Are we missing something?
What’s the ‘G’ for?
Many Lodges, now seem to close the 2nd and 3rd Degrees ‘by virtue’ instead of performing the full closing in each degree. In doing this, we are missing some very important information contained in the ‘closing’ dialogue:
WM “Bro. JW, in this position, what have you discovered”?
JW “A sacred symbol.”
WM “Bro. SW, where is it situated” ?
SW “In the centre of the building”.
WM (to JW) “To whom does it allude”?
JW “The Grand Geometrician of the Universe”
WM “Then, Brethren, let us remember that wherever we are, and whatever we do, He is with us, and His all-seeing eye observes us, and whilst we continue to act in conformity with the principles of the Craft, let us not fail to discharge our duty to Him with fervency and zeal.”
The above dialog clearly informs us that the letter ‘G’ represents God; the Grand Geometrician of the Universe and not Geometry as some speculate.
This is further endorsed in the dialog at the end of the 2nd Degree Tracing Board which again is not presented in all Lodges: – “. . . their attention was peculiarly drawn to certain Hebrew characters which are here depicted by the Letter ‘G’ – denoting God the Grand Geometrician of the Universe.”
What is that which was lost?
The message in the full closing in the 3rd Degree is even more important as it informs us quite clearly that despite the 3rd Degree story ending in death and despair, it is certainly not the end of the story! In the Opening of the 3rd Degree we hear:
WM (to JW) “Your duty?”
JW (to WM) “To seek for that which was lost, which, by your instruction and our own industry, we hope to find.”
WM (to SW) “What is that which was lost”?
SW “The genuine Secrets of a Master Mason.
Why are we looking for something that was lost, if there isn’t something to find?
Later in the ceremony, King Solomon gives us another clue when he orders that the casual signs, token and word observed by the Fellow Crafts during the recovery of Hiram’s body: “. . . should designate you and all MM’s throughout the universe until time or circumstances should restore the genuine.”
In the ‘full’ closing of the 3rd Degree after the SW has been asked if the genuine secrets have been found, he confirms:
SW “they have not, but we bring with us certain substituted secrets, which we are anxious to impart for your approbation.”
WM “Let those substituted secrets be regularly communicated to me.”
When done, he then makes a very important statement confirming and declaring: that they shall “designate you and all MM’s throughout the Universe, until time or circumstances SHALL restore the genuine.”
The word “SHALL”, makes it absolutely clear that the 3rd Degree is not the end of the story. There is clearly more to know! This encourages the question to all newly raised MM’s: “How are the genuine secrets to be restored”? Those of us who are members of the Royal Arch or “Chapter” of course know the answer!
Every Lodge has a Royal Arch Representative to inform the interested MM’s that the Craft story is completed by membership of the Royal Arch.
The full closings don’t add too much time to the meeting but, without demonstrating them at least once each year, sadly, the vital information they contain remains ‘lost’ and the opportunity to inspire further investigation undiscovered.
