Page 11 - ASHLAR - July-Sept 2020

N A L G R
I O
G E AND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XVI Issue II
admitted to the mysteries and privileges of Universal. He is further taught to submit and
freemasonry by the help of God. This humble humbly adore the God, for the progress and
request is duly passed to the Worshipful search of the divine light. Now in the final
Master. After the obligation is performed the degree, which is the ceremony of Raising, the
Worshipful Master asks him what is his sublime degree of a Master Mason, the most
predominant wish of the heart - and being noble, grand and awe-inspiring experience.
answered, the blessing of the light is restored The prayers of the Chaplain is very significant
to the candidate. The three great lights in and invite the almighty and external God, to
freemasonry are the volumes of the sacred impart Thy grace to the convocation and with
law, the square and the compasses. It is further most reverence invoke Thy protection through
narrated to the candidate the importance of the valley of the shadow of death and pray that
these emblematical lights and conducting him he may finally rise from the tomb of
to enable to discover the three lesser lights that transgression, to shine as the stars for ever
is sun, moon and Master of the Lodge. Lord and ever. He is obligated to engage himself to
Krishna, Jesus and other ethical sacred books maintain and uphold the five points of
including the Vedas, Upanishads and holy fellowship. The Master Mason is advised to
writings preached with reverence the dedicate his heart which to be fitted only for the
importance of the “Light” as discussed here reception of truth and wisdom, to His Glory and
above. We refer to the ritual of the Holly Royal the welfare of fellow – mortals. The light of
Arch, and during the exaltation ceremony, the Master Mason is but darkness visible. He is
Master Mason who is raised to the supreme further guided to observe that “It is mysterious
Degree; the Most Excellent again bestowed veil which the eye of human reason cannot
him the blessing of light. The candidate was penetrate unless assisted by that light which is
directed to read the scroll and he reads; “In the from above. This ceremony inspires a holy
beginning God created heaven and the earth. confidence that the Lord of Life will enable us to
And the earth was without form, void and trample the king of Terrors beneath our feet and
darkness was upon the face of the deep. And lift our eyes to that bright morning star, whose
the spirit of God moved upon the face of the rising brings peace and salvation to the faithful
waters. And God said, let there be light, and and obedient of the human race. In the final
there was light”. This writing is the essence of charge the Master Mason is instructed and
the Bible, as discussed here above and the recommended the exemplary conduct,
candidate is advised to walk worthily in the light obedience and submission, courtesy and
which shines around. During the course of affability, kindness and condescension and to
ceremony the candidate is advised by giving be faithful to every trust. And by these rites,
charge to awaken the feelings of charity, usages and established customs the journey of
mercy, truth, important duties, virtues divine spark, the Masonic Light and the
temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice, illumination of soul begins and the darkness of
liberal arts and sciences and the way to reach ignorance, the evil and devil disappears.
the celestial canopy of heavens through faith The path of enlightenment runs
with reference to the seven starts and the through various stages, wherein the self gets
blazing star. The journey of the apprentice, more and more purified. The Upanishad
after passing the test satisfactorily is admitted contains the answer “From appearance lead
to the higher degrees. The ceremony of me to reality. From darkness lead me to light.
passing and raising advance him to the fellow From death lead me to immortality”. One well
craft freemason and master Mason known English poet prayed to God that “Lead,
respectively. The progress in freemasonry and kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, lead
science is recognized and advised to practice Thou me on. The night is dark and I am far from
every virtue, study of the liberal arts, science of home, Lead Thou me on”. Let me conclude
Geometry and to preserve the ancient usages with the great thought provoking quotation of
and customs and finally to reach Masonry Swami Vivekananda that “Man is to become

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