Y Mahomed
Member
3rd door left of right
Posts: 97
|
Post by Y Mahomed on Jul 20, 2007 21:04:50 GMT
This is the most beautiful I've seen yet.
|
|
|
Post by lauderdale on Jul 20, 2007 21:52:47 GMT
Indeed so Playto, a most beautiful Temple.
|
|
|
Post by hollandr on Jul 21, 2007 0:29:48 GMT
It is a very nice temple - particularly with the stars in the ceiling
I notice the Blazing Star appears to have 16 points. This indicates to me an entirely different interpretation of the star.
Are there any indications in the ritual of that lodge or their traditions about the BS?
Cheers
Russell
|
|
jmd
Member
fourhares.com
Posts: 1,081
|
Post by jmd on Jul 21, 2007 1:57:05 GMT
Interesting indeed - and always fascinating to see where (when not at the stations of the three principal officers) the three pillars are placed near or on the pavement. Here (unless the image has been flipped electronically), we have two lights in the North. In Holland, for example, the two are in the South. In both, the West has two, and the East only one. And in an early image, two are in the South (as per the Dutch version), but two are in the East, and only one in the West.
As the the number of 'rays' on the Blazing Star, not only is there not a single representation (the most common with either five or six points), but some constitutions do not include such representation, and certainly not in the centre of the pavement.
|
|
Tony Grimwood
Member
Asst. Steward, Lodge Howick No. 314
Posts: 190
|
Post by Tony Grimwood on Jul 21, 2007 2:09:58 GMT
Looks like a Japanese flag in the top-left of the pic. Also I notice that there doesn't appear to be a p...t within a c....e anywhere in sight. In our juridiction it's on the western face of the altar, whereas the lodge pictured here has the S&C. Hmmm ...
|
|
jmd
Member
fourhares.com
Posts: 1,081
|
Post by jmd on Jul 21, 2007 3:01:47 GMT
The point within a circle is not within all constitutions, nor is, for that matter, a central altar.
|
|
Tony Grimwood
Member
Asst. Steward, Lodge Howick No. 314
Posts: 190
|
Post by Tony Grimwood on Jul 21, 2007 3:20:47 GMT
The point within a circle is not within all constitutions, nor is, for that matter, a central altar. In my lodge, the altar isn't on the pavement at all, but at the eastern end, between the pavement and the Master's chair.
|
|
jmd
Member
fourhares.com
Posts: 1,081
|
Post by jmd on Jul 21, 2007 3:40:13 GMT
To add to the collection, by the way, here are three I have in my folders, unfortunately not properly referenced: from an 18th century French manuscript (if I recall - it's actually on the web in a few places, so will add reference when found again): from an American (I hopefully properly recall) hall: and from a contemporary Lodge in Holland: Note, of course and perhaps too obvious to mention, that in each of these cases, the three pillars of light are, unlike my own and many other constitutions, on or by the pavement, rather than at adjacent the Master and Wardens (the latter also, of course, have different locations in different constitutions).
|
|
|
Post by thesixthnapoleon on Jul 21, 2007 4:17:45 GMT
The Original Poster's pic looks fantastically like a Lodge one might stumble into on the Enterprise. The bottom pic, described as "contemporary," is very interesting. The clean, "Modern" lines are a very fascinating twist on what I've seen elsewhere. Of course the massive, cathedral like "American" Lodge looks like it would be breathtaking to enter. Imagine being initiated there! My own Lodge is much more modest, but has its own charm. It feels a little bit like a well-loved Uncle's house or something like that. One thing I really don't like about our Lodge is electric lights in place of candles around the altar... I recognize it's a fire hazard, but I suppose I'm a traditionalist in that regard!
|
|
jmd
Member
fourhares.com
Posts: 1,081
|
Post by jmd on Jul 21, 2007 4:35:38 GMT
I agree with you about the preference for candles over electric lights. Stating they are a fire hazard, however, seems to me to be utter nonsense (I have heard that so often locally!): they are no more a fire hazard than electrical wiring is a fire hazard - each can, if incorrectly used, faulty, or damaged, lead to a hazard.
|
|
|
Post by hollandr on Jul 21, 2007 6:06:00 GMT
The last lodge shown has the pavement on the diagonal.
In my view this should alter the energies of the lodge and perhaps its function
Does the lodge in question have any view on why the pavement is so
It is good to see the pavement taking up most of the lodge
Cheers
Russell
|
|
Y Mahomed
Member
3rd door left of right
Posts: 97
|
Post by Y Mahomed on Jul 21, 2007 10:09:30 GMT
Are there any indications in the ritual of that lodge or their traditions about the BS? No, I just found that picture online.
|
|
|
Post by calvin on Jul 22, 2007 4:07:29 GMT
Looks like a Japanese flag in the top-left of the pic. Also I notice that there doesn't appear to be a p...t within a c....e anywhere in sight. In our juridiction it's on the western face of the altar, whereas the lodge pictured here has the S&C. Hmmm ... Good eye, Bro Tonyg. The p-t within a c-e is on the east face in my lodge so it must vary from place to place. Cal
|
|
|
Post by gaslight on Sept 2, 2007 4:30:45 GMT
This is the most beautiful I've seen yet. The picture shows the Craft Lodge Hall (Blue Room) in the Tokyo Masonic Center. There's also an Appendant Bodies Hall next door, the "Red Room". For more details see the Grand Lodge of Japan website. Four (soon to be five) GLJ lodges meet in the Blue Room, plus one lodge under the GL of Massachusetts. Other lodges are free to use it on an irregular basis. In another message in this thread someone noted the Rising Sun flag in the corner. For trivia buffs, the custom of placing a national flag in Japanese lodge rooms was introduced by US brethren after WWII. When the Grand Lodge of Japan was founded in 1957 most of the GL officers were from the US military. Placing the Stars and Stripes (!!) in lodge rooms was mandated by the Constitution. Years later, the Constitution was amended to permit the Japanese national flag to be also displayed. This US influence was one of the major reasons why the UGLE delayed recognition of GLJ until as late as 1985. No point-within-a-circle as noted by another poster, but the ritual used by GLJ lodges most assuredly refers to it and its association with the Holy Saints John.
|
|
|
Post by gaslight on Sept 2, 2007 4:50:29 GMT
If any members are interested in a superb collection of lodge and other Masonic photos, I recommend Architectures Maçonniques: Grand-Bretagne, France, États-Unis, Belgique published last year by the Archives d'Architecture Moderne in Belgium as part of an exhibition.
Among the contributors are Prof James Curl, author of the definitive The Art and Architecture of Freemasonry, which I see is now only $35 for the paperback edition. I borrowed a copy of the hardback edition from a university library and have been yearning for it ever since.
I believe the exhibition in Belgium is now closed. I was lucky to get an invitation to the opening but was, alas, a few thousand miles away.
Page 9 of Architectures Maçonniques has a vivid full-page photo of the Scottish Rite Hall in Tokyo, counterpart to the Craft Lodge Hall shown elsewhere in this thread.
|
|