Where Lies Masonry? By VWBro Joselito P. Tamaray, PDDGM

Here is another Masonic Education lecture by VWBro Joselito P. Tamaray, PDDGM and a member of Kalilayan Lodge No 37, Lucena City, Quezon, Philippines. These articles (see recent posting here) were emailed thru the courtesy of VWBro Ben Apacible of Kalilayan Lodge No 37.

Based on my research, VWBro Tamaray, aside from being a distinguished Mason and scholar, is also the City Judge, MTCC– Branch II of Lucena City.


Where Lies Masonry? By VWBro Joselito P. Tamaray, PDDGM

Much has been written about the beautiful and impressive moral doctrines and philosophy of Masonry that even those who are profane are overwhelmed by the enormity and depth of knowledge a mason has to learn from it.

Eminent mortals who charted the history of the world and were masons in their time even came out with several essays on the subject of Masonry with one purpose- to illustrate and define the masonic symbolisms for a better understanding of everybody, and the more we learn from it, the more we are motivated to seek further light to increase our knowledge.

The literature of the order is so immense that points the way to discovering enlightenment, to exemplify in our daily lives the virtues which they teach. It aims to inculcate into the minds of its votaries the wisdom of the ages, to seek only that is good for the welfare of humanity and to promote harmony amongst the creation of the divine being.

As we are impressed by its principles and tenets, we are convinced that Masonry is a picture of human life itself. The first three degrees represent the pathway of human progress from his birth until he will reach the stage where wisdom prevails in his judgment to his ultimate mortality. Such is the profound interest we pour into it that we give it our significant space and time.

What mystic tie binds us together and why are we so attached to it?

We cannot present here concrete answers to these queries but one thing is certain. Our attachment to Masonry is based on the fact that we were made a mason first in our hearts. It is in the heart where the mysticism of Masonry lies and it is there where its secrets are safely deposited.

All the greatness and beauty of its teachings are imbedded in the faithful breast of every mason and we are confident that unless a mason has the heart, no amount of untruthful accusation and insidious attack against it could destroy his belief. For after all, “what we hold secret and sacred in each of our hearts and mean to do in our lives constitute the Masonic approach to the truth.”

It is time that we should re-examine ourselves whether we deserve the wages of the craftsmen in the quarries as builders of temples in the hearts of men. We cannot speculate on what Masonry can do for us but rather we should reciprocate Masonry for enlightening us to understand the vicissitudes of life.

We must always remember that for whatever may happen for a mason is, “he who chooses the right with invincible resolution, who resists the sorest temptations from within and without; who is calmest in storms, and whose reliance on Truth, on Virtue, on God is the most unfaltering.”

Yes, Masonry means everything to the brother who believes that its tenets are unalterable and immutable for Masonry is a fine seeker of truth, and truth is Masonry.

Brethren we must in earnest strive to understand the meaning of our rites and ceremonies and diligently search for a better understanding of our symbols and allegories. It will take a long time, even decades, before we can have a working knowledge of Masonry. It is so extensive that only by a diligent, honest and zealous effort at serious study that we may acquire a sufficient knowledge about its teachings.

Only when we have assiduously worked to perfection our desire to achieve and learn from the lessons of the first three degrees that we can have the heart to defend Masonry, for “The real secrets of Masonry are never told, not even from mouth to ear…The real secret of Masonry is spoken to your heart, and from it to the heart of your brother…”!


(Moderator's note: Bold and italics supplied for emphasis).