Hearing, Seeing, Feeling, Tasting and Smelling are introduced into the lecture of the Fellowcraft as a part of the instructions of that degree. Early lecturers of the eighteenth century in explaining the five senses referred to them in the Entered Apprentice Degree as referring to the five principles who make up the lodge. The subsequent reference to the winding stairs and the inclusion of the five senses into the Second Degree were modern improvements.

As these senses are the avenue by which the mind receives its perceptions of its surroundings and thus augmenting its storehouse of ideas, they are most appropriately referred to that degree of Masonry whose professed objective is the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge.

HEARING - Is that sense by which we distinguish sounds either harmonious or cacophonous as we so determine. By it we are enabled to enjoy the pleasures of society, and reciprocally to communicate to one another our thoughts and intentions - our purposes and desires. We also receive instruction when ignorant, admonition when in danger, and reproof when in error. We can control hearing by our degree of attentiveness or supplement physical hearing by observation.

SEEING - Is that sense by which we distinguish objects and in an instant of time, without change of place or situation, view all the varieties of nature and of man's handiwork. By this sense we find our way on the pathless ocean, traverse the world, determine its figures and dimensions, and delineate or define them. From all things great and beautiful we arrive at seeing is believing. But, being physically blind does not deter us from "seeing", as we can learn to adapt within our own abilities.

FEELING - Is that sense by which we distinguish the different qualities of bodies: such as heat and cold, hardness and softness, roughness and smoothness, shape, solidity, motion, pleasure and pain. Also feeling is a condition of mind and understanding where emotions, perceptions and learning are placed into our perceived frames of reference.

SMELLING - Is that sense by which we distinguish substances for definition by comparison as acceptable or disagreeable. This olfactory stimulation conveys different impressions to the mind. By it we learn to differentiate between that we appreciate and that which is oppressive as associated with other particular exposures - even to the extent of "time to smell the roses".

TASTING - Enables us to make a proper distinction of the savoriness of a substance, liquid or experience. Taste buds and olfactory senses guard the alimentary and internal organ actions from experiences learned by others and taught us, which we can choose to protect ourselves. Tasting also refers to sampling which we as Masons must do to arrive at our perceived concept of what makes a true Mason - an objective of the degree. Smelling and Tasting are inseparably combined if we are to learn. Of the five senses, hearing seeing and felling only are deemed essential to Masons. Tasting and smelling are therefore, not referred to in the ritual, except as making up the sacred number five.

References to the senses are made throughout Masonic writings. In addition to the five senses, we should add pleasure, memory, imagination, reasoning, moral perception, and all the active powers of the soul. For instance, without the sense of pleasure, we do not get reinforcement to want, to will and activate doing; to experience, to select and to make choices. The choices we make determine who we are, how we act, and behave as a Mason. By the senses we observe things and assimilate them. Our mind is not unlike a computer and we use our interrelated senses as output in expressing ourselves. Without them we would not be able to communicate or have any basis for judgment. The loss of any one sense has traditionally been treated as a handicap, but we can compensate for the loss by strengthening the other senses through learning, ability and understanding.

The original five senses, however, have been known since ancient times and no communication is possible or experience perceived without some of the senses combined. The world events would pass by unnoticed if not for our senses. We are not rocks in the road that perceive nothing and are worn away by time. The newborn is like a sponge and perceives the world openly and learns from experience. We, as Apprentice Masons, have the opportunity to use our senses to relearn many truths if we but actually direct our senses.

Return to the El Camino Research Lodge Papers Page