WHO COMES HERE?


The peculiar Traits of a Freemason


By Karlo Hameder


Divider


Webmaster Note: What follows is an extract from a book [I have not read] by Don Bradley titled, "Freemasonry in the 21st Century," — not quite favorably received by Northamerican Freemasons, — brought to us by Karlo Hameder.   Whatever the opinions and merits of argumentations of those American Brethren, the 15 points reported below by Hameder, deemed by him, I am sure, as admirable traits found or expected to be found in a Freemason, are worthy of our consideration, and should be repeated in our lodge from time to time, so that they become imbued in our hearts and minds, and guide our actions as Masons or, better, as good human beings.



Who comes here?


Someone once said this: "Our Constitution (referring to the general constitution which all Freemasons, with minor differences, are guided by) is not written in the sand, so that each new gust of wind and each new wave of policy may wipe it out."

In the profane publication, the American Yearbook for farmers (Farmers' Almanac) for 1823, a definition of the character of a real Freemason was published, immoderately quoted for the past two centuries, saying the following: "The real Freemason is distinguished from the rest of Mankind by the uniform unrestrained rectitude of his conduct. Other men are honest in fear of punishment which the law might inflict — are religious in expectation of being rewarded, or in dread of the devil, in the next world. A Freemason would be just even if there were no laws, human or divine, except those written in his heart by the finger of his creator. In every climate, under every system of religion, he is the same. He kneels before the Universal Throne of God in gratitude for the blessings he has received and humble solicitation for his future protection. He venerates the good men of all religions. He disturbs not the religion of others. He restrains his passions, because they cannot be indulged without injuring his neighbor or himself. He gives no offense, because he does not choose to be offended. He contracts no debts which he is certain he cannot discharge, because he is honest upon principle."

Many years ago, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a Nobel Peace Laureate, at the time when he was visiting a Freemason friend in Sombor, Yugoslavia, Serbia, recorded these words: "It's not enough merely to exist. Every man has to seek in his own way to make his own self noble and to realize his own true worth."

Don Bradley, in his book Freemasonry in the 21st Century, offers a 15-point definition of the personality traits of a Master Mason, the last stage of Masonic development for the majority of the Brotherhood:


1. Master Masons do not have selfish interests. All they do, say, and think is for the welfare of others.

2. Vanity is dead for them. They see themselves as they are and do not pretend to be something other than what they are.

3. Anger is no longer their master. They have found that anger is a defense mechanism of the ego.

4. reacting are not the slaves of possessions. Money, homes, cars, clothes, books, TV's are not evil in themselves; it is being a slave to them that is a problem.

5. Master Masons are not afraid to act with courage in their convictions. If they have a fear, they act to overcome it.

6. A Master Mason is always a real person. He does not care what others think of him, but he constantly cares for the welfare of others.

7. He sees the viewpoints of others. He listens and thinks about what others are saying so as to understand them.

8. His emotions are always positive. If hate or anger tries to control him, he finds love and understanding and lets them bloom instead.

9. He uses his imagination for creative, not destructive purposes. He imagines how he is going to respond instead of reacting to events.

10. He does not belittle or slander others. His job is to see that anything that comes from his mind, emotions, or mouth is the highest it can be for him.

11. Each day he aligns himself with his inner teacher. He does this by spending a few quiet minutes to allow himself to be healed of his vices and shortcomings.

12. All his actions have as their basic animating energy the power of Love. Even when he acts as a warrior to destroy darkness and evil, it is with the support of love and freedom.

13. He always has a vision. His vision comes from his heart, and because this is so, it always includes humanity.

14. His actions, feelings, and thoughts are in harmony with the teachings of ageless Wisdom. He is always acting in the best interests of all concerned, and his daily life is an example of sanity and balance.

15. He is never fanatical. He is sane, normal, and healthy. The most interesting idea about the Master Mason is that he is one who is an example of integration. Integration means that his mind, emotions, and body all work together and not against each other. A true Master Mason has glimpsed the eternal and unchanging reality of life. He sees all things as necessary in the Great Plan for unfolding the hidden potential of all creation. As such, mortality and its illusion are overcome by him. As he lives in the eternal, his life reflects that eternal consciousness.

In view of the unique socio-political and historical environment in which people live in different parts of the world, I believe that we should emphasize those personality traits of an ideal Freemason that in our country and in the current time, are not only the most useful but, based on the principle of priorities, are indispensable for spiritual works — both individual and pan-Fraternal.

He who seeks admission to the Masonic ranks must know that he shall be driven solely by a huge desire for knowledge, perfecting his personality and sincere dedication to the service for the benefit of his environment and his loved ones. Apart from spiritual benefit, gained through long-term commitment, with the generous help of his Brethren, he could not, and it is no honour as well, expect any material benefits.

The ideal Freemason should develop the basic personality traits of a good man and map out his integrated relationship with the world and all its challenges, hardships and joys. He should be submitted to all of them with dignity, tranquility, modesty, calmness, without burdening others or trumpeting widely about the difficulties of his position, without ambitious boasting and following the fleeting glory of profane life. These are children's diseases that the real Freemason needs most urgently to outgrow.

The real, ideal Freemason is or will be a brother, a citizen, a husband, a father, an employee, and a lot more. His many roles should not be played on the Shakespearian stage, but in the Masonic world, where these are not roles but essential existence in favor of those whose lives we stepped into in order to enrich them by what we acquire through Masonic spiritual education. It is the essential work that needs to be performed normally, without any expectations, because it was us who assigned to it — apart from that primal incentive that the Great Architect of the Universe granted to our biological and mental being.

Faith, hope and charity should be the Freemason's driving forces. In difficult times (and all have been such in their own way) faith and hope are easily lost, and charity, as lonely as it may be, can grow into bitterness and mistrust and thus Freemasonry may be ridiculed by those who are supposed to guard and protect it.

One should know that moving too fast on the ladder of false honour does not provide status, the most important and the greatest honour of man, which he must safeguard from all challenges. The honour shown (materialistically) is most often fake, the fruit of devious hopes or the craving for speedy "advancement."

Modesty is one of the Freemason's greatest virtues, and it should best be pointed out by those who have gone the furthest in spiritual development. Sincerity and truth should be road-signs of the stage that a Freemason with aim has designed for himself. He must have a lot of understanding for the mistakes and straying of others, but he must not get off the road no matter what the difficulties are. This does not mean that he has to be stubborn about his attitudes, but every change should be in the function of resolving the arising issues to the satisfaction of all. He should offer an example of a mild, knowledgeable and reconciliatory solution to all the problems that concern everything that the Great Architect of the Universe has made available for use — the living and inanimate world and whatever makes the human community, as well as the permanence of harmonious interaction between them.

Fraternal love, freedom, and truth need to be in the heart of a real Freemason since he is motivated to act wisely to the benefit of his environment, for his own good and the good of others for which he does not expect any reward.

However, reward is to arrive without being sought in the form of trust, love, and spiritual status — in the form of opportunity to develop social skills and self-confidence in a society of like-minded people and their families. Many consider Freemasonry much more important than 300 years ago due not only to a far greater number of followers and the engulfment of the whole planet, but it provides a unique combination of companionship, sense of belonging, and fulfillment of beneficial work.


January 06th, 6017



Divider