QSA Members Forum
For Masonic Research
Universality and Tolerance
Universality and Tolerance
(Epitomized by the Volume(s) of the Sacred Law we place on the Altar)
Reflections upon Bigotry and Intolerance in present-day Freemasonry
by Bro. Vincent Lombardo, P.M.
"Let me first direct your attention to the form of the [], which is a parallelepipedon; in length from E. to W.; in breadth from N. to S.; in depth from the surface of the earth to its centre, and even as high as the heavens.
A . . . . . ic [] is of this vast extent to show the universality of the science, and also that a . . . . .'s charity should know no bounds save those of prudence." (Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario — The Work, 2013, p. 91.)
In the year 1717, it was a novelty, and a cause of great admiration, when in the then newly emerged Freemasonry ". . . men of all ranks, regents, princes, nobles, the learned, artists, men of business, entered it; Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists were initiated and called one another Brother." So reported Bro. Johann Gottlieb Fichte in his Briefe an Konstant [Letters to Constant] (Berlin 1802.)
The meaning of the passage in the Junior Warden Lecture cited above from the "Work" (commonly called the black book), appears to have been long forgotten even by the Grand Leaders of Masonry in many Grand Jurisdictions in general, and of our own (Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario) in particular; let alone their knowledge of the works of Bro. Fichte — assumed they ever read and understood them.
So it came to pass, toward the end March 2017, on the occasion of the official visit to a lodge by a District Deputy Grand Master, that, during the degree work scheduled for the evening, on the advice [according to the District Secretary: by request, (see Appendix 1)] of that DDGM, the Worshipful Master ordered two of the three Volumes of the Sacred Law, namely the Tanach and the Koran, which, together and side by side with the King James Bible, had adorned the altar of that lodge for many years, — be removed from the altar and be placed [mixing the sacred with the profane] on the Secretary's desk, — near the several lodge annual dues cheques received from members of that lodge, among which it proudly count Catholics, Protestants, Episcopalian/Anglican, Calvinists and several others of the 35 main Christian denominations, and also Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews (of various sects). The W. Master consented to the DDGM's request, in order to prevent the presence of these Sacred Volumes near the king James Bible on the Altar, which, if not removed, would have to be reported by the DDGM to Grand Lodge in his L3 report. All for nothing, as the District Secretary reported this terrible infraction in his L2 just the same! (See Appendix 1.)
I learned some time later, from that W. Master, that this request was based on an ordinance (or Bull, or Encyclical, or Decree, or Motu proprio) allegedly promulgated recently by our grand lodge — the text or excerpt, or interpretation of which I received, after repeated requests I had made since the end of March, only a few days ago from that W. Master, together with his explicit command not to reproduce it here, in whole or in part, to which I gave my consent. I will say more about this secrecy further below.
This peculiar request from that DDGM, never given before in that lodges by his predecessors for the past 15 years, and 90 more years before its amalgamation in 2001, caught this writer by surprise and disbelief. How could any Mason, especially one of such a rank and distinction, dare to disturb the sanctity of our assembly, while the lodge was at work, while the Volume of the Sacred Law (Bible) stood open and the Lights around the Altar still lit, offending a great number of the Brethren of different religious beliefs present, whose belief are embodied in the very Volumes ordered removed, and thus destroying the peaceful multiplicity of Volumes then at the Altar, symbol of Universality and Tolerance?
Could the R.W. DDGM not wait for the final moment after the Sacred Volume was closed, and the lights extinguished, and after his parting exhortation: "Brethren, as we are now about to quit this retreat of friendship and brotherly love, nothing remains but, according to ancient custom, to lock up our Ss. in the safe and sacred repository of our hearts, with F F F; and may God be with us" had been proffered, in order to bring, discretely, to the attention of the principal officers of the lodge his concerns regarding the Sacred Volumes of other faiths reverently placed on our Altar side by side with the Bible — better still: give sound justifications for his disturbance of the lodge work and his bigoted request, openly to all members and visitors, during his "final remarks" before closing the VOTSL?
Which God does the R.W. DDGM refers to in his closing exhortation? That of King James? That of the Jews? That of the Muslim brethren? Is the One God not the very same one, called differently by some brethren, independently of their faith, and independently of the Volume of the Sacred Law they venerate and obey? Is the Tanach, or the Koran, or any other Volumes of the Sacred Law of the assorted religions in the world, to be considered by any Mason in any of the four divisions of the earth less sacred than the Bible? And finally, what harm can ever cause, and to whom, the presence at the Altar of more than one sacred Volume?
I had an opportunity a few years ago to research and comment at length on a similar directive issued by another DDGM, and referred to our Grand Lodge's Ritual Committee for adjudication, regarding the Eagle Feather as the Symbol of our Native Brethren's Divinity and Guide to their Life Conduct. That paper was cited in a Study on the Present Conditions of Freemasonry in the World I researched between the Fall of 2015 and the Winter of 2016 and circulated to all the Brethren, world-wide, who had helped me in collecting the data for that study. Of the 72 Brethren in 5 continents who had helped me with the information relative to their Jurisdictions, all but one found no fault or scandal in letting a candidate of Native Spirituality [read: belief or faith] swear his promise while holding the Eagle Feather; the one exception explained that in his lodge only non-Catholic Christians were admitted. — A resplendent Manifestation of Universality and Tolerance, indeed!
Universality. This notion, in its most ample sense, signifies applicability to all, everywhere on Earth and even in the Universe. In philosophy, universality is the notion of universal inclusiveness in scope or range, in all possible contexts, valid in all times and places, therefore understood as being in opposition to parochialism, that is: selfish pettiness or narrowness of mind, insularity. "The term originates from the idea of a parish ([Late] Latin: parochia), one of the smaller divisions within many Christian churches such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches." (Wikipedia.)
This notion of Universality, as claimed in our ritual, ("the universality of our science,") ought to be extended and applied, therefore, to all the "just and upright men, free by birth, of mature age, sound judgment and strict morals" we admit into our lodges, world-wide; independent of their rank, status, seniority, experience, convictions, color, ethnicity, or religious confession, and independently of any other diversity that may distinguish the one from the other.
Failing to do so, particularly in the context of religious confession and belief, expressed in the Sacred Writings of a Brother's own choice, would mean to force just and upright men to lie or feign their adherence to our laws, if promised upon a Book alien to them, or worse, in the case of many of our First Nations Brethren, who see in the Christian Bible the suffering and persecution endured by their fathers and their children. (See on this our Bro. Karl Christian Friedrich Krause, in his Book: Die drei ältesten Kunsturkunden der Freimaurerbrüderschaft, [The Three Oldest Craft Records of the Masonic Fraternity], (Dresden, 1820), pp. 211 - 212, text and notes!)
Failing to do so, would also prove the fears, and crush the hopes and efforts toward that natural universal equality of all men under God our most illustrious ancient brethren strived for and worked assiduously to establish, for our institution in particular, and all mankind in general, as expressed in the Old Charge:
I. Concerning God and Religion.
A Mason is oblig'd, by his Tenure, to obey the moral Law; and if he rightly understands the Art, he will never be a stupid Atheist, nor an irreligious Libertine. But though in ancient Times Masons were charg'd in every Country to be of the Religion of that Country or Nation, whatever it was, yet 'tis now thought more expedient only to oblige them to that religion in which all Men agree, leaving their particular Opinions to themselves; that is, to be good Men and true, or Men of Honour and Honesty, by whatever Denominations or Persuasions they may be distinguish'd; whereby Masonry becomes the Center of Union, and the Means of conciliating true Friendship among Persons that must have remain'd [otherwise] at a perpetual Distance.
See on this the more extensive and accurate historical-philosophical dissertation by our Bro. Krause, contained in his Kunsturkunden, Section 1, Vol. 2, pp. 186 - 196, text and notes!
Intolerant and bigoted behavior will do nothing to advance the conciliation of true friendship among persons. It will not advance by an iota the primordial Masonic ideals of universality, of tolerance, of brotherly love, of mutual defense and support, of emancipation from insularity and faction to equality of all men unto God. It will do nothing to stop and reverse the constant decline in the popularity of Masonry, and of its membership in our Grand Jurisdiction, [and almost in all jurisdictions on this continent] for several decades now both constantly declining, due to the short-sighted ignorance of their leaders, like the one whom this "panegyric" is dedicated.
Tolerance. Is freedom from bigotry or prejudice; the understanding and willingness to accept feelings, habits, views, beliefs, practices of others; is a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, beliefs, practices, racial or ethnic origins, etc., differ from one's own.
There can be no doubt, that this District Deputy Grand Master, the third-highest official as regards a Masonic District, acted intolerantly with his request to the W. Master at that official visit in March. There still remains, however, an ever so faint spark of hope, that his superiors do not share his narrow-mindedness in regard to the multiplicity of Sacred Volumes on our altars; — hope derived from the liberality shown by our own Grand Master not too long ago in connection with the fury of reciprocal withdrawals of recognition by several Grand Lodges in this continent and abroad, erupted in consequence of a Facebook posting, showing the wedding ceremony of two Masons in one of the said Grand Jurisdictions.
This taciturnity, or sitting on the fence, for political correctness or charitable sentiments, can certainly, and ought to, be applied to the multiplicity of Sacred Volumes on our altars, it being a far less serious issue than the wedding of two just and upright men, of good report and strict morals, deserving tolerance and non-committal silence. Granted, in another distant era such behaviour did not find favor with another impatient and intolerant genius, Dante Alighieri, who in a few words passed judgment on one Pope Celestine V, for cowardice [non-committal silence] and sent him into the antechamber of his Inferno, as a soul unworthy neither of hell nor paradise. By contrast, Dante places Sodomy at the bottom-most ring of the seventh circle of hell, below homicide and suicide; but the Heretics and Muslims not as deep into hell [circle six]. One wonders what Dante would have said about the recent courageous (to some, cowardly) decision of Pope Benedict XVI, who, in the thick of a protracted scandal about sexual abuses and homosexuality within all ranks of the Roman Catholic Church, abdicated his apostolic seat, and disappeared into the inscrutable confines of a cloister. Perhaps this DDGM, unaware of the changed times and mores, thought of himself a reincarnation of Dante, and like Dante, acting as prosecutor and judge at the same time, issued an unbridled, mean-spirited report (L2 and L3) piling fire-and-brimstone on the lodge he visited in March 2017 in general, and on one Past Master of that lodge abundantly in particular.
Mens sana in corpore sano, — a phrase widely used to express the theory or universal truth: "a sound mind in a sound body," and its practice an essential part of mental and psychological well-being, — At the meeting of this DDGM with that W. Master and this writer, held at a Tim Horton shop (more about this further below), this DDGM confessed to be seriously overweight, and in need to shed the full weight of that Past Master so viciously demonized in his report, who weighs 180 lbs. at the end of winter, and after a sumptuous meal. Overindulgence is a sign of neglect, and tacit or intended profanation of that symbolic temple the human body is said to represent. That is, perhaps, why, . . .
Right after his official visit last March, this exemplar of a Grand Officer in Masonry, perhaps inebriated by his gold trims and paraphernalia, or inspired by the sounds of the Macarenas performed for him wherever he went, handed down his report (L2 and L3), consisting of 997 words over 6 pages, of which 143 are "yes, no, average, etc." relate to the visited lodge, and the other 854 forming a vilifying and demonizing tirade aimed at one unnamed "Past Master" of that lodge. I kid you not.
Taken partially out of their context (see below, Appendix 2) for the sake of brevity, the adjectives, epithets, and expressions he uses to describe/vilify/chastise "that Past Master" include:
"dominating, stifling/limiting initiative, [instilling] fear factor and submissiveness, simply refusing to see past his [that Past Master's] own needs, central problem of this lodge, continuing stranglehold on its [the lodge's] operations by a single Past Master, dominance, stifling effect on its [lodge's] operations, preventing the Lodge from achieving its potential; there is absolutely no doubt that the younger members' ability to extract maximum benefit from the Masonic experience is being crushed by the effects of the dominance of [this] one Past Master; almost tyrannical influence of a Past Master who refuses to allow far more skilled members to take their rightful leadership roles; this Past Master insists on giving erroneous information and instructions to all concerned and to thereby perpetuate the incompetent performance of basic functions such as Protocol and Etiquette, ritual and general atmosphere in the Lodge room; my [this DDGM's] attendance at this lodge left a very bitter taste in my mouth; unfortunately, and as has been the case for a number of years, all those positive attributes are more than counterbalanced by the actions of a Past Master who insists on preening in front of all assembled, even at the expense of embarrassing the Lodge; relieving this individual of his self-appointed place of prominence would go a long way toward moving the Lodge in the right direction; barking at the WM; the negative impact of one brother [that Past Master] who is so wrapped up in his grandiose views of himself; any attempts by this lodge to improve its operations and the enjoyment of the Masonic experience will continue to be frustrated unless and until the above problem [that Past Master] is done with; the Grand Lodge, if it is to discharge its obligations, step in and meet with "that Past Master" in particular; the brethren continue to miss out on so many of the benefits of Masonry because of the ability of that Past Master to make them believe that he knows all"; and much more in the same vein.
With this report, greatly unbalanced and filled with unfounded vicious defamation of a brother's good name, this DDGM has overstepped his authority (see Constitution, article 97) and brought infamy upon his office, and, even worse, upon Freemasonry.
Brotherly Love — Charitable Disposition.
"You are not to palliate or aggravate the [real or perceived] offenses of the brethren; but in the decision of every trespass against our rules, judge with candor, admonish with friendship, and reprehend with mercy." (The Book, p. 167) — Nope. Not this guy, who, in his diatribe and all that venom, has fallen barely short of blaming "that Past Master" for the rain falling on the night of that official visit, and barely short of calling for the stoning of him. Wherefore he is fully deserving retribution according to the fair and stern maxim: "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
One senior and well-respected member of that lodge commented in principle on reckless and un-Masonic behavior, which comments I adapt here as pertinent to this case: "The overall tone of the report, as well as some parts of it in particular, are un-Masonic. This DDGM is in violation of his Obligation as a Master Mason — 'I will not revile [a brother Mason] myself, nor will I knowingly suffer [which, in this context, means "permit"] him to be reviled by others, if in my power to prevent it.' Such a violation of an obligation is a Masonic offense under the Grand Lodge Constitution."
In addition to the addiction to Protocol & Etiquette now rampant in our Jurisdiction, championed by this DDGM and denounced by him as failing in this visited lodge by fault of "that Past Master," to the point of ludicrousness; whereby any deviation from the prescribed text, or missed word, unleashes this DDGM's wrath and fulminations, as if Protocol & Etiquette were the Alpha and Omega — the Substance — of Freemasonry. Fools! Nothing in it is alpha or omega; everything in it is mere external appearance, pomposity, extravagance, and child-play. In his learned opinion as a "jurist" he explained, I am told, to the W. Master of that lodge, that P&E is indispensable for regularity and discipline in the conduction of the affairs of a lodge (!) As if the Robert's Rules of Order, generally used in our lodges, were not sufficient for that purpose!
It does not take the intellect of a genius, or that of a "litigator" (as this DDGM likes to call himself) to realize that the future of our institution rests with the present and future generations of young, just and upright men, free from prejudice and excess, of mature age, sound judgment and strict morals.
These men are not going to join Freemasonry to spend their very limited leisure time to come to lodge and waste this precious, limited time in pomposity, or dancing the Macarena. They will be looking for substance, for serious contemplation of the hidden mysteries of Nature and Science; hoping to find in Masonry their values, to get an opportunity to study Masonic history, symbolism, philosophy, ethics, laws, and traditions together with like-minded people; endeavors spearheaded for several years by "that Past Master," now sought and carried out in the lodge visited by this DDGM at the end of March, to the greatest satisfaction of its members, and the admiration of some of its more discerning visitors, who have joined, or applied for membership by affiliation.
This DDGM, an enthusiast (read: fanatic, in its 18th-century meaning) in regard to empty external appearance (P & E), hypocritical in regard to preaching and practicing, and personal convictions as far as the Volumes of the Sacred Law are concerned, a willful slanderer of a brother's good name, without direct knowledge or proof of the brother's assumed failings, (see more on this below) and all those present and future Grand Officials of his sort, should pay a little attention to my words, — because, without changes, on this path of sterile practices (P&E), macarenas, mechanics of the work, swarming to official visits and the likes, whereby these young men hopefully enter the Craft, and soon thereafter disappear disillusioned, often without bothering to be passed or be raised, swelling the chronic list of members "in arrears," this Grand Lodge of AF & AM, in a decade or two, will be no more.
His report is, indeed, a very strange account on an official visit by a DDGM, the likes of which I have never seen before in my many years in Masonry, and in six of them serving as a WM at different times in two lodges. Perhaps he is on a mission, like Don Quixote, trying to fix all the faults he, in his enthused or probably deranged mind, finds with Past Masters in most lodges in general, if not all of them, in the district, as it is perceived from the last words of his report: "I take absolutely no satisfaction in writing what I have written in this report. The contrary is true. Unfortunately, the observations I (and others) have noted in this lodge are also present in other Lodges. They must be addressed."
Puzzling is also the vast amount of information on "that Past Master" this DDGM was able to collect, analyze, and put somewhat, but not exactly, coherently into his report, considering the scarcity of time he had available to make serious inquiries during the fast-paced environment at the banquet and in lodge. (See more about this below.) Perhaps he has dreamed it all, or simply fabricated it in the stupor of his inebriation, while so wrapped up in his grandiose views of himself, and in his general ineptitude. For — there must be something very rotten in the state of Denmark (that Masonic District):
At the very beginning of his reign, our hero increased the District Dues from $6.50 to $10.00 per head — a FITHY-FOUR percent increase in one shot! He blew $3,200.00 on the purchase of his own upgraded and improved regalia (maybe the size was a factor); budgeted $6,800.00 in meetings and seminars (up from a mere $976.00 his predecessor had spent); $3,614.00 for Printing and Stationary, and Awards (up from a mere $792.00 by his predecessor); and $5,235.00 for other expenses ($0.00 by his predecessor). But the most disconcerting oddity is the appointment of three District Secretaries in rapid succession, two of them quitting in the two weeks preceding the March 27 official visit contemplated above. Talk about administrative skills!
A few days after this report was received by the W. Master, the members of his lodge, in committee, had an overview of it, finding it unfair and malicious, quenching their enthusiasm and passion for Masonry, and their striving for learning and self-improvement in the lodge and in their lives, and asked their W. Master to do something about it. The W. Master then corresponded with this DDGM and then met with him, together with a member of his lodge who, a few months earlier had called the lodge a "fucking lodge" and had demitted, — but shortly afterward he applied to the lodge for re-instatement, application not favored by the members who had witnessed the insult; whereby "that Past Master" worked hard and successfully in convincing his brethren to give the offending Brother a second chance, and was re-admitted as a member.
According to the W. Master's report about this meeting, given to his brethren at the following regular meeting of that lodge, this DDGM had come to that official visit with his report already preconceived, based on rumors and gossip about "that Past Master" circulated within the district by one R. W. brother in his lodge. But, this DDGM was willing to revamp the lodge reputation in the district and with his successor, so that future reports by future DDGMs would be more balanced and favorable to the lodge — provided the article at hand was killed. [It is a mystery how this DDGM will be able to tell his successors what to write in their reports …] The DDGM also stated, that his Report with Grand Lodge could not be amended, but, if the article was killed, he would file a "supplemental" with Grand Lodge.
A few weeks later I was invited to attend a meeting with that DDGM and the W. Master, for the purpose of amicably sanitize this article, so unpleasant to the DDGM.
The meeting took place at a Tim Horton shop, where the DDGM, on arriving late, premised his position:
1. He was there in his official position as a District Deputy Grand Master;
2. That he was to be addressed as R. W. Bro. etc. etc.;
3. That he was there to explain the Grand Lodge policy regarding the Volumes of the Sacred Law, reproaching this writer for not having researched this brand-new policy, before writing this article;
4. That he was there not trying to intimidate anyone; but
5. That the article was disrespectful to him as the present DDGM and had to be "killed" or its author may be called before a Masonic tribunal to answer for his actions, or even before a civil court of law for slander, or both, at the option and choice of this DDGM.
The DDGM then piled up additional mud and insults on that Past Master, reproduced here verbatim:
• That Past Master's reputation in the District is bad;
• That Past Master should stop taking the drugs he is taking, adding that he meant it sarcastically . . .
• That Past Master is full of himself;
• That Past Master doesn't know nearly as much as he thinks he knows;
• That Past Master is not very bright, at times . . .
And, in an intimidating manner, suggested that this writer should file a Masonic complaint against this DDGM …
To which I replied: Thanks. But No Thanks, R. W. Brother: I have spent already enough of my precious time on this matter, and I will not further dignify your ill-conceived and slanderous report with a complaint in a kangaroo court, or inquisition, such as "that Past Master" experienced in a similar circumstance not too long ago — but that's another story.
Having finished speaking in his official role, this DDGM then invited the others to speak freely, as brothers, and to address each other by first name. Praise the Lord!
In this now more relaxed atmosphere I asked of Lawrie (the R. W. DDGM) to reveal the name of "that Past Master," and he did: that "Past Master" so basely vilified by this pompous, bigoted and ignorant Grand Lodge officer, a District Deputy Grand Master, was none other than the most dedicated, knowledgeable, charitable, approachable, unselfish member of that lodge; an outstanding Mason, who for the past 40 years had served his lodges (he is a member of various lodges, and an honorary members of three such lodges, local and abroad) and other Masonic bodies, as an officers and as a delegate to various committees. A Brother who in his 40-year long Masonic endeavors had discretely helped his unemployed brethren find employment, provided his brethren in financial distress with adequate small and of many thousands of dollars private cash donations, as the case had required; who had been for decades and still was the respected and at all times approachable teacher to all the brethren who sought his advice.
I then asked him on what facts or direct (witnessed or experienced by him personally) evidence had he based his extensive, vilifying, slanderous, and mean-spirited report on that Past Master, considering that 85% of his L3 was mud purposely directed against that Past Master.
He explained:
He had come to this official visit with a well-defined pre-conceived long list of accusations, insults, and slanderous allegations to be written in his report about "that Past Master," — in order to teach him a lesson, and so that he can mend his ways, — based on (anonymous) gossip and prejudices circulating all around the district about that Past Master. (Later, on our way home, the Worshipful Master of that lodge travelling with me, informed me that the source and promoter of that gossip was his Lodge Secretary (R.W. Bro. Ian Nichols) who, for many years had tried to undermine the reputation of that Past Master, being jealous of his popularity in his lodge.) This exalted District Deputy Grand Master then justified his imprudent, blind adoption of this gossip and these prejudices — with a Romanian proverb:
Dacă doi spun că eşti beat, du-te şi te culcă
That means: If "two people" say you're drunk, go to bed.
Justice and Prudence (not to bother with Brotherly Love and Truth) would expect of an inspector, or a judge, or even of a "litigator" as he calls himself (I met him 25 years ago as a two-bits traffic court lawyer): to enter upon his duties with a blank sheet of paper — without preconceived opinions on the matters he has to inspect or judge, — and then fill that paper with facts, by him directly observed and heard about the visited lodge, — not about one single member of that lodge, especially one who has served Freemasonry and his brethren so diligently and unselfishly for so many years.
Larry or Lawrie, if you prefer, should know that there were more than "two people" back in 1692 in Salem District, Massachusetts — spreading false accusations against twenty innocent people, and fomenting mass hysteria with similar gossip and prejudices, and the magistrates of that time (read Grand Officers in our case) failed humanity horribly. Is Larry ever to emancipate himself from the Dark Age to the Age of Enlightenment, or to the Age of Reason?
Larry, should have paid heed to another Romanian proverb instead:
Câinii latră, caravana trece.
[Don't listen to every word you hear."] Or even to:
Ascultă cu urechile, vezi cu ochii, dar taci cu gura.
["Listen with your ears, see with your eyes, but shut up with your mouth."] and to:
Dacă tăceai filosof rămâneai.
["Had you kept silent you would have remained a wise man."] and more wisely to:
Nu măsura pe alţii cu palma ta.
["Don't measure others with your own hand."]
Krause tells us in his Kunsturkunden (page 226, note a), about the reputation of a brother, this:
"The good reputation among good people is for good people a sure guarantor of moral dignity. Therefore, the above regulation, according to the original concept, is also essential in the present condition of the life of mankind, although it remains difficult to put into practice. Because only a few people have a proper notion of what a good reputation actually consists of, and upon which particular decisive reasons this reputation must be precisely presented for the decision; but still fewer people understand the art to explore and interpret the voice of good people about others. Ruling prejudices in others, if they are attached to those prejudices, no matter how good they may be in other respects, can draw the worst reputation upon the noblest of man. — It is very praiseworthy to be and to want to form "a choice (elite) of better people," ["to make good people better"] such as many lodges boast of themselves: but we must not assert it is already truly so, where the sight and the experience show the opposite to be true, and where, owing to the whole state and the internal constitution of the Craft, it is impossible to the majority of the members to reach this goal. On the contrary, one then finds himself in danger of considering himself better in comparison with others, (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 18:10-14 and, contrary to the truth, to consider his brethren as the Chosen Ones, and thus to lose sight of his self-knowledge and true improvement, or even to draw upon himself the suspicion of deliberately deceive others."
I then asked Larry whether or not he was aware of that Past Master having worked assiduously 10 years ago to prevent his lodge from "going dark," — as it then was the desires of all the other Past Masters in his lodge; — for having worked tirelessly to bring that lodge to a level of competence, determination, and happiness, — the envy and admiration of many visitors who had not found such competency, determination, and happiness in no other lodge, — including that Brother who had called the lodge a "fucking lodge" and then applied for reinstatement, because he could not find such competency, determination, and happiness anywhere else. That Past Master who always got things done, who in 10 days put the lodge's finances in perfect order, whereas two other "talented" Past Masters in charge of the lodge treasury had squandered (especially that Secretary) thousands of dollars, had profited from their office and had been not able to fix the results of their ineptitude in 10 years. All these competency, determination, and happiness have now been put into question and quenched by the report of this DDGM — but none of that Past Master's good deeds had made it into his report!
Yes, Larry acknowledged that he was aware of it, and of everything else occurred and going on in all lodges in the district — Wow! I believe Larry is stretching it a little, in thinking he is omniscient.
I then offered Larry space on this web page, for him to write a rebuttal to my article, which I would reproduce and publish on the same page, without conditions or limitations. To which he replied that he would not dignify my article in any manner or form.
So mote it be!
Regarding that brand new Grand Lodge Policy (3) Larry explained, and I now write from memory, and from my understanding of it:
According to the author of this policy: with his obligation the candidate binds himself and submits to the rules and regulations of the Order, — not to his Creator or His sacred and eternal rules, not even to his own conscience. (!)
I don't want to call this policy blasphemous, but it is certainly irrational, — if one takes as precedent the affirmations the candidate makes in the West, whereby he: "seriously declare upon his honor this and that, and further promises: cheerfully to conform to the ancient usages and established customs of the 0rder" — without kneeling at the Altar, or placing his hand upon the "Volume of the Sacred Law, square and compasses." This precedent tells us that a promise upon one's own honor is as good as gold to the Order, and we take it as sufficient pledge to let the candidate proceed and enter into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry up to the end of the ceremony of initiation. So, now the question arises as to the presence of the VOTSL (Volume of the Sacred Law) on the altar of our lodges, and to its practical, or symbolic meaning. I have written at length and in many places about the VOTSL usage as a symbol, and nothing more; I can explain here in a few words to those who do not yet know, that the use of the VOTSL on the altar goes back to the Europe of the Dark Age, when people in their ignorance believed a promise taken upon the Bible (to us the VOTSL), if broken, would land them in hell, to burn forever and a day.
Today not too many any longer believe in the flames of hell, and any just and upright man will keep his promise, given upon his word, without touching a VOTSL. — Therefore: the King James Bible has no rational justification to be the sole Volume on the altar of our lodge, or at least: as much of a right as any other VOTSL of any other religion or belief — in forming that tripartite symbol of the Greater Lights. The author of this policy claims that only the King James Bible is to be permitted in our lodges, and the candidate's own Volume is only permitted during his obligation, immediately to be removed from the Altar, as soon as the obligation is over — as if its presence near the Bible would desecrate the King James volume! Also, that at no other time any other Volume of any other religion or belief is permitted inside the lodge, while at work. I consider this position totally intolerant and bigoted; and I have so far received no other valid and rational argument sufficient to make me change my opinion, UNLESS… Unless I did not understand Larry's explanation properly, and the author of this policy, and his masters, are stuck in the 18th century, and have not yet heard of the demise of the Catholic Jacobites, or want to keep the Craft in this jurisdiction for non-Catholic Christians only. And in regard to that W. Master's explicit command to this writer: "not to reproduce it here, in whole or in part" — why should we keep this new rule a secret? Are we ashamed of what we say or do? — then we should not say or do it! Light is to be revealed, not concealed. (See the Lamp under a Bushel - Matthew 5:14-15; and Mark 4:21-34; and Luke 11:33-36; and also Fichte, childish play.)
Larry, in his unofficial role, confessed to being totally in favor of displaying various volumes of the Sacred Law on the altar, but not during official visits! and further disclosed his belief that the King James Bible, and all other so-called Volumes of the Sacred Law, are intrinsically not sacred, but corrupted interpretations according to places and times, and but just symbols. Also, according to him, there is nothing intrinsically sacred about the altar or the altar cloth . . . with which this writer expresses full agreement. [Our ancient Greeks had a word for that smart subterfuge: Hypocrisy]
Larry reproaches this writer for: "not having researched this brand-new policy, before writing this article." — How can anyone, seriously, research or look for something whose existence is at the time unknown to him, and, once that something, after repeated requests, is given to him in abstract or as an interpretation from someone other than its author, is then told to look no further, and commanded not to divulge it to others? This secrecy, or addiction to secret-keeping, necessary for political purposes at the time four lodges united to form a grand lodge in London, has been a scourge that has injured Freemasonry for the past 300 years. This political need ceased to exist 250 years ago, but has been and is perpetuated by those Masons who have never grasped the true and original concepts and ideals of genuine Freemasonry, to no benefit to the Craft. Volumes have been written on this subject by many talented writers, and one of the best among them starts his treatise on this subject with these words:
"It is quintessential for the knowledge of any Thing, including also the Insight into what is secret, or into secretiveness, that its original concept (the Idea) be ascertained. Only then it is possible to correctly recognize a subject in its historical relationship to life, and upon this knowledge to set in place a proper and purely moral behavior". [You can read the entire treatise here: About Secretiveness and Openness.]
As a token of his goodwill and reconciliation, and (I believe) as an incentive for me to kill my article, Larry, or Lawrie if you prefer, disclosed his intent to establish, after his term as DDGM is over, a team or committee tasked to study and to propose measures to stop the decline in membership, and to boost the quality of Masonry practiced in our Jurisdiction, AND OFFERED TO HAVE ME AS A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE!!!
Larry, or Lawrie if you prefer: I am not a child to be won over by candies; I have enough years to be your grandfather; and I do not respond well to threats or candies, at all. Thanks, but no thanks; — because I will certainly not want to work with a man capable of this kind of vilification of a brother, and your views about Freemasonry, and your methods to cure the decline in membership and quality in our jurisdiction — are diametrically opposed to my views and method, and to my concept of what Masonry is, was, and should be. However, in return for your kind offer, if it pleases you, I can refer to you two brethren who are experts in P & E, or they think they are, and one who, my experience with him suggests, makes it his sacred duty to spread gossip in the district about the members he is jealous of. All three can be real assets to your team.
Finally, I will skip all other insults listed above, and deal only on closing with the one that takes the cake:
"That Past Master doesn't know nearly as much as he thinks he knows."
Larry, Larry, quo usque tandem abutere . . . ?
Except for He who is omniscient, who else in heavens or earth can possibly know what another knows or thinks he knows!
Larry, you do not need me to ridicule you — you are doing a great job all by yourself.
Bravo, bravo, bravo bravissimo!
Why was this article written?
Because:
"One who in viewing the deficiency in human relations, the unserviceableness, the perverseness, the corruption among men, drops his hands and passes on and complains of evil times, is no man. Just in this that you are capable of seeing men as deficient, lies upon you a holy calling to make them better. If everything was already what it ought to be, there would be no need of you in the world and you would as well have remained in the womb of nothingness. Rejoice that all is not yet as it ought to be, so that you may find work and can be useful toward something." (Fichte, 1802)
A furore Normannorum libera nos, Domine
(From the fury of the Northmen deliver us, O Lord.)
A stultitia Ducibus nostrorum libera nos, Domine
(Deliver us, o Lord, from the foolishness of our leaders!)
Thornhill, first published April 19, 2017. — Revised on May 17, 2017
Supplemental:
At the instigation of that Secretary, aided by that DDGM and that foul-mouthed Brother, their Grand Master suspended the said Past Master, — without a trial, or giving him an opportunity to defend himself, — while the former three mounted a defamation campaign against him within the lodge and the district, coercing many of the other members of the lodge to join them in this endeavor. That Past Master, having lost all confidence in the not-so-good human nature of his Brethren, and in the negligent and unfair actions of that Grand Master — who had reached the pinnacle of our Institution only for having lead the Masonic Plowing Tournament in his home town, and for no other particular merits — informed the Grand Lodge that he no longer submitted to its authority, and request never to be contacted again. He then retired within the confines of his study, continuing with alacrity his decade-long Masonic researches, sharing the fruits of his labors with a close-knit group of friends and brethren in lodges under several Jurisdictions in five continents.
PLEASE NOTE: In order not to bring infamy to an entire District, for the alleged sins of a DDGM; nor to a Lodge, for the alleged sins of one of its members, all reference to that DDGM and to that Lodge have been removed from the original L2 and L3 filed with Grand Lodge, and the portions thereof are reproduced here for the sole purpose of evidence.
APPENDIX 1
APPENDIX 2
