noisiness of life and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird means that a long period of sleep is no longer necessary and Rising early becomes the norm and all the daughters of music shall be. Brought low age.
Brings on changes to the vocal cords, making them thicker, the elderly voice is no longer melodious sounding more guttural. Also, when they shall be afraid of that, which is high and youth, we easily scaled Heights that nage we are afraid to attempt and fears shall be in
the way. Elderly are often more timid and apprehension is a common trait and the Almond Tree, shall flourish the almond trees, blossoms are white flowers, which refers to our hair becoming white or gray as we age and the grasshopper shall be a burden in our youth Hope Springs
Eternal farmers. During the time of Solomon were fearful of a plague of grasshoppers, the effort to rebuild after a catastrophe is not that easy with the elderly as we age, muscle tone is often lost and lifting, even a small amount becomes an effort. And desire shall fail in our youth, we often dream and have an expectation that some dreams
will come true. As we age, we realize that our time is rapidly, coming to a close, because man go with, to his long home, refers to the grave and the mourners go about the streets. Ancient people often had official mourners who made public proclamations about The deceased or ever the silver cord. Be loosed refers to the spinal cord in age. The muscles of the back can no longer support the body or the Golden Bowl. Be broken. The Golden Bowl refers to the human skull the broken.
Reference alludes to diminished mental capacity, senility and Alzheimer's disease is common. In the agent. The pitcher be broken at the fountain. We're having the desire to urinate, but not be able to do so or the wheel broken at the cistern, the wheel reversed to
the heart and the cistern. Refers to the blood in the body if the wheel or the heart is broken than the sister under the blood to give her life can no longer circulate, then shall the dust return to the Earth as it was and the spirit shall return. Unto God, who gave it? The internment scripture passage that Mason's used in the funeral oration is Earth to Earth ashes to ashes dust to dust as the body decomposes.
Our Earthly remains returned to the Earth and our spirit is return to God who gave it. As the candidate for the Master Mason degree here is Ecclesiastes 12. He might conclude that this part of Master Mason degrees, very sad, this piece of scripture, describes how the physical body ages and fails, hopefully, these accurate descriptions will make
the candidate carefully. Consider the choices he has made thus far all the passage accurately describes the deterioration of our physical Temple as we travel through life's Joys and tears. We must remember that our ending is the same as are beginning. The Lord created us. Give us his Commandments of law. And it is to him that we return, which is the final Triumph, the one, which treasure in life,
that cannot be taken away. Masonry encourages you to live your life properly Brotherhood and the unity of provides make living worthwhile, living a moral life, not only creates a happy life but also is pleasing to our great Creator.
We are able to view old age, is no longer being the evil days but reminds us of the Harvest, the love, the friendships, the experiences in the fond memories, the true Cornucopia of receiving Plenty, when our toils of Earth, shall have ceased and all are chasing, Sorrows have been done away, may he raise us to the Enjoyment of faithless light and Immortal Life in that Heavenly Kingdom were Faith and Hope shall end and love and joy
Prevail forever. So mote, it be Now, this isn't part of the article but I have heard other interpretations of this. This passage I think what I'll do is I'll try to find some of those and probably do a whole other podcast. Just comparing the various interpretations of Ecclesiastes 12, which is repeated in the Master Masons degree. So stick around for that and until then as always, thank you for listening.
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