DiotimosReading Desk

Initiation character and ethical life

Will and discipline

Will; will; dominion

Will names a capacity to direct action, while discipline is the sustained ordering of conduct.

From the book

Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Orientation

At a Glance

  • The wordWill names a capacity to direct action, while discipline is the sustained ordering of conduct.
  • In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryThe introduction places bodily operations under the dominion of the Will.
  • In this editionCapitalized Will and ordinary will are shown separately.
  • A place to readI.26: … “all the operations of the body under the dominion of the Will. In freeing the Ego” …

Meaning

Will names a capacity to direct action, while discipline is the sustained ordering of conduct. The book applies direction both to the individual and to obedience within a fraternity.

Use in the book

The introduction places bodily operations under the dominion of the Will. The metaphysical discussion later connects human self-consciousness with the capacity to distinguish good and evil and exercise free will. The candidate's promise to submit to constitutions and regulations introduces an institutional use of disciplined action.

Places to read

  1. Original Introduction · Block 26… “all the operations of the body under the dominion of the Will. In freeing the Ego from the dominion of the appetites, passions, and the whole lower nature. The idea is” …
  2. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 171… “and consequently which would procure the gift of free-will. "”
  3. Rules and Regulations · Block 21“19. "The candidate shall solemnly promise to submit to the Constitutions, the Charges, Regulations, and such other Usages as shall be intimated to him in time and place convenient.”

In this edition

Capitalized Will and ordinary will are shown separately. The ordinary word also serves as an auxiliary verb, so its count is not a count of philosophical references.

Reading the argument

Self-government and submission to a superior are related in Clymer's program, but they are not identical. A reader should ask how the order's demands are supposed to develop the judgment that genuine initiation requires.

Will

“Will” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: I.26.

will

“will” — 65 occurrences in 52 text blocks: I.2–4, 10, 12, 20, 22, 26–27; M.9, 14, 17, 26, 30, 36, 44, 48, 61, 63, 68–69; F.55, 79, 82, 89, 93, 105, 111, 130, 170–171; S.5, 12, 25, 31, 52, 74, 83, 85, 110, 124, 130, 143; R.8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 23–24; N.80, 184.

dominion

“dominion” — 5 occurrences in 4 text blocks: I.26; M.41; F.39; R.8.