Masonic Initiation at Academia

"The duly opened Lodge would be a sanctuary of silence and contemplation, broken only by ceremonial utterances or such words of competent and luminous instruction as the Master or Past Masters are moved to extend. And the higher the degree in which it is opened, the deeper and more solemn would be the sense of excluding all temporal thoughts and interests and of approaching more nearly that veiled central Light whose opening into activity in our hearts we profess to be our predominant wish. In such circumstances each Lodge meeting would become an occasion of profound spiritual experience. No member would wish to disturb the harmony of such a Lodge by talk or alien thought. No member would willingly be absent."

W.L. Wilmshurst
The Masonic Initiation

Initiation is an important personal step and one which should never be undertaken lightly.

Men who take initiation in Academia Lodge are those who desire not to rush through the three degrees of Craft Masonry, but who wish to take their time and explore the meanings of each degree. Initiates tend to remain at each degree for several months, even up to a year. During this period, a typical 1° or 2° member will attend 4 to 8 tiled meetings--our lodge is focused intently on providing a solid basis of Masonic formation for every candidate.

"The role of the fraternal societies, and related esoteric orders, has always been to preserve and disseminate the blueprints, or archetypes, that pattern the thoughts and feelings and relationships of men." (Davis, Understanding Manhood in America, 2005, p. 54)

"Masonry should strengthen our faith, intensify our love, and teach us to exercise charity in word and deed to all mankind. We should carry out in life what we teach in our lodge rooms, and the dream of our hearts should be to so fashion our words that whatever we do may be emblematic of the pillars of truth that support our beloved Order."

J. Ross Roberston
1890

Without a thorough knowledge of the foundation of Masonic law, those into whose hands is committed the governing power, are liable to fall into great error, and, perchance, by unwise legislation, do irreparable injury to our revered Institution. The Master of a lodge, when installed, is required to give his assent to the ancient charges and regulations, and also to promise to preserve the ancient landmarks which the fathers set up. It is, therefore, his duty to study those antique laws, not only for his own guidance in the performance of the duties he has assumed as the Master of a lodge, but also, and more especially, that he may become qualified to be the instructor of the lodge over which he has been called to preside. Count up the masters within your ken, and ask yourself how many are qualified? The great mass of the fraternity are satisfied to pick the bare bones of the ritualistic skeleton, knowing nothing of the rich marrow which those bones contain. To break those bones requires labor, and, at the present day, labor without a reward measured by dollars and cents is too- often foolishness. The few read, think, and urge to progress; the great multitude are satisfied with present attainments, and prefer to "sit down, rest, and refresh themselves."

J. Ross Roberston
1890

There are a dozen different ways of making lodge meetings of interest to the brethren. There is the accurate exemplification of the work, which might be supplemented by a running comment and explanations as to the symbols and the true significance of the ceremoneis. Another method of avoiding monotony is to have brief papers on Masonic subjects read, occupying not more than thirty or forty minutes; the writer may take the degrees either as a whole or section them off, and give a reading on "," or "The Great Lights," or "The Offices of Master and Warden." (J. Ross Roberston, Talks with Craftsmen, 1890, pp. 34–35)

Our papers are generally 15 minutes at the longest.

How many of us visit the lodge and listlessly sit through ceremonial, with hearts callous to the brightness of ritual, and minds as unimpressionable as is the Arctic ice to the golden sun! (J. Ross Roberston, Talks with Craftsmen, 1890, p. 11)

A lodge room should be a cave of harmony, full of the pleasures of music. (J. Ross Roberston, Talks with Craftsmen, 1890, p. 12)

"The Rite of Induction signifies the end of a profane and vicious life—the palingenesia (new birth) of corrupted human nature—the death of vice and all bad passions, and the introduction to a new life of purity and virtue. It also prepares the candidate, by prayer and meditation, for that mystic pilgrimage, where he must wander through night and darkness, before he can behold the golden splendors of the Orient, and stand in unfettered freedom among the Sons of Light. The rite further represents man in his primitive condition of helplessness, ignorance, and moral blindness, seeking after that mental and moral enlightenment which alone can deliver his mind from all thralldoms, and make him master of the material world. The Neophyte, in darkness and with tremblings, knocks at the portals of the Lodge, and demands admission, instruction, and light. So man, born ignorant, and helpless, and blind, yet feeling stirring within him unappeasable longings for knowledge, knocks at the doors of the temple of science. He interrogates Nature, demands her secrets, and at length becomes the proud possessor of her mysteries."—Robert Macoy