Fair Judgement and the Tectactrys

     Greetings Everyone and WELCOME BACK to our study of Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma after a very long hiatus.

 

 I offer my apologies for the lay off, I found myself in a long malaise full of writers’ block and lack of inspiration. This happens to writers from time to time.

 

 Quincy Jones calls the atmosphere when artists are inspired the time when “God is in the room”. 

  

   I call the lack of inspiration the Ichabod moments or “the spirit hath departed”.

 

   After some self reflection and finding ways to become inspired again, I am back and ready to inspire YOU to keep reading Morals and Dogma. There are so many wonderful lessons in this book that after reading Morals and Dogma, it would be difficult to leave the book without it chnging your life.

 

 

 

  As we continue this chapter, Pike introduces to us the use of the tectactrys of Pythogoras as a symbole to healp us to lead effectively and judge fairly those who we lead.

 

  When we left on the unexpected hiatus, we read about being sure to be impartial as we lead, having the same expectations for all of those we lead and rejecting the path of cronyism.  

 

  And now, LETS READ PIKE!

 

 

   

The peculiar and principal symbol of this Degree is the Tetractys of Pythagoras, suspended in the East, where ordinarily the sacred word or letter glitters, like it, representing the Deity. Its nine external points form the triangle, the chief symbol in Masonry, with many of the meanings of which you are familiar.

To us, its three sides represent the three principal attributes of the Deity, which created, and now, as ever, support, uphold, and guide the Universe in its eternal movement; the three supports of the Masonic Temple, itself an emblem of the Universe:--Wisdom, or the Infinite Divine Intelligence; Strength, or Power, the Infinite Divine Will; and Beauty, or the Infinite Divine Harmony, the Eternal Law, by virtue of which the infinite myriads of suns and worlds flash ever onward in their ceaseless revolutions, without clash or conflict, in the Infinite of space, and change and movement are the law of all created existences.

To us, as Masonic Judges, the triangle figures forth the Pyramids, which, planted firmly as the everlasting hills, and accurately adjusted to the four cardinal points, defiant of all assaults of men and time, teach us to stand firm and unshaken as they, when our feet are planted upon the solid truth.

It includes a multitude of geometrical figures, all having a deep significance to Masons. The triple triangle is peculiarly sacred, having ever been among all nations a symbol of the Deity. Prolonging all the external lines of the Hexagon, which also it includes, we have six smaller triangles, whose bases cut each other in the central point of the Tetractys, itself always the symbol of

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the generative power of the Universe, the Sun, Brahma, Osiris, Apollo, Bel, and the Deity Himself. Thus, too, we form twelve still smaller triangles, three times three of which compose the Tetractys itself.

 

  In this paragraph, we are reminded that our search for more truth transcends time and dieties. The consequences of our actions reverberate forever. When we touch one we touch many whether it be in a positive or negative way.

Good actions and positive energy never dies. Pike writes as the triangle represents, our actions like the pyramids “accurately adjusted to the four cardinal points, defiant of all assaults of men and time..” the symboliem of the pyramids “teach us to stand firm and unshaken as they, when our feet are planted upon the solid truth."

What is truth and what is right stands solid forever. When is false and incorrect never stands the test of time though when faced with those in power that are incorrect and untruthful it can SEEM like forever, but what is right will prevail. Nobody can stop light from shining in. 

It is important in our roles as Masons to be sure to never act like the despot or the dogmatic leader. We are merely seekers of MORE TRUTH, we are NOT the holders of the ONLY truth.

Next 

I refrain from enumerating all the figures that you may trace within it: but one may not be passed unnoticed. The Hexagon itself faintly images to us a cube, not visible at the first glance, and therefore the fit emblem of that faith in things invisible, most essential to salvation. The first perfect solid, and reminding you of the cubical stone that sweated blood, and of that deposited by Enoch, it teaches justice, accuracy, and consistency.

The infinite divisibility of the triangle teaches the infinity of the Universe, of time, of space, and of the Deity, as do the lines that, diverging from the common centre, ever increase their distance from each other as they are infinitely prolonged. As they may be infinite in number, so are the attributes of Deity infinite; and as they emanate from one centre and are projected into space, so the whole Universe has emanated from God.

In this paragraph, Pike is referring again to the tectactrys of Pythagoras. I will include an image of the tectactrys in this installment. 

Next:

Remember also, my Brother, that you have other duties to perform than those of a judge. You are to inquire into and scrutinize carefully the work of the subordinate Bodies in Masonry. You are to see that recipients of the higher Degrees are not unnecessarily multiplied; that improper persons are carefully excluded from membership, and that in their life and conversation Masons bear testimony to the excellence of our doctrines and the incalculable value of the institution itself. You are to inquire also into your own heart and conduct, and keep careful watch over yourself, that you go not astray. If you harbor ill-will and jealousy, if you are hospitable to intolerance and bigotry, and churlish to gentleness and kind affections, opening wide your heart to one and closing its portals to the other, it is time for you to set in order your own temple, or else you wear in vain the name and insignia of a Mason, while yet uninvested with the Masonic nature.

In this paragraph, Pike reminds us to never grow the numbers in masonic lodges just for the sake of growing numbers. Masonry first and foremost, let us remember is a SPIRIT and masonic lodges do not give that spirit to any candidate. In masonry we should be inviting for membership those that already have that spirit within them into the doors of our lodges. 

As masonic lodge membership declines in the United States, sometimes it is too easy to be dismayed and to believe to somehow the practice of freemasonry is also declining. But I see the opposite. I believe in this day of the year 2018 that the masonic spirit is thriving. 

This generation, unlike most other generations, have found themselves more open to spiritual paths not practiced by their parents, and parents are also more open to encouraging their children to seek their own truths. I see more tolerance in this generation than I have seen in previous generations and I see more “self checking” in actions and language than ever before. I see more people in this generation standing up to the bully and the despots than in my own genertion.

This is the spirit of freemasonry. 

On the other side of this, in the United States, we see less people filling the seats of buildings and rejecting traditional roles as members of organizations. 

The dedication to be at X place and X time and be on time every time seems to be gone. The politics of groups and the unbearable litany of “group think” is more of a turn off now than in the past. 

Masons should note this and remember to never grow membership numbers just to pay the bills. We should always encourage those showing embodying the spirit of freemasonry to continue to do so, whether they join our membership role or not. 

But we should welcome those with the emodiment of masonry into our doors should they wish to join, and reject those who do not have that spirit. 

 

  And that is where we will end our study for today.

 

   Thank you for your patience as I have made my way back to writing. We will continue chapter 31 next week.

 

 

 

 

 

Tectactrys of Pythagoras.