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Papers Presented to Adobe Lodge #41 |
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The following paper was presented by our newly initiated Bro. David Kucera on Feb 9th,2010.
My Entered Apprentice Initiation
It is 5:00pm on Tuesday January 26, 2010. Brother A.B. and I stand on the sidewalk on the north side of the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Tucson Arizona. I am about to begin a journey. For years I have considered making this journey, studied about the journey, and procrastinated when it came to beginning this journey. Finally, about 7 months ago, I decided that it was time. Most of the men, among my family and friends, who have had the greatest positive influence on my life have made this journey. This evening I will become a Freemason.
What follows are my impressions of my Entered Apprentice Initiation. Before discussing those feelings though, I should touch on one item of importance. I was given some very good advice before my initiation. That advice was to not do too much exploring on the internet, because knowing too much of what was to take place during my initiation could “spoil” the experience. Good advice, but I received it about 3 years too late! Yes, I possessed prior knowledge of about 75% of everything that took place during my initiation! Did this “spoil” the experience? I will address this as we proceed.
The Chamber of Reflection
The Chamber Of Reflection was a part of my initiation that I had very little knowledge of. It was quite a shock when I took off the hoodwink and observed what was around me. Skull and bones and a mirror that reminded me that my youth is gone, an hourglass, bread and water (not very fresh) strange elements in dishes, mercury (has the EPA checked this out!) strange letters on the wall, a rooster, strange warnings printed and framed - obviously this place in designed to make you think! On top of that, instructions to answer a set of questions that most people never think about.
This place did make me think. It made me think about my life and mortality. What had I had accomplished, what had I not accomplished. What was I proud of. What was I ashamed of. What did I really think about God and my fellow man. Why did I really want to be a Freemason.
Time to Get Undressed
OK, so I knew this was coming. But reading about and actually going through the process of “being divested of all metals, neither naked nor clothed, barefoot nor shod, hoodwinked, with a cable-tow around my neck” are two completely different things. I thought I knew what was coming, but I suddenly became excited, anxious, nervous, and euphoric all at the same time! This is really going to happen! Something mysterious is going on behind that door and I am going to go in there!
Knocking On the Door
This is it! I’ve answered the first set of questions, and now with those 3 knocks I am asking for admission of my own free will. Will it be what I expect? We enter - and I am meet with the point of a sharp instrument - and everything changes! I knew what was going to happen. But in actuality I had no idea what was awaiting me. I had done that research and reading before being advised not to. I was confident I knew what it would all be like. How wrong I was. The experience of the ritual that followed can never be imparted by words in a book or on the internet. This is an experience that must be lived! The mystery of the process, being hood winked and led around the Lodge room by someone you must put you complete trust in, the way one is treated with dignity and respect, the solemn nature of the ritual. These are things that can never be appreciated except by experiencing them.
The Obligation
For me, taking the obligation was the highlight of many highlights that evening. While it was very hard to process much of what was imparted to me during the initiation, I seemed to be able to really pay attention and concentrate on what I was promising. At first the obligation seems kind of out of date. We all know that a great many of the arts, parts or points of the mysteries have already been revealed, and are available to those who wish to seek them out. But I do not believe the obligation is out of date at all. In my opinion the obligation is not about protecting secrets, but about Honor and Brotherhood. What do I care of some of the secrets have been revealed - I have taken an oath that I will not reveal them! If I cannot be trusted to keep this simple obligation, what can my brothers trust me with? If I can rationalize revealing these things because they have already been revealed, what good is my word. What other wrong could I rationalize into a right?
Other Outstanding Impressions
There are many aspects of the evening I have not discussed, but I have tried to concentrate on those items that most affected me. Another outstanding experience I recall was Grand Master Bishop’s apron lecture. While I don’t recall everything that he said, just the fact that I was presented with my apron by the Grand Master made this a experience I will always remember.
Brother Ken Smith’s lecture was also a highlight of the evening. By that time it was great to just relax and sit there and try to comprehend all the knowledge he was imparting. I’m sure I only retained about 30% of all that was said, but it was amazing to contemplate all of the memorization and practice that I know he has done over the years to make that the outstanding experience it was.
Conclusion
My initiation was one of the most outstanding experiences of my life, and I believe that is the beginning of a journey that will change parts of my life for the better.
Did some of the research that I should not have done “spoil” my initiation experience? In my opinion it did not. While I would give the same advice about not trying to learn too much ahead of time, what one learns from reading and what one experiences in the actual ritual are two completely different things.
I think that the most positive impression of all was when I realized that the whole evening was for me! Everyone had done all of this for me! Brothers had put in hours of practice for me! That a group of men would do this for another man, who many of them had not even met, than immediately consider him to be a brother, reinforces why I wanted so much to become a part of this brotherhood.
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The following paper was authored by our Dear Bro. Andre Salmon |