GUARDING THE LODGE PORTALS
by Julius F. Sachse
THE AMERICAN
FREEMASON - AUGUST 1911
One of the most impregnable
safeguards against the admission of an unworthy applicant into
the Masonic Fraternity ought to be the Committee to whom his
petition is referred for investigation as to character. It is
naturally assumed that none but those whose record will bear the
closest scrutiny can emerge unscathed from the Committee's
ordeal. This, however, is not always the case. It sometimes
happens that the name of a man whose record is tainted, and who
may at some time or other have been guilty of acts which would
make an honorable and upright citizen blush, is permitted to
cross the threshold of Freemasonry and brought on a level with
those whose unimpeachable character has given to the Fraternity
the dignity and prestige it has always enjoyed among the
organized bodies of the community. Even in far off New
Zealand the necessity for this safeguard has been recognized,
that as in other parts of the world, too much care cannot be
taken in the admission of candidates for Freemasonry, and that
the portals cannot be too carefully guarded. To further this
purpose in the Christchurch District, New Zealand, an
association has been formed of Past Masters of various Lodges.
From this association came a suggestion for the establishment of
a United Board of Inquiry which was eventually formed, and has
proven a grand success. It was therein agreed that no man should
be admitted to membership to any Lodge duly represented in
this Board of Inquiry, until his name had been submitted and
approved by that body. The plan proved to have been a wise
proposal, because whilst it does not question the right of a
Lodge to admit any man it pleases, even though he may have
been rejected by the Board; minor difficulties, it appears, have
arisen; but were met in a truly Masonic spirit. This Board of
Inquiry has issued a pamphlet, a copy of which is in the Grand
Lodge Library of Pennsylvania, setting forth the duties of both
proposer and seconder. Many of the suggestions set forth in this
paper apply as well here in America as they do in the antipodes,
and should be carefully read by every Master or Brother into
whose hands this copy may fall. The desire for membership
should in every case emanate from the candidate and never by
suggestion from a Mason. The candidate is called upon to declare
that he has not been influenced by solicitations; it therefore
behooves us to be extremely careful that no man shall ever be
placed in the position of having to give a false answer to the
first question put to him in a Masonic Lodge. He should realize
that he confers no privilege upon Masonry by joining the Craft,
but on the contrary that the privilege is bestowed upon
him. Freemasonry is made far too mysterious; Masons are too
reticent in talking about Masonry to the outside world. Let us
examine the facts fairly, and we shall recognize that the only
real secrets we hold are those dealing with methods of
recognition: all else in Masonry is free to all men and cannot
be too widely known. Surely the knowledge of the duty which
every man owes to his God, his neighbor and himself is not
the sole prerogative of Masons. The duties which Masons
are taught in the Lodge are not intended to apply to one day per
month only; but each day an advancement in Masonic knowledge is
enjoined upon every Brother on initiation; and what is Masonic
knowledge but a due appreciation of those duties above
mentioned? Candidates should understand that the basis of
Masonry is the practice of the highest principles of piety and
virtue and a strict observance of civil law. How many men have
joined the Order who afterwards were disappointed in finding
that true obedience to the laws of the state were insisted upon;
they were surprised to learn that Almighty God was recognized as
the Supreme Ruler of the Universe and that Masonry was a
distinctly religious and not a revolutionary organization. If
these great principles were more closely identified with
practical Freemasonry, how much more good would have been
accomplished. Candidates should be further instructed that
personal benefits of a social or pecuniary character must not be
expected, that the very thought of such is in itself a
disqualification, for they are called upon to declare that they
are uninfluenced by such motives. Let them understand that
no man by reason of his wealth can purchase membership to
the Order; that the fee demanded of him at his initiation is not
a payment for admission, but simply as an earnest of his desire
to give to those requiring aid. He is called upon to publicly
declare his sentiment, when placed for a moment in a position of
helplessness and utter destitution (a position which
unfortunately is occupied in reality by thousands of his
fellow-men), and from this trial to learn the duty he owes to
those needing assistance. These fundamental principles
should be explained to, and understood by every candidate. To
admit a man without this knowledge might render Masons liable to
an accusation for obtaining money under a
misapprehension. Every Mason should, for the protection of
the Craft, maintain proper safeguards against the admission of
men who may be unfitted by reason of social or moral
disqualifications, and whilst admitting Masonry is a luxury, we
do not for one moment infer that the qualifications for
membership can be judged by the possession of pounds sterling;
on the contrary it must be admitted that very often the cleaner
lives are found in the ranks of those who are struggling for
existence. Still it should be closely understood by every
candidate that Masonry is not a benefit society, neither does it
undertake to confer pecuniary benefit upon its members. Care
must also be taken against proposing or seconding a man for
membership whose application is based upon curiosity; it is
therefore imperative that more than a passing acquaintance
should exist before accepting the responsibility of naming
him to the Brethren. Cases have been known where a Brother
has seconded a proposal pro forma; this should never be done,
because the proposer and seconder occupy equal responsibility.
Care should be taken to explain that the benefits of Masonry are
purely ethical, that its mission is to raise the moral code,
that its principles are based upon the Volume of the Sacred Law.
It prepares its members for the great and mysterious future and
to this end it insists upon the practice of every social and
moral virtue by the exercise of a vigorous personal discipline.
It aspires to raise the Order to such an eminence that the great
Masonic principles of life may be so reflected in its members
that all good men may desire admission to its ranks. If
candidates are instructed on these lines and after understanding
what Masonry really is, still desire membership, then we may
welcome such men and profit by their admission. It may
here be asked when can a proposer or seconder feel safe in
accepting the responsibility of nomination? We cannot lay down
any rule, but simply say if the proposer and seconder are fully
alive to the importance of the act, conscience governed by
prudence will seldom fail them. Never allow the financial
position of your Lodge to influence you. If your Lodge is strong
it may add to its usefulness by the admission of men who will
carry on the work of Freemasonry. If your Lodge is weak, tax
yourselves and make it strong. If temporary misfortune overtakes
you, which your united effort is unable to meet, call upon your
Masonic Brethren for assistance and avoid the humiliating
position of going outside for capital to enable you to carry on
the work of your Lodge. The drowning man will clutch at a straw,
but it will not save him; he knows it full well, but the urgency
of his position causes him to take hold of the first substance
his hand can reach; in like manner we fear many Lodges, for
financial reasons, have admitted men into the Order more for
their guineas than for their fitness for membership. Consider
whether it would not be better to surrender a Charter than to
use the power which that charter gives, by admitting men
into the privileges of Masonry who may be unworthy. In
conclusion we wish to make it clear that nothing in this paper
is intended as a reflection upon any Brother or upon any
particular Lodge, quite the contrary; it is intended to apply to
every Mason and to every Lodge not as a direction but simply as
a Masonic idea expressed by one Brother to another for the good
of Freemasonry in general. back to top
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