more light #334
Anti-Masonry & Apathy
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
Dear Friends, Brothers, and Masonic Students;
Anti-Masonry, ignorance, and the lack of critical thinking, is alive and well
in the United States and the world today, just as it has been for centuries.
I used to have a small hand-made sign attached to the driver’s side visor in
my business car; I had it there for years; when I needed it I would simply pull
the visor down and see it, then put it up again. The sign went away in 1997 when
I retired, but the sign is still there in my mind, and I remember it well –
“Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down.”
If you would like to see some comments from Anti-Masons and / or some
ignorant or non-thinking people regarding Freemasonry, as well as some fine
comments from some of our Brother Masons, go to
YouTube. There are 6 pages of comments, but over the last 6 months they have
become unpleasant to insulting and nasty: When you go to the site the link will
take you to, the most recent posts will appear first.
I would suggest that it might be a good idea for Masons to keep my old sign
and slogan in mind when it comes to anti-Masonry, apathy, and bad behavior.
There probably is not much we can do about the real devout anti-Masons of the
world; these are truly the enemies of Freemasonry, who will not be satisfied
until Speculative Freemasonry ceases to exist: They can be differentiated from
the anti-Masons who simply parrot what they hear from our enemies.
There is something we can do about the non-thinking people who parrot the
charges and claims they hear from our enemies: We can educate the members of our
respective Lodges and jurisdictions, and we can educate the uninitiated who are
interested in Freemasonry; even the uninitiated critics are interested in
Freemasonry; if they weren’t they would ignore Freemasonry, and they surely
would not bother to look up Freemasonry on the Internet, and spend time thinking
and talking [by actually speaking or typing] about it: One of the sad things
about the parrots of anti-Masonry is that they are dupes to help the real
anti-Masons – the enemies of Freemasonry – promote their anti-Masonic books,
Cd’s, and speaking engagements – they are making money from Freemasonry in their
efforts to kill it. Another sad thing is the apathy and lack of knowledge of
those who have been initiated.
One of the more important books in my library is titled “Enemies Within” –
‘The Culture of Conspiracy in Modern America’ by Robert Alan Goldberg: Happily
this book is available at www.amazon.com as a Kindle Book for $19.25 and also as
a Hard Cover for $35. I have and use both versions, and they are worth the
price. You can also read an excerpt of the book’s theme in the M.S.A. Short Talk
Bulletin in volume 80 No. 10 dated October 2002 its by the author of the book.
Another good place to go to for a fine article on Anti-Masonry and Conspiracy
Theories in the Scottish Rite research Society’s book Heredom Volume 10 – 2002 –
the article is titled “Anti-Masonic Conspiracy Theories; A Narrative of
Demonization and Scapegoating” by Chip Berlet, the article begins on page 243.
The book ‘Enemies Within’ tells us on page 240; “Dramatic declines in
political participation and membership in voluntary organizations suggests a
broad retreat and the widespread apathy that has plagued millennial America. For
many, conspiracy thinking proves an antidote to powerlessness.”
Apathy also, it seems to me, is a dangerous attitude among the initiated;
thinking that the problem, (anti-Masonry, declining Lodge attendance, and
declining membership through demits and npd’s) will take care of themselves, or
be taken care of by someone else, and ‘my help isn’t needed or wanted’, is also
part of the problem.
In Freemasonry, in addition to the unfounded charges and allegations by the
anti-Masons of the world, it is the lack of Masonic knowledge and apathy among
the initiated that will help our enemies eliminate something that has helped
mankind for centuries. If we want Freemasonry to continue in the centuries to
come it is up to the Freemasons of today to learn more, and educate others,
about Freemasonry, so that even the uninitiated will know what Masonry is and
what it isn’t. Those interested in Freemasonry should be urged to study
Freemasonry; everyone should know what Freemasonry is and stands for; this can
be shouted from the housetops. Freemasonry can stand up to study and
investigation; it’s the charges coming from the anti-Masons that can’t stand up
to study and investigation.
Masons interested in furthering their Masonic knowledge are living in a great
time to do that with all the books, articles, and talks being written on and
about Speculative Freemasonry. Many are available free via the Internet, and
most Masonic writers are happy to deliver talks on Masonry at no cost or a
little something to cover travel expenses. There are also groups such as the
Masonic Society;
the
Scottish Rite Research Society; the
Southern California
Research Lodge; The Masonic
Service Association of North America ; and
The Philalethes Society: I
mention The Philalethes Society last because I’m very partial to it, I always
have been, and while I am a member of all that are listed, plus others, The
Philalethes is the oldest (founded in 1928) and is the premiere Masonic research
society in North America; I think it does a great job in the way of Masonic
information and member benefits for its members, and it keeps improving with
age.
All of these Masonic education groups are worthwhile for any Mason to
participate in, as are hosts of others throughout the world in all the Masonic
jurisdictions. The important thing is to associate with well informed Brethren,
and one of the best places to do that, in addition to your own Lodge, is where
Masonic students congregate. They congregate in Masonic research Lodges,
Societies, Philalethes Chapters, Traditional Observance Lodges, and Masonic
discussion groups.
I have a follow-up article on anti-Masonic charges, which I will send out in
the next issue of the Old LEO Letters in More Light.
Another sign, which I used to have on my desk when I was in business, had my
name on one side, but on the side that faced me it said: “If It Is To Be It is
Up To me” ten 2 letter words – this was followed up with “Make a Difference.”
When it comes to turning around all the falsehoods and declining membership
numbers it might be good to remember and personalize –“If It Is To Be It Is Up
To me – Make a Difference” It’s individual Masons who help their Lodge survive
and thrive.
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