I hail...and Masonic Secrecy
SSG Russo
ritual Monitor at one time? Was that not written? Would it not be an oxymoron
to write and use a ritual which by our definition could not be written? There
are very few secrets and most can agree they do not extend much farther beyond
the tokens, words, and signs.
What does Masonry teach us--Friendship, Morality, Brotherly Love, Relief,
Truth, Faith, Hope, Charity, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, Justice, and so
on. Are any of these principal things secret? Should these tenets not be
closely associated by the profane with the nobility of our craft? Are these
not the same principles which engender the profane and make him desirous of
petitioning or Lodges?
If we keep the precepts of our craft secret we are performing a great
disservice to the craft of Freemasonry. Instead of protecting the fraternity a
Mason who fails to hail will be hastening its demise by allowing our craft to
fall into obscurity.
We have each duly sworn to always hail. What does that mean? Does it not mean
we will always hail ourselves to be a just and upright Mason. Does it not mean
we will be known to others within and without the craft as a living example of
the precepts of Freemasonry. If we remain clammed up we are violating our
obligations by the first and foremost sworn duty.
It is our obligated duty to always hail ourselves to be Freemasons, to be
living examples of the tenets of our institution. By our actions others should
know Masons to be just and upright men. When asked we should proudly proclaim
ourselves to our craft--but this requirement goes farther. Our participation
and membership in our fraternity should never be pried out of us. It should be
plainly evident.
We see so often car tags, pens, ball-caps, paperweights. These are acceptable
ways by which we can hail and proclaim ourselves as Freemasons. Orally, by
telling others of the principles which we adhere to takes the visible a step
further. By identifying a good man who would benefit the craft and making it a
point to let him know the great time we had at Lodge, the wonderful program our
brother gave on Saints John Day, and the great meal prepared by the
Stewards--we are not violating any obligation--rather we are hailing as we have
sworn ourselves to do and may lead the good and upright profane to request a
petition to receive the degrees of Freemasonry and thus become our brother.
As always I remain your obedient friend and Brother,
Jason C. Russo
JD, Blandford #3
VA District 29
Jason C. Russo
Blandford #3
A.F.&A.M.
Edward Sjolinder
>
<snip>
> We have each duly sworn to always hail. What does that mean? Does it
> not mean we will always hail ourselves to be a just and upright Mason.
<snip>
Sorry, Brother Jason, while I agree with what you say, the word "hail"
as used in our ritual is not *hail*; it is the Old English word "hele"
and has an entirely different meaning. This is just one of the many
things we fail to instruct our new Masons about.
> Jason C. Russo
> JD, Blandford #3
> VA District 29
>
> Jason C. Russo
> Blandford #3
> A.F.&A.M.
Ed Sjolinder
Harding 649
Mason City, Iowa
--
Animal Style Gene Goldman.·.
> Think realistically about what we consider secret.
Our obligations and our modes of recognition.
> Did we derive it from a ritual Monitor at one time?
Nope. Rather, the monitor was derived from our ceremonies.
> Was that not written?
The monitor, or our secrets?
The former was and is. The latter is not and has never been.
> Would it not be an oxymoron
> to write and use a ritual which by our definition could not be written?
It would, if that were done, which it isn't.
> There are very few secrets and most can agree they do not extend much farther beyond
> the tokens, words, and signs.
Agreed. Even those are no secret.
> What does Masonry teach us--Friendship, Morality, Brotherly Love, Relief,
> Truth, Faith, Hope, Charity, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, Justice, and so
> on. Are any of these principal things secret? Should these tenets not be
> closely associated by the profane with the nobility of our craft? Are these
> not the same principles which engender the profane and make him desirous of
> petitioning or Lodges?
>
> If we keep the precepts of our craft secret we are performing a great
> disservice to the craft of Freemasonry. Instead of protecting the fraternity a
> Mason who fails to hail will be hastening its demise by allowing our craft to
> fall into obscurity.
>
> We have each duly sworn to always hail.
Here, it is spelled "hele".
> What does that mean?
To recognize or acknowledge.
Remainder snipped.
--
|O| Be well. Travel with a light heart.
Brother Gene .*.
H.M.S.H.
Q.P.H.D.
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Be seeing you
David Simpson
Style" Gene Goldman.·.) wrote:
>
>Here, it is spelled "hele".
>
>> What does that mean?
>
>To recognize or acknowledge.
>
>Remainder snipped.
Try Hide. It is used as "Hele, conceal etc". The context makes it
plain to me that the meaning has nothing to with hailing or
recognizing. It is pronounced, in Australia, as "heal" to rhyme with
conceal.
--
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David Simpson (Remove spam blocker to reply)
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