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“Freemasonry: A Better Way Of Being” - Shirley and Creason (Continued from page 11) . . . compassion for the unfortunate . . . Washington’s love for his men, and his concern for the wounded, sick, and dying among them, was one of the things that made him a great leader. As we see suffering in the world, our duty as Masons compels us to relieve it if possible, for compassion is not only a feeling: it is an action, and we are called to right action in every circumstance. If we see someone down on his luck, standing in the unemployment line, or using food stamps to feed his children, our response cannot be a superior sort of contempt, because none of us know what tomorrow may bring, nor do we know the other’s story. We have to feel and express compassion, if only to offer up a prayer for the other person, who is as beloved in God’s eyes as we are. good of the whole, and to accept the results with equanimity. We are to work for the good of Freemasonry in general and for our Lodges in particular. If we could remember that in the larger political world, how much better would society be? . . . support for public education . . . The American experiment with opening access to education for all people began early, and it's most enthusiastic proponents thought of education as a way to reconcile differences among citizens with a common culture of arts and sciences and practical crafts, enabling ordinary people to improve their lives in ways hitherto unseen. As children of the Enlightenment, our lives rooted in the seven liberal arts and sciences, Masons then and now have embraced the ideal of public education, however delivered, as a means to improve the world. . . . resistance to evil . . . Both good and evil were most evident in the 18 th century. Then and now, most people know the difference between good and evil, but in today’s world, all too often, we tend to worry more about ourselves and less about what other people do. But resisting evil doesn’t just mean resisting it ourselves; we have to fight against it wherever we see it. We just don’t want to get involved when we know the liquor store is selling to underage drinkers so we do nothing even though it could prevent a tragedy. When we see the bruises on a co-worker and suspect abuse in the home, and say nothing and do nothing to help, we make that abuse possible. When we see a friend spiraling into the clutches of drug abuse and fail to reach out, we let him fall. As Freemasons, we must strive to always resist evil in our own lives, and wherever we may find it in the world. . . . help for the weak . . . George Washington’s overriding sense of duty would never have allowed him to do anything other than help the weak. A man who hasn’t the strength to raise himself cannot be expected to do so, and our central ritual has us raised as if from the dead, not of our own power, but by King Solomon himself. We were helpless, and a Mason’s hand reached out in aid. And so we reach out to others weaker than ourselves, to give of our strength as we embrace them. . . . concern for good government . . . In the brawling arena of politics, has always been hard to remember that people with whom we disagree are not our enemies. This was as true in Washington’s day as our own. In the charge to the candidate in the First Degree, the new Mason is admonished to be exemplary in his duties as a citizen, and not to have anything to do with subverting the peace and good order of society. We are to run our Lodges in keeping with the principles of that charge. As Masons, we are to participate in the affairs of our Lodges with respect and intelligence, to vote based on the . . . and above all, a life-practicing reverence for God and love of fellow man. Masons in Washington’s day and in ours have worked to adore their Great Creator in ways connected to the everyday world of work, family, and community. We are cemented, if we live rightly, by moral and social virtues, which keep our eyes on both heaven and earth. If we look only to heaven, we cannot love our fellow man, as we cannot see him; if we look only to earth, we forget who made it. With reverence and love, we seen man as the likeness of God, and treat him accordingly. Freemasonry, in George Washington’s time and ours, calls men to a better way of being in this world, where behavior rather than birth determines a man’s nobility. And if the world today looks markedly different now than then (and it does!), Freemasonry’s values have never changed. We apply them a little differently because our society has changed. We have different challenges today. We have new technologies that make many things easier, but other things much harder. Freemasonry has even changed. We have websites, blogs, automatic calling systems, email, twitter accounts, and even iPhone applications that tell us, turn-by-turn, how to guide us right to the front door of a lodge, in a city we’ve never visited before, just in time for the meeting—and we’ll likely know at least a few of the members from Facebook. But even considering all that—what inspired men like George Washington more than two hundred years ago still applies. Nothing fundamental has changed. The definition is exactly the same. We’re on the same mission today we were then. And the mission is simple: to make good men better according to constant principles and changing circumstances. We are called to be better husbands, better fathers, and better citizens. We are called, simply, to be ever-better human beings in the society in which we live. As the Washington Masonic Memorial tells what Freemasonry is, Washington himself might have described the mission of our Craft when he said, “Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.” Amen. “The fact that we are each representative of the Craft of Freemasonry is not something most Freemasons think about very much” 12 T W T www.twtmag.com
“Humility as a Masonic Virtue” Freemasonry is a Fraternity. Though ennobled by its purpose beyond all other fraternities and further set apart by its initiatic nature, it remains at its core a simple and elegant gathering of Brothers. As such, it stands to reason that at the core of Masonry, the bedrock of its foundation, is harmony between Brothers. Not only does this foundation imply and entreat equality, kindness and patience with ones Masonic family, but with the entirety of our human family. Before we, as Masons, may spread the mortar of unity and harmony amongst the bricks that comprise the wall of humankind, we must first mix that mortar within the refining basins of our own actions. Beyond action, at its very root, lies thought. Changing thought changes action, which in turn implements our Masonic principles and changes the world. Through transforming our thought processes we begin to transform ourselves. We embark upon the symbolic journey from rough to perfect ashlars, that ancient hermetic trek from men of clay to men of gold. Beginning to understand how to go about this process could be a daunting task had our ancient brothers not already left us the tools to discern the path and build that sublime bridge to self-actualization and personal transcendence. Fraternity is both a word to describe how we organize ourselves and a principle tenet of Freemasonry. However, what constitutes fraternal thought? Furthermore, how does fraternal thought manifest as fraternal action? Of course, we see this in our Masonic charities, as well as any time a Mason reaches out to help another in a physical or material sense. However, let us also address the manner in which we can extend our fraternal thought to a point where it permeates our lives, reaching every facet of our daily human interactions. Let it be asserted that the greatest aide to this endeavor is humility. Masonry has counted amongst its brothers some of the world’s greatest figures of history, science and philosophy. In the history of the United States of America alone it has given us men the likes of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Albert Pike. Masonry attracts men who look for personal growth, itself a noble form of ambition. Inevitably men of great character, intelligence, accomplishment and personality find their way into the Masonic temple of brotherhood. These qualities are brought out all the more by involvement in the Craft. In order to foster harmony among such men, indeed, among all men, it behooves each of us, not only as Masons but as human beings, to eschew our inherent egotism. Our ego is the part of our thought process which screams “Me first.” It is a survival instinct that at once feeds on and fuels our feelings of offense, moments of greed, senses of entitlement and expectations of others to mold their lives around our own needs and opinions. By Bro Joseph R. Mascaro This psychological drive towards toward self-interest is something we all have and fall prey to at various times. However, it is not always apparent. Certain situations are obvious and therefore easy to recognize and avoid. For instance, if pie is being served while the Lodge is on refreshment you may want to have a second piece before some brothers have had their first. In this situation it is easy to recognize your motivation, you want more pie, this is an apparent self-oriented desire. As such, it is also easy to overcome. One need simply exercise a modicum of discipline in order to wait until all have had their pie or have had ample time to retrieve it if they so desired. However, the most detrimental incarnations of egotism are often the most insidious and subtle. Often these thought patterns manifest when we feel our established opinions or ideals have somehow been questioned or even threatened. Often what could come out as a simple expression of a conflicting opinion, perhaps leading to a productive and mutually edifying discussion, instead comes out as an angry expression of indignation. We frequently do not even realize that the source of such a reaction is egotistical. We may have already accepted our opinions as superior or factual and therefore feel both natural and justified in their vehement defense. Rather than seeking to understand the opinions of others we instead entrench ourselves in our own views. We assign our opinions and ways of life an importance above those of others. Not only is this rampantly egotistical, it also inhibits our ability to discover new things and thus continue to grow. Yet, such personal ramifications are the least effects of so selfcentered an attitude. By far a more ignoble and regrettable result is the harm to our fellows when we consider our own comfort to be a greater cause than treating them with respect. After all, when we fall into a mode of thought where we are unwilling to compromise with others it is solely our own comfort which we protect, our feeling of security in an established mode of thought. (Continued on page 14) 13 www.twtmag.com
Page 1 and 2: October 2012 Issue #56 $7.95 The Wo
Page 3 and 4: Now Available Two options of The Wo
Page 5 and 6: General Ask The Reader 8 Word of th
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Page 11: “Freemasonry: A Better Way Of Bei
Page 15 and 16: “The Symbologist” By Michelle S
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Page 19 and 20: The Coaches Coach: “Our Masonic Y
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