Flaws in ritualistic performances

Title

Creator

Galang, Agustin L.

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow Volume XLII (No. 2) February 1966

Year

1966

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

WB AGUSTIN L. GALANG, PM Long before the Ritual was printed en mass and made available to all the initiates, instructions were dis seminated only from mouth to ear. In a given Lodge, the Lecturer or Instructor was authorized to coach each only after having passed a rigid proficiency test. He was the sole keeper of the Ritual if there was any; it was very scarce then. No body except those who had proven well skilled in the Ancient Craft were allowed to instruct those seeking ad vancement. The learning process was not only very slow but also tedious. Perhaps this system was adopted to insure the solemnity if not the purity of our ceremonies. The printing of the Monitors which arc now readily available faci litated the admirable advancement in proficiency and performance of the brethren who now actively partici pate in our ceremonial and degree works. There is no denying the fact that this is praiseworthy. The con servatives, however, still think that these free enterprises, shorn of close supervision, have rendered the effi cacy of our original terminologies, open to substitution, misinterpreta tion if not adulteration. In this pre mise, it is the purpose of this treatise to be of help in a small way by pin pointing some of our obvious defi ciencies which affect adversely the authenticity of our otherwise solemn ceremonies. 1. “J-nicu” in lieu of “Ah-men” In some curious wav, manv of us have formed the habit of saving “All-men” at the close of the prayer. Short sound was given the first syl lable as in Article. If it is thus pro nounced, it is wrong. The word is “A-men,” with long sound given the first syllable as in “Fate, Late.” The pronunciation “Ah-men” short “A” as in “Ark” is only permissible in singing and in no other circum stances. 2. “Hele” in lieu of Hail Another glaring error commit ted by careless officers during the obligation is the word “Hele” which, more often than not. is substi tuted with “Hail”. We should be aware of the fact that the old AngloSaxon word “HELF” still used in our Ritual or Monitor should not be pronounced “HAIL”. Hail means summon, to greet. “Hele” is pro nounced with long "e” as in "Heel, Feel,” which means cover up, to hide. We do not summon or greet but we cover up, hide or conceal the secrets of our Fraternity. 3. "Impudent” in lieu of Impious In the second section of MM degree, when KS was insensed by what the M of Ts did to the GMIIA. we often hear: ”... vile and im pious wretches thus ...” The word as handed down was IMPUDENT which means insolent, while vile is villainous. Impious denotes lack of reverence for God, impiety. Impu dent is more compatible to vile than impious which pertains more of reli gicus than criminal tint. 5. “Elou'n” in lieu of “Fallen” As in the above situation, when I<S pronounced his sentence to the M of Ts frequently, KS says: “raise up your heads and receive your sen tence in accordance with the implica tion which has fallen from your own February 1966 21 Brethren of Kidapwan Lodge =170 visit R zal Monument. Standing from left to right: Bro. Arsenio Hinojales, Bro. Dion’jio de Vera, Wor. Bro. Jose Nicolas, P.M. Davao Lo^ge No. 149; Bro. Gaudencio B. Ortiz; Wor. Bro. Ceferino Villanueva, Master; Bro. Isagani Bella; Bro. B. A. Sabrilas, P.M; Bro. Amando O. Austria. Seated from L. to R.: Bro. A. Pagdilas; Bro. A. Negrillo, Bro. Imlam, Bro. M. Ramos, Bro. H. Andrada and Bro. TanContributors will please send their articles and news items type written, double-spaced. Pictures will please be properly identified as to event and names. FYAWS IN . . . (From page 21) the subjunctive mood of flow. Words flow from the mouth in the form ol sound waves.. As they come outside they are flashed in all directions so i< could be heard all around. Fallen is the subjunctive mood of FALL which means drop or sink down ward. This trifling difference makes fallen inappropriate. A TAKING STOCK . . (From . ..................... . It can gear toward the wrong as easily as it can gear toward the right. It is this soul that meditates, that regulates, that directs. As a Mason, this man that is I must control my body, improve my mind, consecrate my soul. Controlling my body, I would then be able to do things Masonic — attend meetings, participate in acti vities, lend a hand in worthy pro jects, even get hurt and bleed in the process. Improving my mind, I would then lie able to render satis factory floor and degree work, delib erate on significant problems, weigh issues in the right perspective, con tribute to Masonic thinking and phi losophy. Consecrating my soul, I would then be able to become a God fearing man. understanding to my fellowmen. thus serving as a mirror of the best that is in Masonry. These then I propose to do — con trol my body, improve my mind, consecrate inv soul because the year before us is going to be a difficult one. There are things that need to be done and done well, ideas that need to be thought out, imperfections that need to be corrected. There will be need for sacrifice on all angles — body, mind, soul. Tonight, I pledge to you my all. I ask that you do no less to me, for together, as one body, as one mind, one soul, we will face the year and the years with confidence. With God as our guide, we shall live Masonry the best way we are capable of. Yes, there will be stress and strain along the way, but we are heartened by the ‘encouraging message of our MWGM in the November, 1965 Cal’lelow and with it I close quoting a part: “A man acquires moral strength under strain and stress and is more valuable than one who has grown in ease and somfort.” A 24 The Cabletow

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