Por CHRISTIAN GADEA SAGUIER
El ingreso a la Masonería no supone ni garantiza el desarrollo de la espiritualidad masónica en cada iniciado. Lograrlo requiere un compromiso con uno mismo, a modo de transformar todos los aspectos psicológicos a la visión universal que ofrece la Masonería. Es un camino para pocos, debido al grado de dificultad y entrega que conlleva, pues a medida que va evolucionando el espíritu masónico en la persona, aumentan las responsabilidades y se esfuman las apariencias de los derechos.
A pesar de lo extraño y desconocido que puede resultar el camino, éste se encuentra abierto a todos los que ingresan a la Hermandad, pero sólo aquellos que se abran al significado de los símbolos logran traspasar el umbral iniciático. Para lograr este cometido no se debe ambicionar grados ni cargos, de todos modos son simbólicos. Más bien es necesario que el adepto se retire con frecuencia a su cuarto de reflexiones y allí concentrar la mente para consolidar el espíritu masónico.
Para el logro de la tarea no basta con conocer al detalle el significado de cada símbolo. El conocer hace referencia a la obtención y aprehensión consciente de significados, los cuales al ser inteligentemente procesados, constituye el conocimiento. Pero para alcanzar el saber en la utilización de los símbolos, el iniciado debe conjugar el contenido cognoscitivo conseguido y asociarlo comprensivamente a un posible uso práctico en todos los niveles de su vida.
Es en esta etapa, donde se recurre a ese conocer y saber, en principio teóricamente logrado, y pasa luego a utilizarlo de manera práctica, donde logra el saber hacer, que implica a su vez una constante actividad perfectiva y tendiente a la obtención de nuevos logros en la consolidación del espíritu masónico.
El desafío se hace efectivo, perdura y se logra cuando hay motivación, primera disposición personal del querer conocer, hacer y lograr algo en función del interés. Estar motivado es una actitud dinámica que impulsa a conseguir algo, movido por el impacto que produce la fuerza de sus motivos.
El aprendizaje logra su objetivo cuando, además de la motivación, hay organización estructural. Esta organización comprende una clara diferenciación conceptual en los símbolos, un procedimiento metodológico en su conocimiento para alcanzar el saber, y una comprensión del saber hacer, equivalente al entendimiento de adquirir el sentido de algo y la competencia para su aplicación en la vida cotidiana.
Pero antes de tomar este compromiso es menester comprender qué significa la espiritualidad masónica. Resumidamente la considero como una actitud ante la vida, determinada por una moral humanista, una ética ilustrada, y una libertad de conciencia que nos hace responsable de nuestra perfectibilidad.
En definitiva, no basta ingresar en la Masonería para convertirse en un masón, sino que es necesario aprender a ser, tomar sus símbolos y desarrollar con ellos una significativa filosofía de vida.
martes, 19 de agosto de 2008
sábado, 2 de agosto de 2008
QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE No. 2076, The Premier Lodge of Masonic Research
The Lodge was founded in 1884 by a group of nine brethren: Sir Charles Warren (then a Colonel but later a General), W. Harry Rylands, Robert Freke Gould, the Revd Adolphus F.A. Woodford, Sir Walter Besant, John P. Rylands, Major Sisson C. Pratt, William James Hughan and George W. Speth. All were scholars and some were highly distinguished in the field of Masonic study.
The Lodge's warrant was issued by the United Grand Lodge of England on 28 November 1884 but, because the Master-designate, Brother Warren, had been despatched on a diplomatic and military mission to Africa, it was not until 12 January 1886 that the ceremony of Consecration could be performed.
The founders' objectives were to develop for brethren everywhere an interest in research; to encourage study of the many facets of Freemasonry; to have papers read in the lodge and for them to be open to discussion and, if appropriate, criticism; to attract the attention and to enlist the co‑operation of Masonic scholars in all parts of the world.
By these they established a new style of research into Freemasonry. It ignored baseless conclusions that had been derived from the imaginative writings of earlier authors and, because of this, the lodge came to be regarded as the `authentic school' of Masonic students. Through the members' efforts the works of previous historians came under close scrutiny and much that had formerly been accepted as reliable was rejected.
The founders inaugurated what was to become a comprehensive library and which, in more recent times, has as a matter of convenience been amalgamated with that of the United Grand Lodge of England. [The lodge, however, retains control of its books and documents.] The founders further resolved to publish facsimiles of and to reprint rare and valuable books, manuscripts and papers; much has been done and the work continues.
The name of the lodge, Quatuor Coronati [Latin scholars would prefer 'Quattuor'!], was chosen because of its connection with the craft of the operative stonemason. The `Four Crowned Ones' were martyred on 8 November in AD 302 and were regarded as the patron saints of stonemasons throughout Europe from about 400 to 1600. The installation meeting of the lodge takes place on the second Thursday in November, this being the nearest practicable date to that of their martyrdom.
Since the lodge was formed, membership has been by invitation which is extended only to brethren of any regular Constitution who have made important contributions in the field of Masonic study or who are otherwise distinguished in art, literature or the sciences. [A list of the present members is at page iii.]
The Transactions, Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, are published annually and include the papers read at the lodge meetings together with the discussion which they generated. Many others, in as wide a variety as possible, will also appear together with reviews of books of Masonic interest, and questions which have been sent to the editor for answer by him or by the lodge member best qualified on a particular subject. A full set of all the volumes is necessarily a `collector's item' and, when on the market, will be priced accordingly (a four‑figure sum at least!), but all are available for research in the library of the United Grand Lodge of England, and at several other headquarters. Issues of more recent years can sometimes be obtained singly or in short `runs'. An enquiry at QCCC Limited may prove helpful in this respect.
The mention of that organization, whose offices are located within Freemasons' Hall, London, brings us to the Correspondence Circle of the lodge which is described on the next page. For some few years it has been necessary to entrust its administration
to a company, limited by guarantee, consisting of all the full members of Quatuor Coronati Lodge under an elected governing council. Brethren of the Correspondence Circle are associate members of the Company.
The Lodge's warrant was issued by the United Grand Lodge of England on 28 November 1884 but, because the Master-designate, Brother Warren, had been despatched on a diplomatic and military mission to Africa, it was not until 12 January 1886 that the ceremony of Consecration could be performed.
The founders' objectives were to develop for brethren everywhere an interest in research; to encourage study of the many facets of Freemasonry; to have papers read in the lodge and for them to be open to discussion and, if appropriate, criticism; to attract the attention and to enlist the co‑operation of Masonic scholars in all parts of the world.
By these they established a new style of research into Freemasonry. It ignored baseless conclusions that had been derived from the imaginative writings of earlier authors and, because of this, the lodge came to be regarded as the `authentic school' of Masonic students. Through the members' efforts the works of previous historians came under close scrutiny and much that had formerly been accepted as reliable was rejected.
The founders inaugurated what was to become a comprehensive library and which, in more recent times, has as a matter of convenience been amalgamated with that of the United Grand Lodge of England. [The lodge, however, retains control of its books and documents.] The founders further resolved to publish facsimiles of and to reprint rare and valuable books, manuscripts and papers; much has been done and the work continues.
The name of the lodge, Quatuor Coronati [Latin scholars would prefer 'Quattuor'!], was chosen because of its connection with the craft of the operative stonemason. The `Four Crowned Ones' were martyred on 8 November in AD 302 and were regarded as the patron saints of stonemasons throughout Europe from about 400 to 1600. The installation meeting of the lodge takes place on the second Thursday in November, this being the nearest practicable date to that of their martyrdom.
Since the lodge was formed, membership has been by invitation which is extended only to brethren of any regular Constitution who have made important contributions in the field of Masonic study or who are otherwise distinguished in art, literature or the sciences. [A list of the present members is at page iii.]
The Transactions, Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, are published annually and include the papers read at the lodge meetings together with the discussion which they generated. Many others, in as wide a variety as possible, will also appear together with reviews of books of Masonic interest, and questions which have been sent to the editor for answer by him or by the lodge member best qualified on a particular subject. A full set of all the volumes is necessarily a `collector's item' and, when on the market, will be priced accordingly (a four‑figure sum at least!), but all are available for research in the library of the United Grand Lodge of England, and at several other headquarters. Issues of more recent years can sometimes be obtained singly or in short `runs'. An enquiry at QCCC Limited may prove helpful in this respect.
The mention of that organization, whose offices are located within Freemasons' Hall, London, brings us to the Correspondence Circle of the lodge which is described on the next page. For some few years it has been necessary to entrust its administration
to a company, limited by guarantee, consisting of all the full members of Quatuor Coronati Lodge under an elected governing council. Brethren of the Correspondence Circle are associate members of the Company.
EL RITUAL DE EMULACIÓN
Los trabajos del Rito Emulación toman su nombre de la Emulation Lodge of Improvement, que se reúne semanalmente los viernes en el Freemason’s Hall, del mes de octubre a junio.
La primera reunión se realizó el 2 de octubre de 1823 y la Logia se integró específicamente por Maestros Masones para proveer instrucción para aquellos que desearan prepararse para ocupar la Silla del Rey Salomón.
Por lo menos ocho Logias estuvieron representadas en la reunión inaugural, incluyendo dos miembros de la Lodge of Unions. La Emulation Lodge of Improvement fue primero auspiciada por la Logia Hope No. 7.
Para 1830 el número de miembros de la Logia Hope No. 7 en la Emulation Lodge of Improvement se redujo a uno sólo, por lo que el auspiciamiento fue emprendido por la Lodge of Unions quien ha permanecido como la auspiciadora desde entonces.
Las formas rituales para la Gran Logia Unida de Inglaterra fueron producidas por la Logia Reconciliación y fueron aprobadas y confirmadas por Gran Logia en junio de 1816. Éstas han sido la base del funcionamiento del Rito Emulation desde su inicio en 1823.
Ha sido la política del comité de la Emulation Lodge of Improvement preservar el ritual tan intacto como sea posible en la forma en la cual fue aprobado por la Gran Logia, permitiendo solamente los cambios aprobados por la Gran Logia.
Debido al hecho de que la Gran Logia Unida de Inglaterra consideró que el ritual no debía imprimirse, la repetición oral fue el medio de transmisión, siendo hasta el año 1969 que la Emulation Lodge of Improvement patrocinó la publicación de la primera edición del "Ritual de Emulación".
Como dato adicional cabe comentar que una caja de fósforos de plata se concede como premio al hermano que trabaje una ceremonia Masónica según el ritual de Emulación, de memoria, sin aviso o corrección.
La primera reunión se realizó el 2 de octubre de 1823 y la Logia se integró específicamente por Maestros Masones para proveer instrucción para aquellos que desearan prepararse para ocupar la Silla del Rey Salomón.
Por lo menos ocho Logias estuvieron representadas en la reunión inaugural, incluyendo dos miembros de la Lodge of Unions. La Emulation Lodge of Improvement fue primero auspiciada por la Logia Hope No. 7.
Para 1830 el número de miembros de la Logia Hope No. 7 en la Emulation Lodge of Improvement se redujo a uno sólo, por lo que el auspiciamiento fue emprendido por la Lodge of Unions quien ha permanecido como la auspiciadora desde entonces.
Las formas rituales para la Gran Logia Unida de Inglaterra fueron producidas por la Logia Reconciliación y fueron aprobadas y confirmadas por Gran Logia en junio de 1816. Éstas han sido la base del funcionamiento del Rito Emulation desde su inicio en 1823.
Ha sido la política del comité de la Emulation Lodge of Improvement preservar el ritual tan intacto como sea posible en la forma en la cual fue aprobado por la Gran Logia, permitiendo solamente los cambios aprobados por la Gran Logia.
Debido al hecho de que la Gran Logia Unida de Inglaterra consideró que el ritual no debía imprimirse, la repetición oral fue el medio de transmisión, siendo hasta el año 1969 que la Emulation Lodge of Improvement patrocinó la publicación de la primera edición del "Ritual de Emulación".
Como dato adicional cabe comentar que una caja de fósforos de plata se concede como premio al hermano que trabaje una ceremonia Masónica según el ritual de Emulación, de memoria, sin aviso o corrección.
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