Lessons for the Participants of Cognitive-Cultic Work 1906–1924

GA 265a — 6 July 1909, Kassel

The Tasks of a Lodge

Notes by Franz Seiler

What the lodge should mean to the mason. We are not actually standing in front of the lodge door, but have only entered the forecourt, where the symbols are shown to us, but we are not yet able to see the truth corresponding to the symbols.

In the lodge, however, we are given the means by which, if we persist in applying them, we can bring about the opening of the door of the lodge itself. The lodge itself is a reflection, a symbol in its entire design. The room, the state of the room, every object in it, has great and powerful significance.

When we entered the lodge, we did so blindfolded. This symbolizes that we are entering a world that we are not yet able to see. The darkness of the lodge that welcomes us represents the darkness that still surrounds us when we face external things; only gradually will the external objects become sharply defined. This is brought about by the light that comes to us from the altars. That is why we have three altars with sacrificial candles burning on them. These altars are dedicated to wisdom, beauty and strength.

The two columns not only represent the Pillars of Hercules, through which man came from the Lemurian period into the Atlantean period, they also represent the columns of blood, the red and the blue bloodstream. The red healthy blood and the blue corrupted blood. Over time, blood has become increasingly worse after near-marriage has developed into far-marriage. This blood must be improved again and again. However, the possibility of improvement through the wisdom left to us by the gods and the air stream is dwindling more and more. The air is being depleted, and there will come a time when man must have the possibility from within himself to be able to effect this improvement of the blood.

The Tapis shows us how there is light and darkness in the world, and challenges us to brighten, radiate through and illuminate the darkness.