The following passage was presented to the brethren of John Blair Lodge No. 187 A.F. & A.M. by Brother David L. Brunelle in July 2006. Portions of the presentation are removed and indicated by an asterisk for public posting. Brother Brunelle attributes the inspiration and content of this presentation to Robert Lomas and Turning the Hiram Key and Allen Roberts and The Craft and Its Symbols. Brethren who would like a full copy of this presentation, or would like it presented in their Lodge are encouraged to contact Brother Brunelle.
I am young to masonry, but I feel that I have already received vast riches. Masonry has expanded my mind and has put me on the path that I have sought.
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****My labor has opened my eyes.
Tonight I wish to present to you a small portion of my Masonic studies. Tonight I would like to speak about Lodge. In doing so, I hope to expand your thought process, and introduce mysticism to those of you who have not yet experienced it.
The Grand Lodge of Virginia says:
Freemasonry's singular purpose is to make good men better. Its bonds of friendship, compassion, and brotherly love have survived even the most divisive political, military, and religious conflicts throughout the centuries. Freemasonry is a fraternity which encourages its members to practice the faith of their personal acceptance. Masonry teaches that each person, through self-improvement and helping others, has an obligation to make a difference for good in the world.
This passage alludes to the esoteric nature of the craft. We are all mystics, and seekers of light.
Freemasonry does not solicit membership. Many fathers have waited years and years for their sons to inquire about membership. Why would we do this to ourselves at the risk of shrinking membership? It is because we are all seekers of light. Men must be called to the alter of Freemasonry, not invited. You sought admission of your own free will and accord.
You knocked on the door and it was opened.
You asked for light, and thus received it.
For those who don't seek light, the mysteries of Freemasonry and the universe shall always be hidden.
When you asked for light in Masonry, what did you receive? For each of us the answer is probably different. Some of us only received membership in a fraternity. Others received a degree of spiritual enlightenment and yet a precious few received even more. What masonry is to each of us may be different, but for all us there are commonalties. One of these is the Lodge.
The Blue Lodge is the foundation of Freemasonry. We all come here time and time again, communication after communication, but for what? What is it that attracts Masons to the Blue Lodge and keeps them returning time and time again?
There are numerous reasons for attending Lodge, and therefore no simple answer can be found. Certainly there is an aspect of pleasure. It feels good to come to Lodge, doesn’t it?
Noted Masonic author and Brother Robert Lomas tried to determine what it is that makes Lodge “feel good.” He attributed the pleasurable and rewarding feelings associated with Lodge attendance to psychological factors.
I would agree with portions of his theories presented in the book Turning the Hiram Key, although I would add that through initiation, Lodge has become sacred to its members.
Please recall that:
It was in Lodge that you knocked on the door of Freemasonry.
It was in Lodge that Freemasonry welcomed you with open arms.
It was in Lodge that your faith was well founded **
It was in Lodge that ** you were initiated as an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
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It was in Lodge that you became a living stone for that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
The Lodge is where you meet your brothers who share the common bond of Lodge. This place is holy to all who sit within. You feel welcome here, spiritually grounded, and safe.
I often wish that I could be in Lodge more. I attend Lodge every month, and visit other Lodges frequently, but I still crave more time in Lodge. I hope that all of you feel the same way. I am certain that those of us who have personal commitments or are ill wish they could be in Lodge more often too.
I would like to give all of the brethren here tonight a gift. That gift is Lodge anytime, anywhere. A spiritual and astral Lodge that you can attend whenever and wherever you like. You can attend Lodge when you wish to be with the brethren. You can attend Lodge whenever you are lonely, scared, ill, confused, or forsaken. If you need the advice of your Brothers, you can have it. I would now like to lead you in an unorthodox Masonic oriented meditation.
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I ask that you follow my instructions:
I would like to show you your Lodge so you can attend whenever you like.
Please close your eyes and keep them closed until I ask you to open them. This will not take long, and it will be most rewarding, so again, please close your eyes at this time. If you do not wish to participate, please sit quietly for this portion of the presentation.
Sit upright with your spine straight, and your feet flat on the floor.
With your eyes closed, allow you body to relax.
Breathe deeply and slowly. Breathe in deep, breath out deep.
Try not to think of anything- concentrate only on your breath.
Continue to do this for the next minute or two in complete silence.
Now imagine a beam of white light shining down and entering your body through the top of your head. Let this light fill you with Divine energy. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly.
Now I ask that you enter your Lodge room--Sense it.
Breathe in through your nose and smell this Lodge room.
Feel your body supported by your seat.
Sense your Brothers around you.
Keeping your eyes closed, but using your mind's eye or imagination, visualize the Lodge around you.
Behold the three great lights in Masonry by aid of the representatives of the three lesser lights.
Behold the Worshipful Master in the East who, like his Brothers, is ever willing and able to assist a distressed worthy brother.
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Brethren, this is your lodge. It is here where you can seek refuge in times of need. Come here as often as you like, where the answers await you. Here you are protected by the Tiler's sword. Fear no danger.
I now ask that you slowly open your eyes, and let Lodge in to your heart.
As Hiram Abif prayed daily for guidance before setting the craftsmen to work, so must we.
Through the Great Architect of the Universe, we can acquire the self-image we must have to be successful.
Through prayer, we learn to meditate and to take stock of our strengths and weaknesses, and until a man learns to pray for himself, he cannot hope to learn the supreme Masonic secret.
Remember, Brethren, that your Lodge room is both a psychological retreat and a classroom. The great Adepts teach us that visualization is one of the keys to the subconscious, so meditate upon and visualize your lodge often. You could consider the meditation we just did as part of your daily Masonic Labor.
In doing so, the Lodge will mentally meet every day-- It will increase the harmony of thought when the Lodge physically meets- and the Lodge room will fulfill its purpose in being a focus point and storage place for its members’ thoughts and ambitions.
In the book The Craft and Its Symbols, Allen Roberts writes:
"Hiram Abif drew his designs for the building and beautifying of the Temple in the Sanctum Santorum, or Holy of Holies. There he received the inspiration he needed because he felt the presence of God. There he could concentrate without being disturbed."
Brethren, visit the astral lodge often, let this place become your Sanctum Santorum.
So Mote it Be.
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