Freemasonry - Masonic Education vs Masonic Apathy

This text is an impassioned plea for Masonic education and a condemnation of apathy within the fraternity. The author, Warren B. Smith, argues that Masonry's strength lies in its historical background and essential principles, which should be actively taught and discussed within lodges. He emphasizes the importance of individual engagement and participation, citing examples from history and literature to support his claim that apathy hinders the fraternity's effectiveness. Smith calls for a revitalized focus on Masonic teachings and principles, believing that only through active education can the fraternity truly fulfil its purpose as a constructive force in society.

[charliefairey]

You do a great job re Masonic Education, thanks From The Quarries!!! Most UK lodges leave it to the individual, although we often have lectures, especially at Past Masters Lodges. There are often books you can buy or printed lectures, or Coronati journals, and of course the Freemasonry magazine to get stuck into, but really there's no time like now, to unpick the rituals, and learn something so much more, or just get the pencil/pen out, ruler and compass, and get drawing, on our metaphysical tracing boards! Sacred Geometry and understanding the Temple is so sadly underrated. IAO brothers 👍

[aenema]

I visited a Lodge in the Philippines last week. Their stated meeting was 3 hours long, and 75% of it was Masonic Education.They had two speakers, one of them a PM who presented his own writing, the other was the District Lecturer, who presentated a power point lecture of curriculum provided directly by their Grand Lodge.

I was extremely impressed with the level of education at their meeting. I feel 100% that Masonry would not be in a decline if we implemented these practices in our jurisdictions.

[Lexcoaster]

@20:40 The anarchist Freemasons, of which there have been quite a few in history, would probably wholeheartedly disagree with this statement. One should not confuse abstinence of the polls for political or societal apathy. 🙂

[SebastianS]

Ah, this is a massive subject to address.

[charliefairey]

One thing we must all know, mason and none mason alike, is that in the historic past, before the 20th century and WW2, and masons in Germany placed in death camps, but especially in the pre Victorian Era is that, physical rank was based upon knowledge of the degrees, their hidden meanings, and our reflection with our own mundane living lives, experience, turning that into wisdom. In that, masons only ascended the degrees, because they were fluent and understood them fully, if you did not, you did not pass or be raised to a higher degree, until you attained, through the test of your highers, higher degrees, and therefore rank. Sadly today, and it's been this 'Waye' for quite a few decades, masons now find their way to physical higher ranks, without that essential knowledge, experience, reflection, and therefore wisdom. That is why the Spiritual Lodge exists, you may be low or high in rank, yet higher in spiritual rank, neither match up any more, and that is a true travesty. Yes, it never matched up even in the 18th century fully, as you know, it's not what you know, it's who you know, but today this is what hurting our Order so much more than the past, and it has got worse in some countries over the last few decades so much more, people after power, and not understanding with wisdom, power is pain, without the initiates we die, and we see bullying and power trip masons, in far too many lodges, upset the initiates, without those who act in such a way, realising they are killing us slowly. But for those who stay, move lodges, or become a master mason, never give up, for the Supreme Being sees all and everything, and those who have been cheated, shall be shown more than those who defiled the Order for their own ends. IAO brothers, never stop learning, reflecting with experience, and make Wisdom, especially self acquired wisdom and self gnosis the Goal, for the Supreme Being sees it in us all, and even Freemasonry, isn't the only path, it was inspired or ascended from ancient paths, and many paths in the modern world, sprang from our Order, so never let go of what you wished to be part of, find your path, and keep going, for the World is Without End, especially if we are speaking spiritually or soulistically, or as The One. See you in the Chamber of Reflection, never ever give in, each and every seeker, is worth more than Gold, Vitriol indeed, go to the depths, and bring your truth back, for the Truth is YOU 💖

[jesusislukeskywalker]

☝️🤎🙏 excellent video.. brother maynard over in the good old USA, on the scottish rite channel is also doing great work. 👍

[charliefairey]

I mean what bull did Vitruvious have you learn, yep the 108 secret, we're all Divine Beings, but really, hidden in plain sight, we can easily square a circle, with four right angles, if we look at an old style watch: like the 9 o'clock toast! Think 3am 9am 3pm and 9pm, we have four right angles which form a square, of the circle of a 12 hour watch. It's that easy, but that in plain sight, most don't realise. But the important part is 6am and 6pm, for we must all act in balance, and we must all be on the level, so remember who you are, and what world you are conscious of in every and any part of your existence, for you must be both whole, above and below, below and above, squared yet quartered, yet essentially, BALANCED X

[salajangheorghe]

I have tried several times to leave a comment, but the topic is so important that I cannot express my thoughts in a few words, without capturing the dialogues here. Then there was the "Community" discussion, with the very pertinent comment of the distinguished @husqrok. Last but not least, there were also the very realistic issues and conclusions drawn after that Opinion Poll... All these three elements are somehow related to each other and I don't think we can treat them superficially. Then I thought if there was a possibility that I could send you a larger material somewhere, in which I could express my opinion much more concisely than answering here in a few words, especially since I will also try to bring some concrete proposals.