Politics

It's often claimed that Masons don't discuss politics as Masons or within the Masonic Lodge.  Reading no further than the first few pages of the famous Masonic work 'Morals and Dogma' proves the lie of this claim.

What Masons don't discuss and shouldn't discuss as such is partisan politics for doing so can have no result but disharmony within the lodge.  Masons should, and in my experience do, shy away from discussion of political figures and specific political issues.  This is as it should be.

Masons may however, and many do, discuss broad political principals upon which all reasonable and truthful men can agree.  Examples of this abound, from the writings of Brother Pike, to the credit Freemasonry is due for our nation's public school systems, to the fact that our nation was founded in large part by Freemasons and based upon Masonic principals.

As individuals it is always easy to get carried away thinking about political candidates and the political issues of the day.  This is especially easy perhaps for me, given the fact that my vocation is openly political and openly partisan.  It is however always helpful to step back and forget about the candidates and the current issues for a time and instead focus upon those broad Masonic political ideas that have been with us since time immemorial.

The ideas of individual liberty, opposition to tyranny, the political belief in the importance of education, the right and duty of man to stand in opposition to that which is harmful to the good, and so many more.

When we take some time to consider the principals of our fraternity we gain great perspective on the events of the day and the people who shape those events.  This brings us wisdom, which must be a goal of every Freemason.

To Subdue My Passions

"...To Subdue My Passions..."

It seems like this is an easy little phrase, but I think that perhaps it can be misunderstood as easily as understood.

'To Subdue' does not mean 'To Eradicate.'  We, as Freemasons are not seeking to eradicate our passions or to remove them from our lives, for without passion life is without color and vibrancy, it becomes nothing but a dull emotionless grey.  We are seeking to master and control our passions so that they are ruled by our will, and not allowed to control us.

This mastery or control sets us apart from those masses of men who like the animals are driven by little else than base need and passion.  We seek to rule our desires and passions with our reason.  When we succeed in this we have mastery over ourselves.

'My Passions' is not limited to those things that society considers to be bad somehow, or that we consider to be bad.  Our passions are things that are both good and bad.  In turn, we must master and control both the good and the bad for even a passion for a good, if taken too far can become a negative.

The old adage is true, too much of a good thing can turn that good thing bad.  Moderation in even our positive passions is a goal that should be striven for, as is called for in our shared ritual.

Our positive passions drive us towards excellence and greatness when properly controlled by our will and directed by our reason.  Without this direction and control they must either loose their power to positively change us or rebound to harm instead of help.

The Promise of Freemasonry

When I am all alone, in the dead of night, with nothing to occupy myself but my own thoughts, if I am completely honest with myself and critically review every facet of my life, then I must admit to myself that Freemasonry has fulfilled its promise to me.  Freemasonry has improved my life, it has taken this good man and through its teachings has made him a better man.

It is for that reason alone that I am willing to devote so much of myself to it.  Freemasonry takes up a great deal of my time.  It demands much thought and attention each and every day.  If I add it all up it is clear that Freemasonry claims a good deal of my income as well.  I do all of this for the furtherance of Freemasonry, to do my best to ensure that it remains a vital and vibrant part of my community, so that other men may experience its promise just as I have.  To further its mission of improving our world by improving individual men, one at a time.

To experience the promise of Freemasonry and initiate must spend his time, and do work.  Mental work, but work nonetheless.  He must study, consider, and learn the truths of Masonry himself, and then apply those truths to his own life.  If he does this he will improve his life, he will make himself into a better man.

Some men do this after their initiation, others do not.  Like all things in life it is decided by the individual's free choice.  Just as membership in the Masonic Fraternity must be sought out by he who desires it, so too must the lessons of Masonry be sought out and found by he who wants to learn them.

Those of us who have come before can help the new initiate on his quest for 'Light' by encouraging him to seek it out, and by providing him with a vibrant, active, welcoming, and supportive lodge of men from within which he can pursue his own personal search for that treasure which Freemasonry freely offers to its initiates.