AS BELOW SO ABOVE

Hindsight is such a wonderful asset. For without it, how could we have studied nascent societies and cultures?  Without them where would we have realized our beginnings? But it took much more than remnants left behind to connect us with their genius. The contemplative mind has never slept. In whatever romanticized setting is needed to conjure, masonry owes a great deal of its firm grounding to ancient philosophers. Too often the fuller impact of masonry is obscured. We try to make a better world.  However productive, diligent workers are one aspect of a greater process. In that sense, the values of Masonry are universal. And even that captures a stream of thought for which we are indebted to a great thinker and author  Kong Qui a Chinese teacher and philosopher who left his mark during a life well lived, born 28 September, 551 BC. We know him by another more common name- Confucius.  Confucius taught us that belonging and our role in the family was immensely important.   He enjoyed the finer things of life as much as the next man, but he did not think good men should devote their time and energy to the pursuit of personal gain and he didn't believe in immoderate action anywhere, anytime by anyone.  It was for Confucius, a way to answer corruption through transforming society by instilling the values of family in rulers. A ruler had a right heaven granted to rule.  However, if a ruler is corrupt, the people have the right to rebel.  Respect, honour, and duty but if that fails, you have the right to overthrow.  He shared an egalitarian view with Socrates- his students were not chosen from the privileged social elite. Anyone, even the poorest could be a moral person, a superior man. This was a commitment to meritocracy.   And similarly, Masonic students hold an ideal to become the perfect moral person.  We struggle to be human.