In the footsteps of King Solomon

For over a quarter of a century freemasonry has been one of my pastimes and I believe that I am a much better man, in every respect, as a result. Freemasonry is "a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols". Lodges meet up to twelve times each year and usually, in basic craft freemasonry, perform one of three morality plays or ceremonies at each meeting. In the first ceremony an initiate is taught the value of charity; in the second the usefulness of the study of the seven liberal arts and sciences, namely grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. The third ceremony, from which is derived the expression "being put through the third degree", teaches how best to prepare for one's death and for the life hereafter. Every applicant is required to express his belief in God but his understanding of God is left to his own convictions. Atheists are barred from membership. In UK lodges there are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Quakers and many who express their faith in other ways. Because freemasonry has no creed we can all congregate together and give allegiance to "The Great Architect of the Universe" and other all encompassing descriptions of God. (Worth reading Rudyard Kipling's "Mother Lodge" to see the mixed bag of folk in his lodge).

The lodges that I belong to meet in three different locations, each with with their own lodge building or temple. The biggest of these three is King Arthur's Great Hall in Tintagel, Cormwall, the legendary Camelot of Arthurian legend

The picture above is of the masonic temple in Tintagel and it is open to the public throughout the year. Many Americans visit as it is not far from where the first settlers to the "New World" sailed from Plymouth. In the foreground can be seen the wooden replica of the Round Table but the large granite round table is at the top of the picture below the granite "throne", surrounded by eight foot high granite pillars, with Excalibur, embedded in a granite stone, on top. Freemasonry has no direct connection with the King Arthur legend but the "Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table" does meet there. Incidently, just two hundred yards away is the temple of the female freemasons in the local area. It is worth noting that at a meeting I was at last night it was anounced that a donation of 3,000.000 UK pounds (about five million or more US dollars) had been made to the UK osteoporosis society and a donation of 1.6 million pounds made to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to provide a new boat for a place in South Wales. Considering that freemasons do not approach the general public for donations that is a lot of money to come out of the back pockets of members. The meeting last night was held in Launceston, the old capital of Cornwall, where the founder of Quakers (George Fox) was imprisoned, in the castle, in the seventeenth century, for dissenting against the established church. (I only mention that because I happen to be a Quaker!).

The above picture is of Launceston lodge.

The lodge that I frequent most is in the small market town of Wadebridge, in Cornwall. That entails an eighty mile round trip for me from my home in Plymouth. I continue to attend as I have many friends there and presided over a lodge there last year - not quite the same as presiding at Tintagel and occupying Arthur's throne, which I did for two years in the past. Makes one feel like a bit of a meglomaniac!!!!!

Wadebridge Temple

I think that I have waffled enough for one day but at least I have discovered how to put photos between the text!