The Magpie Mason reports that the MW Grand Lodge of New York just voted to allow Masonic Labor to be performed on Sunday. He makes the compelling case that for reasons of religious diversity Sunday might not be the most appropriate day of rest for some Lodges.
What do you think? Has the prohibition against Sunday Masonic Labor outlived the reasons for it?
Sunday, a day of rest and reflection is not always in this modern world a Christian or day off event. We as free thinkers, must look to all ways of life. I work alot of weekends, holidays and such. Our society is not a 9-5, Monday through Friday,as it was once. Being practical, open and ready to embrace all religions and ways of moral life, we should go forward and not close our eyes to the possibilities of making Sunday a time for those we need to accommodate and welcome them with open arms, instead of pushing them away.
Having Sundays open would help increase the flexibility of scheduling Lodge activities. Occasionally the busyness stars align and putting on a degree Sunday afternoon would've been ideal.
Have we had brothers clamoring for labor on Sunday? Certainly not me. Not for any religious pretext, but because sunday is a day I reserve to relax before work the next day. For retirees, every day is Sunday, for us 9-5 M/F types saturdays are for errands and chores and Sunday to do nothing but chill.
All of this grounded in religion? Sure, but that is what society has constructed.
I appreciate that there is one day a week where my obligations to the fraternity stop and I can devote my time for other things. If we decided as a fraternity to allow labor on Sundays I’d wager we still wouldn’t do it. It’s very rare I’ve seen labor on saturdays. Weekends are supposed to be family time.
If Sunday labor is prohibited due to religious observance then we should also prohibit labor on Saturday for the benefit of our Jewish Brothers. But in either case that crosses a line between Masonry and religion. If a Brother's religion keeps him from Masonic labor on a Sunday, or any other day, then he should be excused from Masonic labor. For Brothers who don't ascribe to a particular religion then Sunday might be a fine day for Masonic labor.
Another post on this thread speaks to the value of having one day a week where obligations to Masonry are put on hold. I don't disagree, but perhaps that's an individual decision based on all of the other forces pulling on one's cable tow. Personally, Saturday is often my personal "recovery day", but if there's a degree being conferred on Saturday I might shift recovery day to Friday that week.
I would support this change. My wife is Jewish, and MANY Masonic events are planned on Friday night or Saturday, and as you know that is the time of her sabbath, meaning we don't often attend Friday night activities. For me personally, I don't have an opinion, except to say that modern lives follow a different rhythm and flexibility is a good thing. I do think its unfair that our Muslim and Jewish brethren, and families, are often asked to labor Masonically on their Sabbath when Christian brethren aren't.
This day of rest was first placed, as I have learned, to have originally been observed on Saturday (starting Friday at sundown), reflecting that this day named after Saturn, the seventh planet from classical antiquity from the less known, Hebrew zodiac, called Mazzaroth. It could also be argued, ‘Masonically,’ the first day, is the year (day) of light; Anno Lucis, alluding the sun as the symbol and first day Sun-day. Which, from that view point, indicates Saturday being the last day of the week. This was later changed by both Constantine and the Gnostics, which some view as separating themselves from the God of the Pharisees (ref: John 8:44). Sabbath was made for man; man wasn't made for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath, -Mark 2:23-28; ‘Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.’
[meaning of Sabaoth (Tzavaot)- Lord of Hosts; Adonai or Jehovah Sabaoth]
From the Nag Hammadi library, in the 'Nature of the Archons' and 'On the Origin of the World', contain a figure named Sabaoth, one of the sons of Yaldabaoth. He (Yaldabaoth) says, “I am the Lord, and there is no other god above me,” and “you shall serve me for I am a jealous God”. When Sabaoth realizes that there is a higher realm, he undergoes a kind of conversion, condemns Yaldabaoth, which starts a war, including liberating the souls of man from the lower world. Sophia (wisdom) takes Sabaoth from the seventh heaven to rest above the abyss and realm of chaos.
On the Cabalistic Tree of Life, this realm is represented by the upper spheres called (Binah) Understanding, (Chockmah) Wisdom, and (Keter) Crown. Sabaoth provides a power or soul for Jesus’ earthly incarnation, making him effectively Jesus’ earthly father. Jesus can be interpreted by the sphere called (da’at) Knowledge, and the Christian Gnostic movement and ancient mysteries. This role can be discussed through extensive interpretations of Psalm 62-63.
Happy anytime I hear the Craft upholds the nonsectarian principle and universality of Freemasonry. This also reminds me that Freemasonry as an institution can only be as good as its members endeavor to strictly adhere to its principles and tenets.
Sunday, a day of rest and reflection is not always in this modern world a Christian or day off event. We as free thinkers, must look to all ways of life. I work alot of weekends, holidays and such. Our society is not a 9-5, Monday through Friday,as it was once. Being practical, open and ready to embrace all religions and ways of moral life, we should go forward and not close our eyes to the possibilities of making Sunday a time for those we need to accommodate and welcome them with open arms, instead of pushing them away.
Having Sundays open would help increase the flexibility of scheduling Lodge activities. Occasionally the busyness stars align and putting on a degree Sunday afternoon would've been ideal.
Have we had brothers clamoring for labor on Sunday? Certainly not me. Not for any religious pretext, but because sunday is a day I reserve to relax before work the next day. For retirees, every day is Sunday, for us 9-5 M/F types saturdays are for errands and chores and Sunday to do nothing but chill.
All of this grounded in religion? Sure, but that is what society has constructed.
I appreciate that there is one day a week where my obligations to the fraternity stop and I can devote my time for other things. If we decided as a fraternity to allow labor on Sundays I’d wager we still wouldn’t do it. It’s very rare I’ve seen labor on saturdays. Weekends are supposed to be family time.
If Sunday labor is prohibited due to religious observance then we should also prohibit labor on Saturday for the benefit of our Jewish Brothers. But in either case that crosses a line between Masonry and religion. If a Brother's religion keeps him from Masonic labor on a Sunday, or any other day, then he should be excused from Masonic labor. For Brothers who don't ascribe to a particular religion then Sunday might be a fine day for Masonic labor.
Another post on this thread speaks to the value of having one day a week where obligations to Masonry are put on hold. I don't disagree, but perhaps that's an individual decision based on all of the other forces pulling on one's cable tow. Personally, Saturday is often my personal "recovery day", but if there's a degree being conferred on Saturday I might shift recovery day to Friday that week.
I would support this change. My wife is Jewish, and MANY Masonic events are planned on Friday night or Saturday, and as you know that is the time of her sabbath, meaning we don't often attend Friday night activities. For me personally, I don't have an opinion, except to say that modern lives follow a different rhythm and flexibility is a good thing. I do think its unfair that our Muslim and Jewish brethren, and families, are often asked to labor Masonically on their Sabbath when Christian brethren aren't.
This day of rest was first placed, as I have learned, to have originally been observed on Saturday (starting Friday at sundown), reflecting that this day named after Saturn, the seventh planet from classical antiquity from the less known, Hebrew zodiac, called Mazzaroth. It could also be argued, ‘Masonically,’ the first day, is the year (day) of light; Anno Lucis, alluding the sun as the symbol and first day Sun-day. Which, from that view point, indicates Saturday being the last day of the week. This was later changed by both Constantine and the Gnostics, which some view as separating themselves from the God of the Pharisees (ref: John 8:44). Sabbath was made for man; man wasn't made for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath, -Mark 2:23-28; ‘Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.’
[meaning of Sabaoth (Tzavaot)- Lord of Hosts; Adonai or Jehovah Sabaoth]
From the Nag Hammadi library, in the 'Nature of the Archons' and 'On the Origin of the World', contain a figure named Sabaoth, one of the sons of Yaldabaoth. He (Yaldabaoth) says, “I am the Lord, and there is no other god above me,” and “you shall serve me for I am a jealous God”. When Sabaoth realizes that there is a higher realm, he undergoes a kind of conversion, condemns Yaldabaoth, which starts a war, including liberating the souls of man from the lower world. Sophia (wisdom) takes Sabaoth from the seventh heaven to rest above the abyss and realm of chaos.
On the Cabalistic Tree of Life, this realm is represented by the upper spheres called (Binah) Understanding, (Chockmah) Wisdom, and (Keter) Crown. Sabaoth provides a power or soul for Jesus’ earthly incarnation, making him effectively Jesus’ earthly father. Jesus can be interpreted by the sphere called (da’at) Knowledge, and the Christian Gnostic movement and ancient mysteries. This role can be discussed through extensive interpretations of Psalm 62-63.
Happy anytime I hear the Craft upholds the nonsectarian principle and universality of Freemasonry. This also reminds me that Freemasonry as an institution can only be as good as its members endeavor to strictly adhere to its principles and tenets.