BEAUTIFUL DREAMERS

It seems we have let ourselves be influenced by a concept called speculative freemasonry, brought into a brotherhood created by literati. As idealized as it was, it recognized genius and integrity, distinguished worthy and unworthy as a euphamism for intelligence. Attentive minds enjoyed the calculus of reason and purpose. Gentry and shop keepers enjoyed an enhancement of reputation- each taken out of their limits of experience to a place of understanding and meaning. Materialism, piety and rank made profane.  Speculative masonry modestly given up insights.  Even as we pause deciding if heart or head is the route we will follow, a small group dares to explore outside the boundaries of acceptable thinking : heads firmly in the clouds and hearts hoping.  Then, ever so cautiously we learn we are the source of unhappiness; internal wrapped in fear of our prideful nature.  We begin learning truth is often an annoying state of mind.  Considering I alone hold back, is not what I wanted to hear.  If only I was a prince, no one would dare speak to me this way.  Being taught to reason, can best be approached as an appealing challenge- to know thyself.  Believe what you choose, speculative masonry is where we each find that truth is not what others say it is but what we know. (Gnossis). It is where beautiful dreamers congregate, tied one to the other by ideas. Never alone but always alone we begin to emerge, spiritually connected to the wonders of the universe.  As every composer, every scientists, every poet and philosopher sets out with perserverance, not knowing the destination, I believe they dreamed and attempted what their dreams revealed.  After realizing the shortcomings of the estates, freemasonry picked up the slack, handing us a map, unable to set our destination but briefly letting us visit mysteries and discovery.