Knowle Centre for Freemasonry

As Freemasons, we are advised to study and appreciate the seven liberal arts and sciences. These are known by us, one and all, as grammar, logic, rhetoric, astronomy, arithmetic, geometry & music.

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Music has an important place within the workings of the Lodge, and is evident with the installation of the lodge organist (where they are present).

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The Magic Flute, for example, is noted for being Masonic, but both Mozart and Haydn also wrote music for use in lodges, and especially for Masonic funerals. Similarly, 'Amazing Grace' and 'Abide With Me' are the creations of Masonic talent.

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Music is a measure by which we can create harmony and contentment within a lodge, as well as sending a message related to a particular officer of the Lodge, a message sometimes with a degree of humour as when a treasurer arises and the organist plays the ABBA song, “Money, Money Money’’.

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It adds dimensions to rituals and to a variety of ceremonies, to our varied degree work and in one sense to “filling otherwise empty space”, although its relevance and enjoyment go far further.

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Many lodge rooms are equipped with a pipe organ or electronic organ, and in others, there is provision for a wider range of instruments. In other places the director of music operates recorded or digital music systems, such as at the Grand Lodge of Austria in Vienna.

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The position of organist within a lodge is not compulsory but one which the Worshipful Master “may” appoint at his discretion.

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Let us not ignore the fact that – as stated in a second degree lecture – music teaches us the art of forming concords, so as to produce a delightful harmony, by a mathematical and proportionate arrangement of acute, grave and mixed sounds and is used in praise of the Grand Geometrician of the Universe.

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It is based on these facts that Knowle Masonic Centre now provides a 'Music Work Station' which encompasses the needs of most of the orders that meet in our rooms.

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