FREEMASONRY: THE SLEEPING GIANT
M.W. Brother Richard A. Kidwell, GM Arizona , presented this challenging
paper as the Keynote Address at the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in
North America on February 22, 1982--the 250th Aniversary of George Washington's
birth. M.S.A. is pleased that M.W. Brother Kidwell allowed us to use it as a
Short Talk Bulletin.
FREEMASONRY: THE SLEEPING GIANT! What a challenging topic to introduce! It
brings to mind the familiar story of Rip Van Winkle who slept so long he failed
to make his contribution to the world. When he awakened, he found himself out of
touch, and he was unable to accommodate to the changes which had taken place
while he slept. Is Freemasonry sleeping while the world is going by? Is
Freemasonry an escape into an unreal world of dreams? Or is Freemasonry an
active and vital force in the shaping of the future?
When we are asked, ''What is Freemasonry?," we respond with a description of
our ancient and honorable fraternity. To the layman, according to Webster, the
word freemasonry has become an un-capitalized noun meaning "a natural or
instinctive fellowship or sympathy." Fellowship is defined as "a company of
equals or friends sharing a community of interest, activity, feeling, or
experience." Sympathy is defined as "united or harmony in action or effect . "
Thus, Freemasonry in its derived definition becomes: "A natural community of
equals, bound by shared experiences and interests, and united in action."
Certainly at one point in our nation's history, Freemasonry was not sleeping.
Though proportionally no greater in number than today, the community of Masons
did indeed display unity in action, and they did indeed produce a harmony in
effect. Our Founding Fathers took pains to create a republic which would protect
America not only from tyranny of foreign governments, but also from any pro
posed domination by their own government. They agreed that "The best government
is the least government." The primary cement binding these men together was
the desire for freedom and justice. The War for Independence grew out of
negotiations for restoration of usurped rights, rights which had been granted to
the citizens of the British Empire since the time of Magna Carta. When the
negotiations were unproductive, the cry of "Taxation without representation" may
well have led St. John's Lodge to exchange the apron for the tomahawk and
sweeten the waters of Boston Harbor with good English tea.
There is some evidence that the colonial lodges were made up of an elite
group. George Washington is said to have paid fees amounting to about $20 for
his degrees, a fee that was far beyond the aspirations of many less affluent
men. But there is also evidence indicating that Masonry was active on the
frontiers. Members of the Order made themselves known to their Brethren and
probably accomplished a good deal of informal recruiting and initiating of good
men who were also dedicated to preserving peace and harmony.
These informal "tavern lodges" provided the only Masonic communication
available outside the established population centers. Thus, there were many
unsung Masonic heroes working for the preservation of a way of life that had
already become precious to them. These men instinctively knew what sort of
foundation had to be laid if this land was to survive. They were inspired with
the realization that Masonry is morality in action, and that their obligations
at the altar of Freemasonry were sacred promises that required appropriate
action. They were committed to a pursuit of excellence embodied in the teaching
of the Fraternity.
The urge for casting off bonds of oppression, for seeking equal rights for
all, and for demanding the intellectual, moral, and spiritual freedom of the
individual has always characterized Masons, not only in this country but in
others. Witness the great Masons around the world--Benito Juarez in Mexico,
Simon Bolivar in South America, Jose Rizal in the Philippine Islands, for
example. Wherever the need for reasserting the doctrine of right and freedom has
emerged, Masons have taken a leading role in the quest for intellectual and
moral liberty.
From the scattered Masonic lodges and congregations of sojourning Masons in
our own 13 colonies, the influence of Masonic principles made itself heard
through our Declaration of Independence, our Articles of Confederation, and our
Constitution with its Bill of Rights. Many of these names are familiar to
all--George Washington, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Edmund Randolph--a
list of these leaders would constitute an Honor Roll of Freemasonry, and it
would include a great portion of our Founding Fathers. Such an Honor Roll must
also include Masons who contributed in a less public manner, such as Brother de
Montesquier who, as early as 1748, wrote of the necessity for three branches of
government and a system of checks and balances between these branches.
Of course, no listing of honored Masons of colonial times would be complete
without paying special tribute to our own Worshipful Brother George
Washington. Not only was he an outstanding Mason at the time and a universal
choice to become General Grand Master of the Grand Lodges of the country, but he
also served as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, Chairman of the
Constitutional Convention, and first President of our new Nation. The
principles which he encouraged and were directly responsible for the development
of our Republic. We are proud to honor him today on the 250th anniversary of his
birth.
Indicative of the future of our form of government were the words of Benjamin
Franklin at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention. As he merged from
the meeting room, he was asked what form of government we had. He replied: "A
Republic, if you can keep it!"
And that is the question facing our nation today: Can we keep it?
Masons helped to form a nation based on human liberty. Those Masons were
knowledgeable and concerned. They realized that the granting of any right
implied a concurrent responsibility. Over the centuries we have shown a
representation of Masonic Brothers in positions of eminence and authority in our
government. However, we have never been able to match the numerical
representation and power exercised by the 13 known Masons who signed the
Constitution--13 out of a total of 39 signers.
Documents and plans for government as masterfully drafted as our
Constitution, however, do not make government; they only make government
possible. Governments are made by people, people who are not limited to
consideration of the monetary problems of the present but, instead, look to the
heritage and tradition of the past and to the unlimited frontiers of the
future. These people see the American Eagle, not as a scavenger and eater of
carrion, but as a soaring symbol of the ideals of those who founded our country.
Free governments are made by people who have the imagination to recognize
the glory of the development of a nation, who have full knowledge of their
rights as individuals and are ready and willing to devise effective means for
the preservation of those rights.
If we as Masons want to assert greater prominence in the governance of our
nation, we must first become knowledgeable. Good Masons are informed and
responsible citizens who know the issues and are willing to stand up and make
themselves heard on matters in accord with the proven principles of our Craft.
Good Masons lead the people in exercising our right to vote on candidates and
issues. But the key word is "knowledgeable." We need first to educate our youth
and our candidates in terms of intellectual rights, individual and civic
responsibilities, and moral conduct. We must make Masons in fact rather than
Masons in name.
Our Brotherhood has the potential for wielding a great deal of power in our
local and national affairs. To do so, we must also make ourselves known and
respected among the people. We must let the public know the principles for
which we stand and become attractively visible in our communities.
Our nation today needs the active support and participation of every Mason
a.s it did when our Constitution was formed. While we can never hope to achieve
the epoch-making accomplishments of our Brethren in George Washington's time,
we must maintain the work which they accomplished. We must remember, too, that
in honoring these Founding Fathers, we are truly honoring their adherence to
their Masonic ideals and their dedication and zeal.
Today we need to revitalize those ideals and help America return to a new
dedication. Many of our people have lost perspective and are viewing this era in
terms of a leisure ethic rather a work ethic; they are looking to government for
solutions to all their problems rather than depending upon their own convictions
and abilities. We are experiencing a decline in respect for law, for morality,
for quality, even for truth as a guide to our actions. We are threatened both
from without and from within, and once again it becomes the obligation of
Masonry to take up our working tools and construct a bulwark of defense that
will stand against any adversary.
The solution is within our grasp. We have the knowledge and the materials to
shape the future of our Fraternity and to influence the future of the nation and
of the world. The way we use our capabilities will determine our destiny.
Masonry has always dedicated its efforts toward taking good men--one at a
time--and making them better men. Then in periods of distress and social
upheaval, these good men, imbued with the philosophy of our Craft, have stepped
forward to lead the world back to the concept of liberty and justice. The
founders of our country were that sort of men. George Washington, the Father of
our Country, was one, as were a great many of those who stood with him when
this nation had its precarious birth.
All of us are Masons, and thousands of our government leaders are Masons. If
we have truly accepted our Masonic education and our Masonic obligations, we
have only to unite our thoughts and actions to create a resurgence of those
virtues on which our nation was founded. We need to apply our working tools in
our collective pursuit of excellence to meet the problems that lie ahead and
to be certain that moral virtue will prevail.
Never in the history of mankind is the inculcation and implementation of
the principles and ideals of Masonry so important, and yet apathy, indifference,
and complacency are common even within our own ranks. If Masonry is to continue
to exist and to be effective, we must relinquish passive principles and become
an aggressive vital force to this nation and among its people. Masonry, by its
very origin, has no choice. It must be a living, breathing force. Masonry must
act through a body of idealistic men applying Masonic principles to a way of
life and bringing about the accomplishment of its goals. We must have Masons
who will match in fortitude and courage those who faced the rack of the inquisition and the bitter cold of Valley Forge; Masons who are alert and faithful to
their convictions and who are ready to struggle to win liberty again in each
generation.
We owe this to our country; we owe this to our people and our way of life; we
owe it to ourselves; and particularly, we owe it to the leaders of tomorrow. Let
us reawaken the sleeping giant--the greatest force for mankind ever conceived in
the minds of men. Let us, too, stand up and be counted.
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