Sept - Oct 2008
The East
The east has always been considered peculiarly sacred. This was, without exception,
the case in all the ancient mysteries. In the Egyptian Rites, especially, and
those of Adonis, which were among the earliest, and from which the others derived
their existence, the sun was the object of adoration, and its revolutions
through the various seasons were fictitiously represented.
The camp of Judah was placed by Moses in the east as a mark of distinction; the
tabernacle in the wilderness was placed due east and west; and the practice was
continued in the erection of Christian churches. Hence, too, the primitive Christians
always turned toward the east in their public prayers, because the east is the
most honorable part of the world, being the region of light whence the glorious
sun arises. Hence all Masonic lodges, like their great prototype the temple of
Jerusalem, are built, or supposed to be built, due east and west; and as the north
is esteemed a place of darkness, the east, on the contrary, is considered a place of
light. And so, too, in the oldest lectures of the second century ago, the freemason
is said to travel from the west to east, that is from darkness to light.
The east, being the place where the Master sits, is considered the most honorable
part of the lodge, and is distinguished from the rest of the room by a canopy, or
raised platform, which is occupied only by those who have passed to the chair.
Ill. James T. Schultz, PM, 33º, L.E.O.
Are We Proficient
We always talk about proficiency in regards to a candidate proceeding through
our three degrees. It is demonstrated through an examination which the candidate
recites, thus proving his mastery. But proficiency can also be understood as:
“The necessity that anyone who devotes himself to the acquisition of
a science should become proficient in its elementary instructions before
he can expect to grasp and comprehend its higher branches.”
(Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences, 1914)
This lends to an interesting question for self-reflection. As a Master Mason can
you say that you are proficient in the elementary instructions of the degrees that
you have passed? If you say yes, have you ventured into the speculative branches
to comprehend the meanings of the allusions and allegories contained within?
Being proficient in the degree work is just the beginning, a prerequisite for what
is to come through the study of “Freemonsonry.”
Bro. Jason L. Stitak, S.W.