Focus

THE RESEARCH LODGE

In various articles in this section such as “Symbols in Freemasonry” or “Support for Rituals in Freemasonry” we have implicitly demonstrated that the essence of regular Masonry is initiation. The goal being that each member gradually becomes a better man in spirit and in deeds. Verlaine rightly wrote: You must always be better than the man you want to be [1] ”

The operation of a Lodge is carried out according to the principle of selection by co-option [2]. But a Workshop cannot materially carry out initiation ceremonies at each of its meetings. Masonic work therefore includes the presentation of conferences that we call “boards [3]”; an effort of the mind beneficial to all involved.

One of the sources of inspiration for the Brothers is the Research Lodge through its publications. The most famous and oldest of these is the Coronati Quartet Lodge [4] under the obedience of the United Grand Lodge of England. It was created in 1884 under the registration number 2076 of the Table of Lodges and met for the first time on January 12, 1886. It publishes an annual collection Ars quatuor coronatorum whose articles are of high quality. To do this, it has a circle of correspondents of more or less 5,200 members spread around the world. Which are not necessarily Freemasons.

Logically, the authorities of the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium consecrated a Research Lodge in 1993 under the distinctive name Ars Macionica n ° 30. Unlike the other Lodges, it does not initiate and only receive within it master masons. Belgians or foreigners who have written articles in specialized journals or who have written Masonic books [5]. His works in / français / Nederlands / English / focus on symbolic, philosophical and historical studies related to Freemasonry. Every year, she publishes a book Acta Macionica. These works are, among others, acquired by the libraries of the Lodges. Any Brother can consult them and draw inspiration from them to make a presentation or to deepen the knowledge that is close to his heart.

What do these volumes contain?

Two main themes are developed: on the one hand reports of conferences presented in the Lodge: “The Masonic books of yesterday and today” De allusieve method “and on the other hand various studies:” The movements anti-masonic in Greece “” The freemen a French para-masonic organization “” Maçonnieke spiritualiteit en cultuur “” Op het spoor van Wijsheid – Kracht – Schoonheid [6] “.

In conclusion, the Research Lodges [7] actively participate in the reflective and spiritual progression of the Brothers both individually and at the level of the fraternal community of a Workshop. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau pointed out, “Understanding once trained in reflection can no longer remain at rest [8]”.

Pistis, master mason.

[1] Verlaine, Épigrammes, Prologue II.

[2] This remains the rule today even though the advancement of the internet and the web is encouraging an increasing number of unsolicited applications.

[3] As a reminder, in regular Masonry where political or religious discussions are prohibited in the Lodge, a societal subject is never discussed.

[4] The Four Crowned.

[5] For several years the conferences of this Lodge have been open to Brothers and Sisters of other Belgian obediences.

[6] Examples selected from Acta Macionica 1999.

[7] Let us also mention the Villard de Honnecourt Research Lodge of the French National Grand Lodge created in 1964.

[8] J-J Rousseau, Émile, IV.