THE BUILDER JULY 1915

FOUNDATION STONES

BY BRO. FRANK L. HAYCOCK


ANOTHER year has ended: another year has commenced. If the old year
has had its lessons for us, let us hope the new will have even
more. And though we may not hope to make Masonry different, or more
than what it is, and has been, we may still strive to come in
closer contact with its principles and precepts, and seek its
secrets still deeper, that we may have a better understanding of
its hidden meaning.

For there is a hidden meaning yet. Let no brother presume to have
grasped the meaning of all of our ceremonies: let no one think that
the lectures so far as they go in our three degrees of symbolic
Masonry are even intended to convey the true meaning of our
initiatory ceremonies.

In Masonry, as in the arts and sciences, "there is no Royal road to
learning." What we learn we must seek for: what is buried we must
uncover.

But as was the case with our traditional sprig of Acacia, the place
is marked, the way is pointed out, the line is drawn that we may or
must follow. If we lose the road it is our own fault. If the real
secrets persist in remaining heled, we must dig if we would find
them. Rubbish must be cleared away. Our highest reasoning powers
must be invoked; and the best that is in our intellect be brought
to bear.

As I went over in my own mind what I might have to offer to the
brethren on this occasion, I was minded to give it the title
"Foundation Stones"; and later I was reminded of a little verse
from our Great Light; and the thought struck me that any discourse
pertinent to Masonry, must of necessity, partake somewhat, if not
fully, of a moral or at least of an ethical nature; and I wondered
if a text would be out of place. If not, then the text I would
take, or rather the text I would in my humble way endeavor to
enlarge upon, is in Proverbs, and reads, "In all thy ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." And in Proverbs
also by the way, there is another verse that is applicable, which
says, alluding to wisdom and understanding:-- "Her ways are ways of
pleasantness and all her paths are peace." This verse is a poetic
gem by itself, but the thought in it is far grander than all the
poetry that was ever written.

To those whom I fail to impress with what I am about to say, I
would recommend a reading of that beautiful book of Proverbs,
especially the 2nd, 3rd and 4th chapters.

When we leave the Apprentice degree behind, with its teachings of
Morality and Virtue, and arrive symbolically at the foot of the
winding stairs, many things are pointed out to us that demand our
close attention if we would improve our opportunities.
Unfortunately, it seems, there is so large a scope covered within
a short time dealing with the different arts and sciences, that
even with the closest concentration, most of us are unable when we
hear it, for even many times, to retain or grasp its connection
with Masonic principles.

This is confirmed in my mind by an incident that occurred in this
very Lodge many years ago, when. I heard one of the principal
officers of our Grand Lodge remark, speaking of this degree, that,
he "could write a better degree himself."

But when within the middle chamber, the meaning of the letter "G"
is explained to us, we should then begin to conceive the true
import of the meaning of various things. I shall always contend,
that while the lodge may be as its members make it, Masonry itself
is founded so firmly, and rooted so deeply in enduring verities,
that if all of one lodge, or of many lodges should depart almost
wholly from everything Masonic, but its forms and ceremonies, yet
no one could justly say that Masonry is as Masons make it. It is
the fact of its "Foundation Stones" that I seek to show - the fact
that it has endured so long conclusively proving their existence.

All through this degree the attempt is made to link together,
operative and speculative Masonry; and we are told near the end,
speaking of geometry and architecture, "Geometry, the first and
noblest of sciences is the basis upon which the superstructure of
Masonry is erected."

To my mind, that does not mean just what it says. The
superstructure of Masonry was never erected upon a simple science;
but, the application of geometry to the science of astronomy did,
by determining the fact of a regular and systematic order in the
movements of the heavenly bodies, inspire in men's minds a greater,
firmer, and a larger respect for a supreme governing power whom we
sometimes term the Grand Artificer of the Universe.

Later we are told:--"A survey of Nature and the observation of her
beautiful proportions, first, &c--

This idea of a foundation is something that all men have inherently
considered. We have always sought to know what was at the bottom of
things. It is natural for man to turn to the acquisition of wisdom
when purely animal wants and desires are satisfied. In this one
thing more than in anything else, man differs from the rest of the
animal kingdom. And, as one generation thrives upon the gathered
knowledge and accumulated wisdom of those who have been before, we
pay our debt to humanity by adding a little bit more and passing it
to posterity.

The first architect, what of him? His first structures were made
with the idea of stability and security, if we are to believe the
tales told of the cave-men. Then probably came rude huts with
growing trees used as corner posts, poles from one to the other,
and other poles on them, a covering of wild grass or skins for
roof, brush woven together for walls. As architecture advanced, men
were not satisfied with what was purely for utility in dwellings
and structures, and the idea of ornamentation crept in; and this at
times in the past has been carried to such an extreme, that the
cheap and gaudy embellishments of certain periods would seem
ridiculous in a building of today. Some of our plainest structures,
that follow symmetrical lines, we now consider the most pleasing to
the eye.

But even in our towering buildings with their noble spring of arch,
piercing of sky-line, heavy cornice, and symmetrical ornaments, do
we, in admiring their general pleasing effect to the eye, consider
what the architect was forced to consider! namely, the solid
foundation on which it must rest, and the strength so cunningly
hidden, to form the support of its towering superstructure? A tall,
beautiful building, shorn of what goes to make up its general
finished appearance, has about as much beauty as a hay rack.
The extreme height of some of the structures of today, demand
extremes in foundations, and these go deeper and yet deeper, and
the builder is but following natural laws in his plans and
provisions.

And here is the lesson that architecture teaches to Masons--that we
should embellish and adorn our minds with useful knowledge; but
that our principles should conform to the laws of God, as the
architect's plans conform to the laws of nature and of physics. The
Masonic edifice is founded on firmest supports, else we could not
build thereon. We cannot build without starting squarely over and
upon these underlying truths and fundamental principles.

As it is with Masons, so with all society and the State as a whole;
for what is good for Masons is good for all. Masonry may be big
enough some day to embrace all mankind. I have no doubt but what it
will when mankind shows itself worthy. I believe that Masonry in
its inception, (that is, modern Masonry) was intended to be helpful
to society, to improve the social state, through inspiring in men's
minds, the necessity of considering the existence of a supreme
Being who was all wise--who had prescribed laws for all human acts-
-who, to discourage men from attempting to rear an artificial
state, had so arranged things that men might not with impunity
ignore the least of his laws-- that any infringement, any departure
from what the "great intelligence" had said should be, would result
only in confusion and suffering.

As one writer has put it, "the core and essence of our belief is,
that there is in social relations, as in physical relations, a law,
an order, a law which everywhere coincides with the divine law, an
order which shows intelligence and beneficence."

As society grows and becomes more complex, we, who superintend the
building must, if we are true Masons and real builders, go more and
more to the bottom of things--seek further and further for the
governing laws which we are taught exist--endeavor with all the
intelligence at our command to interpret the true meaning of the
search for the "Master's word."

The higher we go in the scale of civilization, the deeper we must
delve into the question of what supports it, just as, the higher
the architect goes up with his structure, the deeper he must go
down with foundation.

I consider it a privilege and an honor to be placed with a society
whose fortune it is to make men wiser, better, and consequently
happier. It should be a noble work, and to do it and do it well,
the "foundation stones" should be sought out and securely placed.

If our acts, either as an individual or as a Lodge, or in the State
and the community as a whole, will bear the supreme test of having
"acknowledged Him" let us not think it strange that the result is
misery and suffering, and poverty with all its attendant ills.

We are but children of one Father, Brotherhood and interdependence
are but facts in Nature. Our simplest reasoning powers, following
the lines of least resistance, are our surest guide, and lead us
into safest paths. One writer has truly said "No consecrated
absurdity could have stood its ground in this world, if the man had
not silenced the objections of child."

Vanity makes fools of us all. Who are we anyway, that we should do
aught but be guided by our Creator in all our ways? Does any man
come into this lodge, subscribing to his belief in the existence
of, and acknowledging that he puts his trust in a Supreme being,
imagine that he has any powers whatever, except those with which he
is endowed by God? All that man is existed before he ever saw the
light. The very elements that compose his physical being were
tangible matter long ago; and may have been used by other earthly
inhabitants, and may be so used again and yet again.

If man has power independent of what he draws from nature, or if
his inner intellect is other than a part of God, then indeed we all
are gods. But such is not the case, "As a swallow darting through
thy hall, such, O! King is the life of man."

In this world we live in, nothing escapes, nothing elementary is
ever, or has ever been, waste or, destroyed.

We do not change the form, location, and shape of things. In this
short life of ours we either do, or do not, add to the sum of human
knowledge; and what more laudable than to study who we are, where
we came from, why we are here, and what it is intended that we
should do? How may we better pay our debt to those who were before
us, than to bequeath to those to come, a larger store of
understanding, something to assist them in the problems that will
constantly confront them?

If we build upon the sands, or if we use not "foundation stones"
true and tested, then our lives have been for naught, our work of
no avail. We not only have done nothing, we have made
accomplishment more difficult for those who follow us, as they must
first wreck what we have builded and lay the foundations true and
solid, in order that the fabric of that temple, erected to God, and
dedicated to the holy Saints John, may rise true and plumb, and
endure forever in the Kingdom of God.

