THE VALUE OF MASONIC LIBRARIES
Bro. Kaulback is a Past Master and current Treasurer of Charles W. Moore
Lodge, Fitchburg, MA. He is a graduate of Fitchburg State College and is serving
the Samnuel Crocker Lawrence Library, of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts as its
Library Technician.
As you read this STB please hear in mind that as Bro. Kaulback talks about
The library in Boston he is really describing all Masonic libraries. Editor
ARE YOU A MASONIC STUDENT?
Masonic ritual teaches us to be general lovers of the arts and sciences,
particularly geometry or Masonry. We know ourselves in this day and age as
speculative Masons, not operative, as in the Middle Ages when the great
cathedrals of the world were built by our brothers of long ago. What does the
term speculative mean and how does this relate to our lives, both in and out of
the lodge room, today?
The definition of speculative, is: "1. Pertaining to, the nature of, or
characterized by speculation, contemplation, conjecture, or abstract reasoning.
2. Theoretical, rather than practical." Simply stated it means to think and to
study. We are all under an obligation to be Masonic students; from the moment we
take the Entered Apprentice Degree, we cannot advance in Freemasonry without
learning and reciting the lessons taught in that degree. As we proceed through
the degrees in Masonry, many lessons are put before us to be learned, and more
importantly, understood, before we can advance further. It is this continual
learning process and our putting the lessons we have studied to use that makes
us better men and better Masons. The true precepts of Masonry are meaningful
only when put into practice and used in our day to day lives.
One of the more famous names connected with modern Masonic literature is John
Robinson. Mr. Robinson's book "Born in Blood" was written long before he
entertained any thought of becoming a Freemason. He studied Masonry and became
knowledgeable in its history and its philosophy. He became well known for his
defense of Freemasonry on the radio and in print. When asked why he had not
joined Freemasonry his response was "I can do a better job explaining
Freemasonry without being a member and have more credibility by not joining."
Mr. Robinson eventually did join the fraternity because he admired its
principles after years of having actively studied them. Here was a man, not even
a Mason, who took the time to look into Masonry and its principles and
philosophy and was so impressed by what he found that he undertook to defend
Masonry without even being a member himself.
The work of Masonry is to study! It is noble work which purifies the heart
and clarifies the mind. The house of Freemasonry has many rooms; each room
teaches different lessons such as brotherly love, charity for all mankind, love
of deity, morality, truth, and tolerance. Freemasonry is a philosophy that
teaches and brings out all that is good in man. That Masonry is a philosophy, a
way of life, is the very essence of what sets us apart from other organizations.
It is for this reason that all Masons should be Masonic students and we should
all strive to read and study Masonry and put what we learn to use. It is the
lessons of Masonry that unite us as brothers in the world wide fraternity of
Masonry, for we know that we share a common philosophy.
It is an interesting feeling to be asked by a non-mason "What is
Freemasonry?" It is even more interesting when you, yourself, realize that you
really don't know what it is. This can and does happen.
Do you know if your Lodge or Grand Lodge has a library? If it has, have you
visited or contacted it? Are you familiar with the latest books on Masonry and
where to locate them'? Do you know what the latest anti-Masonic books are and
where to locate them? This last is an important question, for it is here that
the study of Masonry shines through the clouds that the advocates of
anti-Masonry would have us believe exist. To answer the questions and charges
brought against us as Masons we must understand clearly who we are, and be able
to defend what we stand for. The only way to accomplish this is to read and
study not only what we are but what we were in ages past, who were the Masons of
long ago and how did they meet these questions.
Our Masonic Libraries and Museums must be able to educate the public at large
about our craft. They must serve as information sources to dispel the rumors and
outright lies that are told to the public. Many of the people who disseminate
this wrongful information do not understand Freemasonry and have themselves been
given information that is skewed and twisted. We as the keepers of the Masonic
Flame of truth must be the leaders in dispelling these rumors and be a source of
light to the public.
In a paper entitled "Working Tools Less Used," John Platt, Director of the
Masonic Library and Museum in Philadelphia explores the trials and tribulations
of Masonic libraries and librarians. Here in Boston we have what is believed to
be one of the best Masonic research libraries in North America. The libraries at
Philadelphia, New York, and Iowa are also top ranked, as are several others.
Masonic libraries serve the fraternity and act as "keepers of the flame" of
Masonic literature and philosophy. We have the history and knowledge of
Freemasonry at our fingertips, yet how many in the fraternity make use of this
wonderful and useful "working tool"?
The Boston Masonic Library has had a long and useful 181 years of helping to
spread the light of Freemasonry in this state. In a report to the Grand Master
in 1988, Bro. Robert A. Gilbert of Bristol, England, wrote: "Although the
library of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is among the most important of
Masonic Libraries, this fact has not generally been recognized as it is both
under-utilized by Brethren, and Masonic Libraries have yet to be integrated into
the accepted academic and institutional library systems."
Our Masonic Libraries are begging for Masons to make more use of them, but
the sad truth is that the vast majority of Masons do not read or study about the
Fraternity or its history. We here in Boston have a collection of over 100,000
Masonic titles and close to 50,000 non-Masonic titles in our library, also over
60 drawers of clippings, Lodge histories, biographical materials, sheet music,
book plates, postcards, and philatelic material all relating to Masonry. We
otter not only reading material, but also video and audio material. We have a
mailing service that all masons in the state can make use of and receive books
or other materials delivered to their front door by mail. We are open to the
general public and have been able to help many college students who have elected
to study some aspect of Freemasonry for papers they work on. Their interests are
many and varied, from Masonic artifacts to the study of Masonic philosophy
itself. We also have a Masonic museum that contains items from 1733 on. Our
history in this state has many famous names connected to it including; Joseph
Warren, Paul Revere and other well known patriots.
We in Boston are working towards the goal of computerizing this library to
make it more "user friendly" and to enable the exchange of information between
libraries both Masonic and non-masonic throughout the United States. This goal
is most important to the "Masonic Library and Museum Association," an
international organization of Librarians, Archivists, Curators, and Directors,
under the leadership of John Platt of Pennsylvania President, and Cynthia Alcorn
of Massachusetts Vice President. This organization represents Masonic Librarians
and Curators from all over the world and is active in solving the problems that
are common to Masonic Libraries .
It is exciting to see that the younger Masons that are joining are very
interested in the written literature of Masonry. They seem to understand that
Freemasonry is a study society and must be researched at length to be
appreciated to its fullest extent. These young Masons are actively looking into
the symbolism of our craft and looking for the deeper meanings of our rituals.
Did you know that in some European Countries not only do the Candidates wait at
least a year between degrees, but they have to write a thesis on how they spent
that year as a Mason practicing the virtues of the degree they are working on?
Then they have to read the paper before the lodge and have it approved before
they advance to the next degree.
In conclusion, let me reaffirm the importance of being a Masonic student and
making use of your local Masonic Library. We must read, study and practice the
lessons we are taught in the lodge in order to be better Masons, and better
human beings. Take time out of our busy life, even if it is only 10 -15 minutes
a day, to study Masonry and its philosophy, read a Masonic book, or discuss
Masonry with a brother. You won't regret it! Pass this thought on to other
Masonic brethren and introduce them to the "light" that we all seek as
speculative Freemasons. We must remember that each and every one of us represent
a link to the public and to potential members that may never have heard about
Freemasonry until we talk to them about it. We must be our own publicity agents
and salesmen if we expect to survive. In the past Freemasonry has always been an
agency for good that was quiet, but represented a forceful presence that was
well thought of. Today many people do not know of our existence, let alone the
good we do in our charitable work every day. We all must read, act, and think as
Masons each day to be true to our noble and gentle Craft.
Visit your local Masonic Library and take out a book or two to read, you
won't regret it. You will find some very knowledgeable people in your libraries
that can help you to become better and more informed Masons, so don't be afraid
to ask questions and discuss the topics that interest you, that is what we are
there for. We are here to help further your Masonic Education and better prepare
you to tell the world at large what our Craft is all about and what we
represent.
A human being cannot stand immovable and uninfluenced in the midst of life as
a rock stands in the wash of the tide. His life goes on every moment influencing
and being influenced. And life is full and rich, happiness comes, when we so
understand ourselves, and the world, and the forces of nature that we can
harmoniously adjust ourselves thereto. The report of what nature, the world,
life really are, that is truth; and the items of information which we need to
have in order to know the truth, that is knowledge. A wise man desires truth and
seeks knowledge, not in order to pose as a scholar or a learned man, but in
order that he may live happily.
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