A Lutheran Approach to Ritual Part 5: Assigning Value

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Scott S. Dueball

Others in the series: Part 1 (intro) - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

Today I bring you the fifth and final installment in this series. This approach to reading ritual is the most complex and may even be the most controversial. The technique of Assigning Value recognizes that there are some elements of the ritual that have more or less value when compared to others. More simply: each line does not carry the same importance. I expect some to disagree and argue that everything bears equal value. Allow me to pose a few questions for you to reflect on:

• Are the priorities set by your obligation more important or those set by the lectures? For example, how does Masonic philosophy instruct us to choose between universal benevolence and relief only to Masonic affiliated people?
  
  
• My obligation (Indiana) lacks a section that the jurisdiction in which I currently reside (Illinois) contains; should I follow the obligation that I took while my hands rested on the VOSL or that of my current jurisdiction?
  
  
• We are obligated to uphold the constitutions/bylaws/edicts of the Grand Lodge, what if we find a conflict in the bylaws with the body of Masonic philosophy? In Illinois, we require uniform dues prices within each Lodge but does that conflict with our teachings of equity (different from equality) which might encourage a more nuanced structure?

The world does not exist in binary--black versus white. We respond to situations in ways that are not perfectly right or wrong. Life often presents us with much more nuanced conflicts. There are times when multiple right solutions exist. There are solutions that may positively affect some while negatively affecting others. In those situations, how are we as Masons supposed to proceed? Assigning priority is essentially necessary to assist us with these real-life moral dilemmas.

Assigning value is likely last on this list because it is not something for a novice to attempt. The technique of assigning value requires prerequisite mastery of the other techniques (Context, Analogy and Themes). This means answering questions of, ‘What was the ritual intended to teach at the time it was composed?’, ‘What does that mean for me today?’, ‘What topics are consistently addressed or otherwise clearly emphasized as the most important?’. One must have a complete understanding of the major themes of Masonic philosophy before he can truly assess the individual thematic importance. A lack of understanding in this area opens the door for selectively prioritizing those themes which most closely adhere to one’s personal comforts. Correctly prioritizing themes requires an appropriate application of analogy and contextual understanding of the composition of ritual. Ignoring these elements ignores not only the effort of the many fraternal composers but also fails to evolve the teachings from those challenges unique to the late 18th century. Thus, assigning value cannot exist in a vacuum from the other concepts. It is the culmination of the preceding three techniques.

In this series I have attempted to present you with a systematic approach to evaluating the ritual. It may not be the only method to studying Masonic philosophy but it should provide structure to someone unsure of where to start. If we are intent on transitioning from solely memorization toward deeper understanding, Masons will need to seek to understand what the authors were trying to convey. Masons also need to be able to figure out how centuries-old teachings apply to their modern life. By assembling themes one can begin to prioritize the most important lessons. You will find yourself jumping back to contextual analysis and performing a considerable amount of personal reflection if you are critically thinking through these techniques. After all, that is the purpose of our Gentle Craft. 

~SSD

WB Scott S. Dueball is the Worshipful Master of D.C. Cregier Lodge No. 81 in Wheeling, IL and holds a dual membership in Denver Lodge No. 5 in Denver, CO. He currently serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois as the State Education Officer. Scott is also a member of the Palatine York Rite bodies and the Valley of Chicago A.A.S.R.-N.M.J. He is passionate about the development of young masons, strategy and visioning for Lodges. He can be reached at SEO@ilmason.org

A Lutheran Approach to Ritual Part 3: Principle of Analogy

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Scott S. Dueball

In the first two installments (part 1 & part 2) of this series I introduced a method that I use when approaching our ritual and texts. Part 3 proved to be more challenging than the first two, primarily because our work deals heavily in allegory which is distinct from analogy. Allegory is when characters or events are used to portray certain lessons. An analogy is a comparison between two items which are similar in some way. As such, it would be incorrect for me to elaborate on what the tyrians represent in our daily lives (as my first draft of this post did). Instead, analogy encourages us to look at the ritual themes for modern ways which they may be applied to our lives.

The ‘Principle of Analogy’ asks and answers the question, "Are there modern situations which are comparable to those which are historically portrayed in the ritual?" The Principle of Analogy is applied when you have scenarios from a historic text or texts that might not exist perfectly the same today but we can still apply the lessons to similar situations. Thus, analogy is less about "What can this teach?" and more about "How can this be applied?"

Often our Masonic education tends toward having an obvious connection to Masonry. Many topics either have the word *Mason* in it, are about a famous Mason, or touch directly and specifically on our symbols. In applying the Principle of Analogy we can significantly expand that which is Masonically necessary to teach. What can we be teaching and discussing within our halls to expand our understanding of the world? Topics that may not be obviously Masonic in nature, could present serious value to our order.

Our degrees address relief. What does that look like in 2017? Could we be developing the hearts of our Brethren by evaluating injustices surrounding us: human trafficking, access to clean water, or institutionalized classism. The tools presented in our degrees should enable us to recognize that these are not political issues; they are matters affecting humanity likely in our own backyards. This analogy discourages our participation in divisionary activity and encourages actions which cement all men together in the bonds of Brotherly Love and Affection.

Another example is Preston’s inclusion of the sciences in our degrees. His intent was to encourage both critical thinking and a sense of wonder in the Great Architect's creation. When the lectures were written, many of these topics were revolutionary but 200+ years later they no longer ought to be considered as such. Shouldn’t we be expanding our education beyond basic history to include anything that might expand the intellect of our Brothers? Analogous topics could be string theory, psychology, and Fibonacci. Each of these subjects can be justified through the Principle of Analogy and understanding the context in which the ritual was written. What else does the Principle of Analogy expand our teachings to include? How can we use this to approach the text with new insight?

Next we will discuss the big picture and its contextual role in our ritual.

~SSD

WB Scott S. Dueball is the Worshipful Master of D.C. Cregier Lodge No. 81 in Wheeling, IL and holds a dual membership in Denver Lodge No. 5 in Denver, CO. He currently serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois as the State Education Officer. Scott is also a member of the Palatine York Rite bodies and the Valley of Chicago A.A.S.R.-N.M.J. He is passionate about the development of young masons, strategy and visioning for Lodges. He can be reached at SEO@ilmason.org

A Lutheran Approach to Our Ritual: Introduction

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Scott Dueball

When I was taking new member classes for my current congregation, we were provided a handout titled, A Lutheran Approach to Interpreting Scripture. This guide concisely describes the unique, scholarly approach that the Lutheran sect of the Christian church takes in reading the bible (ok, if you are a serious Lutheran you know there are nuances, but let’s not get caught up in the minutia). I am not suggesting that anyone else read the Bible this way; it works for me while I continue to admire the sundry of religious ideology within our Gentle Craft. However, as I look back at my Masonic writing, I notice that I take this same approach in regards to our ritual and philosophy. It is ingrained into how I experience the world. What I want to address here is how we might use this in the examination of our Masonic teachings. There are four points to this approach:

• Contextual Examination-both literary and historical
• Principle of Analogy
• ‘Scripture in light of Scripture’- remaining faithful to the broader message of the text rather than picking a choosing the parts that support our position
• Assigning value-Some elements of the text are given more value than others

Some of these points are supremely important to our present understanding of the ritual and others open up some of the deepest questions I have ever pondered. When we are examining the ritual do we give consideration to the language, world understanding, and political climate that each section was written in? To that end, do we (the larger fraternity) understand when and how the ritual was composed? It seems obvious that analogy and allegory play a role in our ritual but do we explore new ways to apply the ritual to our modern lives? Do we zoom out and examine the entire body of ritual text(s) to better understand the broader themes or do we piecemeal the parts that specifically fit within our current worldview? Lastly, how do we assign value to the various elements of our ritual? Over a series of posts, I will expand on these techniques for use in our reading of the ritual and hope to incite some deeper reflections within each of you. Each piece in this series will address new ways to use this approach to develop our understanding of the ritual.

~SSD

WB Scott S. Dueball is the Worshipful Master of D.C. Cregier Lodge No. 81 in Wheeling, IL and holds a dual membership in Denver Lodge No. 5 in Denver, CO. He currently serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois as the State Education Officer. Scott is also a member of the Palatine York Rite bodies and the Valley of Chicago A.A.S.R.-N.M.J. He is passionate about the development of young masons, strategy and visioning for Lodges. He can be reached at SEO@ilmason.org