False Illusions and Old Chairs

I once had a conversation with a mainstream Mason.he was very proud of his lodges "lineage" the titles and the other trappings of a terrestrial and profane life. He spoke with great enthusiasm for his brand of Freemasonry as being genuine and pure,why? One of the pieces of evidence he put forth was his lodges Masters Chair.

This chair, been around from the foundation of the lodge in1859. This chair, served as a cornerstone of "tradition." This chair, served as an example to all the "fortitude" and "steadfastly correct" lineage he was so proud of.

I thought about this for a moment, then my question to him. "What purpose does this old chair serve?"

He paused, stuttered and really said nothing of value so I answered for him.

"It keeps the WM's ass off the ground."

That's it,that is the functional purpose of the masters chair. A 150 year old chair or a $2.00 folding chair from Big Lots. They serve the same purpose and they and they do the same job equally well.

Many get caught up in what doesn't matter. Your lodge room, no matter how old or how splendid, is just that, a room. It serves no divine purpose. It doesn't make what you do better than what anyone else does.It's just a building.

The original speculative Masons met wherever they could.Often.in the back room of a bar, a basement, outdoors and yes, even a brothel or two. What they were doing was so radical, they faced prison and even execution. Tracing Boards are called just that because that is what they were, traced with chalk on the floor,then erased just as quickly as to not implicate anyone in a crime.

Revolution is what was being taught , equality for all regardless of social standing, bank account status or the standard of were you lived. To erect a fine monument to self indulgence goes against this original Masonic virtue.

The Masonic lodge is not found within a fancy building. It's secrets cannot be found by sitting in some old chair. Stepping within a Masonic hall is not a time portal that will deposit you at the feet of Ben Franklin.

As a Mason, it is the temple NOT built by hands which you are obligated and commissioned to construct. It is the four chambers of your heart where you're made a Mason, not within the four walls of any superficial structure.Unless you understand this fundamental Masonic truth, you're just as profane as you were before you first knocked on the West Gate.

1613FF1613

Brad Cofield
Lodge Napoleon Bonaparte
Sovereign Right of Misraim
1613 Nation