Welcome to the Plaridel Lodge 302 Website!

 

Brethren - all hands on deck! 

Fraternal greetings -  please bring at least one of your friends to our open house. We're holding an Open House for Masonic Awareness to share very interesting information, take a tour of our Lodge and to have fun fellowship with all families and our friends.  Food and refreshments will be served. 

  What: Square and Compass Day

  When: October 15, 2011

   Time: 11:00 am to 3:00pm

   Where: Jersey City Masonic Lodge

              87 Hutton Avenue

              Jersey City, NJ 

Please spread the word about our Open House (SQUARE & COMPASS DAY) and forward this invitation to all your friends and loved ones via Email, Tweeter and Facebook! Your support in this endeavor will be greatly appreciated. 

Yours sincerely and fraternally, 

Worshipful Master 

PLARIDEL LODGE NO. 302, F. & A. M.

My Dear Brethren, 

Ever since our ancient brothers began to think the words of our ancestors supported by the actions and spirits of our forefathers have constantly impressed upon us that as part of the mystical context of the universe, man’s life on earth is a struggle which commence with time between good and evil, truth and error. 

Freemasonry has toiled to unriddle this life’s enigma for us to live with the world’s eternal ways through its teachings preserved in signs, symbols and allegories passed to us by sages and adepts since time immemorial. But have we opened our eyes and paused a time to recognize the message? 

Brethren, we masons are known to be freethinkers, and have its own interpretations with regards to the teachings of the craft and our interpretation will depend much on how complete the temple is within us or how persevering we have gone through in our quest for the truth or in search for the lost word. And I believe that this could be the reason why many of us have varying views and perceptions and differ somewhat on how we manifest our sense of values. Though it has been admitted that answers in freemasonry are not free from imperfections, however all are acceptable truths. And I am apt to believe that the more masonry are in our minds and in our hearts  the more our attitudes and behaviors will become more acceptable in the circle of our order as well as in our society.

Let us take an example of the symbolism of the ‘square and compass’, a different perspective.  The square represents our lower self or that part of our persons which govern our emotions, passions and egos. The compass on the other hand represents our higher self or that part of our being considered as the spiritual which is regarded as pure and clean.  In the master mason degree, both points of the compasses are elevated above the square, meaning that the higher self is in full control of the lower self.  Thus, upon becoming a master mason, symbolically it means that we have acquired the true knowledge of ourselves; a resurrected man who has mastered his wills and desires, can ably govern his passions and emotions and not a slave into it; the man who is in times of trouble is not tempted to turn aside towards the inviting path of darkness; the man who can say no when no is to be said; the man who strive for wisdom and the truth; in short, a master mason is man who has conquered the evils within himself and can truly practice those Masonic virtues for the love and will of his Creator.

VW Danilo P. Gamino, Sr, PDGL-GLP

Worshipful Master