“Renaissance”
Dear Brethren,
The 9th degree of the Scottish Rite, known as The Master of the Temple, takes place on the dedication day of the Temple of King Solomon. The ceremony is attended by many foreign religious leaders, during which one such dignitary raises his voice in protest of all deities and faiths. Those in attendance are angered and quick to call for the blasphemer’s execution, and even threaten to inflict mob violence in the Temple itself. King Solomon, however, will not permit bloodshed to desecrate the sacred house of God and immediately orders the man to be protected by his guards until the wise monarch has had the opportunity to question him and listen to his motives. As the story unfolds further, we learn of the man’s profound losses, emotional pain from grieving, and shattered faith.
The Middle Chamber lecture teaches us that we were given the sense of hearing that we may be social creatures and receive the greatest and most important part of our knowledge from discourse with each other. By listening, we may learn of a brother, or any fellow human being for that matter, in need of assistance, for not every cry for help comes in the form of explicit vocalization. In choosing not to isolate one’s self from the perspective of others, we may reap the rewards of collaboration, effective solutions, and meaningful revelations. Above all, in being mindful to listen to those frequently viewed with suspicion but infrequently heard, we might discover that the chasm of our differences may not be as wide as we often presume.
Fraternally,
Henry Da Silva
Worshipful Master