June, 2008
Page 9
¡±and improve myself in
Masonry¡±
¡°In a recent trip to the
Eugene Scottish Rite, I was involved in a conversation on membership. I was informed that the McKenzie River
Lodge has received 17 petitions from January 1st through January 22nd
of this year. I inquired as to what
the secret of this was. The answer is that the
Masonic circumambulation of the altar is one of the
oldest ceremonies of Freemasonry. The ritualistic explanation is simple enough
and of course the act does permit continued and lengthy inspection of the
candidate by the Brethren.
To circumambulate means to
walk round about, which is derived from the Latin word circum
meaning ¡°around,¡± and ambulare/ambulatum
meaning to walk. In its original sense it referred to that portion of the
religious rites in the ancient ceremonies of initiation, whereby the candidate
was conducted in a formal procession around the altar or some other holy and
consecrated object. The rite of circumambulation obviously relates to the circle,
which is a symbol of the all-embracing principle of Divine manifestation that
is without beginning or ending, being complete and absolute.
Both of these articles were taken from the
April, 2008 Southern
Light travels faster than sound. That¡¯s why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Okay, so what¡¯s the speed of dark ?