NEW CUT TRAILS
"Old Tiler, I have made up my mind that there is a fundamentalism and a
modernism in Masonry, as well as in the church. And I am a Masonic
Fundamentalist," began the New Brother.
"That's a fine mouthful of an expression," commented the Old Tiler.
"'Masonic fundamentalist.' If I just knew what it meant, now, I'd go spring
it on someone."
"Don't make fun. This is serious!" protested the New Brother.
"Then be serious and tell me what kind of an animal, if any, a Masonic
fundamentalist is," begged the Old Tiler.
"Why, he is one who finds the ritual all-sufficient as a source of Masonic
light; one who doesn't hold with the higher criticism of Masonic documents
and the old charges and constitutions; one who believes in the exact truth
of the Masonic legends; one who can bridge the gap between written history
since Grand Lodges and the time of King Solomon without a mental effort; in
other words, one who has faith without proof in the reality of the
continuance of Masonry as a system of morality and philosophy right down
from Solomon's time to now!"
"Guess I can't use the expression after all," answered the Old Tiler.
"Too
much of a mouthful."
"Don't you agree that a Masonic fundamentalist is the happier and better
Mason than the modernist Mason?"
"You ask me if I think the ignorant Mason is happier than the educated
one!" returned the Old Tiler, vigorously."If a cow is happier than a
philosopher, I'll agree. But what is happiness? If it makes you happy not
to use your mind, to believe legends and fairy tales, I suppose Masonic
fundamentalism is your proper meat. I am not built that way. I have found
the real story of Freemasonry, as it has been patiently unfolded from the
mists of the dim past by earnest students, a great deal more fascinating
than the legendary history. I have loved the legends more as I have been
able to distinguish between legend and fact. Santa Claus and Hans
Andersen's fairies are much more real to me now than they were when I was a
little boy.
"Instead of being a Masonic fundamentalist, I like to think
of myself as a
Masonic adventurer. And that reminds me of something I cut out of a
magazine; maybe you'd like to read it." The Old Tiler produced a well-worn
pocket-book, from which he extracted a clipping. "Listen to this and see if
it doesn't fit- almost." He read softly Marie LeNarl's beautiful verse,
"The Adventurer."
"God, in the name of Jesus' blood and tears,
Loose us from slavish bondage to dead years,
To dogmas that, encrusted in mould
Of age, no virtue have, save to be old.
Lo! A new era has been ushered in.
Lo! Now the new wine bursts the ancient skin.
Then gird us, Lord, dispel our coward's fears,
Give us the daring hearts of pioneers.
What though in quest of truth we sometimes stray?
Better to seek fresh morsels day by day
Than feed, like swine, on husks before us thrown
From which the inward nourishment has gone.
Better to stray- and struggle back again
If we far surpass our mortal ken-
Old paths for sheep, but new-cut trails for men!"
"Old paths for sheep, but new-cut trails for men," repeated the New
Brother, softly, as the Old Tiler finished. "That's rather fine, isn't it?
"It seems fine to me, whether we speak of religion, or Masonry, or science,
or knowledge, or politics, or government. That which is good and also old,
is not good because it is old, but because it is good. If it isn't good in
itself, we ought to throw it overboard, regardless of its age. To persecute
those who think differently from constituted authority is an old doctrine.
It was old when the Inquisition made it new. But it wasn't good, was it,
just because it was old? Slavish obedience to a king, regardless of right
and justice, was an old idea when the Magna Carta was signed; it was older
when the Liberty Bell first rang in this country, but it wasn't good just
because it was old.
"Brotherly love was known long before King Solomon; it is as good today as
it was then, but not because of its age, but because of its goodness.
"'Old paths for sheep.' I am no sheep! As best I can, I keep my feet upon
new-cut trails. But I hold fast to the staff of the Ancient Landmarks, and
all that is good in our order; I try to cast overboard the superstition and
the slavish adherence to doctrine. I do not, for instance, believe that
certain consequences which we agree shall follow failure to keep our
obligations are to be taken literally. If William Morgan was slain by
Freemasonry, in 1826 (which he was not!) I don't believe it was right, even
though it was deserved. Neither did the Freemasons of that age believe it
was right. But a Masonic fundamentalist must take such things literally. I
do not believe that Solomon established the Grand Lodge, and met, as Grand
Master, with two other Hirams, also Grand Master. Yet I believe in the
essential truths contained in the Solomon legend, and in the essential
truth and beauty contained in the Hiramic legend.
"What difference does it make whether George Washington did, or did not,
cut down a cherry tree, and refuse to tell a lie about it? Washington is an
ideal, an embodiment of truth. If that ideal can be taught to children with
a story, then the story is true, whether it ever happened or not. If men
are taught fidelity and loyalty and bravery and honor and honesty by the
Hiramic legend, it is true, whether it ever happened or not. Santa Claus is
true, whether the children's saint be an actual fat old man living in a toy
shop at the North Pole, or just a happiness in men's hearts.
"To my mind the more of the truth we know, the more we value the legends.
Therefore, I try to be a student of the real history of Masonry, that I may
love its stories, its myths and its symbols the more. No sheep, the new-cut
trail is under my feet and will be, while these old eyes can follow it- ."
The Old Tiler's voice trailed off into silence.
"I'm following after, if you give me a hand," answered the New Brother
gently. "'New-cut trails for men!'"
back to top
|
