Compiled by the

Editorial Team of the

Grand Lodge Library

Pillars of Light Volume 6 Issue 2(63)

Feb/March 2010

Editorial
The absence of Pillars of Light for a couple of
Fellowcraft Proficiency Paper
months is entirely due to accumulation of work
Editor’s Note: I have chosen to offer to our readers the Proficiency paper of a
that cluttered my desk at home to the point of
young and valuable Fellowcraft Freemason who spends some of his leisure time in
getting the disapprobation of my wife, (some
contemplation over the richness of our philosophical heritage. I admired the depth
unpleasant remarks too!) It was all due to my
of his thoughts and the courage of exposing them. One can feel that he is well read
late night phone communications with the Tour
and that he has well used his apprenticeship to penetrate as much as possible the
Operator and other services providers, for the
Mysteries of our Craft. Well done, Brother. Your understanding of the Royal Art is
benefit of the “In the Footsteps of Freemasonry
your greatest reward. I’m sure you will benefit from it all along your path in Freema-
Tour”(see our October 09 issue.) Slowly, not
sonry to the point of total spiritual fulfilment and satisfaction.
without some inherent difficulties, the small
pieces of the “Mosaic” construction, both real-
istically and figuratively, fell in place but the
Q: What are the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences? Please explain
negotiations and exchange must take place at the origins of this concept and how you think their study is
Middle-Eastern Time and Tempo. Finally, eve- meant to be applied in life.
rything is OK and shows all the satisfactory As Masons, we are constantly being urged to study the Seven Liberal Arts
signs of a magnificent opportunity that will, I
and Sciences, as well as to study the hidden mysteries of Nature and of
hope, be a success.Our Grand Representative,
near the GL of the State of Israel, VW Bro. Science, and whatever conclusion we draw from study we must go back to
Isaac Maimon, has been inspecting all the ho- nature to confirm our findings.
tels, restaurants, venues and arrangements. His The Second Degree in Freemasonry - refers to the Seven Steps, the Seven
reports are very encouraging. Late in Feb. we Liberal Arts and Sciences - grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry,
discovered that many, very many, brethren in
our Jurisdiction had not even heard of the Tour
music and astronomy – which symbolise the ultimate attainment of a Fel-
and we are now preparing a promotion that lowcraft Freemason. The term liberal arts denotes a curriculum that im-
will penetrate even deeper into the country parts general knowledge and develops, in a Freemason, national thought
and bring the good news to our Brethren and intellectual capability. The contemporary liberal arts comprise the
there. Not that we do not have enough partici-
study of literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics, and sci-
pants already. Our registrations have reached
an unprecedented number. It is already the ence. In classical antiquity, the liberal arts denoted the education fit for a
largest group of Masons ever to be organized free man (Latin: liberus, “free”), unlike the education fit for a slave. In the
from here for a trip overseas. We still can 5th century AD, Martianus Capella (a pagan writer of Late Antiquity, who
increase the capacity to accommodate some appears to have practiced as a jurist at Carthage), academically defined the
late comers. It would be regrettable if some
members would not take advantage of the
seven Liberal Arts that structured the early Medieval Education, as:
fascinating Tour, just because they didn‟t know. grammar, dialectic, rhetoric, geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, and music.
In this regard, I must commend our Brethren In the Medieval Western University, the seven liberal arts were:
from other Australian States who were very Trivium - term meaning “the three ways” and the beginning study of the
alert and have registered to join. To them we
liberal arts, Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic.
owe the Pan - Australian spirit of our Group,
another distinctive characteristic introduced Quadrivium - term meaning "the four ways" or "the four roads": the com-
with this Tour. Not without some difficulty we pletion of the liberal arts, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astronomy.
are still applying the July 2009 rates, despite the The first, which is called the foundation of all sciences, is Grammar. It
fact that everything has increased in price. Can teaches to speak and write correctly.
anybody in Tourism proudly say the same?
Now, to this issue. We have chosen to publish
The second is Rhetoric, which teaches us to speak copiously, fluently and
the patiently polished stone of a talented Fel- elegantly. The third is Logic, which teaches us to discern true from false.
lowcraft Freemason (subsequent to receipt for As a discipline, logic dates back to Aristotle, who established its fundamen-
publication raised to Master Mason). It can tal place in philosophy, defining logic as "the tool for distinguishing be-
serve as a reference and a rare example of
tween the true and the false".
proficiency attained in a degree by any young
FM who rightly considers our Craft, a Royal The fourth is Arithmetic, which instructs us in the science of numbers, to
Art that must be studied in order to achieve reckon and to make accounts.
perfection. My sincere congratulations go to The fifth is Geometry, which teaches us all about mensuration (the act,
Bro. Octavian Tescaru a member of Lodges process, or art of measuring and measurement of geometric quantities),
Castlereagh 72 and Southern Cross 91, and
also to the Education Officers of these two
dealing with measurement of length, area, or volume of all kind of handi-
Lodges for an excellent work in the service of crafts. It is a part of mathematics concerned with questions of size, shape,
M a s o n i c E d u c a t i o n relative position of figures, and the properties of space .
Joe Haffner – A servant to the Craft Continued next page

Published material does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the UGL of NSW and the ACT
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Fellowcraft Proficiency Paper
The sixth is Music, which teaches us the art of singing by with seven obstructions; the ancient Jews swore by
notation for the voice, notation for the organ or harp, seven, because seven witnesses were used to confirm,
and on all things pertaining thereto. and seven sacrifices offered to attest truth. The Sabbath
The seventh is Astronomy, which teaches us the course is the seventh day; Noah had seven days notice of the
of the Sun and of the Moon and of the other stars and flood (Genesis VII,4); God created the heaven and earth
planets of heaven. in six days and rested on the seventh day (Genesis II,1).
Basically by studying the Trivium, we gain the tools to The walls of Jericho were encompassed seven times by
express ourselves in a logical and coherent manner, and seven priests bearing seven rams‟ horns (Joshua VI,4).
the study of the Quadrivium gives the content of the The Temple was seven years in building (I Kings VI,31-
Trivium. In essence the Trivium is concerned with form 38). The seven branched candlestick burned in the Tab-
and the Quadrivium with substance. ernacle (Exodus XXV,37).
The Fellowcraft degree is a glorification of education, And to notice that seven brethren are required to open
the gaining of knowledge; the study of the Seven Liberal an Entered Apprentice lodge; the seven original officers
Arts and Sciences and all that they denote and connote. of a lodge, and the seven steps which complete the
When we rise by Grammar, Rhetoric, we must consider Winding Stair, reveals that seven is an important num-
that they refer not only to language but to all methods ber in the Fraternity.
of communication. The step of Logic means knowledge, Freemasonry is not an ascetic organization. It recog-
not just of a method of reasoning which logicians have nises that the physical is as much a part of normal life as
accomplished. When we ascend by Arithmetic and Ge- the mental and spiritual upon which so much emphasis is
ometry we must visualize all science; since science is but put.
measurement in the true mathematical sense. It requires
no great stretch of the imagination to read into these The true Fellowcraft will see in them a guide to the
two steps, all that science may teach. The step denomi- making of a man rich in mind and spirit; by which riches
nated Music means not only sweet and harmonious only, can the truest brotherhood be practiced.
sounds, but all beauty, poetry, art, nature and loveliness
of whatever kind. To be not familiar with the beauty
which nature provides is to be less of a man, by so Q: What is the symbolism of your journey up the
much; to stunt a striving soul. As for the seventh step Winding Stair and into the Middle Chamber of
of Astronomy, surely it means not only a study of the King Solomon’s Temple? Please explain what you
solar system and the stars, but also a study of all that is think it is meant to teach you as a Freemason.
beyond the earth; of spirit and the world of spirit, of “In the First Book of Kings (I Kings VI,8) it is said: "The
ethics, philosophy, the abstract - of Deity. door for the Middle Chamber was in the right side of the
In the ancient religions the number seven has the deep- house; and they went up with winding stairs into the Middle
est significance. Chamber, and out of the middle into the third." From this
The Pythagoreans called it the perfect number because passage the Freemasons of the eighteenth century
it is made up of three and four, the parameters of the adopted the symbol of the Winding Stair, and intro-
two perfect figures, the triangle and the square. It was duced it into the Fellow Craft's Degree, where it has
the virgin number because it cannot by multiplication remained ever since. In a book of the Ancient and Ac-
produce any numbers within ten, as can two and two, cepted Scottish Rite the Winding Stair is called cochleus,
two and three, two and four, or three and three. Nor which is a corruption of cochlis, a spiral staircase, for
can it be produced by the multiplication of any whole which the Hebrew word is lulim, from the obsolete root
number. lug, to roll or wind.
Our ancient ancestors knew seven planets. Seven The Stair as a whole is a representation of life; not the
Pleiades, seven Hyades, seven lights burned before the physical life of eating, drinking, sleeping and working, but
Altar of Mithras, the Goths had seven Deities; Sun, the mental and spiritual life, of both the Lodge and the
Moon, Tuisco, Woden, Thor, Friga and Seatur or Sat- world outside; the life of learning, studying, enlarging
urn, from which we derive the names of the seven days mental horizons and increasing the spiritual outlook.
of our week. In the Gothic mysteries the candidate met Continued next page

May we suggest to the Brother Secretary that it would be greatly appreciated if he could include regularly our link:

www.uglnsw.freemasonry.org.au/Library/Default.htm
in the Notice Paper sent to the members of the Lodge.
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Fellowcraft Proficiency Paper
There is symbolism in the fact that the stair WINDS. A Ashlar. Finally it must be set in place with the tempered
straight stairway hides neither mystery nor secret. How- mortar with which it will bind. But before any stone
ever, the winding stair obscures from view that which is may be placed, a plan must come into existence; the ar-
around the corner. To climb the winding stair then im- chitect must play his part. So must the Fellowcraft,
plies we must exercise courage, determination and studying the orders of architecture by which he will
above all else - faith. The Winding Stair leads us into the erect his spiritual Temple, design his structure before he
middle chamber for good, or ill, or in other words, the commences to build.
unpredictable. Man climbs to new realms of civilization Therefore it is wholly logical that the degree should
and to spiritual enlightenment. Each must climb, though make special references to the five means by which man
the individual experience may be vastly different from has and will ever acquire any of his knowledge.
that of all others. Take away his five senses (hear, see, feel, smell and
The one virtue which most distinguishes man is cour- taste) and a man is no more a man; perhaps his mind is
age. It requires more courage to face the unknown than no more a mind. With no contact whatever with the
the known. A straight stair, a ladder, hides neither se- material world he can learn nothing of it.
cret nor mystery at its top. But the stairs which wind, As man reaches up through the material to the spiritual,
hide each step from the climber; and what is just around he can learn nothing of the ethical side of life without a
the corner is unknown. means of contact with the physical. If there are limits
The Winding Stair of life leads us to the unknown; for beyond which human investigations and explorations
some of us, a Middle Chamber of fame and fortune, for into the unknown may not go, it is because of the limita-
others, of work and reflection. The Angel of Death may tions of the five senses.
stand with drawn sword on the very next step for any of Not even the extension of those senses by the marvel-
us. lously sensitive instruments of science may overcome, in
The first three steps represent the three principal offi- the last analysis, the limits of the five senses. Except for
cers of a lodge, and - though not stated in the ritual - one factor! Brute beasts hear, see, feel, smell and taste,
must always refer to Deity, of which “three,” the trian- as we do. But they store no facts of science, win no
gle, is the most ancient symbol. They assure the Fellow- truths. They formulate no laws of nature through these
craft just starting his ascent that he does not climb senses. More than the five senses are necessary to per-
alone. The Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior War- ceive the relation between thing and thing, and life and
dens are themselves symbolic of the Lodge, and thus (as life. That factor is the perception, the mind, the soul or
a lodge is a symbol of the world) of the Masonic World spirit, which differentiates man from all other living be-
- the Fraternity. The Fellowcraft is surrounded by the ings.
Craft. The brethren are present to help him climb. In The Fellowcraft‟s five steps glorify the five senses of hu-
his search for truth, in quest of his wages in the Middle man nature because Freemasonry is a well-rounded
Chamber, the Fellowcraft receives the support and assis- scheme of living which recognizes the physical as well as
tance of all in the Mystic Circle; surely an impressive the mental life of men, and knows that only through the
symbol. Five is peculiarly the number of the Fellow- physical do we perceive the spiritual.
craft‟s degree; it represents the central of the three It is in this sense, not as a simple lesson in physiology,
groups which form the stairs; it refers to the five orders which we are to receive the teachings of the five steps
of architecture; five are required to hold a Fellowcraft‟s by which we rise above the ground floor of the Temple
lodge; there are five human senses; geometry is the fifth to that last flight of seven steps which are typical of
science. In the first degree the Blazing Star is Five knowledge.
Pointed. In the Winding Stair the number five represents The Winding Stair unveils more than just the pathway
the five orders of architecture. for the attainment of true Masonic light and knowledge;
Here the neophyte (beginner) is taught of architecture it should be one of the more treasured Masonic sym-
as a science; its beginnings are laid before him; he is bols. The seeker of true Masonic light will miss much if
shown how the Greeks commenced and Romans added he remains satisfied with the Monitorial explanations of
to the kinds of architecture; he learns of the “beautiful, the Winding Stair. He must zealously study this impor-
perfect and complete whole” which is a well-designed, tant symbol and the ascending journey it represents to
well-constructed building. Temples are built stone by discover true Masonic knowledge that is finally reflected
stone, a little at a time. Each stone must be hewn from at the very top of the stairs, “Which none but true
the solid rock of the quarry. Then it must be laid out craftsmen can ever see and fully comprehend.”
and chipped with the gavel until it becomes a Perfect Continued next page
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Fellowcraft Proficiency Paper
The Winding Stair ties and disciplines a man's soul. He My research had to begin with the definitions of the two
must BELIEVE, otherwise no summit will ever be concepts.
reached. He must climb in the faith that there is a sum- REASONING: in philosophy, the faculty or process of
mit, and where that upward climb is undertaken in sin- drawing logical inferences. The term "reason" is also
cerity, he eventually will reach the coveted goal. Now all used in several other, narrower senses. Reason is in op-
this is symbolical of life and manhood. No one knows position to sensation, perception, feeling, desire, as the
whether the top will ever be reached or not, but never- faculty (the existence of which is denied by empiricists)
theless he climbs in faith and hope that the middle cham- by which fundamental truths are intuitively apprehended.
ber of ardent desire may be the joy and the satisfaction These fundamental truths are the causes or "reasons" of
of achievement. all derivative facts. According to the German philoso-
And so the Fellowcraft degree is one of action - climbing pher Immanuel Kant, reason is the power of synthesizing
and rising on the rungs of knowledge to the Arts and the into unity, by means of comprehensive principles, the
Sciences. The Degree is emblematic of the struggle of concepts that are provided by the intellect.
life not only materially but spiritually as well. This adven- That reason which gives a priori principles Kant calls
turous climb is not intended for someone who falls be- "pure reason”, as distinguished from the "practical rea-
hind, but rather for the fighter and the adventurer and son", which is especially concerned with the perform-
the man of a stout heart. The Fellowcraft must be ance of actions. In formal logic the drawing of inferences
equipped with high and indomitable courage for the (frequently called "ratiocination", from Latin ratiocinari,
achievement is worth fighting for. "to use the reasoning faculty") is classified from Aristotle
The thoughtful Mason sees in the Winding Stair, an invi- on as deductive (from generals to particulars) and induc-
tation to climb into great realities; it is an incentive to tive (from particulars to generals).
know more of the sublime mysteries by reaching the REVELATION: (Lat., revelare, „to unveil‟). Revelation is
Middle Chamber. The Winding Stair is a progressive the disclosure or communication of truths which would
step to reach that exalted Degree of a Master Mason, not otherwise be known, at least in the same way. A
and so to be fit and to prepare himself to reach up to distinction is often made between, on the one hand,
and commune with his Divine Creator. „natural revelation‟ or „general revelation‟, whereby such
In the Degree of Fellow Craft, we try to emphasize the truths are discerned within the natural order (either by
dignity and worth of the individual. Man should be an reason or by conviction that absolute value, especially
instrument of the Supreme Architect of the Universe. As beauty, has invaded a contingent moment or object or
such, he is a workman whose duty is to invent, create, circumstance); and on the other hand, special or super-
and achieve; and, by doing so, express his own genius natural revelation, which comes from a source other
and individuality. than that of the human recipient, usually God.
He is shown as an adult who is ready to accept the re-
sponsibility of life, not only for himself, but for his family The question is raised, to find the relationship between
and all of society. When the Mason assumes the duties these two concepts and Freemasonry. If I am allowed to
and privileges of a Fellow Craft, he is taught that he is say both concepts reveal Knowledge. From the first one,
responsible for his own destiny. The themes of this De- POWER of REASONING, we can tabulate a natural knowl-
gree are education and achievement. The more a man edge based on experience and logical reasoning derived
learns through pursuit of knowledge, the more he there from. The second one, REVELATION, can fall into a
achieves. knowledge-based metaphysical contemplation, the inner
feelings of the spirit.
Q: What do you view as the most important les- But the question still stands and I must find the relation-
sons in experiencing the Fellowcraft Degree? ship with Freemasonry. It is interesting that this ancient
Please explain how the experience affected you fraternity is made up of very different, psychological,
and what you gained from it. physical, religious, intellectual and professional people,
POWER of REASONING and REVELATION leading to a unique concentration of human diversity,
Since I have stepped into the Freemasonry from the very inspired by honesty and fraternity.
first time I have been attracted by this subject. It con- I found Freemasonry to be the most powerful Brain-
tains nothing but Masonic associations between the two storming Tool that can be found in the Society of Man, and
concepts (POWER of REASONING & REVELATION) and I teaches us lessons of morality and virtue, brotherly love,
felt that was a strong natural attraction between the two hope, charity and happiness.
terminologies and Freemasonry. Continued next page
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Fellowcraft Proficiency Paper

As per Second Degree Ritual, being a Freemason means ery of self that lies under a mountain of shallow plati-
do the utmost to deal “on the square” with everyone; to tudes and is petrified of everyday life.
live life “on the level”, not be subject to man-made dis- Discovering the Spirit resembles what Michelangelo said
tinctions; to do justice on the plumb rule, determine the about his works in stone:
uprightness of conduct of his Brothers or profanes by “In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as
their own standards and not those of someone else, to though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in atti-
embrace diversity and, that “we are all sprung from the tude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls
same stock, are partakers of the same Nature, and Shar- that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the
ers of the same hope”. The fact that our life can benefit other eyes as mine see it.”
from the experience of other brothers and new con- This concept of Supreme Being, the creator of mankind,
cepts belonging to different professions, is a “win-win” the Great Architect of the Universe is revealed to us
situation taking into consideration the correct algorithm through feelings, emotions, and sensations. The beauty
of the knowledge surrounding the ethics of Freema- (or reason) of this concept lies in the fact that the path
sonry. I think this may create a REASONING of to revelation of the Supreme Being is paved with pol-
thoughts and can be called a COMMON JUDGMENT ished spirits of those who seek the true light.
and certainly has many common elements. This judg- Conclusion: Freemasonry represents a combination be-
ment and wisdom has been relevant for at least the last tween REVELATION and POWER of REASONING
3000 years, from the ancient times of King Solomon un- which is manifested by simple things but with deep
til today. This can lead to a convergence of reasoning for meanings and is an awakening for us as Brethren living in
the better, to universal values, the collective knowledge the existence of an infinite world with rise and fall of
and innovation, to a Temple of Humanity. nations. Personally, I have to thank the Great Architect
It is easy to see and understand why the ideas of integ- of the Universe for revealing Freemasonry to Humanity
rity, justice and uprightness of life and action (plumb and for giving us a REASON to live in the real sense of
rule), and equality (level) were clotted and thus define science which is based on the steps of Faith.
the morality (square) have been included in the Freema- Octavian Tescaru 14.02.2010
son workshops. Lodge Castlereagh 72 & Lodge Southern Cross 91
Certainly these ideas had existed, used to belong to indi-
viduals alone, to people of different religious and political
orientation, but were not polarised, and not a goal for READERS WRITE…
others. Perhaps that was the first time that humanistic From New Caledonia….
ideas of Freemasonry came out through the workshop My dear Bro. Joe,
doors, and changed minds, morality and raised aware- As mentioned to you before, I am as passionate a fan of Cine-
ness. matography as I remain a devotee of Freemasonry. At the
The influence of the Brotherhood on society is still hap- moment when, the Film Festival in Cannes –France is immi-
pening due to the New Craftsmen, through our continu- nent, I find a great pleasure in reminding you and your readers
ous & subtle work, without sudden and violent changing, that the „sprig of acacia‟ is the distinctive emblem of the
but with conviction, persuasion and example which nur- Cannes Festival and nothing astonishing in it. The idea belongs
tures following. to the initiator of this famous Festival, the then Minister, Bro.
However, where can we find the Revelation? I think this Jean Zay, a prominent Freemason, in response to the growing
is through the ritual which surrounds us and it shows us Nazi influence over the “Venice Festival”.
by symbols. This allegoric knowledge cannot be defined The famous “Oscar” award of the Film Academy in Holly-
with terminologies of material or physical concepts, but wood was created in 1927 with the Academy by Bro. Jack
it is very easy to invoke by living and discovering beyond Warner (Warner Bros.), Bro. Louis Mayer (Metro Goldwin
Mayer), Bro. Darryl Zanuck (20th Century Fox), Bro Charles
the physical, the metaphysical, Steps of Faith. The living
Bauman (Universal Pictures), Bro. Douglas Fairbanks and Bro.
experiences felt during the ritual, when using a symbol
David Griffith (United Artists).
or a light, is nothing else but the simple way to build our
path to the Supreme Being. One can therefore say that the most important Awards in the
Film Industry have been created in the minds and vision of
The search is as deep as the stone is polished. The more
we seek in our Revelation the more the Ashlar tends to Freemasons.
unveil its perfect shape for us. I hope the above is of interest to your readers. Please accept,
We find that our spirit merges with the Supreme Being, my dear Bro. Joe, my triple Masonic Brotherly embrace. –
that we are "atoms" and that its discovery is our discov- Yves Tissandier, NOUMEA