Page 16 - Ashlar July-September 2019

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The Ashlar R Vol. XV Issue II
myself in the ceremony and participated in it only the Candidate but every one else in the
rather than merely being part of it. I could have Lodge Room. Faulty diction impresses the
allowed the ceremony to have a real Candidate unfavourably and probably make
meaningful effect on me at the time of the work unintelligible to those seated distant
experience. from you.
In an article ,“The approach to Ritual Work” 3.SINCERITY. Your sincerity must be
W.Bro. K.Hill Griffiths, P M Lodge Claymore impressed on your audience. You must not only
No.892 have observed deficiencies and flaws fully understand the work but yourself be fully
in conduct of the ritual work. The Craft is aware of the lesson you are seeking to convey.
suffering and has been for sometime, from a 4.BELIEF IN PHILOSOPHY. You must believe
failure to communicate the philosophy of the in and understand the philosophy of the work
Order. Through lack of inspiration, which our and expound that philosophy in an appropriate
ceremonies should provide , Brethren lose manner , if it is to be an effective part of the
interest, hesitate to invite guests , do not ceremony. Effective for the Candidate , hearing
propose candidates, nor stand for office, miss it for the first time and effective for the audience
meetings and finally call off. Our ceremonies who have heard it many times. Your individual
must be of a standard, primarily to stimulate the delivery and interpretation may well shed new
interest and provide inspiration for the body of light on a point to some experienced brother,
the membership, even more than to impress who had perhaps not considered it in that
the candidate. particular way before. This is the fascination of
Academically (mechanically)correct our ritual for the sincere thinking man. The
ceremonies have resulted in unimpressive and fields of realization , of conjecture and of
bored audiences. All the correct words were learning are boundless.
said but ceremonies were almost lifeless. There are lodges in certain areas facing the
Accuracy of ritual was the keynote, but grim prospects of imminent closure for various
communication was lacking. There had been reasons like membership deficiency,
failure to communicate and inspire candidates inadequate attendance, loss of interest among
and also failure to interest and impress those the members after the initial enthusiasm, inert
listening. Many people learn the words and and pathetic functioning at the meetings etc.
think they know the charge. You cannot claim to While it may not be possible to obviate or
know the charge until, before learning the remedy certain causes of spreading decay, it is
words, you have so steeped yourself in the incumbent upon the active members to function
work surrounding it and studied its details to to encourage and further the interest of the
such an extent that when delivering it , you will Order. They are obliged to keep and maintain
recall the words automatically and thus have functioning of the lodge at the required level
three-fifths of your concentration and effort to without compromising on the principles of the
devote to a convincing delivery. Order. To conduct the ceremonies and rituals
W.Bro.Griffiths has considered some of the with pride perfectly impressing the candidate
broader aspects of actual delivery of the ritual and the audience is imperative to maintain and
which forms the correct approach to the task. strengthen the Lodge, the basic unit of the
1.RITUAL ACCURACY. This is a primary Craft. So mote it be!
responsibility of us all and is essential. We A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s : C r a c k i n g t h e
cannot always achieve perfection, but we must Freemason's Code-Robert L.D.Cooper,
always be aware of the danger of condoning S e l e c t e d M a s o n i c E s s a y s E d i t e d
errors in our own work. The ritual would quickly by.V.Rajendran, Great Transformation By
lose its identity as such if the standard of Karen Armstrong, 150 questions by Capt. Dara
perfect accuracy were permitted to be lowered. E. driver Ashlar.
The method of memorizing is a personal one. It
is that which suits the individual, but the
approach work already done , becomes very
much easier.
2.CLARITY OF SPEECH. You address not

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