SHOOTING THE MASONIC GUN
GOING so soon?" asked the
Old Tiler, as the New Brother reached for his hat and coat.
"I have a most important Masonic
mission to perform," answered the New Brother, importantly.
"That's interesting,"
answered the Old Tiler. "I like to see new brethren so interested they are
trusted with important Masonic missions. Care to tell me about it?"
" It can wait a
few minutes," answered the New Brother. "It's a family matter. The
young son of one of the members of our sister lodge came to me today to explain
that his father wasn't doing right. He doesn't give the mother any money and the
children need shoes, and this mistaken brother is spending his money on horse
racing -- when he ought to be spending it on his family. The boy knew me and
knew his father belonged to the fraternity. So he asked me to use the influence
of Masonry to make him behave. That's what I am going to do."
"You grow more
interesting every minute." The Old Tiler hitched his chair against the wall
and leaned back. "Tell me what you are going to do in the performance of
this important Masonic mission."
"I am going to
explain to Brother Smith that his conduct is unbecoming that of a Mason, and get
him to reform."
"And if he refuses?"
"I shall then
threaten him with proceedings against him."
"Such as?" inquired the Old
Tiler.
"Why, one prefers
charges, doesn't one? The lodge tries him and inflicts what punishment is
necessary. In this case the punishment would be to Support his family!"
"And while you are thus engaging
in conduct unbecoming a Mason, explaining to him how unbecoming his conduct is,
who will come and explain your unbecoming conduct to you?"
"My unbecoming
conduct! Why, I am going to do nothing unbecoming a Mason!"
"Oh, yes, you
are!" answered thc Old Tiler, emphatically. "In fact, you are trying
to do several un-Masonic things all at once. Even with the best of intentions,
for which I give you credit, you can't succeed in getting any results but being
shown the door, and, maybe, having charges preferred against you!"
"Why, you amaze
me!" countered the New Brother. "I thought that one of the things
Masonry was for was to make men act as they should!"
" You thought
wrong!" answered the Old Tiler. "Masonry exists to teach men to
act as they should, persuade them to do right, encourage them to
be honest and upright, and thoughtful and kindly. But Masonry makes man
do as he should. Masonry does not attempt to usurp the law's work. A man who
will not support his family can be reached through the law. Masonry can reach
him only through his heart. Charges can be preferred against him in his lodge,
but with small prospects of results unless the law has first found him guilty.
Masons try Masons for un-Masonic conduct. If the un-Masonic conduct is a legal
matter, the law usually must first have taken its course. It is not for us to
judge the legal aspects of his conduct, only the Masonic angles. And if he can
say, 'I have done nothing; I am free before the law; my record is clear;' on
what will you convict him?
"Again, my friend,
if this mission of yours is to be performed at all, it must be accomplished by
the lodge, not the individual. If the brother were a member of this lodge, and
son or wife complained to the Master about a brother's conduct, the Master could
appoint a committee to investigate and report to the lodge. But for you, an
individual, to go butting into the family affairs of a man not even a brother of
your own lodge, would be to subject you to insult. Personally, I think lie would
be justified in adding to his insults a swift kick which would land you in the
middle of the pavement. He could well say he had kicked you in defense of his
family!
"The way to reach
this brother, supposing he is doing the wrong thing, is through Masons he knows
and respects. Let the son or wife go to the Master of his own lodge and say that
the man is neglecting them. Let the Master of that lodge reason with him.
Perhaps he needs help. The lodge will give it. Perhaps he is slipping for want
of a friendly hand and sympathetic understanding. His own brethren will give it.
It is not for you, any more than it is for them, to judge this man on one
complaint until an investigation has shown what is the fact.
"You have no
moral, legal, or fraternal right to 'whisper good counsel in his ear' until you
know it is needed. By arrogating to yourself the powers of a Master and
appointing yourself a committee of one to investigate, try, convict, admonish,
and threaten with punishment a brother Master Mason, however good your
intentions, you show yourself guilty of un-Masonic conduct and a decidedly
un-Masonic ignorance. Where are you going now?"
"Back into
lodge!" The New Brother hung up his hat. "To see if I can learn
something about this Masonic gun before I attempt to fire it!'
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