Page 15 - Ashlar July-September 2019

A L G R
N
O
G E I AND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XV Issue II
the Ritual was gradually modernized from experienced audience and the candidate.
about 1730 onwards .At the time of formation of The observations made by a former Grand
the Grand Lodge in 1717 the First and Second Master is germane to recapitulate at this
degrees had not been separated and the ritual juncture.“ Unfortunately we are so mechanical
was very meager. William Preston, the about our Ritual. What is worse is even
Freemason of great reputation had much become averse to it because we think of only
influence on the development of the Ritual memorizing and delivering .The moment Ritual
towards its present form. At the time of the is mentioned there is a resistence, an aversion
union of two Grand Lodges in England in 1813, and fear. Candidates, initiates and masons run
a lodge of Reconciliation was set up to away from Freemasonry because the only
determine the form of the future Rituals and our thing they are told and know is about
present day ones may be said to derive memorising. The poor chaps fear
substantially from the work of that body so far Freemasonry because of this and drop out.
as opening, closing, secrets and obligations The manner of delivery is also important in
are concerned. bringing out the essence of the allegory.
From the available Manuscripts and Memorizing and repeating it without any
Exposures it appears that the early rituals were emotion will not have the required
largely catechetical in form. Compilation and effect.”There are some officers confident in
writing of the Ritual cannot be attributed to any delivering their portion in an unstoppable
single man , but took place over a long period. It stream casting their eyes down or closed at
was influenced by many men who were familiar times without the necessary emotional
with the Holy Bible and with such writers as involvement in the process as if they are
Shakespeare, Milton and other masters of indulging in soliloquy.
English language. It is considered by most A candidate expressed his unhappiness about
acknowledged Masonic scholars and the poor and inefficient conduct of the rituals on
historians that The Ritual had a twofold his initiation and induction to the order
origin:1)The ceremonies of the old charges .Candidates are often rushed through their
and 2) the ceremonies of the old catechisms three degrees in small lodges so that they can
where the “Mason Word” was communicated. take up offices within the lodge. I soon realized
In Freemasonry ritual is not a one man show. It I was missing something. I was not sure I could
is the team of officers assigned to perform their remember what I had been shown and told at
my initiation. Taking my ceremonies in
allotted portion in the ceremony are alternate months meant I hadn't the
responsible for its successful and convincing opportunity of seeing a lodge opened and
conclusion. The ceremony lasts sometimes closed in the second degree. I had been asked
more than two hours depending on the degree to prove my proficiency in the second degree
which is worked out. Each officer has limited and yet there was so much that I hadn't been
role of delivery of the assigned portion. The exposed to , such as the Tracing Board and
impressions and impact created on the lectures. I didn't even know what the liberal arts
candidate or the audience attending the and sciences were. My induction to the craft
ceremony depends on the quality of the was disappointing , since there was lack of
delivery of the ritual. There are occasions when impressions left on me by the ceremonies. I
the ceremony is not in a position to carry out the had allowed the ceremonies to pass over me
designed objectives. The ceremony becomes so that I might concentrate on repeating the
dull, boring, dragging and lifeless by rendering prompts of the deacons. We need to
explain to the candidate beforehand that he is
it in an ineffective and inert manner by the about to embark on a physical, spiritual and
officer who is not prepared to discharge his mental journey from darkness to light and that
duty in the desired manner. Failure in his duties the ritual should be absorbed and interpreted
leading to inert rendering of the ritual will be to his own ends. Had this been so , I would
immediately and easily reflected by the have listened more intently and immersed

13