The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

Chapter VII. 75225. But—we must remember that the Entered Apprentice is onlyjust taking his first initiation, his first lesson. Presumably he hasbeen living an ordinary, worldly life before this, a square life asnearly as he knew how to make it square, but still “oblong.” Nowhe is being taught the Science of Right Living in accordance withthe great Laws of Nature. But he has not yet had tilne to put thatknowledge into practice. Hence he has not yet had time to workin a scientific manner in his lower nature for he has not knownthose great “slow-acting” Laws which govern the development ofcharacter and the growth of mental and spiritual qualities, thesymbolic metals. So it cannot be expected of him that he will havedeveloped any of those “Qualities” which can be appropriatelysymbolized by the various metals.226. That is why the Entered Apprentice is without metals. It is toteach him that the really valuable qualities of mind and spirit andcharacter are not obtained by the haphazard life which theordinary uninstructed man lives. Development of mind and spiritrequire knowledge and this knowledge he has been taught, in part,in this Degree, but as he has not yet had a chance to put thisknowledge into practice it is not to be expected that he can showthe mental and spiritual “qualities” which alone can be developedor “smelted” or “mined” from the earth and rock of the lowernatures,. the personality, by the scientific training of the Schoolinto. whose Mysteries he has just begun his study.227. This lesson is equally valuable to the Mason who has been inthe Order for a long time and who has watched the Rituals gonethrough with tinle and again until he knows them all by heart.The lesson is strictly in accordance with the rest of the symbolismand is still further proof of the fact that the lessons of Masonry areprogressive and also scientific.