|
From the Trestleboard of
Bro. R. K. Sharrieff Al Bey, 33o
Member, Philalethes Society
Member # 407, Masonic Brotherhood of the Blue Forget-Me-Not
The Twelve Original Points of Entrance
Relation
to the twelve tribes of 'Yisra El
Ancient Craft Masonry admitted twelve original points, which constitute the
basis of the entire system, and without which no person ever did or can be
legally received into the Order. Every
candidate is required to pass through all of these essential forms and
ceremonies, otherwise his initiation would not be legal, hence they are called
the Perfect Points of Entrance. The
points are as follows:
1. OPENING
It is absolutely necessary that the Lodge be opened in due and ancient
form; without these ceremonies, the assembly is not a Lodge. The Master and Officers must be reminded of their duties, the Fraternity
must maintain reverence for Deity, and prayer must be offered to invoke the
Blessing of the Great Architect.
2. PREPARATION
In
all the work of Masonry, emphasis in placed upon the importance of adequate
preparation for moral, ethical, and spiritual vocations. Preparation of the heart is the first essential in Masonry, and certain
outward preparations symbolic of, and manifesting, inward preparedness are
required.
3. REPORTING
As it is one of the prerogatives of the Master that he may admit to his
Lodge or deny admittance thereto whomsoever he chooses, it is necessary that all
persons who would enter should wait with patience until he can be informed of
their requests, and his answer returned.
4. ENTERING
This point is symbolic of "crossing over" the Jordan into the
Promised Land, coming from the darkness of Ignorance and entering the Light of
Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding.
5. PRAYER
Petitions to Deity in behalf of one's own needs intercession for others,
communion with the Creator, and prayer in all its elements of praise, worship,
and remembrance are fundamentals in the tenets of Masonry. From the time a candidate crosses the threshold of the Lodge to the
topmost degrees in Masonry, the privilege and duty of prayer are urged upon him,
and every step is taken in a holy atmosphere of divine worship.
6. CIRCUMAMBULATION
The ancient practice of walking in a circular procession around a holy place, such as an altar, or the Holy Ka'aba in Mecca - the Holy City
in Arabia where the Holy Qur'an was revealed. Many Biblical references can be found supporting the antiquity of the
practice, and it was usually done in a direction which was consistent with the
apparent movement of the sun, i.e., from the east to the west by way of the
south.
7. ADVANCING
The approach to the Altar of the Lord should be bold, in that we fear not
to supplicate for our needs, trusting in their fulfillment, and it should be
speedy, without hesitation.
8. OBLIGATION
From time immemorial, men have entered into covenants of brotherhood and
friendship under solemn oaths of fidelity and loyalty, and whenever the
circumstances and purposes justified it, secrecy has been pledged. This practice among Masons has many precedents and is based
upon the truths and principles of the Great Light in Masonry. The oath in such covenants is given in the Name of the Creator; perjury
in such oaths in subject to severe and deadly penalties. All vows voluntarily taken in Masonry must be faithfully performed, and
are never subject to revocation.
9. INTRUSTING
This point symbolizes the gladness and fortune of receiving enrichment,
in this case, the secrets of the Degree conferred.
10. INVESTITURE
To be invested is to receive prosperity, and the presentation of the ***
is the emblem of the greatest ransom one can ever present to his Lord: his innocence in all matters.
11. PLACING
Being placed in the *** as an EA. establishes the newly-made Mason as a
member of his Lodge, as there is nothing more that remains for him to do to
obtain said membership. Here, he
represents the addition of a stone in the Lodge's wall and foundation.
12. CLOSING
All that which is opened finds balance in its closing.
Since the work which Masonry attends must continue until the end of the
world, it is never proper to adjourn. However,
periods of refreshment are permissible, until such time as work is resumed.
During such times of refreshment, the Lodge is closed, and since the hour
is styled "xii", the time wherein the day is at its most glorious, it
is at this time that the Officer in the South superintends the Craft.
Biblical References for the Twelve
Points
Holy Bible;
King James Version; (1988); Heirloom Deluxe Ref. Ed.; DeVore & Sons: Kansas
1. Opening
Psalms 33: 18 Gen. 34: 1
5Isaiah
6: 1-4 1
I Peter 3: 12
2. Preparation
Gen. 29: 33
Gen. 34: 25, 26
Num.
26: 12-14
3.Reporting
Gen. 29: 34
Gen. 34: 25-30
Gen.
46: 11 1
Gen. 49:5-7
4.Entering:
Gen. 29: 35
Gen 35: 23
Gen 37: 26,27
Gen. 43:29
Gen. 49: 8-12
Deut. 33: 7
Num. 26: 19-22
Matt. 1: 3-16
5. Prayer
Gen. 30: 20
Gen. 49: 13
Judges
1: 30 1
I Chron. 12: 33
6. Circumambulation
1 Gen. 49: 14, 15
Deut. 33: 18,19
7. Advancing
Gen. 30: 6
Gen. 49: 16-18
Deut. 33: 22
Jdgs. 18: 1, 2
8. Obligation
Gen. 49: 19
Deut. 33: 20
Judges
11: 30, 31
9. Intrusting
Gen. 30: 13
Gen. 49: 20
10. Investiture
Gen. 30: 8
Gen. 49: 21
Deut.
33: 23
11. Placing
Gen. 30: 22-34
Gen. 37Gen. 41
Gen 49: 22-26
12. Closing
Gen. 35: 16-20
Gen. 42: 4
Gen. 49: 27
There are many references of Masonic interest and relevance in the Holy
Bible (Torah [Tanasch], and Gospel [Injeel]), and also in the Qur'an, the rule
and guide of Muslim conduct and faith. Kedar,
the second son of'Isma'il (PBUH),
is the progenitor of the tribe from which came the clan of Hashim;
from the Hashimite clan came the tribe of Quraish;
and from this tribe the Prophet Muhammad Mustafa Al-Amin ibn ‘Abdullah (PBUH)
was descended. His Royal Highness,
Hussein, the late King of Jordan, was the most well-known leader of the
Hashimite clan in recent times. He
was a member of the Supreme Council of the Memphis-Misra’im Rite of the 96o,
and an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Lebanon and Arab
Speaking Countries.
Some scholars state that Biblical references to Kedar (Gen. 25: 13,
Psalms 120: 5, Isaiah 42:11, Isaiah 60:7) are references to Muhammad (PBUH) and
to the aboriginal Arab nation. According
to the Holman Edition Masonic Bible, the Original African Heritage Edition of
the King James Version, and others, the name Kedar means "black-skinned or dark, swarthy",
and this is the same meaning as the later term Moor, derived from the Greek Mauros
and the Latin Maurus. Smith's Bible Dictionary also states that the name signifies "black".
Muhammad’s relationship as a “grandson” of Abraham
establishes him as a blood relative of Abraham, 'Isma'il, Isaac, Moses, Jesus,
and many other prophets, both named and unnamed, which is one more proof of the
continuity of God's message to humanity (Stauffacher, C.H. and Roney, C.P.
1923).
1. REUBEN
The first-born son of Jacob and Leah. It appears that Joseph's life was spared due to his intervention.
He represents opening because
he was the first son, opening Jacob's strength. His name means, "behold a son".
2. SIMEON
The second son of Jacob. He
prepared the instruments for the slaughter of the Shechemites in the attack made
upon them by himself and Levi, hence, he comes to represent preparation.
His name means, "a hearkening".
3. LEVI
The third son of Jacob. Levi
and Simeon were joined in their fortunes, and dispersal was decreed for Levites.
The two brothers attacked the Shechemites, and during the
attack, Levi gave a certain signal to Simeon. Therefore, the S.D.'s report is
symbolized by Levi. His name means,
"associate, he joined".
4. JUDAH
The fourth son of Jacob. Judah
distinguished himself on a number of occasions, and was given Messianic
distinction in the tribal blessings by his father and by Moses. The tribe of Judah was the first to "cross over" the Jordan and
enter the Promised Land, and this is how Judah comes to represent the
candidate's entering into light. His
name means, "praise".
5. ZEBULUN
Tenth son of Jacob. His
tribe marched nest to Judah and Issachar in the Exodus. His name means "habitation", and he represents prayer.
6. ISSACHAR
The ninth son of Jacob, his name means, "there is
hire". As there is necessity
for guidance and aid in moving over the tiles of one's life, and around the
altar of remembrance of one's duty to God, so does Issachar represent circumambulation.
7. DAN
The fifth son of Jacob. He
was designated as bold, courageous, daring, and cunning. Advancing to the Altar is
something one does boldly (speedily), but humbly and trustingly. Dan's name means, "judge".
8. GAD
Jacob's seventh son. It was
foretold that he should bring victory out of defeat, and judge justly amongst
the people. Jephthah, a member of the tribe of Gad, made a vow which is
recognizable in the ritual of obligation,
and was likewise both solemn and irrevocable. Gad's name means, "good fortune".
9. ASHER
The
eighth son of Jacob. He was
promised richness and royal dainties, symbolizing entrusting
the candidate with the mysteries of the Order. His name means, "fortunate, happy".
10. NAPHTALI
The fifth son of Jacob, whose name means, "my wrestling".
He was characterized by wise counsel and prosperity. Therefore, this prosperity is represented by the investiture of the ***, which is the emblem of the greatest
prosperity and ransom before God: one's
innocence.
11. JOSEPH
The eleventh son of Jacob. His name means, "he
shall add". Like the
newly-made Mason placed in the ***,
Joseph represents and addition to the Brotherhood, through whom all the
brotherhood will realize an enrichment.
12. BENJAMIN
Inasmuch as he was the last of the sons of Jacob, he closed his
father's strength; hence, his name is symbolic for closing the Lodge.
From the Trestleboard of
Bro. R. K. Sharrieff Al Bey, 33o
Member, Philalethes Society
Member # 407, Masonic Brotherhood of the Blue Forget-Me-Not
| 
