THE PERAMBULATION

"And it came to pass at the seventh time, when
the priests blew with trumpets, Joshua said
unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city."

Jos. 6:16

As an indication that they are duly and truly prepared to be initiated, passed and raised in the first three Masonic degrees, candidates for Freemasonry are caused to circumambulate the lodge. Also referred to as a perambulation, the candidate's travels during the degree is one of the more important ritual tasks to be performed. Hymns and prayers are recited, drawn from passages in the Holy Writings. Depending upon whether he is being initiated as an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, or raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, as candidate's perambulation becomes increasingly extensive. It is fair to ask both why this tradition is followed and what it symbolizes.

The scripture cited above is from the book of Joshua and refers to the circumambulation by the priests prior to the collapsing of the walls of Jericho. Since it is not likely that mere trumpet blasts caused stone to crumble, either the trumpet symbolizes a much more powerful force, or the entire episode is intended to convey a wiser and more serious truth.

In his recent book, Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark, Laurence Gardner hypothesizes that the trumpet represented a powerful fusion force emanating from the Ark of the Covenant. While that may be true, there is presently no way of either confirming or denying that possibility. However, in that the Old Testament, as well as the entirety of the Holy Bible is littered with allegorical tales, it is equally likely that Freemasonry, which has been in existence longer than Mr. Gardner has been writing, adopted the allegorical meaning as the foundation for the present day perambulation by candidates in Masonic lodges.

During ancient rites of the worship of Deity, designated holy men moved solemnly around sacred objects in a circular manner. Such movement was an integral part of the ritual used by the Hindus and Buddhists. In Islam, circumambulation is used during holy services at Mecca. In each, the movement was intended to represent the spiritual transition of man from daily life to spiritual perfection. That transition was to be accomplished in stages as each man moved more closely in his life and education to the spiritual energy of the Deity.

This ancient custom is retained in Masonry, but its meaning has been generally forgotten. In some present-day Masonic organizations a tension exists between those brethren who wish to pursue the esoteric lessons taught by the Craft and those brethren who prefer a strict adherence to Masonic ritual, which has evolved over at least the past two centuries. Some in the esoteric camp say that the rigid adherence to ritual neglects the more important tenets of sacred ancient philosophy. Certain adherents to the "ritual-only" camp believe that Masonry is practiced in its purest form by working to attain "word-perfect" ritualistic performance. In classic Hermetic tradition, both are equally correct and incorrect.