TELL THE WORLD
“Neither are you to suffer your zeal for the Institution to lead you
into an argument with those who, through ignorance, may ridicule it.”
This cautionary sentence in the Charge to an Entered Apprentice
deserves more elaboration than it usually receives; he sits in a good
lodge, the Worshipful Master of which instructs both the new and the
older brethren in regard to many matters connected with the
Fraternity which are in no sense secret, yet which strike the profane
as peculiar, odd, sometimes even ridiculous.
Masonry needs no defense before the world, from her members or anyone
else. Yet what the individual may intend just as a criticism may
often require a reasonable answer. The Mason who understands his
Freemasonry, and so can make such a reasonable answer, is not
“arguing with ignorance” but spreading light; if he really knows
whereof he speaks, he may speak without profit to himself and honor
to the Fraternity.
Perhaps nothing in the Fraternity has caused more criticism from the
outside world than the well-known disposition of Master Masons to
prefer Masons to non-Masons as objects of relief, as business
connections, as social comrades. The world says, in effect: “What
right has Masonry to say that Masons are more worthy of charity than
non-Masons; that business men who are Masons have a better right to
business from Masons than non-Masons; that the Fraternity can put any
stamp upon a man which makes him socially more desirable that the man
who is not initiated?”
Especially do we hear from those whose doctrinal beliefs are stronger
than their knowledge of the New Testament:
“Don’t you Masons know that charity should be for all, and no
preference should be shown to one worthy object above another?”
Usually such a criticism may be silenced by quoting St. Paul, the
Epistle to the Galatians, Chapter 6, verse 10:
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Although a Mason is repeatedly abjured to make his charity universal,
he is also told, when bidden to relive the distressed, “more
especially a brother Mason.” He has excellent precedent, since St.
Paul qualified his “good unto all men” with “especially unto them who
are of the household of faith” - that is, to those who are of his
church, his beliefs, were his friends and brethren.
Masons maintain Masonic Homes for the unfortunate among their
brethren, their widows and orphans - and often for their sisters,
daughters, sons, fathers and mothers! No Masonic teaching instructs
that a Mason should not contribute to other charities. The
continually insistent teaching of charity through all the degrees,
especially the entered Apprentice Degree; the continual reminder of
the importance of charity in opening and closing all lodges, do put
emphasis upon Masonic brethren, but exclude no one from Masonic
charity.
In the monitorial work about the “Bee Hive,” in the Master Mason
Degree, we are taught of the advantages of dependence. Without
dependence; societies, nations, families and congregations could not
be formed or exist. But the very solidity of the group, predicated
upon mutual independence, also creates this idea of distinction in
relief or friendship or business as between those without and those
within the group. This feeling is universal. The church gives
gladly to all good works, but most happily to relieve those of its
own faith. Our government considers the welfare of its own nationals
before that of the nationals of other governments. The head of a
family will not deny his own children clothes to put a coat upon the
back of the naked child of his neighbor. Those we know best, those
closest, those united in the tightest bonds, come first with us the
world over and in every from of union.
Naturally then, a Mason is taught that while charity is in theory for
all, in practice it is for “more especially a brother Mason.”
What is true of charity is true of business and of social
intercourse. It is false teaching that Masonry should bring business
to any man because he is a Mason. It is good Masonic instruction
that a Mason should give business to his brother. That a Mason who
thinks of the stranger who wears a Masonic pin, “What can he do for
me?” is not a good Masons. He who sees the pin and thinks. “What may
I do for him?” is a true brother. To give one’s custom to a Mason is
to practice the tie of brotherhood; to ask for business from a Mason
because of their brotherhood is to belie it.
Other things being equal, a brother prefers to deal with a brother, a
son with a father and a father with his sons.
Other things being equal, a Mason prefers to deal with a Mason.
But if other things are not equal, no obligation predicates business
upon Masonry. It is wholly a matter of desire, of a wish to serve
the brother for whom the heart feels affection.
Some manners and customs peculiarly Masonic arouse the unthinking
laughter of those who understand them not. No need for argument
regarding them exists, but sometimes an honest question deserves an
honest answer.
The psychologist finds in the grandiloquent titles of officers in
some fraternal orders what he calls “an avenue of escape from
reality.” His theory is that many a man whose success in the world
is but modest, finds a satisfaction in its eminence in being called
Most Exalted High Chief Sachem of the Purple Palace, which he never
obtains in the mundane world.
The non-Masonic student of psychology hearing of “Worshipful Master”
and “Most Worshipful Grand Master” often thinks Masonry has adopted
high-sounding titles for similar reasons.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The Wycliffe Bible (Matthew
xix 19) reads: “Worship thi fadir and thi modir.” The authorized
Version translates “Worshipful to “honor” - “honor thy father and thy
mother.” In parts of England today one hears the Mayor spoken of as
“Worshipful;” the word is used in its ancient sense as meaning one
worthy, honorable, to be respected. “Worshipful” as applied to the
Master of a lodge, does not mean the we should bow down to him in
adoration, as does the word when used in its ecclesiastical sense.
We “Worship” God, but not men. Our Masters, in being called
“Worshipful” are not (as some ignorant critics have said) being put
by us in the same class with God, but are paid tribute of respect in
the language of two or more centuries ago.
Several distinct meanings attached to the word “grand.”
The most common is (Funk and Wagnalls dictionary) “of imposing
character or aspect, magnificent in proportion, extent.” In this way
we speak of the Capital at Washington as “grand;” the nation as a
“grand country,” the coronation of the King of England as a “grand”
ceremony.
But “grand” has another meaning. The same dictionary specifies that
it connotes “preeminence of rank or order, of prime importance,
principal.” In this sense we speak of a “grand” parent, a “grand”
jury, a “grand” total. And it is in this sense that we have a Grand
Lodge - not that it is magnificent, beautiful, gorgeous, but “grand”
in that it is first, primary, principal.
Hence the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge means
simply “The Master, most worthy of respect of the lodge which is
preeminent in rank in Masonry.” There is nothing in common with such
an expression, which has the respectability of a great antiquity
behind it, and “Ineffable Exalted High Cockalorum of the Enchanted
Palace of the Seventh Heaven” or any other similar collection of
meaningless words used to describe the titular head of some mushroom
fraternal order. He who considers our titles in this class is to be
pitied for his ignorance and may be enlightened at his request.
Masonic lodges are seen in public only on three occasions; when
conducting the funeral of a deceased brother, when attending Divine
services in a group, and when laying cornerstones of public
buildings.
Our public contacts with the profane world are thus infrequent. The
comparative unfamiliarity of the public with the proper dress of a
Mason must be at the root of the idea that white aprons are “funny”
or “rather silly.”
Undeniably, a white apron is not sartorially considered a decorative
addition to conventional dress! But neither is the surplice of an
Episcopalian minister, the head dress of an orthodox Jewish Rabbi, or
the silk hat of the formal opera goer a thing of beauty.
The badge of a Mason has the respectability and the symbolism of a
great antiquity. We may not go with some enthusiastic researchers
into Masonic lore as far as the Garden of Eden, and say that the
apron is the modern prototype of the fig leaves worn by our first
ancestors, but in the most ancient religions of Israel, Egypt,
Chaldea and the Orient; we discover that the apron, in one form or
another, was of symbolic significance. In the mysteries of Mithras,
in Persia, candidates were invested with a white apron. Old
carvings, venerable statues, the remnants of ancient writings
thousands of years old all show that the apron was a part of the
formal dress in many religions and initiations.
The apron was a practical matter to stone masons; it protected the
person of the wearer from chafing and injury; and, when equipped with
a pocket, provided the wearer with a convenient receptacle for the
chisel and common gavel.
When the ancient society changed from Operative to Speculative, the
tools of a Mason became symbols for moral instruction; the practical
dress of the hewer of stone, the honorable badge of a Freemason.
When this is made known to the profane, he no longer sees in our
clothing any reason for laughter.
It takes all kinds of people to make a world, and it would be a dull
one if we all thought and acted alike! Being human, Freemasonry has
all kinds of men in her ranks. Each takes from the Ancient Craft
according to his vision. his ability, his knowledge and his desire.
To some it is holy, sacred, a great and glorious opportunity; a real
and vital force; uplifting and ennobling. To others a lodge is just
a place to go, a group of good fellows to meet and know.
It is from these that we hear of the “Masonic Goat” and the supposed
“terrors” of the third degree. Also. so real are these supposed
features of our initiation that the “third degree” has become the
name for the physical and mental tortures practiced by the police to
extort information from unwilling suspects.
Let every interested Freemason lift up his voice when seriously
interrogated regarding the Masonic goat! He violates no “secret”
when he declares that Freemasonry is serious from the first to the
last; that it partakes in no way of the character of initiation of
college fraternities, or the Mystic Shrine, both of which, although
they have their serious moments, are devoted to making a candidate
unhappy for the pleasure of his brethren-to be.
Our third degree was not called the Sublime Degree of Master Mason
because it contained a butting goat! Masons think upon the pitiful
tragedy and the exalted lessons of the Master’s degree with
reverence. No good Mason suffers them to be soiled with the idea of
ribald fun, goats, mechanical tortures or other jokes supposedly
played upon candidates, if it is in his power to prevent it with a
quiet word of truth.
The Entered Apprentice is charged not to let zeal not lead to
argument, yet the last words of the charge are concerned with “the
honor, glory and reputation of the institution,” by which the world
at large may be convinced of its good effects.”
Argue not, but do not refuse the courteous answer to the legitimate
question as to the public contacts of Freemasonry with the world
which, seen in the light of the reasons behind them, are no longer
pegs on which to hang a garment of laughter, but beautiful symbols,
teaching rich lessons to those who understand.
back to top | 
