A quick Google search of the 47th problem of Euclid brings up literally scores of masonic websites, but the first three pages only reveal one mathematical site. A brief history of the problem including Chinese and Babylonian proofs by a professor of mathematics at Clark University in Massachusetts. The link is from 1996. That suggests that the modern education system, even for math majors, is severely lacking in teaching logic.
I have always wondered why that particular mathematical theorem features so predominately in our lecture. After all, there are countless geometric studies to choose from and as pointed out, why this one? This explanation as presented provides a very clear case for it and because of the nature of our fraternity, makes perfect sense. Veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols indeed.
As mentioned, the Church was not all to keen on losing their stranglehold on everything. I can see how in that day and age, hiding a heretical thought basically in plain sight was not only clever, but necessary.
Thank you MW for providing that paper. Best thing I have read here so far. Not only was it fascinating, but also reinforced my belief that speculative masonry is not just regurgitating words in a lecture.
A well reasoned argument, and i believe a useful example of how the mysteries are transmitted. In multiple layers, building thru multiple diminsions. I hear many people groan when math comes up, but i have to say personally i have found wonder and mystery in the universe it reveals. Any equation addresses an 'unkonwn' that becomes kniowable. There was a time when our species did not understand that there was order in an apparently chaotic universe, and that logic could reveal order. When i was in college i had some great professors, and the great ones always teach by giving you experiences, because as humans we are changed by experiences. The mathematicians and scientists i studied under guided me to see the math work, and in so doing see the universe work, and in that revelation the hand of God. In that vision of an interconnected universe, in which we are all connected, and none of are at the center, even ethics can be derived. Yeah, the argument subitted above may be correct, but even if its not, its a good experience and i will use it.
I for some reason like to read things like this in the middle of the night with little distraction.
As of now being an old timer and what we call "semi-retired" members at CERN we tend to do our work on computers looking at graphs and seeing what our collisions of protons come to tell us and only the theoretical theorists spend the time using algebra and calculus and experimentalists doing just that and waiting to see what has happened and what are the results.
The older I get the more I wonder why it is I wanted to learn and memorize and explain when in the not so distant future I will forget.
But I did save this and do enjoy reading it to myself as a personal lecture.
It is my favorite emeth discussion that I actually didn't read almost one year ago.
It takes the approach from Pythagoras, but goes back in time instead of forward. A great deal, with gematria I found in a book called "The Beginning of Masonry", written by Bro Frank C. Higgins. One of those books that will blow your mind.
Should we publish the 47th problem proof here for the benefit of readers?
Except, perhaps, the 47th problem of Euclid is not the point?
Perhaps not. But what is it wise to preach meaning without understanding the logic on how that meaning was derived?
A quick Google search of the 47th problem of Euclid brings up literally scores of masonic websites, but the first three pages only reveal one mathematical site. A brief history of the problem including Chinese and Babylonian proofs by a professor of mathematics at Clark University in Massachusetts. The link is from 1996. That suggests that the modern education system, even for math majors, is severely lacking in teaching logic.
I have always wondered why that particular mathematical theorem features so predominately in our lecture. After all, there are countless geometric studies to choose from and as pointed out, why this one? This explanation as presented provides a very clear case for it and because of the nature of our fraternity, makes perfect sense. Veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols indeed.
As mentioned, the Church was not all to keen on losing their stranglehold on everything. I can see how in that day and age, hiding a heretical thought basically in plain sight was not only clever, but necessary.
Thank you MW for providing that paper. Best thing I have read here so far. Not only was it fascinating, but also reinforced my belief that speculative masonry is not just regurgitating words in a lecture.
Thank you MW for a very good read to open the week.
Great Article!
A well reasoned argument, and i believe a useful example of how the mysteries are transmitted. In multiple layers, building thru multiple diminsions. I hear many people groan when math comes up, but i have to say personally i have found wonder and mystery in the universe it reveals. Any equation addresses an 'unkonwn' that becomes kniowable. There was a time when our species did not understand that there was order in an apparently chaotic universe, and that logic could reveal order. When i was in college i had some great professors, and the great ones always teach by giving you experiences, because as humans we are changed by experiences. The mathematicians and scientists i studied under guided me to see the math work, and in so doing see the universe work, and in that revelation the hand of God. In that vision of an interconnected universe, in which we are all connected, and none of are at the center, even ethics can be derived. Yeah, the argument subitted above may be correct, but even if its not, its a good experience and i will use it.
I for some reason like to read things like this in the middle of the night with little distraction.
As of now being an old timer and what we call "semi-retired" members at CERN we tend to do our work on computers looking at graphs and seeing what our collisions of protons come to tell us and only the theoretical theorists spend the time using algebra and calculus and experimentalists doing just that and waiting to see what has happened and what are the results.
The older I get the more I wonder why it is I wanted to learn and memorize and explain when in the not so distant future I will forget.
But I did save this and do enjoy reading it to myself as a personal lecture.
It is my favorite emeth discussion that I actually didn't read almost one year ago.
Thanks again MW
Always like to read this and saved it.
My grandfather is a Past Master of Myrtle Lodge 108 (Travis D. Estes 1973)
And still lives in Cle Elum
Great article! I wanted to share my research on this as well, but the response was too long so I uploaded it on my web page at https://truthprevails.life/topics/f/47th-problem
It takes the approach from Pythagoras, but goes back in time instead of forward. A great deal, with gematria I found in a book called "The Beginning of Masonry", written by Bro Frank C. Higgins. One of those books that will blow your mind.