‘My Dinner with Andre’

   

It has been decades since I last watched it, so there’s a lot more to get out of it now. Try it.

Louis Malle seats you in a booth at Cafe des Artistes with Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory for quail entrees and conversation. The former, the attentive ear, is a Square of dependable, resolute ninety degrees. The latter, the instructive tongue, is the Compasses extended to extremity.

At length, Gregory tells of his extrinsic doings during bizarre travels about the face of the earth in recent years. A monk here. Experimental theater there. Observations on a world in waking sleep. There even is talk of a chamber of reflection in the woods followed by a ritual raising. Wally Shawn counters with rhapsody for simple domesticity: a coffee, a book, quietude with his girlfriend.

They would appear to be irreconcilable.

The film has the feel of improvisation, but in fact it was scripted meticulously. (Best Screenplay of 1982, BSFC.) The photography is scientific—you may catch yourself absentmindedly fiddling with the white tablecloth while listening. The restaurant actually was a set constructed inside a defunct hotel in Richmond, Virginia, but the orbiting waiter (Jean Lenauer), cadaverous and imposing, is a wry detail viewers of a certain age will smile at.

Oh, and music by Satie!

One year after the film’s release, critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, conversationalists themselves, asked the actors what in retrospect, if anything, they would do differently. We’d trade places, they answered.

     

‘Lecture Tuesday: Chamber of Reflection’

     

Click to enlarge.

The indefatigable RW Bro. Rafael Preza will speak Tuesday night at Pelham Lodge in the Bronx. As you can see, his topic will be the Chamber of Reflection and, while New York Freemasonry has a Chamber of Reflection as part of its initiation rite, I suspect RW Preza will discuss the European-style Chamber of Reflection. I’m sorry I won’t be able to attend, but I’m sure it’ll be a great night, so get there.
     

‘Chambre sans frontières’

    
In Freemasonry, particularly its French traditions, there is what’s called the Chamber of Reflection, which is a small room outfitted with a number of symbols that recall mortality, regeneration, and the essence of being. The aspirant awaiting his possible initiation into the Craft is conducted inside, and is given time to contemplate existential matters free of any conceivable distraction, save for whatever may emanate from his own heart and mind. His task is to quell even that.

About twelve hours ago, electricity and heat were restored to my home, only six days after Sandy’s visit. Whether she indeed was a hurricane or not seems to be disputed, but I leave that to meteorologists and insurance companies. In the calmness that followed the devastation, thousands of people were left in a world without necessities (shelter, food, potable water, etc.), and millions of lucky ones like myself were robbed of our creature comforts. I’m not even well equipped in that department. My television, which I rarely use, is a 25-year-old Sylvania. My computer is a four-year-old Mac. I have no smart phone, tablet, laptop, or any other modern portable communications device aside from my old LG cell phone that cannot open any of the attachments Lindez or Davenport send me.

So during a dark, cold, and mostly immobile existence of 115 hours of decreasing daylight without lights, heat, and passable streets, I enjoyed the luxury of not checking e-mail, perusing status updates, or surfing either web or channels. Light was provided only by a couple of flashlights and the beeswax votives I purchase in bulk for “ezzo-deric” personal work. Mass media flowed in one direction only, via a battery powered Bush clock radio (with an analog face!) I bought in London in 1990.

There was darkness, but it was darkness visible; my home was cold, but still was my home; I sat in solitude, but in league with millions; the week was interminable, and turned out to have been too brief.

Of time, the Freemason and poet Khalil Gibran writes: “But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons, let each season encircle all the other seasons, and let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.”

The luxurious gift of a chamber of reflection without walls or sands of time was not lost on me, and I will not forget how it was delivered or the prices paid by so many others for it.
    

‘In the neighborhood’

    
A post for the benefit of our local and somewhat local brethren: Two great nights coming up in early February.

On Monday, February 7, Nutley Lodge No. 25 will continue its Lamp of Knowledge lecture series, hosting W. Henry of Humanitas Lodge No. 1123 in New York City, who will lead us into the Chamber of Reflection, so to speak, for an explanation of the many intriguing symbols that await initiates in the Scottish Rite tradition of Craft Masonry.

Henry also is Senior Deacon of The American Lodge of Research, the premier education lodge in the United States, and is active in other research bodies.

Apprentices and Fellows, properly avouched, are welcome to attend this lecture.

On Wednesday, February 9, at historic Alpha Lodge No. 116 in East Orange, our good friend and Brother Rashied Bey returns to the podium. Rashied is with Cornerstone Lodge No. 37, under the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York, and is very well known about the apartments of the Temple.

RW Rashied will speak on properties of astronomy found in Masonic ritual and symbol.

Also that night, W. Mohamad Yatim, Past Master of Atlas-Pythagoras Lodge No. 10, will visit Madison Lodge No. 93, also to speak on the Chamber of Reflection.

Curious things are happening in some of the lodges here. An amazing line-up for the week ... and that’s even before we get to Virginia for Masonic Week! I’ll need extra cigars and whisky to sustain myself. Let me also point out that all three of these traveling lecturers are of The Masonic Society family. Rashied is a Fellow, and Henry and Mohamad are Members.
    

‘Our loss is their gain’

New Jersey Freemasonry is suffering a loss these days. No one died, but our good brother Frankllin Suco has moved out of state, having accepted a position in upstate New York.

Bro. Franklin needs no introduction to regular readers of The Magpie Mason, He is the junior Past Master of Nutley Lodge No. 25, and the charter Master of Alexandria Council No. 478 of Allied Masonic Degrees. Most recently he was Eminent Commander of St. John’s Commandery, but had to resign that post of course. But he is not merely an office holder. What makes his departure a real blow to New Jersey Freemasonry is the obvious loss that will be felt in Craft Masonry and the York Rite for a long while.

Franklin is one of those rare Freemasons who champions the cause of providing quality Masonic experiences for his brethren. One of those guys “who gets it.” A Master who presides over meetings where true substance is provided, where Light is imparted, where Masons practice their Craft.

He and his wife Becca hosted a farewell party on Saturday. Just a few of the brethren with their families gathering for a barbecue in a local park. It had the potential for being a very sad occasion, but not if you think about the future. He and Becca are starting a family, and I wish them all the joy and success imaginable. Plus, knowing Franklin will unleash his energy on whichever lucky lodge up there he joins, one easily can imagine some lodge full of farmers quickly transforming its secretary’s office into this:

Good luck you guys! Hope to see you again soon.

Photo of Chamber of Reflection from Symbols of Freemasonry by Daniel Béresniak.

‘On the road again’

W. Bro. Mohamad Yatim is going back on the road this spring, speaking at several lodges for the brethren’s enlightenment. Mohamad of course is Worshipful Master of Atlas-Pythagoras Lodge No. 10 in Westfield, New Jersey.

Wednesday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. – Lecture on “The Chamber of Reflection: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.” at Trenton Cyrus Lodge No. 5 (131 Burd St. in Pennington). Open to Apprentices and Fellows.

Monday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. – Lecture on “The Chamber of Reflection: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.” at Azure-Masada Lodge No. 22 (478 South Ave. in Cranford). Open to Apprentices and Fellows.

Wednesday, May 12 at 8 p.m. – Powerpoint presentation and lecture on the York Rite of Freemasonry, with emphasis on the Royal Arch Degree at Corinthian Chapter No. 57 (1012 Central Ave. in Westfield). The MEHP has designated the evening a “Bring a Master Mason Night” to show the brethren the vital importance of receiving the Royal Arch Degree.

Thursday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m. – Lecture on “The Chamber of Reflection: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.” at Mt. Zion Lodge (483 Middlesex Ave. in Metuchen). Open to Apprentices and Fellows.


I, for one, plan to catch the Chamber of Reflection talk. The Chamber is one of my favorite topics.

‘Missed Opportunities’

The Magpie Mason has been under the weather for about a week. My “Cigar a Day Keeps the Doctor Away” regimen was put to a rigorous test – and it passed! But in the meantime, I was ill briefly, and regrettably missed several great events in the area.

Last Monday, Nutley Lodge No. 25 turned itself into a “Lodge of Reflection,” a variation of the Chamber of Reflection. Worshipful Master Franklin explains:

I have to tell you, it was odd but wonderful to see Masons doing breathing exercises, and meditating & contemplating our symbols. I’ve seen this type of activity with other groups (Rosicrucians, Martinists, etc.), but I don’t think ever with Masons.

We had 19 guys in attendance: six officiating ceremonies, and 13 “candidates.” Not too bad!

We are planning to do this on a regular basis, every other month or so. We’ll keep you in the loop.

And he supplied photos!






There are more photos that are too graphic to post on the web (unless Franklin says it’s okay).

Also missed with great reluctance was the December meeting of Cushite Council No. 474 of Allied Masonic Degrees. Regular Magpie readers know – and are probably damn tired of hearing – that four(!) AMD councils were set to labor in New Jersey this year, with Cushite being the first to receive its charter, back in February at Grand Council’s Annual Meeting.

Sovereign Master David explains:

Tonight we conferred the Royal Ark Mariner Degree, heard two papers, plus Q&A, and one multimedia presentation. We had a catered meal from a very nice restaurant in town, and met upstairs in an Irish tavern, then came downstairs for drinks and discussion until midnight.

I know that Irish tavern. Long before I was The Magpie Mason, I frequented the gin mills of County Essex. I am going to guess that Thursday night was the first time incense was burned there. I’m glad to see the place has classed up a bit.

And he supplied photos!






And then Friday was the installation of officers at historic Enterprise Lodge No. 31 in Jersey City (one of the last “mainstream” lodges in an urban area in New Jersey). Congratulations brethren! Photo courtesy of David Lindez.



And I still have much to tell you about Fairless Hills Lodge’s annual banquet, and Northern New Jersey Lodge of Perfection’s recent meeting, and I still haven’t told you about the rededication of Daniel Tompkins’ gravesite held four weeks ago! Where does the time go?

And then there’s the December 28 meeting of Lux ex Tenebris Council No. 176 of Allied Masonic Degrees at the dropdead gorgeous Allentown Masonic Temple in Pennsylvania. It’s the 14th Annual Feast following the election and installation of officers for 2010. I’d love to be with you guys again, but that is the same night American Lodge of Research meets.

V.I.T.R.I.O.L.

It is official: Bro. Mohamad Yatim will be the guest speaker at Sons of Liberty Lodge No. 301 on June 10. He is going to discuss the Scottish Rite initiatic element known as the Chamber of Reflection, with an explanation of V.I.T.R.I.O.L.

Sons of Liberty meets at the Secaucus Masonic Temple, located at 1422 Paterson Plank Rd. in Secaucus, easily reached from Route 3, the NJ Turnpike, etc. Opening at 7:30 p.m.

The Chamber of Reflection offers the aspirant a very different experience than New Jersey’s ritually standard Preparation Room. In the latter, lodge officers greet the candidate with specific questions and make certain he is properly clothed for his initiation. But in the Chamber of Reflection, the candidate for the mysteries of Freemasonry is given time to think. He’ll need it, because he should achieve an emotional distance from the concerns and employments of the world outside; he should attain a mental clarity to appreciate his infinitesimal place in the universe; he needs to understand his very existence is just a temporary blip.

This is accomplished with the aid of several highly instructive symbols placed in the Chamber. Daniel Béresniak, in his excellent book “Symbols of Freemasonry,” describes the Chamber of Reflection beautifully. (These photos, shot by Laziz Hamani, are from this highly recommended book.)

“The Chamber of Reflection, present only in certain Masonic rites, is a small room in which the candidates are left on their own for a period before the initiation ceremony begins. Seated at a table, they write their Philosophical Will, which is later to be read out in the lodge....

“The initiate is alone with a sheet of paper and a pencil. The Chamber of Reflection is lit only by a candle which casts its feeble light on a number of ornaments: a human skull, some bones, a saucer containing salt and another containing sulfur. On the wall are murals painted in white on a black background: a cockerel, a scythe, and the word V.I.T.R.I.O.L. which is the ancient command to examine oneself: Visita interiora terrae, rectificando invenies occultam lapidem, (or Visit the center of the earth, and by rectifying you shall find the hidden stone).

“These symbols derive from alchemy, a tradition which has provided us with all of the symbols we use today to describe metamorphosis....

“The hourglass is an invitation to reflect on the reversibility of time; the bread denotes the vital transformation from the raw to the cooked; and water represents fertility. So knowledge has to be re-examined, not to increase its ontological qualities, but to alter them. ‘Not to fill up a vase, but to light a fire,’ as Montaigne put it. This quotation from the author of the ‘Essays’ leads us to the cockerel, which announces the appearance of light. It is associated with Mercury/Hermes who sets limits and helps us to cross them. The ability to associate things by distinguishing between them is proof of the passage from knowledge to experience.

“As for the scythe, the tool used for reaping, it is only since the fifteenth century that it has been put in the hands of a skeleton to represent death, the great leveler. This image confirms and illustrates the teaching revealed in the other symbols: Death in the vegetable world is a source of life for the animal world.

“These symbols focus the neophytes’ attention on the need to recognize reality as it is, and to free themselves from those phantoms which set light and darkness in opposition. This initial trial and proof of earth in the Chamber of Reflection shows the way forward, to replace the word ‘or’ and its surrounding attitudes by the word ‘and.’”