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Montana Freemason April 2017 Volume 93 Number 1 Montana Freemason April 2017 Volume 93 Number 1
Balance

John Wm. McNaughton, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander
Scottish Rite Northern Jurisdiction

The Yin and Yang are concepts developed centuries and a distressed worthy Brother; eight hours for our
ago by Chinese Philosophers to describe how opposite usual vocations; and eight hours for refreshment and
or contrary forces are actually complementary, sleep.
interconnected, and interdependent in the natural
world. What conclusions might be drawn from the chart
in figure 2?
They are essential to harmony and balance in every
day life, and are represented by the simple symbol Ritual (Memorization,
below. rehearsal, performance,
Inspection)

Caring for Each other

Social Time

Figure 2.
Might the same basic principles also apply to the
harmony and balance of life in the Masonic fraternity 1. There are no great Chinese philosophers in
in the 21st century? A quick analysis of the current leadership positions in the Masonic fraternity today.
division of our time within the craft today could be
represented by a pie chart found in figure 1: 2. The continued over-emphasis of repetitive ritual
is not a balanced plan for the future of Freemasonry.

Ritual (Memorization, Could we correct this imbalance if we implemented
rehearsal, performance, a new operational model represented by the chart in
Inspection) figure 2, whereby our time within the fraternity would
be divided into three equal parts?
Caring for Each other Over the past 60 years, Freemasonry has lost

Social Time a significant number of members who joined the
fraternity only to discover that the organization was
little more than a ritual society.
Figure 1.
Is Freemasonry growing and flourishing today
under the model in figure 1? The short, sad answer is
No. Throughout the United States, membership and
influence continue to decline.

When we first became Masons, we learned about
the working tools of the Entered Apprentice, which
also emphasized a need for balance.

The twenty-four inch gauge is an instrument used
by operative masons to measure and lay out their
work; but we as Free and Accepted Masons are taught
to make use of it for the more noble and glorious Reprinted from The Northern Light magazine, Vol 48,
purpose of dividing our time. It being divided into 24 Number 1, February 2017. Scottish Rite Northern
equal parts is emblematical of the 24 hours of the day, Jurisdiction.
which we are taught to divide into three equal parts;
whereby we find eight hours for the service of God

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