The Holy Books

presented by WBro. Henry Matejka

This is a paper compiled and presented by WBro Matejka (December 1, 2004) using information from The Alberta Freemason, December 2002 and from RWBro Jim Roberts. In this sense, it is not an original work, but is educational nonetheless.

Upon the altar of every Masonic Lodge, supporting the Square and Compasses, lays the Holy Bible. The old familiar book so beloved by generations is our Volume of Sacred Law and a Great Light in Masonry. The Bible opens when the Lodge opens; it closes when the Lodge closes. No Lodge can transact its business, much less initiate candidates into its mysteries, unless the book of the Holy Law lay open upon its altar. Thus the Book of Will rules the Lodge in its labors, as the Sun rules the day, making its work a worship.

The attitude of the Lodge is indicated by the following points in the ritual. When a man first enters the Lodge he is instructed that the Volume of the Sacred Law is one of the Great Lights of Freemasonry, in that it “teaches our duty to God”. At the installation of a Master of a Lodge, he is told that “the Volume of the Sacred Law is that Great Light which will guide you to all truth, direct your steps in the path of happiness, and point out to you the whole duty of man”.

One of the main functions of the open Volume is to enable a Freemason to take an obligation, or make a promise, on the open Volume, in the same way that a witness in a civil court is sworn in before giving his evidence. This action is not to condone any particular theology, but rather to indicate the sincerity of that person.

The Volume is used in particular for its moral and ethical teaching, rather than for any particular theology. Theological interpretations and meanings are recognized as the domain of a particular Church and not the Lodge. There is no Masonic theology but there is a strong Masonic moral teaching.

As in civil courts, a candidate making an obligation is required to use the religious reading of his own faith, in order to give full import to his promise. Just as a law court has several different books available, so the Lodge has copies of other religious writings, which might be laid out alongside the Bible, or on an adjacent table (Note: Britannia has three books: the Holy Bible, the Hebrew Old Testament, and the Koran).

For the purposes of the obligations then, the NSW Grand Lodge recognizes the following writings: the King James Bible, The Hebrew Old Testament, and the Koran. For Sikhs, the Sri Furu Granth Sahib, for the Hindus, the Holy Bhagavad Gita, for Parsees, the Khordeh Avesta, and for the Buddhist, the Dhammaprada.

In the same manner any librarian would not demonstrate disrespect for the Chrsitian Bible if he placed a copy of the Koran on the shelf alongside it, the physical proximity of the Bible to any other book is absolutely irrelevant to the question of how it is to be esteemed or received.

The Bible and its moral teaching is often referred to and quoted during the Ritual of the Lodge. This does not involve any theological interpretation, which belongs to an individual’s Church.

The title “Volume of Sacred Law” is used to accomodate and respect the religious beliefs of all its members and to bind them to their own beliefs. Thus, when the Volume of Sacred Law is referred to, to a non-Christian it will be the Holy Book of his religion, and to a Christian it will be the Bible. This is not to say that all religious writings are equal, only that they are significant to the individual man. It is simply to recognize the reality that there are different books which different religions regard as sacred, and that adherents of those religions would not regard their obligation as binding, were it taken on a Volume which they did not accept. Whatever our theology, facts do not evaporate because we may dislike them. Thus Masonry invites to its altar men of all faiths.

Keeping this in mind, I would like to discuss briefly why the Bible is open to various passages for various degrees. The reasons for the choices that our Ancient Brethren made for the opening of the Bible on the Altar in each degree is lost in antiquity. No doubt there would be many reasons given by some Masonic scholars, but I think that each of the readings speak about the quality in a Mason’s life.

I will address the obvious references to Masonic teachings. In the York Rite, the Bible is open in the third (MM) degree, then lowered to the EA or FC degrees if there is work to do in those degrees, or in those times when business is to be doen for those who are not Master Masons and they are attending the Lodge and, in every case, the Lodge is closed in the third degree and anyone below that degree is excused.

In the Canadian Rite, each of the degrees are opened in the EA, FC, and MM degrees in that order. They can do their business in any one of the degrees and are not forced to go to the third degree to conduct their business. They may open and close in the first degree if so desired, although some experts will dispute this.

The EA Degree
Bible is opened at Psalm 133. Its main emphasis is upon the ideal of the family. The first verse reads: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity”. The Psalm was originally written to hold up the ideal of a good family, that of unity, and this is what God desired of them. The family of Masons falls into that category. In ancient times it was the practice of some to anoint the guest with fragrant oil, and the comparison is made with the ideal that our unity should always be inviting and our attitude that of sharing.

In the York Rite, degree work is also recited or sung during the perambulation following the prayers. In the Canadian Rite the Bible passage (which is read at times) is taken from the book Ruth 4:7 with references to the confirming of the transaction where one took off his sandals and gave it to the other and refers to the integrity of the giver. This passage in the York Rite is also used in the first lecture of the second section.

The FC Degree
In the York Rite the Bible is opened at the prophet Amos, Chapter 7, and the words are clearly reminders of the supremacy of God in our moral action: “This is what he showed me; the Lord was standing beside a wall with a plum line in His hand, and the Lord saide to me ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said ‘A plumb line’. Then the Lord said to me ‘I am setting the plumb line in the midst of my people’”. The references of course (in our language) are “are you measuring up to your responsibility in your daily lives, and your use of God’s gifts to you”. This is the only time words are used in the ritual.

In the Canadian Rite the Bible is opened at Chapter 12, verse 6. This describes the time when the Ephraimites were asked to pronounce the word “Shibboleth” and of the aftermath of their inability to pronounce the word aright. In the York Rite, this same passage is used in the Steps Lecture.

The MM Degree
The Bible is opened in both Rites at Ecclesiastes 12, a beautiful passage about the aging of humankind. But the opening verse reminds us that we are always capable of learning at any time in our lives. “Remember NOW your creator in the days of your youth before the days of trouble come”. The main thrust of this passage is not to be found in the literal examination but in the beauty of the language. Its main point is simply “strive to be the best that you can be as a Mason”. In both Rites, the full text is said by the Chaplain. In the York Rite it is said during perambulation.

This is a brief overview of our Sacred Volumes. It does not include why or where the other volumes are opened for each of the degrees, for example the Koran or the Old Testament, etcetera. This topic is open for another presentation.