masonic matters
Three Lights - Greater and Lesser
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
“Virtue could see to do what virtue would by her own radiant light, though sun
and moon were in the flat sea sunk. And wisdom’s self oft seeks to sweet retired
solitude, where with her best nurse Contemplation she plumes her feathers, and
lets grow her wings that in the various bustle of resort were all to-ruffled,
and sometimes impair’d. He that has light within his own clear breast may sit I’
th’ centre and enjoy the bright day; but he that hides a dark soul and foul
thoughts benighted walks under the midday sun.” John Milton [1608-1674]
The Three Great Lights and the Three Lesser Lights of Freemasonry
The new Mason has sworn fealty to his own higher-self at the Altar of his own
idealistic longing for a better life. Then he begins to see the Light by which
Masons work and the meaning of the Three Great Lights by the light of the Three
Lesser Lights, which are explained to him. At this time he, the then candidate,
has little appreciation or understanding of all the symbolism and lessons that
are represented by the three Greater and Lesser Lights.[i]
We study the symbolism of Freemasonry for only one purpose; to find out exactly
what it means. In studying we are not trying to read into Masonry anything which
was not originally intended to be placed there. We do not attempt to change the
meaning of Masonry.[ii]
To understand the allegory and lesson behind the Three Lesser Lights we need to
understand the lesson of the allegory of the Three Great Lights; they need to be
considered together. The lesson of the Greater and Lesser lights is that our
higher-self should be in control and ought to govern us, (our entire being.) The
Greater Lights, (our higher-self,) is to be seen by the Lesser Lights, (our
lower-self.[iii])
By ‘seen’ it is meant that our lower-self, (represented by the three lesser
lights,) is to recognize and obey the lessons of the Greater Lights, and
especially the Great Light of Masonry - that library of wisdom, which points out
the whole duty of man.
This is not always easy to do, and there is a Biblical passage that points out
the difficulty we as humans have in doing what is right. This passage also might
illustrate the difference between our higher-self and our lower-self. In Romans
7:15 Saint Paul wrote: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I
do not do, but what I hate I do.” (NIV.) The New Living Translation, (NLT,) says
the same thing, but phrases it differently: “I don’t understand myself at all,
for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very
thing I hate.”
[iv]
What Paul wrote about himself could also be written by many of us regarding
ourselves. We sometimes are governed by our lower-selves when we would rather be
governed by our higher-selves; sometimes we allow our ego[v],
our personality, to come to the forefront instead of our spirit.[vi]
Brother Benjamin Franklin gives a good reference to human beings not being the
bodies we see, but rather that human beings are spirits. He wrote in his essay
on death; “We are spirits. That bodies should be lent to us to us, while they
can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge, or in doing good to
our fellow creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God.”[vii]
(Our bodies are not us. We have an immortal soul that survives after the body is
put into the grave, that is what is symbolized by the Acacia plant; the
immortality of the soul.)
What Saint Paul Wrote in Romans 7:15 has this explanation according to the 1917
edition of the Scofield Reference notes: “The ‘I’ which is Saul of Tarsus, and
the ‘I’ which is Paul the apostle are at strife, and "Paul" is in defeat.”
Many a man is unable to ‘see’ the Great Lights except in a very dim and partial
fashion, because the lesser lights within the individual are either asleep or
hostile, and their light is turned away from the Great Lights[viii]
and are thus not recognized. So the candidate is told he sees the Three Great
Lights of Masonry by the light of the Three Lesser, but this is true only
because his own lesser lights are awakened to view the higher-self he can
become. The higher-self is represented by the Divine Law, and it is important
then that our lesser lights are not only able to ‘see’ the Divine Law but also
to get a correct impression from it.
It is important that our own lesser lights, our lower-selves, be divested of all
vices and superfluities, so that our lesser lights, (our lower-selves,) are not
hampered in any way from being able to move to the higher-self that we aspire to
be. The symbolism of these Greater and Lesser Lights, (the lesson if-you-will,)
is thought control and self control. Masonry is a progressive science and every
step we take in learning and understanding the lessons behind the allegories of
Freemasonry brings out information that help us see more and more clearly what
Freemasonry has to teach us.
“Life itself is but the shadow of death, and souls departed but the shadows of
the living. All things fall under this name. The sun itself is but the dark
simulacrum, and light but the shadow of God.”
Sir Thomas Brown [1605-1682]
I have long maintained that the Three Great Lights of Masonry should only be
lighted by the Three Lesser Lights. This to me is evident because of the wording
in the ritual of the first degree. However, here in Minnesota at least, each
Lodge that either has or has had an Eastern Star Chapter meeting in the Lodge
Room will have a light directly above the Altar. I belong to two Lodges, and my
plural Lodge has a spot light directly above the Altar, and my home Lodge has a
large light directly above the Altar, in each Lodge room the light above the
Altar is there because it is part of the Eastern Star ceremonies and the lights
are on a separate light switch so that it can be turned on when the Bible is
opened and turned off when the Bible is closed; that is for the Eastern Star
Ceremonies. But in most every Lodge I’ve been at the spot light is many times on
while the other lights are off in a certain part of our degree work, so the
effect is that the candidate sees the Three Great Lights by the light of the
three Lesser Lights and the spot light above the Altar.
Not to beat this subject to death, but there is no part in the degree work that
says anything about a spotlight shining on the Three Great Lights. The only
mention of the Spot Light is in the ceremony for the Lodge of Sorrow here in
Minnesota, and that was added in the 1990’s because most Lodges have such a
thing, so the Masons reviewing the Lodge of Sorrow ceremony put something in to
use it.
I admit I am a purist when it comes to the ritual of Freemasonry. I like to see
it done well, and that the symbolism is kept pure, and communicated to the
Brethren watching the degree as well as taking part in it. For the correct
effect to go along with our ritual the spotlight is not necessary.
“The Light of Lights looks always on the motive, not the deed: The Shadow of
Shadows on the deed alone.” William Butler Yeats [1865-1939]
From the Great light of Masonry = “The people that walked in darkness have seen
a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them
hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:2 AV
[i] The Lost Key of Freemasonry by Brother Prentiss Tucker #136 & 137
[ii] The Lost Key #138
[iii] The Lost Key # 148
[iv] You may also want to see Galatians 5:17
[v] Our lower-self
[vi] Our higher-self
[vii] This is from a letter he wrote to his brother’s step-daughter at the
death of his brother. If you would like a copy of this letter just let me know
and I’ll send you a copy by e-mail.
[viii] The Lost Key #153
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