The design of Freemasonry is to make its votaries wiser, better and consequently happier.

Your desire to become wiser, better and happier was a key reason you became a Freemason.  You affirmed your desire to gain knowledge and be useful to others when you first sought membership.  It is also why you continually requested more light.

I will be using the point within a circle to illustrate your search for light.  Also, to show ways Freemasonry’s design can help you achieve a meaningful and purpose-driven life.  A life that will make you a wiser, better and consequently happier person.

This is in addition to using it as a Masonic symbol reminding you to keep your passions in due bounds.

The Masonic point within a circle bounded by two lines and the book of Holy Scriptures.

Masonic meaning explained in a crucial and beautiful lecture

This familiar Masonic symbol is a cornerstone of your Masonic journey.  It is at the center of my Masonic apron.  This symbol is explained in a lecture that provides you with an explanation of our Tenets and numerous other basic concepts.  It is a reminder that your passions, actions, words and even thoughts should be kept within “due bonds”.  A complete explanation is outside the scope of this paper.  An examination of it can be found at Bounded Point with a Circle.

The use of the point within the circle to illustrate your search for light.

Let the circle represent the light that you have attained and surrounds you.

The circle in the analogy in this paper represents the light or knowledge that you have already received.  We will explore how this analogy can help you visualize your search for light, its challenges and opportunities.  Also, you will see how important Masonic fellowship can be to expanding your circle of knowledge.

Let the point represent you.

You stand at the center of the circle of your current understanding.  The size of the circle of your understanding may be great or small.  As an infant it was very small.  As you grew up it got progressively larger.  This is beautifully represented by our three degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason.  The lectures in each degree expand your circle of knowledge. They also encourage you to continue that process within and without Freemasonry.

This growth is not purely intellectual.  It includes spiritual, emotional, social and cultural growth.  We could use separate circles to represent each, but will keep this simple by looking at your circle as the sum of all of its elements.

Consider the plane your circle occupies.

The plane is infinite in size

For our purposes, your circle is a two-dimensional object that resides on a plane.  That plane has two dimensions: length and width.  But since a plane is infinitely large, its length and width cannot be measured.  Therefore, there is no limit to your circle of knowledge’s growth.  Also, there is no limit to the number of circles that can exist on that plane.  Every person has a unique circle. Some are larger than yours; some are smaller.  Some even overlap with yours. This is important in examining why Masonic fellowship is so important in  satisfying your desire for “more light”.

Since any finite number divided by infinity is zero, no matter how large or small your circle of knowledge becomes, it represents zero percent of the total available.  You can continue your search for more light throughout all eternity and never find a limit to it.

The plane is composed of light, not darkness

This is why our ceremonies and lectures refer to your growth as the seeking of “more light”, not as the conversion of darkness into light.  The Grand Architect of the Universe has provided you access to an infinite supply of wisdom and knowledge.  This is the infinite supply you were told would be yielded to you through the power of prayer.  It includes the light you seek in Freemasonry, and in all aspects of your intellectual and spiritual growth.  You do not have to battle through darkness to find it.

The irony of the circumference of your circle of light.

Your circle represents the light or knowledge you have acquired.  The remainder of the plane represents the knowledge that you have not yet attained.  What then does the line circumscribing your circle represent?

It represents the points along which you touch and have become aware of light that exists, but you have not yet made your own.  The circumference of your circle represents the ignorance of which you are aware.  Light far beyond the circumference of your circle is unknown to you until your circle expands.  Only then can you become aware of its existence.

Note the irony that as your circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of your ignorance.  Some people with very small circles relax in the assurance that there is very little worth knowing that they do not already know.  They may even organize their lives to avoid becoming exposed to ideas outside that comfort zone.

You as a Freemason, on the other hand, agreed before becoming an Entered Apprentice that one of your motivating factors in wishing to become a Freemason was “a desire for knowledge”.  You then continually affirmed that you were seeking light.  In its narrowest sense, this refers to knowledge about Masonry.  However, the lectures of the ceremonies make it clear that achieving light extends to a broad understanding of the universe.  Also, that this understanding is designed to induce a due reverence for the Deity.

The role of Masonic fellowship in expanding your circle of knowledge.

There are several ways your circle of knowledge is expanded by active participation in Freemasonry.

Attending the lectures contained in the Lodge ceremonies.

Attending Lodge regularly and participating in the degree work of your Lodge is the best way continually to receive more Masonic light.  Each time you hear a lecture you learn something new.  It may be a new or deeper meaning or a reminder of some lesson you have not considered for a while.  Be an actively engaged listener.  Rehearse the lecture mentally as it is being exemplified.  There is no substitute for volunteering to deliver a lecture.  Studying to deliver it expands your understanding of its application to your life and its meaning better than simply listening.

The lectures can only do their magic in making you wiser, better and consequently happier if you are there to hear them.  Your attendance, especially on degree nights, is vital to your growth and for the other members of your Lodge.  Demonstrate by your actions that the lessons are important to you so newer Masons will realize how important they can be to them.

This also applies to the vast amount of additional information and fellowship available to you through attendance and work in the Appendant and Concordant Bodies.

Attending educational programs of your Lodge, Grand Lodge and Research Lodges

There is a constant stream of seminars and educational programs being made available to you.  Take advantage of them and offer to take part in putting them on.  Also, there are countless websites with research papers and videos available to increase your circle of knowledge.

Take seriously the admonishments to be a lover of the liberal arts

Freemasonry is very much an outgrowth of the Enlightenment.  Our ancient brethren were excited by the discoveries in both the natural and social sciences.  The opposition to those discoveries by the ecclesiastical and political leadership was a key reason for the emphasis on secrecy.  It was only in secret that men of different walks in life and religions could safely meet and discuss these revolutionary changes in how the universe was to be viewed and how society was to be organized.  Many paid with their fortunes and even lives for advocating these advancements.

Use the reminders in the lectures emphasizing the importance of being spiritually and intellectually hungry to kindle the flame that is your mind.  They are designed to encourage you to expand your circle of understanding and make you wiser, better and consequently happier.

Use the opportunities for fellowship to expand your circle by sharing it with others.

While there are countless circles of knowledge on your plane, the ones that count most are those you are in contact with.  Visualize your circle of knowledge intersecting with those of a Brother. Whether your Brother’s circle is larger or smaller, there is almost certainly some area in his circle that lies outside of yours and vice versa.  This is why it is vital to “converse with well-informed brethren.”

During your conversations with hundreds of your Brothers, you have countless opportunities to share experiences, information and knowledge.  This is an opportunity you will find nowhere else.  There is a wealth of diversity, in expertise, age, religion, education, etc. unparalleled in other organizations.  Also, the willingness of Masons to share their knowledge and experiences has no equal.  However, you have to participate to take advantage of that opportunity.

You will find, as I have, that it is the rare conversation with a Brother that does not expand your circle of knowledge.  It will also provide you the opportunity to share something you know.  It may be a very small matter or very substantial.  It may concern some element of Freemasonry or some spiritual or intellectual bit of information.  Don’t limit this to Brothers in your own Lodge.  You never know who will enrich your understanding or how or when it will happen, so remain alert and involved.

Conclusion and key takeaways

All analogies have limitations and using the point within the circle to illustrate the growth of your understanding is no exception.  Obviously, knowledge is not a homogeneous two-dimensional mass, circular or otherwise.  Also, its circumference is not a hard-line where we go from ignorance to knowledge in a single step.  Limitations aside, I hope you find it useful in visualizing some key takeaways.

First continually expanding your understanding of the universe around you and growing spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and socially is an unending process.  It is a natural part of leading a meaningful and purpose-driven life.  Freemasonry is designed to play a key role in making you wiser, better and consequently happier.  It surrounds you with encouragement and like-minded people.  It provides a continual source of wisdom and knowledge.  Take advantage and remain involved.

Please share your comments.

Remember that your mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a flame to be kindled.  God Bless, and stay curious.