Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au

20
A LIVING MASON
Author Unknown
His name is John. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes
in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his
entire four years of college. He was top of his class, kind of
esoteric and very, very bright.
He became a Mason recently while attending college. After
moving to his new town, he finds down the street from his new
apartment is a well dressed, very conservative lodge.
One day John decides to go there after work. He walks in with
shoes, jeans, his work shirt and longer hair. The lodge has
already started and so John starts looking for a seat. The
lodge is completely packed and he can’t find a seat. By now
the brethren are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no-one
says anything.
John gets closer and closer and closer to the east and, when
he realises there are no seats, he squats down right on the
carpet. ( Although perfectly acceptable behaviour at a college
fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this lodge before!)
By now the brethren are really uptight, and the tension
in the air is thick.
About this time, the Secretary realises that from way at the
back of the lodge a Past Master starts walking toward John.
Now the Past Master is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair and
a three-piece suit. A good man, very elegant, very dignified,
very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking
toward this boy, everyone is saying that you can’t blame him
for what he’s going to do. How can you expect a man of his
age and of his background to understand some college kid in
the lodge?
It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The lodge is
utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes
are focussed on him. You can’t even hear anyone breathing.
The Secretary can’t even continue with the Minutes until the
Past Master does what he has to do.
156
IMPLICATIONS OF THE RUFFIANS’ CRIME
By Brandt A Smith
From the Lodgeroom International Magazine
Masonic tradition informs us that a certain Hiram Abiff was slain by
three “ruffians”. The method by which Hiram was murdered is well
known. He was killed by three blows delivered by these three ruffians
with working tools. To be more accurate the first two strikes
were not deadly. It was the third and final that was indeed the blow
that killed him.
The Hiramic legend is such an important aspect of Masonic culture
that it is proper for us to spend a considerable amount of time contemplating
the meaning and lessons contained therein. There are
apparently missing parts of the Hiramic legend. These missing parts
or questions that should arise, where one learns the legend, are
many. Research into the earlt Masonic culture does provide some
intriguing answers.
The first weapon
The first tool that was used to attack Hiram Abiff was a twenty inch
gauge . The twenty four inch gauge is a “working tool” of an Entered
Apprentice. An Entered Apprentice is taught that the twenty inch
gauge is a tool used by speculative Masons to divide our time.
To use this particular tool, used to strike Hiram across the throat, is
emblematic of silencing Hiram. The division of time or sense of proportion
and perspective that one gains from the speculative application
of the twenty inch gauge, when used as a weapon is emblematic
of tyranny. It is tyrannical in the sense that a gauge being used as a
weapon allows no freedom of choice or expression of thought. Are
we the first ruffian? Careful application of our btwenty four inch
gauge is crucial.
The second weapon
The second tool used to attack Hiram Abiff was the square. This
should be particularly horrific to Freemasons, as the square is a
working tool of a Fellow Craft. We, as Fellowcraft, are taught to
square our actions by the square of virtue. This tool is of particular