BOOK REVIEW

[The following review is from the August 1992 Northern Light
(Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Scottish Rite publication), written
by their reviewer, Thomas W. Jackson, 33, Grand Secretary of the
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. I reviewed the book several months ago
and we have had some success with its sale but not what we felt it
warranted. The reason for this lack of success was evident to me
when I read this review and found the inadequacies of my review. If
you did not order the book because of my review, please reconsider,
and we will still honor our introductory price: $14.95, postage and
tax included. anywhere in the world. - Ralph A. Herbold

FREEMASONRY - A Journey through Ritual and Symbol, by W. Kirk
MacNulty, 1991. Published by Thames and Hudson, Ltd., London,
England, 8"xl 1" softcover. $14.95.

This publication is a scholarly examination of Freemasonry as a
discipline of psychology. The approach, as the title implies, is to
explain Freemasonry as a psychology through ritual and symbol. The
craft and its ritual is traced from the physical through the
psyche, through the spirit to the Divine.

The author presents for consideration a concept that there existed
within the precursors to Freemasonry a nucleus of those who had an
ingrained interest in mystical teaching. It also recognizes an
origin of the craft by renaissance scholars. This "core" of the
guild might have provided a deep intellectual foundation for
speculative Freemasonry.

I frankly found the publication to be intriguing yet disturbing and
difficult to review. In order to totally understand some of the
text, it was necessary to re-read the passages a number of times. I
also found myself becoming somewhat discouraged with acknowledging
that if the author was correct in this proposition, then I have
failed to understand Freemasonry for my 30 years as a Mason. It
caused me to question whether this psychological interpretation
formed the core of intellectual thought which became Freemasonry or
whether it was an interpretation applied to the craft following its
origin.

The volume does present answers for what I had heretofore failed to
question in my own mind, e.g., why must one ask to become a Mason,
and why is there a requirement in the belief of the existance of a
Supreme Being.

The illustrations and plates, some of which are purported to be
published for the first time, are excellent. The inclusion of these
plates, of which there are 133, some in full color, makes the
publication worth adding to a library. The interpretations of the
symbols of Freemasonry are well presented. The psychological
evaluation of the three degrees was thought provoking.

It is a book that challenged me to think and from which I learned,
and, for that reason, I would recommend it to those who wish to be
challenged to think and to learn.

Disregarding my inability to understand everything that was
written, coupled with my frustration in being forced to consider
how little I might understand about the craft, I found it to be a
very stimulating book. It is one that I expect to re-read. I
recommend it to those with the academic background to understand it
or to those who are willing to either accept the frustration of not
understanding or the challenge to learn its meaning.

                   1 September 1992

Brethren

 First of all, no rancor or discontent is this message, just the
urge to make you want to think. Many of our members work hard and
long in the vineyards of Freemasonry, as we put it, and deserve
recognition, but don't you think sometimes we overdue some of this?
At one installation the newly installed Master caused a bit of
confusion when he said: "Will all the presiding officers of the
androgynous bodies please rise and introduce themselves," puzzling
most in the audience with some laughing, some looking around  in
wonderment.

Some years ago I wrote one of our members in Hawaii of my vacation
there and would be glad, at their invitation, to take part in a
program if my dates fit their schedule. An immediate reply cemented
a program format and with newspaper ads (noted this on my arrival)
and whatever notices, there was a full house at the Makiki Street
Temple, not that it is a very large building. Calling attention to
the first paragraph, one remark made was, "Well, you outdrew the
Grand Master." The lesson here is that we must do something
different, we must have innovative programs. WE MUST CHANGE!

Just heard this on a television program: "Teach your children to be
birds, not kites." Recently wrote about a brother who taught his
children and grand- children to take risks. But this information
should not be confined to children, it is for all, especially us,
to heed and take note of.

What brought all this to a head was that I had a call from another
section of the state about a disappointing, attendance wise,
reception for our Grand Master. Possible reason given was an over
priced dinner, due to the number of complimentary guests, and the
never ending introductions, an exact copy of the preceding year.
Could this be because those running the program did not take risks,
do the unexpected? We just simply cannot continue doing the same
things over and over and expect enthusiastic audiences.

The caller was NOW doing what should be done with all such
ventures, start planning NOW, a year in advance. You see, if your
plans are to repeat the same unsuccessful reception as this year,
one doesn't have to plan in advance, so the bright spot here is
that planning is in the works NOW. This also means that because it
will be different, risks will no doubt be taken, another good omen
for success. One thought was that it should be a quality program
and as there are costs for quality, the only complimentary guests
would be the Grand Master and his family. A fine line, but are we
honoring the Grand Master or ??

I'll wager the caller's reception next year will have in it a
program to entertain our Grand Master instead of it being merely a
chore for him.

In 1959, when Master of my Lodge and active in this Lodge, I went
to quite a few receptions for Grand Master Phil Myers. One night,
in the usual greeting line, I said, "Enjoyed your remarks tonight,"
to which he replied something like, "How could you, you've heard
the same thing a dozen times." A chore for both of us? And I recall
another idea, believe it was his, that the Grand Master was to be
introduced by the local Master, not another Grand Lodge officer.

                                        Ralph A. Herbold
