S2E1: A Path to Providence

Way of the Hermit

In this first episode of the second season of the “Way of the Hermit” podcast we are “tying up loose ends” left over from last season. In this first part of our two-part season opener, we are looking at the book “A Path to Providence: The Creation of the Middle Chamber Program.”
The Way of the Hermit Podcast: https://www.wayofthehermit.com
In "A Path to Providence", authors Shaun Bradshaw and Ben Wallace address the problems within modern Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite, offering solutions to revive the esoteric core of the craft. The book tells the story of the founding of the first "Traditional Observance" Lodge in North Carolina and the creation of an esoteric Masonic study program called "The Middle Chamber". It explains how the deeper meanings behind Masonic symbols were lost or forgotten in the post-World War II era, when membership swelled but understanding of the esoteric side diluted. Freemasonry today still largely reflects this era, with a focus on charities and business meetings rather than the profound truths of the ritual. Seekers of Masonic enlightenment often feel they are in the wrong place and drift away from the fraternity.
Traditional Observance Masonry, a movement that began in the 1990s, aims to revive traditional Masonic practices, rituals, and symbolism to provide a more contemplative experience focused on esoteric and allegorical meanings. Andrew Hammer's book "Observing the Craft" is considered a manifesto of the movement, emphasizing the importance of taking time to observe and understand the wisdom within the symbols. In 2013, Sophia Lodge No. 767 was created as the first Traditional Observance Lodge in North Carolina, openly dedicated to the pursuit of esoteric knowledge. The book "A Path to Providence" shows how Brothers Bradshaw and Wallace addressed the problems of Freemasonry from the inside, making it official and sustainable through years of concerted effort. It also lays out a program of study that fills in much of the esoteric knowledge that is lacking in modern Masonic education. And they make a case that the time is ripe for a Masonic esoteric renaissance.
Chapters:

• 01:15 Introduction
• 05:49 A Path To Providence
• 08:50 Your Grandfather’s Freemasonry
• 11:07 The Esoteric Closet
• 15:21 Traditional Observance
• 17:45 Sophia Lodge
• 20:59 The Middle Chamber Program
• 24:49 The Inner Chamber Experience
• 27:59 The Key to the Mysteries
• 30:12 Summary & Outreach
• 32:08 Conclusions

Resources:

• Observing the Craft by Andrew Hammer
• The Way of the Craftsman by Kirk McNulty
• Contemplative Masonry by Chuck Dunning
• The Meaning of Masonry by Walter Wilmshurst
• Free Masonry: It's Hidden Meaning by George Steinmetz
• The Initiatic Experience by Rob Herd
• The Rough and Rugged Road by Tony Hornsby
• In Search of Light by Bob Davis