Getting Back to Work

This offering is an attempt to envisage how we might all safely return to Freemasonry (in all Orders) when life gets back to some sort of normality. It is based on a number of assumptions:

(a) that by the end of the summer, most adults in the UK will have had two vaccinations; (b) that the current restrictions on serving food and drink indoors will have been lifted; (c) that the current restrictions on the number of individuals allowed to gather indoors for weddings, funerals and other family celebrations will have been lifted; (d) that the current restriction on singing at religious meetings will have been lifted

This article does not comment on the ‘Social Club’, Harmony’ and ‘Dining’ aspects of Freemasonry as these will have been covered by (b), (c) and (d) above.

It has however to be recognised that although vaccination boosts the recipient’s immune system and hopefully prevents them from succumbing to the virus, it won’t stop people from contracting it and at the time of writing there is documented evidence that some people who recovered from having covid-19 ended up with long-term effects that have marred their lives. It's also been estimated that around 1% of those having one vaccination have had to be hospitalised after contracting the disease, but these are all categorised as ‘frail and elderly.’ We have to accept that some (if not all) of our Orders will have Members who fall into this category.

It is therefore incumbent on all Orders to ensure that Masons can meet in as safe an environment as possible where the potential for cross-infection is reduced as much as is practicable. Little has been written over the years of the therapeutic benefits that Freemasonry provides, especially for those for whom it may be the only respite from caring for a loved one; or for the lonely, an opportunity to meet up with others who share our values. We owe it to them to get our Orders back up and running as soon as circumstances allow while at the same time ensuring we secure everybody’s safety.

It has to be recognised however that our rituals and ceremonials increase the potential for cross-infection and that we have to do everything possible to minimise it.

The obvious starting point would be to instal hand sanitisers inside the door of every Temple. Although it’s believed that the virus can only live for 48-72 hours on hard surfaces, it might be sensible to wipe down all door handles, light switches seats and paraphernalia with a disinfecting solution (or suitable ‘wipes’) before the Meeting starts, even if it might be some days since the premises was last used. These precautions are consistent with good practice and aren’t unique or exclusive to Freemasonry.

Where we do however increase the risk of cross-infection is in specific areas of our work.

Test Masters (of all Orders) are charged with ensuring that visitors are qualified and entitled to remain. In Craft Lodges, this means an advance culminating in the F.P.O.F. where contact can’t be avoided. It seems sensible that during these Tests, both the Test Master and the Visitor should wear masks. Other Orders should make similar arrangements.

Similarly in all ritual/ceremonial, where the Candidate is required to be in contact with an Office-Bearer or Officer, (eg explaining a sign, token, word) both should wear masks (as at a Raising). If the Order is one where gloves are normally worn, the person in the Chair might want to request that all those present ensure their gloves are washed at an appropriate temperature after the Meeting.

Toasts (in ritual or ceremonial) provide an

additional challenge. Regrettably it is recommended that where a communal goblet (or goblets) has been used in the past, this practice should be discontinued meantime. Some Preceptories have traditionally used individual glasses for the Founder’s Toast and there’ s no reason why this approach couldn’t be used in other Orders when we get back to work.

These suggestions will mean some extra work for the Stewards and those who set up Temples for the other Orders, but will go a long way in assuring our Members that protecting their health is our first priority and the changes introduced are for the benefit of all.

Editor’s note: this article was written at the beginning of May by a Brother who is a Retired Chartered Environmental Health Officer. He is a Member of several Scottish Orders and of one English Order. It is based on the circumstances prevailing at the time of writing and he accepts it may be overtaken by subsequent events.

Unique Questions & Answers Test

Following on from April and May 2020 editions, here is another set of questions from Bro. Rabbi Eno Ytneves’ s The Masonic Instructor:

The Middle Chamber

1. On ascending the stair, what reward did you receive?

Corn, wine and oil

2. What did these symbolise? Plenty, joy and peace.

3. What did your passing into the middle chamber represent?

It represented the human mind passing through the veil of mater into a perception of the divine spirit within.

4. How was the divine spirit symbolised?

By the equilateral triangle with the sacred jod in the centre. 5. Why thus symbolised?

Because the symbol represents man’s highest ideas of the GAOTU without begin ning and without ending, the eternal and infinite. It has three equal sides for his wisdom, strength and goodness are alike equal, and it has the jod or ray of light in the centre to indicate that he is the centre of all light.