more light #342
Volume of Sacred Law In The Grand Lodge of Minnesota
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
“Always desire to learn something useful.” Sophocles: was an ancient Greek
playwright
Volume of Sacred Law in the Grand Lodge of Minnesota
In the spirit of mentoring and bringing information about things Minnesota
Masons need to know I offer the following:
In Minnesota the only Volume of Sacred Law that is open upon the altar is the
Holy Bible, with the Square and Compass disposed, (or arranged upon its open
pages,)upon its open pages; Psalm 133 for the 1st degree, Amos 7:7-8 for the 2nd
degree, Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 for the 3rd degree.
However, it is also proper and appropriate to have other Volumes of Sacred Law
placed on the Altar for other brethren who are not of the Christian religion. As
an aside, this is my opinion only, it would be appropriate for a Catholic Bible
or Book of Mormon to be placed on the altar along with other sacred books
representing the various religions of Brethren present. In most cases if the
Lodge could not afford to purchase each of these sacred books the Brethren of
those religions and faiths should be asked to furnish a copy for the Lodge.
When a Brother is at the altar when taking the degrees it is very appropriate
for him to for his hands to be placed upon his Volume of Sacred Law (VoSL) with
the Square and Compass (Compasses) upon it when he repeats his obligation; after
which they can be again placed by the Master for the degree back on the Holy
Bible. Most Altars have space for the Bible on one other Volumes of Sacred Law
to be upon the altar when the Lodge is at Labor.
The reason for this a man and Mason to place his hands on his Volume of Sacred
Law is that an obligation taken on the VoSL of a Man’s own religion is more
meaningful and binding for him than if he took it on the VoSL of another man’s
religion. The wording in the ritual is not to be changed. The Holy Bible is the
official VoSL for the Grand Lodge of Minnesota; as such it is the representative
of all V’soSL. So we don’t change the wording of the ritual.
“Rule No. 1: Use your own good judgment in all situations. There will be no
additional rules.” Bruce, Jim and John Nordstrom, co-presidents of Nordstrom
department store, in the employee handbook
SECTION G9.08 A Brother stricken by his Lodge for non-payment of dues may be
restored to membership by majority vote of the Lodge, without re-petitioning or
investigation if within a year of being stricken he pays everything necessary to
make him clear on the books of his Lodge. If after one year he wishes to be
restored to membership it will be necessary that he petition the Lodge for
restoration, after having paid everything necessary to make him clear on the
books of the Lodge. The petition must then proceed in the same manner as a
petition for degrees or affiliation.
(a)! A Lodge has the right to receive the delinquent dues from a member who has
been
stricken for non-payment of dues before its consolidation with another Lodge and
can also act upon his petition for reinstatement.
At the age of two, [our yet to be Masonic Brother Wolfgang Amadeus,] Mozart
was taken to visit a farm, where he heard a pig squeal. “G-sharp!” he exclaimed.
Someone ran to the piano. G-sharp was right. Bartlett’s Book of Anecdotes
After Lodge Trivia: What is the length of a cubit?
“A measure of length employed by the ancients equal to the length of the arm
from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Among different nations the
length of the cubit differed. Indeed it was customary for the Master of the work
to use the length of his own arm as standard. The cubit of the Romans was about
17 2/5 inches; that of the Hebrews 22 inches, but its length is now generally
stated as 18inches.” Albert Mackey.
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