The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

Chapter 8 - Categorization of Rituals 683
Die freimaurerische Auffassung des Wesens der [Politik] fußt auf der
ethischen Idee der Gerechtigkeit, da die Freimaurerei eine ethischphilosophische
Gesellschaft ist. An sich befaßt sie sich überhapt nicht
mit [Politik]; die Satzungen der Großlogen schließen jede Bemengung
der Körperschaften, des Bundes als solchen, mit politischer
Einflußnahme aus, den Logen ist Beschäftigung mit [Politik] nicht
gestattet. Soweit sich aus den Grundgesetzen staatsphilosophische
Ableitungen ergeben, anerkennt die Freimaurerei selbstverständlich das
Primat des Rechtes vor der Gewalt und steht infolgedessen vielfach
weltanschaulich den Ideen des Liberalismus [...] nahe. Die Freimaurerei
tritt entschieden für Legalität, gegen Illegalität ein und macht es
demgemäß ihren Mitgliedern zur unbedingten Pflicht, die
Landesgesetze zu beachten. 1656
Therefore, there appear no political influences in the rituals of Freemasonry,
e.g. no statements about or criticism of state leaders. Consequently, there will be
no traces of such in imitative orders, either. However, patriotism is strongly
connected with politics. Are patriotic sentiments allowed in Masonic rituals? Do
they exist at all? Are they not against the professed universality of Freemasonry,
since they underline a special nationality? How are patriotic values treated in the
various fraternal orders? Our next topic will be whether there are traceable
patriotic ceremonies or at least patriotic feelings in the rituals of the fraternal
orders analyzed in this paper. We assume that patriotism occurs only in the
American rituals. Therefore, in this evaluation the Flag of the United States will
serve as our key symbol, since it is a very obvious and visible patriotic emblem,
not a mere allusion. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia critically comments on the
appropriateness of a Flag Ceremony:
Following World War I, many Grand Lodges authorized and [...]
required lodges to make formal introduction and presentation of the
National Colors at each meeting. The Flag, when introduced, is placed
in the East. In some places, a ceremony for the retirement of the Colors
has also been adopted, and the pledge of allegiance may be given. This
is another instance where the universality of Freemasonry suffers,
for an alien could not be very comfortable in a lodge where everybody
else pledged allegiance to a flag for which the visitor had no duty
whatever. It has been reported that, in some lodges near the United
States-Canada boundary, both national flags have been introduced into
the lodges. It remains a debatable question whether a Masonic lodge
should invade such domains and undertake to pick and choose between
nations or emphasize nationality of the brethren. 1657
1656 IFL, p. 1222.
1657 CME, p. 252; bold print added.