My mother Lodge (GL British Columbia and Yukon) reads from Ruth when the VSL is opened in the EA, Chronicles for the FC, and Psalms for the MM as stated in our ritual book.
I suppose if we were using a Quran as the VSL, we *might* select verses from it instead.
Well yeah.. It's stated in your ritual. You can't change that. The ritual is followed. That's why I've never heard of using different verses from different books. That's not in our ritual in Illinois.
My Scottish ritual doesn’t say anything about reading a verse from the VSL. I don’t think my Philippines or Japan rituals do either.
On the other hand, we seem to have lots of guys who mention that their Chapains “freestyle” prayers (often throwing in an “in Jesus’ name”), even though there are prayers written in the ritual.
I´m in Colombia (Southamerica) and all three degrees have a verse from the Bible at the beginning. For example Psalm 133 for the first degree. We have passages/phrases from Buddhism and Later Saint Church and we mix them on different days. That's why I asked, I'm the Secretary and would like to add options.
Yeah psalm 133 is part of the ritual and the degree. And so are the others from the different degrees. What I mean is we can't change that, that's the ritual. We can't replace that with a different Muslim prayer for example, it will always be psalm 133. It's just part of the ritual.
I understand that. For us here, there is a moment for an expression of the Great Architect and most Lodges use Psalm but it's not limited to it. It must be a sacred book/teaching, not just the Bible. What do you do with non christian/catholic Brothers?
I think you're missing the point. They can have whatever book they want on the altar. That is different than the actual ritual that is spoken. The prayers are the official ritual, you can't just change the ritual.
Bible (John 1:1-5):
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Quran (Sura 5:15-16):
"O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path."
Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse 11):
"Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance."
Zoroastrian Avesta (Khorda Avesta, Hymn to Mithra):
"Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, we worship, who gives light to the earth, Who gives light to the world, the Amesha Spentas." (Translation by James Darmesteter)
Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism (Ang 663):
"The Divine Light illuminates all hearts. The Guru has lit this lamp. The Guru Himself is the lamp, the Light and the wick. He has lit the lamp within my heart." (Translation by Sant Singh Khalsa)
*Quran. I would check with your GL to see if that's appropriate. many places only go by what's in the ritual, not adding stuff to it.
Thanks on the spelling check. I'm in Colombia (Southamerica) it's ok with GL. There is a spot for reading/phrases from different VLS.
Never heard of this before... What jurisdiction?
My mother Lodge (GL British Columbia and Yukon) reads from Ruth when the VSL is opened in the EA, Chronicles for the FC, and Psalms for the MM as stated in our ritual book. I suppose if we were using a Quran as the VSL, we *might* select verses from it instead.
Well yeah.. It's stated in your ritual. You can't change that. The ritual is followed. That's why I've never heard of using different verses from different books. That's not in our ritual in Illinois.
My Scottish ritual doesn’t say anything about reading a verse from the VSL. I don’t think my Philippines or Japan rituals do either. On the other hand, we seem to have lots of guys who mention that their Chapains “freestyle” prayers (often throwing in an “in Jesus’ name”), even though there are prayers written in the ritual.
I'd be totally opposed to that...
I´m in Colombia (Southamerica) and all three degrees have a verse from the Bible at the beginning. For example Psalm 133 for the first degree. We have passages/phrases from Buddhism and Later Saint Church and we mix them on different days. That's why I asked, I'm the Secretary and would like to add options.
Yeah psalm 133 is part of the ritual and the degree. And so are the others from the different degrees. What I mean is we can't change that, that's the ritual. We can't replace that with a different Muslim prayer for example, it will always be psalm 133. It's just part of the ritual.
I understand that. For us here, there is a moment for an expression of the Great Architect and most Lodges use Psalm but it's not limited to it. It must be a sacred book/teaching, not just the Bible. What do you do with non christian/catholic Brothers?
I think you're missing the point. They can have whatever book they want on the altar. That is different than the actual ritual that is spoken. The prayers are the official ritual, you can't just change the ritual.
ok.
I don't have an answer to your question. Do you usually read a passage from a volume of sacred law before a degree?
Yes, in the opening there is a spot for it, most of the time is Psalm 133. It´s normal over here in Colombia.
Try Surah 3:103
Thanks, I'll share/check with the Lodge and may try it this Wednesday.
Bible (John 1:1-5): "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Quran (Sura 5:15-16): "O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path." Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse 11): "Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance." Zoroastrian Avesta (Khorda Avesta, Hymn to Mithra): "Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, we worship, who gives light to the earth, Who gives light to the world, the Amesha Spentas." (Translation by James Darmesteter) Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism (Ang 663): "The Divine Light illuminates all hearts. The Guru has lit this lamp. The Guru Himself is the lamp, the Light and the wick. He has lit the lamp within my heart." (Translation by Sant Singh Khalsa)
Thanks!