Steven J Smith MA
Researcher, Author, and Speaker on Freemasonry
The following papers are in my current list for presentation to Lodges and Chapters [‘PP‘ = with PowerPoint presentation]:
PAPERS FOR LODGES:
1) The Ritual of English Freemasonry: Where does it originate from, why is it performed, and why is it important it is performed properly? (35mins)
This paper looks briefly at where the ritual originated from, the reasons why it is performed, and the reasons why it is important that it is performed properly. It is useful for creating an understanding for newer members of why it is necessary to learn the ritual rather than just read it. I encourage open discussion following delivery of the paper which can last as long as time will allow.
2) ‘G’ is for? (30-40 mins)
This paper explores another possible explanation of what the letter ‘G’ used in the Craft stands for. It looks particularly at De consolatione philosophiae (the Consolation of Philosophy) written by Boethius (c. 480-524/525 CE). This is an influential work on philosophy and the seven liberal arts and sciences that was translated into English by Alfred the Great, Chaucer, and Queen Elizabeth 1 and was republished in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in London and is contemporary therefore with the commencement of organised Freemasonry.
3) The early Eighteenth-century Masonic connections of Mathematical Instrument-maker Jonathan Sisson (1692˗1747) and his legacy to Modern Freemasonry (PP) (45 mins)
This is an extended version of my paper presented to the Sept 2016 Quatuor Coronati Tercentenary conference at Cambridge on the history of Freemasonry and which is published in Reflections on 300 Years of Freemasonry (2017), the transactions of the Conference. Jonathan Sisson was an important player in the scientific revolution of the early to mid-eighteenth century and an active Freemason. He made the earliest extant Past Master’s jewel, called the ‘Sisson jewel’ which can be seen in the Museum of UGLE at Freemasons Hall. The paper contains some interesting history surrounding the formation of the Premier Grand Lodge in 1717 and is fully illustrated with a PP presentation.
4) The History, Symbolism, and Significance of the Past Master’s Jewel of English Freemasonry (PP) (45 mins)
This paper is a precursor to the paper at 3) above and explores the Past Master’s jewel particularly what the 47th proposition of Euclid which forms part of it represents. It is fully illustrated with a PP presentation.
5) Freemasonry and the First or Entered Apprentice’s Degree (45-50 mins), (PP)
This paper explores a wider perspective of some of the symbols of the First degree particularly the symbols of the Tracing Board.
6) The Seven Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Second Degree in Freemasonry (PP) (40-45 mins)
This paper seeks to give a brief explanation of parts of the significance and symbolism of the Second Degree in Freemasonry with particular emphasis on the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Second degree is seen by some as simply a stepping-stone to becoming a Master Mason. The paper explores in part why the study of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences are integrally important to Freemasonry and restores real meaning and emphasis to the forgotten and overlooked meaning of the Second degree. It is fully illustrated with a PP presentation.
* best received when all present are Fellow Crafts and above.
7) The ‘Ancients’ and the ‘Moderns’, fact or fiction? (30 mins)
This paper explores the ideology of the terminology used to describe the two Grand Lodges – the ‘Moderns’ (1717) and the ‘Ancients’ (1751) which were eventually merged in 1813 into the United Grand Lodge of England. It looks at the use of the terms from a social and religious perspective in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries which might be seen as reasons why an opposing Grand Lodge was formed in 1751 by Laurence Dermott, its first Grand secretary.
8) Are Pythagoras and Euclid still relevant to modern Freemasonry? (PP) (30 mins)
This paper explores the references to Pythagoras and Euclid in early Freemasonry commencing with the Old Charges and Anderson’s Constitutions (1723 and 1738) and seeks to explain why, although little reference is made to them in the modern ritual, what they represent is an important aspect of Freemasonry. It is fully illustrated with a PP presentation. It is intended to stimulate discussion on what is said in the paper and I encourage open discussion of it which can last as long as time will allow.
9) Why were the Pagan Liberal Arts assimilated into the Christian Liberal Arts tradition? (30 mins)
This paper looks at the historical transmission of what may be termed the pagan (Ancient Greek) liberal arts tradition into the Christian liberal arts tradition and why this was seamlessly effected to become the Medieval liberal arts tradition. The historical content of this paper is relevant to why the study of Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences is recommended in Freemasonry.
10) Explanation of the Arms of the United Grand Lodge of England (20 mins) (PP)
This paper offers a wider perspective of the Arms of the United Grand Lodge of England than is given in the ritual presentation of the Grand Lodge certificate.
11) Pythagoras – Who was he and what has he got to do with Freemasonry? (35-40 mins).
This paper offers a wider perspective of Pythagoras, who only gets a passing mention in the ritual (Explanation of the First Tracing Board), and what his connection to Freemasonry might be.
12) An angle of 90° or the fourth part of a circle. (20 mins)
This paper sets out to explain the term ‘an angle of 90° or the fourth part of a circle’ used in the Masonic ritual and relates this to the working tools and layout of the Masonic Temple
13) The Seven Liberal arts and Sciences in Historical perspective – an Introduction to Numbers (30 mins) (PP)
This paper looks at the historical perspective of the seven liberal arts and sciences and why they are an important educational pursuit in Freemasonry. It introduces why the concept of number is so important to Freemasonry.
14) The Freemason’s Lodge and Temple (20 mins)
This paper looks at the historical aspects of Freemasonry which form the foundation of how the Lodge is constituted and the Masonic temple is laid out.
15) The Seven Liberal Arts and Science – Art or Science? (25 mins)
This paper discusses why Freemasonry is described as both an Art and a Science and looks at historical reasons why this is the case.
16) The Installation of the Master (25 mins)
This paper looks at some historical aspects of the Installation of the Master and relates them to the current Constitutions of Freemasonry.
17) The History of Freemasonry and the terms Operative and Speculative Freemasons (45 minutes)
This paper explores the many terms that have been used to describe Freemasons through out history and concludes that Operative masons were equally Speculative Masons. This paper is useful for understanding the early history of Freemasonry and how it relates to the Modern ritual.
1) The Symbolism of the Holy Royal Arch Chapter in Architecture (PP) (45 mins)
This paper looks at how three of the symbolic representations in a Holy Royal Arch Chapter are reflected in the eighteenth century and later architecture of buildings that can easily be seen if we would simply take time to stop and stare rather than hurrying past. It explores early representations of these that have been found in archaeological sites dating to about 5000 BCE and various more recent historical sites. It is fully illustrated with a PP presentation.
This paper in the past has been presented at combined Chapter meetings and is therefore suitably prestigious for a large or special occasion.
2) An explanation of some of the symbolism of a Holy Royal Arch Chapter (PP) (30 mins)
This paper seeks to explain the concepts of a catenarian arch, the three arch stones, and the Chapter layout as the form of a double cube all of which can be gleaned from elements of the Symbolical lecture. It is fully illustrated with a PP presentation.
3) A commentary on the Historical lecture (25 mins, 35 minutes with Historical lecture)
This paper seeks to explain why some idea of the dates when events occurred is important in understanding the Historical lecture in the Holy Royal Arch. It explores the allegorical meanings which the events represent and how they interconnect with similar historical events found in the Craft ritual. The paper can be preceded by a delivery of the Historical lecture by me if the Chapter wishes or by a member of the Chapter.
4) Pure and Ancient Masonry – the progression from the Craft to Royal Arch Masonry – History, Ideology, and Synthesis (PP) (45 minutes)
But a few Freemasons understand the connection between Craft Freemasonry and Royal Arch Masonry and therefore fail to understand why being Exalted into the latter completes the Masonic journey. Consequently, less than fifty percent of Craft Freemasons complete their Masonic journey by joining the Holy Royal Arch. Those that do not therefore are missing out on the broadening of their Masonic experience and understanding, which through Royal Arch Masonry completes the Masonic journey.
This paper sets out to answer the question – ‘why join the Holy Royal Arch?’ by looking at the historical circumstances of why the Craft and the Holy Royal Arch are separate Orders, by seeking to explain the ideology of the Craft and the Holy Royal Arch, and finally by explaining how the two come together in synthesis to complete the Masonic journey
This paper contains several references to the ceremony of the Third Degree in the Craft and therefore the audience should be restricted to Master Masons and Royal Arch Masons only.
(5) Elements of the Symbolical lecture (45 minutes)
This paper explores the relationship between Royal Arch Masonry and the Craft and discusses how the 5 regular Platonic bodies mentioned in the Symbolical Lecture, relate to the symbolic layout of the Chapter. This paper is illustrated by papers which are handed out to the attendees.
Given sufficient notice I can prepare and present a paper on the Masonic topic of your choice to do with explaining the ritual and symbols of the Craft or the Royal Arch. Following all my presentations I encourage a lively discussion of the topic and I also send copies of the lecture and illustrations by email to the Secretary or Scribe E. of the unit where the lecture was presented.
