Emulation Ritual: a Staging
By: Osbenis Hernández Medina
The essence of Freemasonry lies in its rituals, and it is through their practice and study that we come to understand their secrets and apply them to our own personal development.
It is also the component that distinguishes us from other societies and social clubs, although possibly in organizations of another nature there are customs, habits, and repetitive procedures that become the rituals of daily life.
If there is something special about the Emulation Ritual, it is its ability to express the most sublime messages through simplicity.
For this reason, it is characterized as “intimate” and without much external interpretation, which invites the Brethren to direct their studies and reflect upon it within their own landmarks.
Exoterically, it also carries a sense of practicality, for we can observe its modest lodge rooms and the simplicity of the ornaments and furniture that compose them.
This may be due to the practices of traveling lodges, but beyond being merely a custom—like much of its configuration—it conveys an extraordinary message: for the beauty of simplicity to shine, we must make great efforts as actors of the ritual.
It is not the same to deliver such an explicit dialogue systematically or to make a gesture mechanically as it is to do so with elegance and control. In this way, simplicity would reflect the magnificence desired.
It is no mere whim that the English Masonic system is so focused on memorizing the ritual and on establishing permanent Lodges of Instruction.
It has been proven that memorization provides the database upon which more complex knowledge is built. If we do not memorize basic concepts, we cannot build upon them.
The great challenge for the Mason practicing this system is to understand that the ritual is not entirely a ceremonial act that confirms some sort of role or status for its participants, like a graduation, parade, etc. The ritual is transformative.
An effective ritual must reveal a transition and clearly demonstrate how the “after” differs from the “before.” It must pull at the heart and must also have a resonance shared by all participants.
Many English ritualists and preceptors agree that one of Freemasonry’s great difficulties is the deficiency in ritual development, which goes beyond making mistakes in words or gestures, and lies rather in the lack of inspiration that results in vague teaching for candidates.
This is due on one hand to disinterest, and on the other, to lacking interpretative skills. As I have said in this article: “The ritual is a staging.”
Lodges should focus on flexible dynamics that allow their members to feel drawn to the optimal development of ceremonies, breaking the monotony and outdated teaching methods that are at once rigid and barren.
The “Emulative Lodges”—as I expressed earlier—have a special characteristic in the formation of LOIs (Lodges of Instruction), which function collaterally under peculiar dynamics and standards, with the aim of teaching each of the offices on the floor.
They also foster healthy competition among their members by rewarding achievements in the study of the ritual.
For example: learning the working tools of the degrees; the openings and closings of the works; a discourse, among others.
The greatest example of this is the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, where every year festivals are held and ritualists are awarded the famous Silver Matchbox.
Let us encourage the brethren to value and feel a sense of belonging to the ritual through an educational system inspired by our traditions.
Freemasonry contains an endless number of experiences and perfectly configured branches, where each of its members finds his own inspiration for his path.
Not all are naturally good ritualists, in the commonly accepted sense of the word. For some it is easy, but for most of us it can be a kind of struggle.
It is not about being an automaton merely motivated to pronounce all the words correctly. It is not entirely about saying the words; it is about meaning what is said. It is important not only to memorize, but also to understand the messages they transmit.
We would all do well to spend more time trying to appreciate and give meaning to the rays of wisdom contained in the ritual. Then we will become better ritualists not only by delivering it well in the Lodge, but by living its values outside of it.
We should not expect to learn everything instantly, as it can become frustrating. Many renowned ritualists, who today are important preceptors of Emulation, have taken years to achieve it; through the habit of reading and participating in many ceremonies.
The idea is to advance at the proper pace, employing different techniques that allow us to: recognize the words; know the cues between speeches and gestures; understand what each phrase means and play with it until mastering the longest paragraphs.
In this personal dynamic, and at the same time supported by the Lodge of Instruction, we will come to develop a ritual that is inspiring, moving, and sufficiently expressive for the candidate and the brethren spectators.
As we strive to deliver a good staging, we will come to understand the true meaning of our Masonic art.
The ritual is not just about learning information, and this is one of the true Masonic secrets: the ritual is experiential.
It is something that cannot be described or expressed, just as one cannot learn to swim or to ride a bicycle by reading a book—you have to experience it. It is a journey of the heart that changes the very core of the person.
The magic of ritual lies in the sensations and emotions it evokes within each individual.
Article by: Osbenis Hernández Medina
Osbenis is from Venezuela, and began his Masonic life in October 2016 in George Washington Lodge No. 100 in Caracas, affiliated to the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Venezuela, recognized by the UGLE, of which he was its Worshipful Master in the period 2019-2020.
He is currently an Active Member and Past Master of Buena Vista Lodge Nº 116, in the city of Maracaibo, affiliated to the same Grand Lodge.
He is also a member of the York Rite and Scottish Rite.
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