The Number Twelve

[Torence]

Our own Doug Freyburger wrote an article for our local Masonic
Newspaper, “Temple Topics” illuminating some curious aspects about the
number twelve and how a dozen relates to FreeMasonry.
For example, in it he explains that while high twelve and low
twelve have a literal relation to noon and midnight, the use of them
in the Hiramaic legend is also symbolic of the yin and yang
surrounding the acts that men do in the full light of the day; and
under cover of darkness.
Much of the use of the number twelve in Local Lodge organization
derives from how the tribes of Israel are organized in the book of
Numbers. Dermott referred to his lodge members as Noachims,
descendents of Noah, while Moria referenced his lodge members as
Levites, holding to the tradition that we are from the keepers of the
Temple when the Temple was nothing but a tent to be pitched each time
the nomads moved camp. Under another thread we discussed how in the
old literature the Twelve Original Points of the degree structure
relate to the various tribes. Even the Mormons use the rationalization
in their Temple Endowment Ceremony, though their legend centers on a
creation story.
While reading the article, the thought occurred to me that if there
were, symbolically, fifteen original conspirators from who twelve
failed to act knowing their Brother was endangered, then shouldn’t
there also be in the lesson as a comparison an example of fifteen or
twelve who acted righteously?
A discussion continues to crop up from time to time in various
settings regarding Amnesty for Masonic Offences other than a felony
conviction for a violent crime. The notion is that if some singularly
minded policemen have felt it their privilege to dispense with due
process to deliver sentences of Masonic death, then what would happen
if the obstacles to reinstatement were similarly done away with for a
time in order to rescue Brothers lost to some temporal personal or
class struggle?
IMHO, a juris consult or committee of three in each jurisdiction,
unfettered by procedural hurdles and assigned by the Grand Lodge
Congress rather than the Grand Line to avoid political arm twisting,
was formed to review cases annually without the need for a petition
etc., then our generation could right some of the wrongs done in the
name of the fraternity particularly in the recent past.
In any eventuality, Doug explains how “The numbers of the
character at the building of King Solomon’s Temple teaches…about the
way modern Masonry works. One brother at a time face to face. An
investigating committee of three. A degree team of one or two dozen. A
lodge of hundreds. A Grand Lodge of thousands or tens of thousands.
Global Masonry of millions.”
Any thoughts about the numbers in Masonry, i.e. the seven liberal
arts, three, five and seven steps etc.?

Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Senior Deacon – Auburn Park No. 789 – Crete, Illinois
PM – Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 – Lansing, Illinois

[Doug Freyburger]

   Our own Doug Freyburger wrote an article for our local Masonic
Newspaper, “Temple Topics” illuminating some curious aspects about the
number twelve and how a dozen relates to FreeMasonry.

The Temple Topics article was a cut-n-paste from a posting I
made a month before so except for some small edits it's
easily found on SOF in response to questions from Bro Jeffry.

  Any thoughts about the numbers in Masonry, i.e. the seven liberal
arts, three, five and seven steps etc.?

Geometry is the root of mathematics and the foundation upon
which the superstructure of Masonry is erected. Yet numbers
aren't always directly geometric.

The numbers 3, 5 and 7 are very early primes. I don't know if
there are other ranges with three consequative odd numbers
are prime numbers but there aren't in the next few hundred.

My stance on the mystical aspects is they apply to those who
are interested and they do not apply to those who are not
interested. I'm not interested in numerology therefore no
numbers that appear anywhere in the ritual have numerology
aspects to me. Any brother interested in that topic could post
on it.

I also hold a minority view that the Scientific Method can be
phrased as a mystical activity. The "formulate a hypothesis"
step is the one I tend to phrase like "dip into the mystical well
of all knowledge and draw forth an idea". It's really just saying
the same meaning with different semantics but it shows a
minority viewpoint about the nature of knowledge and what it
means to be mystical.

Even more than science, mathematics can be viewed as on
the border between the mystical and the mundane. The
objects of science are physical objects in experiments. The
objects of mathematics are systematic ideas. Mathematics
are one step farther on the path from the mundane to the
mystical.

So why would the mystical and the mundane be of interest to
Masonry? Consider that while a lodge is tiled the world
outside is sometimes referred to a the profane world or the
mundane world. Thus the world inside the tiled lodge is
mystical, whatever mystical means to the individual brother.
Here I offer how I think the numbers 3, 5 and 7 apply to being
able to enter a lodge symbolically rather than physically and
thus to be well qualified to be taken by the hand as a brother.

I think it no accident that the numbers 3, 5 and 7 are the
quorum numbers mentioned in the ritual for the different
degrees.

The quorum for the first degree is 7. The first answer to the
first question asked in the first degree is "to learn". The 7
liberal arts and sciences formed the foundation of the education
for the "Renaisance Man". The first phase of life is the learning
phase while we prepare ourselves to be of service to our fellow
creatures. With those 7 members/studies one can be on the
inside of knowledge and fellowship. Without them there is no
quorum so the learning is not yet complete.

The quorum for the second degree is 5. In the second degree
Masonry is considered with its operative history and the
construction of buildings. The second phase of life is the
labor in service to society. Buildings, cities, cathedrals,
fortresses, roadways are all good metaphors for society in
general in addition to the object of the physical labor of the
operative Masons of the time before grand lodges were
organized. With the 5 orders of architecture the classical
schools of building are complete so to me the 5 orders
symbolize the entire set of skilled occupations that a working
man might chose as a vocation. A skilled laborer should
know several jobs to be able to survive the decade long
swings of the economy and to have a well rounded career.

The quorum for the third degree is 3. The public lesson of
the third degree is the value of integrity and the immortality
of the soul. The third phase of life is applying oneself to
other topics while in retirement, increasing the store of public
knowledge. The 3 main characters of the degree being
Solomon who is legendary for his wisdom, Hiram of Tyre who
is legendary for his strength and peace, and Hiram Abiff who
is legendary for his ability to design and plan and to organize
a labor force to construct magificent works.

Whether the work is constructing the buildings used by
society or anything else from military tasks through scholarly
studies, the numbers 7, 5 and 3 represent to me the career
path of study, labor, management. Of learning, applying,
envisioning. Of bearing burdens during the acquisition of
skills, to the utilization of those skills in person, to the
organization of teams and envisioning results with the
experience of long application of those skills.

[Torence]

The Temple Topics article was a cut-n-paste from a posting I made a month before so
except for some small edits it's easily found on SOF in response to questions from
Bro Jeffry.

I employ the same process when I write for the paper. I start a
discussion here and the responses have often corrected my thinking on
one point or another or provided good anecdotal information and a
confirmation. Thank you, Brothers.

I also hold a minority view that the Scientific Method can be phrased as a mystical
activity. The "formulate a hypothesis" step is the one I tend to phrase like "dip into the
mystical well of all knowledge and draw forth an idea". It's really just saying
the same meaning with different semantics but it shows a minority viewpoint about the
nature of knowledge and what it means to be mystical.

Those private perspectives when shared, particularly between
Brothers, makes for better understanding and more rounded Masons, even
when we do not always agree. In another forum, a discussion took place
recently where the words “ethics” and “morality” were being used
interchangeably. I pointed out that from my position there is a
conceptual difference. Whereas “Ethics” are the product of a
reasoning mind, “Morals” are revealed to us.
For some time, I was troubled that because obligations in Masonry
are administered and the specifics are not revealed to the candidate
until the instant they are undertaken, that we may be violating our
own ethics that any serious action must be done of a man’s own free
will and accord. After some discussion, I rethought the equation in
light of the reference that the Master, at this point of the
obligation, is acting as a representative of the tribe of Asher (see
the Twelve Grand Points). The particulars, therefore, are our
expressed morality, the work each Mason then does to live up to them,
our ethics.
I do not know that splitting that hair is particularly meaningful
to anyone but myself; but I use the abstract difference between morals
and ethics now regularly in discussing Servant Leadership at work.
Servant Leadership is a bit of trickery to introduce Evangelical
Christian dogma into the workplace. Being able to apply ethics to
point out how the Christian Morality Message is rewritten into SL the
same way the Creationism is reworded into Intelligent Design in order
to get those text books into the classroom, is useful to keep out
those who would introduce the anti-Americanisms that permeate Servant
Leadership.

Consider that while a lodge is tiled the world outside is sometimes referred to a the
profane world or the mundane world. Thus the world inside the tiled lodge is
mystical, whatever mystical means to the individual brother.

The mosaic pavement used in Masonry is allegorical to this point.
Masons will remember the Blazing Star and the symbolism of the black
and white tiles. The important portion of this lecture, IMHO, is to
remember the “manifold blessings” that surround us. A Mason should
never get so comfortable with them that we become too idle. Adversity
may follow pleasure, and at the moment that we are ready to enjoy the
peace, we may be compelled to encounter, again, the burden.
Recognizing the availability of these resources will aid any project.

Here I offer how I think the numbers 3, 5 and 7…

All good stuff, Brother Doug, you have taken what was originally
operative and made speculative, back to operative practicality and
closed the circle.

The third phase of life is applying oneself to other topics while in retirement, increasing
the store of public knowledge.

I would chalk this point up to differences between us as
individuals. Though only 48 now, I do not plan to retire at any point.
In laying out plans here at my meridian, I look forward to revisiting
the outlands of sevens and fives regularly and only a modicum of time
amongst the number threes. For my lodge, I do the Master’s work for
the funeral service. The reference that to us, this moment always
seems to be our meridian, should remind me that in this effort I am
exposing my nature to be one prone to the vice of vanity; but I cannot
seem to help myself.

Of bearing burdens during the acquisition of skills, to the utilization of those skills in
person, to the organization of teams and envisioning results with the experience of long
application of those skills.

I spend too much time sword fighting windmills. Then again, in my
dotage, I anticipate that doing so will help to keep me spry.

Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Senior Deacon – Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 – Crete, Illinois
PM – Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois

[Jeffry]

Post by Torence

The Temple Topics article was a cut-n-paste from a posting I made a month before so
except for some small edits it's easily found on SOF in response to questions from
Bro Jeffry.

I employ the same process when I write for the paper. I start a
discussion here and the responses have often corrected my thinking on
one point or another or provided good anecdotal information and a
confirmation. Thank you, Brothers.

I also hold a minority view that the Scientific Method can be phrased as a mystical
activity. The "formulate a hypothesis" step is the one I tend to phrase
like "dip into the
mystical well of all knowledge and draw forth an idea". It's really just saying
the same meaning with different semantics but it shows a minority viewpoint about the
nature of knowledge and what it means to be mystical.

Those private perspectives when shared, particularly between
Brothers, makes for better understanding and more rounded Masons, even
when we do not always agree. In another forum, a discussion took place
recently where the words "ethics" and "morality" were being used
interchangeably. I pointed out that from my position there is a
conceptual difference. Whereas "Ethics" are the product of a
reasoning mind, "Morals" are revealed to us.
For some time, I was troubled that because obligations in Masonry
are administered and the specifics are not revealed to the candidate
until the instant they are undertaken, that we may be violating our
own ethics that any serious action must be done of a man's own free
will and accord. After some discussion, I rethought the equation in
light of the reference that the Master, at this point of the
obligation, is acting as a representative of the tribe of Asher (see
the Twelve Grand Points). The particulars, therefore, are our
expressed morality, the work each Mason then does to live up to them,
our ethics.
I do not know that splitting that hair is particularly meaningful
to anyone but myself; but I use the abstract difference between morals
and ethics now regularly in discussing Servant Leadership at work.
Servant Leadership is a bit of trickery to introduce Evangelical
Christian dogma into the workplace. Being able to apply ethics to
point out how the Christian Morality Message is rewritten into SL the
same way the Creationism is reworded into Intelligent Design in order
to get those text books into the classroom, is useful to keep out
those who would introduce the anti-Americanisms that permeate Servant
Leadership.

Consider that while a lodge is tiled the world outside is sometimes referred to a the
profane world or the mundane world. Thus the world inside the tiled lodge is
mystical, whatever mystical means to the individual brother.

The mosaic pavement used in Masonry is allegorical to this point.
Masons will remember the Blazing Star and the symbolism of the black
and white tiles. The important portion of this lecture, IMHO, is to
remember the "manifold blessings" that surround us. A Mason should
never get so comfortable with them that we become too idle. Adversity
may follow pleasure, and at the moment that we are ready to enjoy the
peace, we may be compelled to encounter, again, the burden.
Recognizing the availability of these resources will aid any project.

Here I offer how I think the numbers 3, 5 and 7.

All good stuff, Brother Doug, you have taken what was originally
operative and made speculative, back to operative practicality and
closed the circle.

The third phase of life is applying oneself to other topics while in
retirement, increasing
the store of public knowledge.

I would chalk this point up to differences between us as
individuals. Though only 48 now, I do not plan to retire at any point.
In laying out plans here at my meridian, I look forward to revisiting
the outlands of sevens and fives regularly and only a modicum of time
amongst the number threes. For my lodge, I do the Master's work for
the funeral service. The reference that to us, this moment always
seems to be our meridian, should remind me that in this effort I am
exposing my nature to be one prone to the vice of vanity; but I cannot
seem to help myself.

Of bearing burdens during the acquisition of skills, to the utilization
of those skills in
person, to the organization of teams and envisioning results with the experience of long
application of those skills.

I spend too much time sword fighting windmills. Then again, in my
dotage, I anticipate that doing so will help to keep me spry.
Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Senior Deacon - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois
PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois

I have been told by a brother a few years ago..that in operative
speak, an EA would actually live with a MM for 7 years before
being moved along to the FC. I don't know if this is fact.

Jeffry Petersen, SS
Saint Petersburg Lodge 139 Florida