Compiled by the Editorial Team of the Library PillarsPillars ofof LightLight Volume 4 Issue 8 (45) August 2008

Our Grand Master’s Motto for his term of Office:

“ at the heart of life”

At the dawn of a new era Editorial

With great respect to the immediate Past Grand The Mason who takes no time for thought and Master and gratitude for his achievements, the study, and does not ponder or reflect, but merely Craft is looking forward to the constructive and memorizes without trying to dig and delve be- refreshing ideas that lie before us, in the caring neath the apparent meaning of a word, or to dis- hands of our newly installed Grand Master. It is cover the real thought that lies hidden deep now clear that the immediate future will be dedi- within the ritual – remains forever a Mason in cated to emphasizing the importance of our intel- name only. lectual heritage, the raising of our level of Ma- There is no value whatsoever in memorizing the sonic knowledge and the study of the hidden ritual if we stop there and go no further. The meanings of Freemasonry. memorized word is without value until we have It is common that many of us who by diligence discovered its meaning and until the inspiration and exercise have acquired the ability to present born of that meaning has stirred up higher aspi- a perfect charge or ritual, never even dream that rations to a nobler and better life. behind the mystic words lie concealed thoughts and meanings which are a treasure yet to be dis- Our great trouble has been that while we are covered. Such Masons are going through life, critically careful to learn the exact letter of the merely quoting ritualistic phrases without really ritual, we have at the same time been careless understanding their meaning. It is one thing to be about comprehending its spirit. And the value of able to commit to memory and recite a ritual and Masonry is in its spirit and in the vast fields of- quite another to understand that the same ritual fered for study and research. has a meaning and know what that meaning is. You will very soon discover how much more Free- masonry has to offer and you will ask yourself Masonry has no use for a mechanical devotion by how you could limit your reading only to the text men without introspection, who do not know why of the degrees. they serve the Order; what Masonry does need is the intelligent loyalty of thinking men who have a May we all enjoy the opportunities and the dis- reason for the faith that is in them. coveries offered trough the Study of Freema- sonry. Masonry has clothed her lessons in mystic At the dawn of the new era, I encourage you, phrases, not for the purpose of having us learn a Brethren, to take advantage of the vast wealth lot of strange sounding words that will forever available in our Library, our Hub of Knowledge. remain for us empty and devoid of meaning, but for the purpose of making us think. Joseph V. Haffner

This Month's Special Quotation...

It is only through education, that Freemasonry will build in the hearts of our members the inspiration to emulate and promote its virtues.

MW Bro. Gregory H. Levenston

Grand Master

Published material does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the UGL of NSW and the ACT Page Pillars of Light 2 LANDMARKS - WHAT ARE THEY By R K Whiteley PM. The word Landmark is referred to in our ritual as depicting These 15 Ancient Charges became the foundation of opera- the inherent, irreplaceable elements of Freemasonry. But tive Masonic lodges over the next several centuries, eventu- what are these Landmarks, from whence do they derive, and ally becoming known as The – which, incidentally, what is their special significance to Masonry? is still practiced in much the original form in a number of An apt description appears in Dr A G Mackey’s Encyclopedia very old lodges in Wales. of Freemasonry (1919) where he uses the following illustra- During the reign of King Edward IV the oldest copies of the tion of their origin and significance: York Constitution were assembled from all available “In ancient times it was customary to mark out the bounda- sources. The substance of these documents was later col- ries of land by means of pillars the removal of which, by mali- lated following the formation of the Grand Lodge of England cious means, would be an occasion of much confusion, men in 1717 and published by Dr J Anderson as the original Con- having no other guide than these pillars by which to distin- stitution of the Grand Lodge of England. guish the limits of their property. To remove them was a The importance of the Ancient Charges as Landmarks to the heinous crime. ‘Thou shall not’ says the Jewish prayer, ’remove now wider fraternity of Freemasons became a matter of thy neighbours’ Landmarks which they of old times set for their considerable controversy after publication of the 1717 Con- inheritance’. stitution. However, over the next several decades, and fol- The American writer Pound in his essays “Masonic Ad- lowing two revisions of the Constitution in 1723 and 1738, it became universally accepted in England – and in all other dresses and Writings” used the following explanation. parts of the world in which Freemasonry is practiced - that “By Landmarks we are generally supposed to mean certain uni- the 15 Ancient Charges must ever remain as the ancient versal, unalterable and unrepealable fundamentals which have precedent and foundation of Freemasonry existed from time immemorial and are so thoroughly part of Ma- sonry that no Masonic authority may derogate from them or The exact title of the Anderson’s 1717 book was, “The Con- stitutions, History, Laws, Orders, Regulations and Usages of ought but not to maintain them”. the Right Worshipful Fraternity of Accepted Free Masons”. The noted English Masonic scholar Harry Carr in “The Free- The 1723 Constitution is the mother document of the con- mason at Work” (1992), after much study, concludes the stitutions of Masonic fraternities throughout the world. Masonic Landmarks should contain two essential points:

A Landmark must have existed from time when the The 1717 Constitution also declared that the 15 Ancient memory of man runneth not to the contrary. Charges must be read to each new Candidate during his Ini- tiation Ceremony. A Landmark is an element in the form of an essence of The 15 Ancient Charges are the original and most important society of such importance that Freemasonry would Landmarks of Freemasonry. Over the past two centuries no longer be Freemasonry if it were removed”. there has been much discussion in American Freemasonry as Thus Landmarks are an inalienable, indisputable and enduring to whether they adequately define the essential historic fea- element of Freemasonry. tures of Freemasonry. Dr A G Mackey, a noted Masonic scholar, believed that the number should be increased to 25 Historically, the earliest reference to Masonic Landmarks is to include historic elements of the organization including the found in the earliest written records of Masonry – the Old Legend of the Third Degree, and particular Authorities York Constitution of AD 926. This document arose from a within individual Constitutions. . meeting of Operative Masons from all over England, Europe and beyond assembled by Prince Edwin, son of King Edward The many Grand Lodges emanating from the Constitutions the Elder, at the city of York to agree on a series of Charges of England, Scotland or Ireland all are believed to contain the that would in future regulate the qualification and recogni- original 15 Ancient Charges published by Anderson in 1717, tion for membership, the management and organisation of 1723 and 1738 as their Landmarks. The original 1717 and Lodges, working conditions and rewards and the quality of 1723 documents also direct that the Ancient Charges must workmanship demanded of Masons. Some 15 Charges were be read to every new candidate during his initiation cere- agreed upon and documented. These 15 charges henceforth mony. became known as either “The Ancient Charges” or “The Continued on page 5 Old York Constitution”.

Brother Secretary please include our link: www.uglnsw.freemasonry.org.au/Library/Default.htm in the Notice Paper sent to the members of your Lodge. Pillars of Light Page 3

MUSINGS OF AN I.P.M.

After forty years in Freemasonry, I recently tential for the South is limited. Our new W.M. has had the pleasure and honour of installing a invited brethren to give a short talk or demon- young Master Mason into the Chair of King stration of their hobbies in the South to try and Solomon for the first time. instil more interest and involvement. In the Several days later I was thinking of the meantime we have the conflicting demands to challenges that lay before him as I was do- keep the toasts moving so that the formal side of ing some gardening. He will, of course, re- the evening is over and brethren can fraternise. ceive much advice but some will be con- To keep the toasts moving means stifling conver- flicting in nature and he will have to decide sations and then when the formal toasts are over, which course to follow. During the cere- few brethren stay to fraternise! mony of installation he was told to maintain We will support and help our new W.M. and share the dignity and high importance of freema- our love of Freemasonry with all who come and sonry and further to exercise wisdom in the visit us. Superimposed over all this will be the re- ruling and governing of the Lodge. quirements of our new Grand Master as he com- Our new master would be aware of this but municates his ideas and plans for the Craft be- his work involves him in driving large dis- cause he too wants our Craft to move forward tances each week and then he is expected and prosper now and in the future. to represent his Lodge at meetings of other Good luck and God bless you my new Worshipful Lodges and rehearsals and management Master. I feel for you and all those like you, be- meetings of his own Lodge. He has a young cause we want you to succeed and overcome all and loving family and that should be his the trials and tribulations, whilst still enjoying first priority. your year in the chair. At a time when the general population of Freemasons is ageing and some Lodges are V.W. Bro Robert Taylor experiencing difficulty in having young Ma- sons take office, or even keeping them af- ter a short part of their Masonic life, we need to maintain the high standard of the ritual. To maintain the interest of a candi- date it has to be correct, well presented We need you !!! and meaningful but the pool of talent able Do you have thoughts on Ma- to deliver charges is getting smaller and older. sonry to share or expand? There have been calls from many directions Do you want to express your for an increase in Masonic education and views and enlarge your this presents challenges in itself as the pool of Accredited Masonic Speakers is small knowledge? and when they do give talks they have to try and gauge their audience, and commu- Then come and join our Study nicate their enthusiasm of Freemasonry to that audience, some of whom just want to Circle. get out to the South as early as possible. Call the Grand Librarian, (02) 9284 2825 It helps a Lodge South if they have access e-mail: [email protected] to musicians or entertainers, but if they are like us and do not, the entertainment po-

Pillars of Light Page 4 EnlightenedEnlightened PillarsPillars Any Questions? Ask the Grand Librarian-POL edited by Rt Wor Bro J. V. Haffner

Q: I have heard that some Masons belong to phically I do not know if the Shrine really is Free- a Masonic order that is called the Shrine. masonry, but its benevolent and supportive work How can I apply to become a member? in the community is definitely based on Masonic What exactly are they and are we allowed tenets and for that they must be rightly credited. to belong to the Shrine? Please explain to I hope the answer is satisfactory to you even if it me what is it and what is involving to join? doesn’t cover the procedure of joining as the Or- A: I actually expected a question about this Or- der is not in existence in Australia. der, sooner or later. This organization exists and is active primarily in the U.S.A. and Canada al- Q: In a lecture presented in our Lodge on an though a few temples exist in other parts of the historical subject, mention was made of The world but no branch of it is in existence here in Grand Lodge of Wigan. Where and what was Australia. Its proper name is 'The Ancient and it? Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine' and its members are known as 'Nobles' or more A: After the Union of the two English Grand popularly as ''. It is supposed to have Lodges (the Ancients and the Moderns) in 1813, been created by Caliph Ali, the cousin and son in there was still some friction between individual law of the prophet Mohammed in the year of the Lodges. A Lodge in Liverpool was suspended and Hegira 25 (that is 644 A.D.) at Mecca, in Arabia. later erased. This Lodge together with two others The ritual that is used today was found in the ar- set up the "Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted chives of the Order at Aleppo in Syria in 1850 masons of England According to the Old Consti- and taken to England by Hassoon Effendi, to- tution". It was better known under the name of gether with some research works of the Italian "Grand Lodge in Wigan" and at one time included Orientalist Luigi Marraici. The salutation of the some twelve Lodges. Its last Grand master was Order is "Es Salaam u Aleikum" (peace be with elected in 1886. It lasted until 1913 when on re- you). The Jewel of the Order is a Crescent and turning to the United Grand Lodge of England, all the motto is "Kuwat wa Ghadab" (Strength and its members were re-obligated. Fury). The first Shrine or Temple was built in New York and is called the Mecca Shrine. It was Q: What is the origin of the Lodge’s Pave- instituted by 14 Masons of the highest degrees in ment? the Masonry. The prerequisite for membership is the 32 º Degree. The members A: The squared pavement is derived from a floor- wear red 'fezzes' with the name of the Temple ing type very popular in Dutch design of and a crescent embroidered on them. The order churches and residences of wealthy people. is sometimes referred to as "the playground of Today it represents another good example of the Masonry" but it has without any doubt an impor- use in Freemasonry of common architectural tant niche of activity in the care and education of styles and details to which a richer esoteric crippled children, to mention only one of its ac- meaning has been attributed. tivities. Ritualistically, symbolically and philoso-

Are you in love with our traditions and the richness of our heritage? Are you thirsty to delve into the Hub of Knowledge, your Library? Would you invest a few hours a week and be recognized as a valuable member of our volunteers team? All you need is a true love for the Craft, its literature and a Masonic heart that is ready to offer, and glean the satisfaction of serving the Order. Contact the Grand Librarian RW Bro. Joseph V. Haffner Ph. (02)9284 2825 Pillars of Light Page 5 On the position of the pillars

There is constant hesitation and even some controversy the left hand pillar was Boaz (in the North) of the Temple. about the real position of the pillars when the So, as we face the East, Jachin is on our right (in the South) is presented or when charges are delivered in Lodge. When and Boaz is on our left (in the North). This proves that the reference is made to the position of the two Pillars of the position of the pillars as referred to both in the Bible and in porch, Jachin is considered as the right hand pillar and Boaz our Ritual relates only to the Temple and its orientation. as the left hand one. Every presenter has been asked quite often: "What do you Manfred von Risch mean by 'right hand' and 'left hand'? Is it to be considered when you look from inside or from the outside of the Tem- ple? And as the Lodge room is considered to be a symbolical representation of Solomon's Temple, is the right hand on the south or on the north of the Lodge room? Landmarks Firstly we should take into consideration that the physical CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 relationship between the Temple and the lodge room is not What then are the Landmarks of the United Grand Lodge of perfect. NSW & ACT? The entrance to the Temple was in the East and the entrance Our Constitution is prefaced: “Constitutions of the Ancient of our Lodge rooms is generally in the West. We know that Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons under The United both in the Temple and in our lodge room, the East is the Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital place of honour and in the Lodge there is the place in which Territory, Containing the Articles, Charges, Objects and our WM is seated and it is from that direction that the Sun Regulations”. Section 5, headed “The Charges of a Freema- raises and with it all our inspiration, hope and knowledge. son ”, is a complete modern translation of the original An- This is the reason why we enter the lodge from the West cient Charges. These then are our Landmarks: as with Breth- and advance towards the East: in search of Light. ren around the world. I have read many opinions regarding the position of the Pil- lars. Some refer to the position of the observer as he enters The only Ancient Charges delivered in Blue Lodge ceremo- the Temple or departs from it. In my opinion the terms 'right' nies is an abbreviated form during an Installation Ceremony and 'left' have no reference at all to the position of the ob- when they are read to the Master Elect immediately prior to server, but to that of the Temple. his Obligation; to which he is asked “Do you submit to and Since the temple faced East, its right side was on the South promise to support these Charges and Regulations as Mas- and its left side on the North. ters have done in all ages?” The proper position for one to take when praying is to face the East to receive the rays of the rising sun. It was the posi- It should be an obligation of each Master to repeat these tion of the neophyte in search of knowledge. Charges to the Brethren in open lodge to reinforce their Many passages in the Old Testament refer to the Cardinal appreciation of the antiquity and fundamental concepts of points as 'right' (Yemin) which means 'the right hand' or 'at Freemasonry. the right of…' and as 'left' (Semol) being 'the left hand or 'at the left of…'. Inspiration for this article was derived from the authors named In I Samuel 23:19 and in Psalm 89:12, to mention two exam- and: Andersons Constitutions 1723 & 1738; Landmarks of Free- ples, the direction 'Yemin' (right) is the South. We can de- masonry, Bede E ; Jurisprudence of Freemasonry ,A G Mackey; duce from these references that in setting up the pillars in the porch, the right hand pillar was Jachin (in the South) and Landmarks of Freemasonry, Shepherd S H, Vols 1 & 2.

To our many interested readers

We recognize you as a rich and important source of Masonic experience, knowledge and inspiration. We would like you to share with us and our other readers, your specific ex- amples of Masonic success stories and we will be happy to publish them. By doing so, you will help us to provide inspiration to members of our Craft ! We would appreciate your assistance to improve the Pillars of Light ! Please forward your contributions to: [email protected] in word format.

Annals of Times Past Actuality of Past Events Vol. 3 No. 22 ( supplement to the Pillars of Light inspired by Chroniclesronicles–––– Jerusalem ) 752 B.C.E.

KING UZZIAH ILL News from the border Jaffa- From sailors of a Tyrian vessel which has just The Palace advises that the King was stricken entered the harbour, we learn that Jonah ben Ami- by leprosy during temple service tay, the celebrated Samarian prophet, was thrown It is said that it happened after the King in- into the raging sea "at his own request" during a fringed on High Priests’ rights. severe storm that occurred some four months ago. The sailors say that the sea calmed down as soon His Majesty collapsed in the temple as he was as Jonah had been cast overboard. Jonah had ad- preparing to bring the incense offering of the mitted having fled from "his God", who had there- Feast - a function reserved by law and custom fore brought on this terrible storm. to the priests. Most of the passengers were Phoenician traders The Palace advised us about the King's illness and Greeks returning to their country. The ship is without mentioning the obvious cause. By order now in Jaffa to unload a consignment of timber and of His Majesty after consultation with his coun- take on olive oil and balsam of Gilead. The sailors cil of Ministers and Scribes, the judicial duties swear they do not remember such a violent tem- of His Majesty will be performed by his son, pest. (We will continue to report the news as it de- Prince Jotham; commencing tomorrow. velops)

Preparations begin for the Seventh Olympiad (By our correspondent on the shore of the Peloponnesus)

Preparations for the Olympiad to begin on the Truce protects participants th 8 day of the month are getting under way Today the Sacred Truce begins; this allows with the local Olympic committee tackling the contestants, officials and spectators safe con- task of appointing the last stewards and duct to and from the games. Anyone who vio- judges for the contests. lates this truce— whether an attacking city- These games which are held every four years, state, a band of marauders-terrorists, or a will last longer than ever before. This year, lone robber– is subject to severe disciplinary in addition to the pentathlon (running, jump- action. The truce is strictly enforced, hence ing, discus-throwing, javelin-throwing and seldom violated. The spirit of Peace amongst wrestling) there will be a contest called pan- the Nations is guiding the organizers of the cration – a combination of wrestling and box- Olympic Games and the truce will give the ing. Other new events now under considera- competing athletes a chance to train for the tion are chariot races and special contests for games. boys.

What is Leprosy? It is the most dreaded illness in the country. It is accompanied by distortion of the features, vio- lent itching, spots and blotches on the skin and– occasionally– the falling out of hair. This disease is an especial manifestation of divine punishment. Moses’ sister, Myriam became leprous after having slandered her brother. She recovered normal health when Moses interceded with God in her favour. Sometimes the affliction is brought upon a person and later removed, in order to demonstrate the power of the Lord. Nevertheless, in general the disease, once it has appeared, remains with the victim until their last day. Our priests know of no cure for it.