Welcome to the Scottish right Journal podcast an audio presentation of the Scottish right Journal brought to you by the Supreme Council of the Scottish right Southern jurisdiction mother Supreme Council of the world this week’s article is the role of the Masonic chaplain by Dr Robert JF ellner 33rd
Degree and comes from the November December 2022 issue of the Scottish right Journal as Mayon We Are Men Acclaim to be good trying to be better we are a body of men of Faith although of different faiths who all come together to glorify the Divine in our own ways without letting differences
Separate us yet often one of the central offices of our Masonic organizations is left as an afterthought the chaplain what is it that makes this leadership positions so essential the word chaplain descends from the medieval Latin word calanus meaning holder of a little cloak a Roman soldier named Martin met a
Freezing half- naked beggar at the Gate of the city of amian in what is now northern France feeling compassion for the man Martin cut his own cloak in half with a sword and shared it with the man in need later that night the beggar appeared to Martin in a dream revealing
Himself to be Jesus Martin left the Army and became a soldier of Christ founding the first monastery in Gaul Now France and later France’s patron saint those who followed Martin’s example and held the cloak for Christ by serving the needs of others were called chaplain the chaplain in a lodge should
Have a special place in the hearts of the members in the book spiritual friendship by the cian monk iled of rivo we find a classic statement integral to the Fraternal chaplaincy whatever counsel is to be given is more easily received from a friend and is more steadfastly retained for a friend’s
Power in counseling must needs be great since there can neither be doubt of his loyalty nor suspicion of flattery this is equally true today one who is a chaplain to his friends and brothers is under multiple obligations to lead and counsel well which may be far beyond what some expect when installed as
Chaplain in their lodges this is because chaplain are ministers of presence they are representatives of the Divine whose simple presence should add to the meaning of the scriptures we read and the instructions we give in degrees and orders chaplain are not to be prizers who recruit for their particular Faith
Or denomination but unifiers and comforters they listen and help counsel and console this is why Pulpit ministers may not always be the best chaplain they are often used to presenting not simply being present and listening indeed one of the biggest fears of some ordained ministers serving as Lodge Chaplin is
The worry that Brothers may substitute their Lodge activity for participation in a traditional house of worship this should not be so Freemasonry is not religion but rather religion’s handmaiden and should never be a substitute Lodge chaplain are not Lodge preachers rather they should be open-minded and empathetic which are listening
Skills an early Church Father tertullian is credited with saying that God created man with perfect proportions two ears and only one mouth similarly the chaplain should listen more than he speaks as a representative of the almighty the chaplain has a duty to help people in or out of Lodge who might be
At their most vulnerable whether they are confused troubled terminally ill or stationed far away from home a chaplain has a special obligation to try and Forge deep meaningful bonds that will sustain people through the very toughest circumstances this is the basis for real leadership showing forth the example
That must be the norm in large having the ability to listen to and establish a relationship with people from any type of background is the most important prerequisite for being a chaplain according to the int rity of his heart and guided by the skillfulness of his hands Psalm
78:72 if you never have looked up your Grand Lodge Constitution and read what it says about chaplain please do so and be willing to Champion changes to make us better stronger and more loving if your lodes bylaws do not have specific content on the role of the chaplain
Consider inserting it help your Lodge chaplain become trained in ways that will help him serve the lodge and Community better help the chaplain to help us all become better men like and share this article and don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you wish to comment please leave one
And as a reminder hit the notifications Bell any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the coresponding print edition the Scottish W Journal is published by the Supreme Council of the Scottish right Southern jurisdiction mother Supreme Council of the World Mark Dyson stock 33rd degree managing editor I’m your
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