New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-08
~ocrayCE AND SHADOW, WORD AND
SPIRIT.

n, one will dispute that ritualism in Masonry
:" .acessitv. and no one dispute the fact
=. ,he ritual is only the Shell in which are
'.soa the higher and greater values of the
pa. The ritual, the forms and ceremonies of
nations are the beautiful word paintings TO
,oss upon the mind of the candidates the
.. ~ our teachings and the worth Of the
~, therein contained; add to this word-paini-
,he dramatic effect OF our ritual. and an
"'s,on e made upon the mind of even 4
IN ~ indifferent person which is never eifaced.
-. q man who will ever forget the cere-
INV Of the third degree? Rightly under
- will he ever forget the lesson taught by
=. beautiful allegory? Was there ever Ma
- ubo was exalted TO the august degree OF
=. Roval Arch who can ever forget the cere-
-, Nome Ritualism in Masonry is intend
a "a add force TO the sublime teachings. and IL
!. he who learns these lessons well and treas
-. ,bem I'm TIE mind and embodies them in
Ma everyday life that may be called a true
Mason And yet Master may take the de-
s,ee OF Entered Apprentice and learn every
rord of the lecture. so that he could re-
,eat II all at will. bright as far as the ritual
q concerned. but may know absolutely nothing
a, the spirit Of It. He might learn. parrothke'
the lessons Of temperance and yet be drunk
ard: be bright as 10 the words. but lustrelesS
as TO the spirit and practice. Ritualists are an
absolute necessity. The effects Of the degrees
nay be ruined by bad elocution. by frivolous or
undignifed action. Stumbling over the woros
IN the ceremonies detracts greatly from the i'm
pressiveness Of the work. Speaking the lines
nike a town crier" makes one wish he had never
heard them. The way and manner or delivering
the different lectures are undoubtedly Of the ut
initiate reverence the lessons of the ceremony
than most any thing else
But. after ALL brethren. the true Mason is not
merely a parrot a machine. and Masonry does
no; consist Of knowledge Of words only. of a
knowledge OF the work in the several degrees.
or of the power to speak them well. but rather
in the possession of the moral qualities that
should recommend man for the high distinction
conferred upon him by giving him the right TO
wear the emblem Of innocence or when you
elected him to the chair once SO ABLY filed by
Solomon, King Of Israel" YOU have right TO OK
pect something more from him than the repeti-
ton Of mere words only. And. furthermore.
Won cannot bind down a man Of brains or a
man OF education 10 a parrotlike repetition OF
the same lines night after night. He tires of 1t,
and will substitute a word here and phrase
there. and use his own brush for his word-paint-
ing, and will color as his active and trained
mind may dictate at the moment. For the IL
literate, for the busy man Of affairs ready
made" ritual is a blessing, a necessity, and TO
every Mason the essentials in the ceremony
should be sacred and inviolate. But do not
place the shell above the kernel. the word
above the spirit. The lessons. the truths, the
teachings, are above all else. Our duty TO our
God our neighbors and ourselves must ever be
held above the mere words Of any ritual. The
true Mason must not forget the lessons OF char
ity. of brotherly love- and be a Mason without
as well within the lodgeroom. Let our Itt-
uaists shine forth in our work, shine as the
gun in It's full glory. and Jet their aim be mainly
- impress the rOvitiate with the Importance
Of being bright Nelson's in practice and in deed
TIE bright light o: The glorious orb is dazzling
70 the eye but thc rays Of its warmth enter
the heart: IL gives growth TO the plants, and is
lie giving 20 everything on earth. SO Jet the
ritual dazzle al first sight, but let the rays of
truth OF honest sincerity, enter and penetrate
the heart OF your nov,iate.