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Post by barryw on Oct 25, 2011 7:50:11 GMT
Can anyone tell me why this term came to be introduced into Freemasonry and specifically the third degree?
I am familiar with it relating to Perceval in the Arthurian myths but wondered why it was included. I am obviuosly familiar with the story included in the 3rd degree but is this a modern invention?
Any pointers greatlfully received
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Post by billmcelligott on Oct 25, 2011 17:13:15 GMT
Look into 'Hiram Abiff'
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Post by fractal3rd on Oct 25, 2011 20:39:56 GMT
hi there, a good book to read is the Hiram Key by Knight & Lomas, bad researchers but good hypothesis you will see their theory on Hiram and the historical connection. Its a bit sacrelige but worth a read if you are a mason.
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Post by barryw on Oct 27, 2011 19:14:36 GMT
Hi both - thnaks for this. I am aware of the Hiram Abif link but have not read the Kinght and Lomas book. What I was most interetsed in though is when it came into the ritual (as it doesn't seem to appear in the early exposees) and why.
B
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Post by maat on Oct 31, 2011 22:58:07 GMT
Kundalini is referred to as the divorced woman or widow... Isis was a widow, whose husband was entombed ... she had a famous son Binah, is sometime referred to as a widow Freemasonry celebrates the Two Saints John, maybe there is a clue to be found there .. www.gospel-john.com/Take particular notice of the Blue man in this link. 7 Officers 3 Pillars Winding pathways Straight and narrow road Rainbow Covenant "As the sun rises in the East ...
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Post by maat on Oct 31, 2011 23:15:17 GMT
Re: The Gospel of John “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15 ..check out the clasp on your apron. www.gospel-john.com/index.html
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Post by maat on Oct 31, 2011 23:17:34 GMT
Don't forget that Newton and Ashmole were practicing Alchemists ... the secret tradition of changing lead (man) into gold (perfected man). In those days those found guilty of practicing Alchemy would get the death penalty. Which may go a ways to explaining the need for secrecy.
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Post by billmcelligott on Nov 1, 2011 0:09:04 GMT
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Post by maat on Nov 1, 2011 0:48:15 GMT
Wow - there is a blast from the past... 2006, who would have thought that all these years later..
Ecclesiastes is part of our ritual (Lauderdale) also. The Silver Cord? The Golden Bowl? Two examples which are better explained in Eastern Traditions.
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Post by maat on Nov 1, 2011 0:54:42 GMT
Yes, Death is not what many seem to think. It's not the horrible thing which is often pictured. Just a change - just a visit. The shears or scissors are indeed the implements most representative of life and death to man. These indeed unite by dividing - and divide by uniting. The cord does not, as usually thought, extend from the center - but is broken from the head, the forehead - that soft portion we see pulsate in the infant. "Hence we see old people, unbeknowing to themselves, gain strength from youth by kissing there; and youth gains wisdom by such kisses. "Indeed the vibrations may be raised to such an extent as to rekindle or reconnect the cord, even as the Master did with the son of the widow of Nain. For he did not take him by the hand (which was bound to the body as was the custom of the day), but rather stroked him on the head - and the body took life of Life itself! So, you see, the silver cord may be broken - but the vibration ...
www.near-death.com/experiences/research12.html "Birth in the physical is death in the spiritual. Death in the physical is the birth in the spiritual." - Edgar Cayce His Source also repeatedly stated that "Mind is the Builder".
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Post by maat on Nov 1, 2011 0:57:04 GMT
If birth in the physical is death in the spiritual then Mother Nature culd be seen to be the widow, and we her sons.
Our 'Father' would be in 'Heaven'.
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Post by vajranagini on Nov 1, 2011 1:39:51 GMT
Can anyone tell me why this term came to be introduced into Freemasonry and specifically the third degree? I am familiar with it relating to Perceval in the Arthurian myths but wondered why it was included. I am obviuosly familiar with the story included in the 3rd degree but is this a modern invention? Any pointers greatlfully received Because modern-day Freemasonry is a remnant of the ancient worship of the everyman's deity in (very) ancient Egypt, Osiris,(the Osireion was one of the oldest temples in Egypt; the worship of Ra was only for the priesthood and the Pharaoh) who was murdered (in a fashion very similar to the legend of Hiram Abiff), leaving his wife Isis a widow. "Son of the Widow" alludes to her son Horus or "Heru" who is seated on Her lap. Widowhood is associated with Saturn who is the planetary representative of the sephirah Binah on the Qabalistic Tree of Life; Binah is also represented by the Jewish Shekinah, and the Black Virgin. In fact the Black Virgin/Black Isis is the "egregore" behind the institution of Freemasonry, hence the obscure "widow" symbolism. I could go on at some length explaining the symbolism and how I know about it! (Qabalistic meditation on the Tree of Life)
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Post by maat on Nov 1, 2011 2:21:17 GMT
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Post by maat on Nov 1, 2011 6:13:09 GMT
Freemasonry might have something to say about this in its rituals.
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Post by fractal3rd on Nov 1, 2011 6:24:10 GMT
Howzit Barryw,
The above is all very enlightening – when such understandings were added to masonry is as big a secret as any - since it is unknown when masonry really began - The dating back of the ritual is difficult to ascertain - however, Knight and Lomas (The Hiram Key) take a stab and visit the early Pharaohs and try to visit archaeological evidence to verify the myth. And they come up with very interesting theories, I think some of their timelines were off but interesting.
They basically heard of the discovery of a Mummy in Egypt that fit the description of Hiram's death - blows to the head, and 3 other mummy’s with genitals removed... etc, so they hypothesis that given then ritual the Egyptians perform at the death of a Pharaoh - then this ritual is where the 3rd degree stems from - now the Egyptians lost the secret word with this Pharaoh cos he would not yield it to the other inhabitant of Egypt at the time (Joseph and clan) they tried to steal the ritual of resurrection - the Pharaoh died rather than yield (hence after the death of this Pharaoh none of the Pharaohs had the Ra attached to their name as was custom) - then Knight and Lomas quote some bible verses to substantiate that the Israeli patriarchs constantly wanted the secret ritual - they arrive at the solution that masonry adopted the principle of ‘Myet’ from the Egyptians - relief, truth, charity, and also the ritual itself - but not the secret word of resurrection as that was "lost" - so if you read the book they place the loss of the word, ritual (Hiram Ritual) as far back as that incident in Egypt - but the resurrection ritual itself was given to the Egyptians by theirs gods much earlier in time. Thus the 3rd degree or Master Mason was considered to be the highest level of awakening the Man. But still not complete without the Word – so in the 1st degree we say: In the beginning was the Word the Word was with God and the Word was God and the VSL is opened and the lodge opened officially. Even at this beginning point, Masonry is plainly saying the Word is God and God is the resurrection power. So when Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life – that statement was very important on many levels, any Masons around would have instantly been drawn to this man to hear what he was saying… No man goes to the Father but through Me – No man is raised but through the Word. (but that was a little off topic – if you have a read through the book it will explain the beginnings of the ritual but also leave you with an array of questions on other issues)
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Post by barryw on Nov 1, 2011 18:37:41 GMT
Thanks all for these wise and pondering words. As I say I certainly recognoise the connections to HA, Jesus and of course Horus but i am still left thinking that the term (as far as I know) does not appear in the early exposures of freemasonry so it either came in later or was 'remembered' from earlier ritual in Scotland or Ireland. Does anyone know whether it appears in any of the Guild mystery plays?
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Post by billmcelligott on Nov 1, 2011 19:54:35 GMT
Thanks all for these wise and pondering words. As I say I certainly recognoise the connections to HA, Jesus and of course Horus but i am still left thinking that the term (as far as I know) does not appear in the early exposures of freemasonry so it either came in later or was 'remembered' from earlier ritual in Scotland or Ireland. Does anyone know whether it appears in any of the Guild mystery plays? It would be strange if there was not a connection. The money raised at such plays had the purpose, to provide Alms for Widows and Orphans of the workforce.
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