the Conference - 17th April 2010
The 2nd in the series of "Let's Talk Masonry" Conferences, hosted by the Province of East Lancashire, proved in many ways even more succesful than the first, last year. The previous focus was on masonic ritual and this year the delegages were entertained by a theme of 'Modern Day Masonry'.
The Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Jack Price, opened the Conference.
Mentoring is at the heart of ensuring the success and future of modern day Freemasonry and there are a number of facets to this. Perhaps the most important is the care we offer to newer masons entering the order and that which we afford to one another. Beyond that, education leading to greater understanding of our Order, its evolution, the meanings within our ritual and the relevance of Freemasonry in modern times is paramount to ensuring the enjoyment of our members.
If today we gain greater knowledge and become better able to communicate our understanding of Freemasonry to our colleagues then we have succeeded. We will also be better placed to explain the good messages of Freemasonry to the wider world and be able to give the prospective candidate a more thorough comprehension of what he may be about to enter, that he may the better be able to make informed decisions, and that we are better able to select the appropriate people.
Freemasonry has some central characteristics known to us and shared by us all - cameraderie, dining with friends, our charitable work and so on. Beyond these are additional planes and each has his own interpretation and particular niche. For some it is our history, for others symbolism and esoteric meaning. If we all learn to practise Masonic principles fully they become integrated into our lives and affect the way in which we conduct ourselves in the outside world and relate to our friends, families and others. This is the essence of Freemasonry and perhaps where we should be making a daily advancement. I now open the Conference and commend its teachings to you.
The Conference started with a plenary session and a paper, "Visions of the Future" by VWBro Rev Neville Barker-Cryer, PGChap. Neville reflected on some of the changes he had seen in Freemasonry during the last 60 years to set the scene for how the future may develop. He raised interesting discussion points - If the principles and purposes of Freemasonry are heavily weighted in the cause of charity why do we spend so much money on regalia, fine meals, dues and Lodge furniture and equipment? Is Charity supposed to 'swamp' everything else we get up to? We contribute via Lodge dues to the Grand Charity, run raffles, have fund raising nights, enter into Festivals etc. Does this not give the Initiate an unbalanced view on what Freemasonry is all about?
In times gone by there were no ritual books and all ritual was learned, explained, understood and given from the heart to enlighten the Lodge members. Nowadays we share it, but please don't let it be poorly read from a script.
Neville then moved on to what he felt was really essential in a Freemason's career: It is far more important than just becoming a Master Mason, or even the Master of a Lodge. If one thinks that Freemasonry is all about joining a Craft Lodge, enjoying the company of one's fellows, working the ritual sincerely and eventually becoming Master then it is no wonder so many masons miss the point. The essence is to understand the ritual and embrace the ultimate secret of Free and Accepted Masonry. When one becomes a Master Mason it is plainly an incomplete place to be - there are secrets that were lost!
The genuine secret of a Master Mason developed in the century of enlightenment and that was the secret of the nature of the Divine. Out of a period of intense religious conflict, in England and on the Continent, between 1710 and 1750, there emerged a society in Western Europe which was eager to calm religious passions, guide men to common faith in the Almighty and symbolise the discovery of a spot where men of various faiths might assemble together with the blessing of a Supreme Being. The great secret of Modern Freemasonry is that in a society such as ours is becoming, we are able to become the ones who have discovered the presence of the Most High in our midst and are invited to proclaim, "glory be to God on high, peace on earth and good will amongst men". That is what our ancestors in the 18th Century called the "Summum Bonum" and that is why each Mason today should be a Royal Arch Companion.
What makes Freemasonry special today is not its charity, entertainment of guests and conviviality but its ritual and ceremonial. This is the results of 400 years of development and growth and there is nothing elsewhere like it. When truly and accurately presented it gives us a product that is truly remarkable. The atmosphere of a sincere and well-enacted ceremony gives one of those moments in life where differences of race, belief, age, affluence and even build do not matter. The careful use of ritual is what Freemasonry is mainly about - here is its unique contribution to the human scene. Please don't let the rush to get to the bar and dining table prevent the proper savouring of the ritual fare in Lodge or Chapter. And the understanding of the ritual by the brethren, reinforced by mentoring, education, lectures, papers, discussions, reading, visiting to hear other ceremonies and progressing through the Lodge Office positions in proper turn are of paramount inportance.
Neville's full paper extended to 8 pages of A4. Some was controversial and some clearly well received by all the brethren present, whatever, he had the rapt attention of the delegates. He made one very controversial point about the Master of a Lodge, "As I sit during the early part of an Installation I hear the Master-elect being asked if he can give his assent to the Ancient Charges and Regulations which are recited for him. Who, I wonder, are the original Rulers and Patrons of the Order whom he is to emulate, or the Imposters and Dissenters whom he is to discountenance? What is this 'knowledge of the Mystic Art' that is to be propagated by him as far as his influence and ability extend? Is it fully understood, as it should be, that a Master of a Lodge is to be the instructor of his brethren because he is 'an expert Brother to preside over them'. Might it be better that for a well-ruling of the Craft we might think, as 200 and more years ago, that a competent Master should occupy the Chair for more than a year and provision is made for those who desire it to be given the essential secrets of an Installed Master for their future progress". He means of course a modern 'Passing the Chair' system. In any case, do we really educate and train our brethren aspiring towards to chair amply enough to fill it, enjoy, understand their work and not feel pressurised in that position? Are they able to carry out all the work that a Master should be doing including managing the Festive Board?
Many questions followed the paper and Neville was pursued by many fans throughout the day. He also sold many of his latest titles which he happily signed for the purchasers!