What intelligent being, what being capable of responding to a beautiful sight, can look at the jagged, silvery lunar crescent trembling in the azure sky, even through the weakest of telescopes, and not be struck by it in an intensely pleasurable way, not feel cut off from everyday life here on Earth and transported toward that first stop on celestial journeys? What thoughtful soul could look at brilliant Jupiter with its four attendant satellites, or splendid Saturn encircled by its mysterious ring, or a double star glowing scarlet and sapphire in the infinity of night, and not be filled with a sense of wonder? Yes indeed, if humankind – from humble farmers in the fields and toiling workers in the cities, to teachers, people of independent means, those who have reached the pinnacle of fame or fortune – if they knew what profound inner pleasure awaits those who gaze at the heavens, then France, nay, the whole world, would be covered with telescopes instead of bayonets, thereby promoting universal happiness and peace. – Camille Flammarion, 1880
Recent Posts
Delivrance Offered from the Darts
It has always puzzled me why, when two aircraft just miss each other, it is called a ‘near-miss’. Surely it would be more correct to call it a ‘near-hit’, and we have recently had a tragic demonstration of what happens … Continue reading →
And Hold Me Lest I Fall
I must be watching too much television. In issue 19 I criticized television programmes such as Big Brother, The Weakest Link and Survivor and now, again on television, I have witnessed the perfect antidote to all this ritual humiliation. In … Continue reading →
Vision With the Song
As if you needed reminding, we have been subject to serial mishaps in the past twelve months. A supersonic airliner hits a piece of metal shed by another airliner and is destroyed. The weather-shift causes flooding with disastrous consequences. Our … Continue reading →
Sanctifying With Grace
Fifteen years ago, the NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded seventy-three seconds after take-off, with the loss of the entire crew. Two engineers from the firm of rocket manufacturers had had serious reservations about the craft taking off, believing that the … Continue reading →
Wisdom, Strength and Beauty
From the time when I was initiated, I found myself fascinated by the three ‘lesser lights’. I understand why the three greater lights are the ‘greats’ of Freemasonry. The Volume of the Sacred Lore, the Square and Compasses – these … Continue reading →
The Day of Small Things
A year ago I wrote an article on wisdom, strength and beauty, the three pillars which support a Freemason’s lodge. As we know, they are emblematically present in our lodges in the form of the three lesser lights. The Master’s … Continue reading →
Books by Julian Rees
