Page 12 - Ashlar July-September 2019

N A L G R
I O
G E AND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XV Issue II
“THE RITUAL IS NOT A JOKE”
By W.Bro.Jose Chemmassery
Yes that was the remark made by a senior and menhad practiced ritual in certain crude forms.
committed Master mason when he was When the primitive men lived as a hunter
addressed by a junior mason having found great gatherer in isolation away from the community
relief in the exclusion of the third degree settlements,he was scared of disasters caused
ceremony earlier scheduled to bestow on the by natural forces. He began to worship these
candidate during the meeting. The junior unknown forces out of ignorance and
expressed his satisfaction by, exclaiming“Thank superstition to appease them to escape from
God!”words to accompany his happiness on that the wrath of calamitous forces. Icons, images
account. It is high time to upcoming freemasons and idols carved from granite stones and hard
to appreciate and value the significance of woods were installed and hoisted as deities to
rituals which are the blood streams in the body of worship and seek peace and tranquility from
freemasonry. It is through the media of rituals , the bounties of their benevolence.
instructions of moral and ethical values and Ancient civilizations have practiced worship
tenets of freemasonry are taught /instructed to through means of different rites and rituals.
the candidate in the degree ceremony. Let us Egyptian civilization is rampant with various
therefore have a broad view and perfect rituals including magic as a form of enhanced
understanding of the rituals conducted in the and enlightened life culture. Priests used to
initiation of the Order. dominate kings by their unique position and
Rituals are very essential part of human life. At attachment to the deities worshiped. Their
every stage of evolution of humanity rituals ceremonial prayers and incantations of rituals
adapted to the changing circumstances always have impacted the people who looked forward
retaining the traditional values. From ancient for their intervention and blessings to improve
times humanity has practiced rituals their lot from untold miseries and dangerous
influencing and impacting their life style. Rituals exposures. When multifarious deities and
rendered/practiced on special/important aggressive priests dominated the social scene
occasions like birth, death , marriage, naming with power and status. Akhinaten, the bold and
ceremony or any other stages in life have courageous king, banished all religious
imparted specific meaning and spiritual worships to enforce Sun worship as the only
awakening to the human mind. Even in the form of worship to be practiced. In a country
present scientifically advanced times , rituals where paganism and multi level gods ruled ,the
continue to be practiced/rendered to derive single deity worship or monolithic religion
consolation and tranquility for a harmonious deprived several priests of their power , status
existence. Pujas are undertaken to please the money making source. After the death of
deities seeking their benevolence in conduct of Akhinaten the priests returned to the ancient
daily life as well as for success of any venture mode of worship of pantheism.
about to commence. In Judaism animal sacrifice and pouring out
Visiting a holy place be it a temple, church, theblood on the altar to appease or propitiate
synagogue or masjid , paying obeisance to the the Almighty was a common ritual prevalent in
presiding deity and participating in the the initial stages. In the Jerusalem temple
ceremonies conducted is religiously ritualistic in animal sacrifices were the recognized rituals to
character. Essentially these active participation atone the sins committed. In the biblical times
with complete involvement rejuvenate the mind when Moses , the patriarch descended from
and enhance the spiritual meaning of the the mountain-horeb/sinai –after his elongated
participant who enjoy the divine presence epiphany with the Almighty found to his dismay
emanating from the holy ambience and the that the chosen people were worshiping the
spiritual aura enveloping the scene. golden calf symbolizing Baal –in singing and
Even before the dawn of civilization primitive dancing ritual. In his uncontrolled anger the

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