So we all have heard the statement “prevent daubing with untempered mortar” but few if any where able to tell me what it meant or where it came from. All I was able to get from fellow Masons was a shrugged shoulder with blank looks and the all too common statement of whatever it means is unknown to me. It was one Mason that told me all the answers lay within the pages of the volume of sacred law. After doing “some” reading and thought, I was able to find the passage withinthe volume. It was in the book of Ezekiel that I came across the passage that this line was taken from.
“So will I break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation shall be uncovered, and it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in its midst: and you shall know that I am the LORD. Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it.” Ezekiel13: 11-15
This was a lot to take in. At first I was at a loss as to what this all meant. After reading Ezekiel some more it was clear that God was talking about foolish/false prophets and lies used to whitewash events in hopes to hold things together. For mortar to be tempered it needs to be strong, like operative Masonrythe mortar used to build dries between stone and brick to bring forth a strong wall. Yet what does this mean for us, the speculative Masons?
Here in our lives we have forged walls for our houses to stand with. The walls we have and used are made from the relations we have with the people within our lives, be them family, co-workers, friends, brothers, and people we don’t see eye to eye with. We see how a person will lie and try to cover up things in hope that they will be able to hold their world together. Even then people try to smooth over deep breaks between people by a quick whitewash action with in their lives believing/hoping that things will work. We can put the news on and see how things look fantastic for someone’s life but when the personal cracks start to show and the truth comes out, the walls fall apart.
“So will I break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation shall be uncovered, and it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in its midst”. There are too many people on the news to list that we all have seen in the spotlight of everything falling apart in their life. Uncovered allusions to the truth being shown and how weak stories and lies will lead to everything falling apart on you. Simply put forth by Joe Crews in his book Hidden Eyes and Closed Ears, “The untempered mortar represents an effort to gloss over the seriousness of the defect by false teaching instead of leading the people back to full obedience.”
As Masons we are told we should be obedient to our faith and to be on the level with each other. When we cheat and defraud others we are no longer on the level and we start to let cracks form with the walls we have building with the people we care about. These are not walls to keep someone out, but walls to support our house and each other. We are told as EAs that we are to “prevent daubing with untempered mortar” and the obligation we take and what we learn with in the Speculative Lodge show us the way we should go.
Just came across your post looking for some insight from a mason's, one that deals with actual brick, stone, mortar etc. (not the false belief system of 'freemasonry') point of view. Are you part of 'freemasonry'? If so, according to your article you should look deeper to see that 'freemasonry' is certainly a false belief system with many things contrary to the LORD's word. If not, of course, you can dismiss that last sentence.
ReplyDeleteI liked the article, it has some good points. But just as the false prophets were speaking lies, so 'freemasonry' teaches lies, half truths and deception.
For His glory and His glory alone.
GP
As an Ancient and Accepted Freemason of 25 years, it is only through ignorance of the truth that you say Freemasonry" is lies and contrary to The Lord's word. All I have seen, heard and been taught as a Freemason, is derived from the construction of King Solomon's Temple as explained in The Holy Bible. There are many symbols used to teach morality in Freemasonry, such as the square and compass that is seen as a Masonic Emblem. We are taught to live by the Golden Rule, treat EVERYONE squarely and fairly and keep Faith, Hope and Charity in our hearts and consciences and show Brotherly Love and Friendship to all mankind. Is that not what "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" teaches in The Holy Bible? I'd say it is exactly.
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this deeper understanding of of this all to important , scriptures on the wall built with untempered mortar, too many of us are daubing our walls with it.. buy it will not continue to stand
ReplyDeleteJesus spoke many times in parables that we might compare daily life with our spiritual life. This comparison that Ezekiel is making with untempered mortar is a good one. To cover a crack in a wall might seem to be the thing to do. But with time the mortar will itself crack, eventually exposing what was being covered. Seeing that this is in the EA degree it makes sense that we try to build a good foundation and a good wall or in this case a good and moral and virtuous life. It is just another way to make a good man better.
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