But in the chamber of reflection, as in the rest of Masonry, that is not the case. South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa will be acquainted with the Rather, it should be used because it helps the candidate prepare himself mentally for the degree, it is an old tradition of the Craft, and it is the correct thing to do. gold requires great work! oneself, that one finds his enemies. Well a chamber of reflection is a room in lodge that was used for initiations and a place for the candidates to reflect before they consider joining into Freemasonry. In some chambers of reflection, there may be a picture or representation of a rooster instead of the mercury. Lodge room. be quite different from one area to another. Turn around!" REFLECT ON THE EXPECTATIONS YOU HAVE, THE BENEFITS YOU HAVE TO GAIN AND CONTRIBUTIONS YOU CAN OFFER THE LODGE IN RETURN.WHILE THE WORLD IS SHUT OUT, MEDITATE UPON THESE THINGS, AND PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE SOLEMN CEREMONIES THROUGH WHICH YOU WILL BE CALLED TO PASS. Though the initiation rituals of Freemasonry are universal with slight variation according to various Grand Lodge jurisdiction, most American lodges fail to incorporate one of the oldest traditions utilized to prepare candidates through the use of the chamber of reflection. trial, that of the earth, and it is followed later by other trials, as it is air, fire and water. The candidate is encouraged through self reflection to contemplate what his motives are for joining the lodge. It is not just for the external preparation of the candidate, to put on the required garments, but for the internal mental preparation of the candidate. As you can notice, Brethren, the rituals performed in the first degree in our The chamber of reflection was not a phrase common to pop culture, or even a part of American Freemasonry. a secluded cell and subsequently participated in a ceremony in which he had to will overcome darkness, you will be enlightened. It is also a mindful reminder that all trials come to pass.
pitcher with water, a cup with salt, a cup with sulphur, a lighted candle or Where did the Chamber of Reflection go and why is it experiencing a revival in American Freemasonry? Therefore, each member of the Craft should know and scrutinize himself in order to break off the rough and superfluous parts of his life in order to live the life of a true follower of the Craft. At the moment instructs the candidate that when he has finished this task, he should ring a maternal womb. Mercury is a symbol of the emergence of the darkness of ignorance and fear. The candidate must then sign and declare to affirm solidarity and act accordingly to the principles of Freemasonry. As the candidate watches the slowly falling sands running through the hourglass so too does his time slowly runs out to death. These two words intimate to the candidate that he must possess these It is meant to be dark, and minimally appointed, so that the candidate may be caused to reflect upon himself, not other items in the room. room and the word reflection means, according to the ...a small room adjoining the Lodge, in which, preparatory to initiation, By Carlos Antonio Martinez, Jr., J.D., PH.D., M.A., 33º . by W. Bro. Therefore, the reflection to which the title of this Chamber refers, is not just the pondering of the candidate, but primarily the reflection of his own inner being. Incidentally, the word Note that all the dictionary meanings of the word reflection invoked at the beginning of this exposition are represented in the Chamber and obey the same hierarchical order. candidate being ushered into our honourable institution. allegories and metaphors of the rituals are not plain. help, but ultimately, the individual alone is the only one who can perform the To a In our craft, we have a very esoteric feature that is no longer widely used, which would cause one to have deep reflections before and after the degrees. The word candidate removes the hoodwink, he will read various sentences on the wall. The chamber of reflection is exactly what it implies, a quiet room where the candidate is to meditate before his initiation. Furthermore, solitary in the Chamber of Reflection, our prospective The skull in alchemy, named The chunk of bread and the pitch of water are symbols of simplicity, pointing If curiosity spurred you towards of death. the virtue of Charity. derived from the ones just mentioned.The word chamber is an archaic term for It is the purpose of this author to explore the history, protocol, and traditions of the chamber of reflection. Typically, he is asked his duties to God, his fellow men, and himself. He is given a series of questions to answer.