Address of R.W. Bro. James F. Kirk-White
On His Official Visit to Corona Lodge, December 04, 2003

Masonry and the Three Wise Men

Brethren this is a special evening for me as I represent our Grand Master in my Mother Lodge. I am especially grateful to the brethren of Corona Lodge for their friendship, guidance and support, and thank them sincerely for making this moment possible. As with most DDGMs of the past, the official visit to our Mother lodge is a momentous occasion in a year of many remarkable occasions.

My mother Lodge is quite fortunate to have the Christmas season as the date for the DDGM’s official visit. Not only because it is a glorious season of giving, sharing and spiritual awareness, but also, because it provides the opportunity to serve Christmas pudding to all of our friends, and as always, the more the merrier.

I prepared tonight’s message with the premise of Christmas in mind --attempting to incorporate Freemasonry with the Christmas season, hence, denoting the universality of Freemasonry.

Over the past 64 years, I have heard the Christmas story many, many times. Within its narrative there are three performers that play a very significant, although somewhat brief, role. And so I decided it was time to learn more about the “Three Wise Men” and thus began my researches.

This interesting subject quickly took on all of the uniqueness of a similar study into Masonic history. Eventually, leading to the discovery of an excellent article presented by: C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, Past Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A.
...I’ve adapted segments of his speech into tonight’s message.

First a small bit of Biblical history:

The Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, which still stands today, was erected in the year 329 AD by Queen Helena in the area, it is believed, that Jesus was born.

About 300 years later, in 614 AD, the Church was saved from destruction by the Persian rampage. Why? Because the Persian attackers discovered a mosaic tile pattern, depicting the Magi, dressed in Persian Garb, on the floor of the Christian Church -coincidence or Divine Providence.

Brethren, the Three Wise Men of the Christmas story have had an effect on all people -of all faiths –in all times. So tonight we shall conduct an investigation.

Almost everything we ‘think’ we know about them --their names, that they were kings, that they rode camels, that they were accompanied by attendants --comes not from Biblical sources but from later traditions.

By all accounts, we know that they were wise, that they had observed some phenomenon in the heavens, and had interpreted this as a heralding of a major event in the life of the Jews. We know that they asked the way of Herod, that they visited the Holy Family presenting gifts - of gold, frankincense and myrrh, that they were warned not to return to the court of Herod.

These three figures are a powerful part of the Christmas story and a part which relates to people of all faiths. If, as many scholars believe, they literally were Magi ( Magi is the plural of Magus ), then almost certainly they were from Persia -for a Magus was a semi-official figure in Persian cultural and Court life.

The Magi were walking Universities whose task was to learn, to know, and to teach. They were concerned with knowledge of the spiritual as well as the physical world. If they observed a sign in the heavens, it would have been part of their responsibilities to discover what it meant.

They represent a blending of faith and reason --of the ability to believe, and the ability to question. And that state of mind is essential to a healthy faith.

They also represent a broadening of the message of this season, for they were of a faith very different from that of the Jews, or what would become Christianity, or from Islam. The Magi would have been followers of Zõrõaster, the great religious reformer who had lived 500 years before Christ.

Zõrõaster believed in the oneness of God and preached that God was the creator of earth and heaven, the initiator of justice, kindness, and truthfulness and who guided his creatures to the same principles.

Their philosophy was based on good reflection, good word, and good deed.  Everybody had the liberty to choose the right way, out of his or her good reflection.  Since human wisdom is related to good reflection, the followers would thus pave the way for the propagation of science and education.

In this manner, Zõrõastrianism became the “forerunner” of knowledge and enlightenment. A trace of this ancient religion is still in existence in India today and known as Parsi.

And so, here they are, Magi from Persia, in the middle of the Christmas story, playing a very important role, being guided by Divine Providence.

To me that suggests the same universality we find in Masonry --where good men of every faith can seek to serve God and minister unto His plan.

The Magi’s entire trip is a quest. They are following the light, that strange phenomenon in the heavens, seeking understanding and enlightenment. And they are willing to make sacrifices to follow that light, to understand more,  It was a need in them as great as the need for food or drink -to grow and develop spiritually and intellectually.

That is another part of the Masonic message of this season. We need to become more, to know and understand more. The Mason who stops seeking, learning, and growing is being untrue to his profession.

...... In the process of learning, the Magi gave.

They gave not only of their time and attention, but also of material gifts.

There are those who condemn the holiday season’s gift-giving, claiming it commercializes what should be a spiritual moment. It can go too far, of course; any good thing can.

But it seems appropriate to me that each year we should think of ways we can make those we love happy, with some gift carefully chosen, and given with joy.

In the Christian tradition, the giving of gifts at Christmas began with the gifts of the Magi.

This combination of learning and giving is a powerful symbol of a successful life. And, again, it resonates in Masonry. It is stated well, in the Entered Apprentice Degree, from the Preston-Webb work, “In your leisure hours, that you may improve in Masonic knowledge, you are to converse with well-informed brethren, who will be always as ready to give --as you will be ready to receive instruction.”

Thus, Magi and Freemasons, and of course, all wise people, have the same motivation: to grow and develop spiritually and intellectually.

I guess now would be a very good time to convey a message from the Grand Master to all Masons of our jurisdiction, and so I quote...

“As you well know enhancing Masonic Education and getting it out to the membership at large is one of my priorities this year.

I have challenged the Masonic Education Committee to come up with something new and different, something that will stimulate a general desire to delve deeper into the hidden meanings of our ritual, something that will encourage the study of Masonic philosophy and history and of utmost importance, something that will make this learning experience enjoyable. They have met this challenge by producing a number of new initiatives. But it is like anything else, it is of no value unless it is implemented at the lodge level.”

And the Grand Master continues, “I was asked if it were possible to make the presentation of Masonic Education mandatory at all lodge meetings. Of course this is not possible, but I can and do recommend that each lodge take a few minutes at each meeting to highlight Masonic Education of one form or another.”    ... end of quote.

On a personal note, but still relating to the subject of Masonic education, I am very pleased with the importance and priority that our Grand Master is allocating to Masonic education. Over the years I have read much Masonic history and find it predictable, how, the hidden meanings and philosophies of our rituals would always become apparent. An excellent example is with tonight’s subject, the Magi of the Christmas story. As research revealed the motivation behind their quest, so did the intricacies of Divine Providence become more apparent.

And finally brethren, during this wonderful season, which is special to Masons of all faiths, may the example, and the gifts of the Wise Men, shine in your life. May you seek and find the object of your personal quest, and may the New Year bring you more happiness and fulfillment than ever.

Brethren, for the Christmas pudding, your friendship, and your warm hospitality tonight, I thank you.

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