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
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Our Deeds Still Travel with Us
Worshipful Junior Warden, whence come you? From the east Right Worshipful Master. Worshipful Senior Warden, whither directing your course? Towards the west, Right Worshipful Master. Worshipful Junior Warden, what inducement have you to leave the east and go to the … Continue reading →
Freedom in Trust
I continue to be fascinated by this contradiction: before initiation we are a part of the bedrock, not yet removed from the quarry. As a result of initiation we become an individual, a rough ashlar. And yet initiation makes us … Continue reading →
Neither Bending Towards Injustice
During a university lecture on the works of the novelist Gustav Flaubert, one of the students, not very fluent in French, was reading an English-language translation of Madame Bovary, half-concealed, under the table. The lecturer spotted it and said to … Continue reading →
It doesn’t have to be like this
Try this and see how it fits. Freemasons belong to an organisation which ought to be dedicated to self-knowledge, the nature of being, love, tolerance, the brotherhood of man, liberty of conscience and, yes, perhaps a brush with the Deity … Continue reading →
John Theophilus Desaguliers
Can we still learn from a Past Grand Master born 319 years ago? It’s odd, isn’t it, how we seem to have an urge, individually and collectively, to establish our roots, our origins. Some of us spend hours of our … Continue reading →
Tracing Boards of the Three Degrees
Tracing Boards of the Three Degrees in Craft Masonry Explained Although all Freemasons will be familiar with the Tracing Boards
Continue reading →Books by Julian Rees
