Thursday, July 02, 2020
Prince Hall and Me
There has been much ado in the Masonic world for the last few years about whether or not Prince Hall Masonry and regular Masonry should begin communicating with one another. This would allow, minimum, PHA (Prince Hall Affiliate) and regular Masons to sit in Lodge with one another and even discuss and attend one another's Degree work.
Tennessee is one of the few hold-out states that has not, as of yet, allowed Masonic communication between a PHA GL and our Grand Lodge.
While the idea of Masons of every color being able to sit in Lodge together should be one of the ultimate goals of our Ancient Craft, the question remains, how should we go about achieving such a lofty goal?
Many in our state say, "It's time." That may be so, but "time" for what?
As much as I would love to sit in Lodge with Brother Shaquille O'Neal, there are some things we should seriously consider.
The presumption that "Masonry" should receive all who wear a ring and refer themselves as "Masons" is at best complicated and at worst problematic.
These days, our country is beset with much pandering and political correctness. Our own Grand Lodge is not immune to it and, I imagine, the pressure is great to open our doors to "men of color" and any hesitancy or concern for the how is quickly alleged as prejudice by the willfully ignorant and the agenda driven who are only concerned with enhancing their own power and, quite frankly, emasculating those they see as "privileged."
Incidentally, we have been having a similar struggle over the idea of allowing homosexual men as members of our Lodges, but that would be another blog. Though, I can't help but wonder, is there a connection between the two movements? Perhaps not so coincidentally, both movements against traditional regular Masonry have come to the forefront more or less recently and interestingly coincide with the growing attack on universal, traditional values. It seems there is a lot of taste for revenge among those who have felt victimization and oppression, imagined or real. This often provokes men to lash out at any easy target. Particularly what they see as elitist and exclusive.
Back to the subject in discussion.
If anything, Masonry is about regulations and qualifications. I've been fortunate enough to attend the Grand Lodge session in Nashville on at least three occasions and have witnessed that much time is invested in voting on regulations, qualifications and the clarification thereof. Additionally, there will usually be a vote, after much research by committee, on whether or not we should communicate with a particular foreign Grand Lodge who has sought fellowship with us. Sometimes, the vote is up; sometimes, the vote is down.
Obviously, not all who call themselves Masons are welcomed into our society.
Perhaps, a little history is in order here.
I won't try to delve into exactly how long speculative Masonry has been around. (No, none of those arguments about the pyramid builders here.) We know the first Grand Lodge went public in 1717. This was, obviously, formed from pre-existing Lodges. These men, at that time, for whatever reason, decided to admit to the world that they were Freemasons and were proud to be as much.
As speculative Masonry spread throughout Europe, North America and elsewhere, certain men of interest in our fair land, while still only territories of Great Britain, petitioned the GLE (Grand Lodge of England) for charters authorizing them to form Lodges and Grand Lodges, work and make Masons in the several colonies. Exclusive Charters were granted to do the aforementioned within the confines of their particular territories. They all agreed that spilling over the lines separating the colonies, later states, was against the rules and against the charters granted by the GLE. Each Grand Lodge was sovereign within its own borders.
Time passed and, alas, we had that little spat with England. Although many Brothers on both sides often afforded consideration and kindness to one another, communication between American GL's and the GLE were then stained if not broken.
Sometime around that time, there appeared a black freeman, interestingly enough, named Prince Hall, in the New England area who received his degrees from a GLE affiliated Lodge. (Yes, there were a lot Tories in our nation at that time.) He organized, it's said, the first Masonic Lodge among black freemen in the Colonies. Though not given authority to do so by the GLE, African Lodge No. 459 then began to perform Degree work and Charter Lodges among other free blacks.
Much of this history, for obvious reasons, is speculative even to the point of legendary. There is argument as to several claimants of the name Prince Hall or whether he was an actual person. (Likely he was, if for no other reason, due to the number of Lodges created then and their descendant Lodges today. Along with contemporary witnesses and records of him.)
Now, here was the situation. A black man, possibly loyal to the crown, (differing opinions on that,) was starting Lodges in New England while the rest of the colonial Masons are divided in their loyalty to king or country. Things could only get worse!
There is a question that needs to be asked here: Was prejudice and bigotry a factor in the exclusion of PHA Masons from regular Masonry? I believe that I would be living in denial, (and that's just not a river in Mississippi,) if I said there was not. Men are men and men like men who are like them. With many exceptions, black men socialize with black men and white men socialize with white men. Asian with Asian. Latino with Latino. No wrong in any of that! The wrong is when we purposely avoid one another and/or view the other as "less." So, yes, white men of that time in Lodges weren't exactly what we might call welcoming to black men and, sadly, narrow-mindedness toward even good Christian men would often keep men without our doors who would've have enhanced the Lodge.
Frankly, I have no doubt that a "poor white trash" boy such as myself could never have gotten past the blackball, fifty, seventy-five or, definitely, two-hundred years ago. Yes, I am thankful that some things in Masonry have changed. I certainly hope for the better!
On the other hand, it must be asked, who is to say that these PHA Lodges were so desperate to join white Lodges. Perhaps, as today, they have their own way of conducting business and socializing and are uninterested in being beggars to any man. From what I gather, though the degree work would be recognizable to regular Masons, some of the teachings are at variance with ours. I don't mean a different morality, just that some of their legends and heroes are presented differently. (I'm not sure all of our heroes would be their heroes.) I've even received witness from an Entered Apprentice in our Lodge that he was told he was not welcome to join a local PHA Lodge because he is white.
Touche!
But I digress!
After the war, these Lodges were not recognized by regular Masonry in America. If for no other reason than that they were formed within the territorial bounds of former colonies that were now sovereign states. States that had been chartered by the GLE to have exclusive rights to form Lodges within their own boundaries. Not to mention some, though there are those who would argue otherwise, had been loyal to a king who had become the enemy of the people of the continent.
Even more so, communication became, at least for a while, suspended between what would become known as PHA Lodges and the GLE. (Seems there was problem with dues left unpaid.) The problem, I understand was later resolved, but the GLE was probably not overly upset to foster a little strife, even between the Masonic citizens of their former fellow subjects. (Yeah, the Grand Master of the GLE at the time was King George's little brother.)
So, what we end up with is this: Eventually, many, many, MANY PHA Lodges were formed across the ever-broadening USA. All being founded within sovereign borders controlled by regular GL's. GL's who either received their charters directly from the GLE or from another Grand Lodge who received theirs from the GLE. (Tennessee, upon becoming a state, was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of North Carolina who, in turn, had received theirs from the GLE.)
It gets even worse. For whatever reason, and I can imagine a few, among the black community, many PHA GL's began to form who actually had no connection to even the original PHA Lodges. They consisted of unscrupulous men, who attained enough information about Masonry, which was not that hard to do, and began giving out, or selling out, degrees and forming Lodges and GL's that those who have at least a bona fide connection to Prince Hall won't even recognize. (Bogus Lodges.) This has become worsened in the modern, internet age where information and fanciful websites are both abundant and anyone who is willing to cough up a few hundred dollars, or more, can receive an exquisite title, some spiffy duds and jewelry and, after hanging a square and compasses over their door, presto, chang-o, they are "Freemasons."
A quick online search for PHA GL's in Tennessee will reveal half a dozen or more. Actually, it's not all that uncommon, in a larger city, for there to be at least two Lodges who belong to different PHA GL's who don't communicate. Yes, it's a quandary!
So, now many Southern states, some already have, are considering holding communication with PHA GL's. Most, if not all, northern states have already done so.
This begs a very important question, though.
Sure, but which one?
Too many who have too much to prove are rushing far too fast to join with too many who are too far removed to be anywhere near verifiable through the haze of history. Many Masonic leaders are so afraid of being called names, albeit awful names, that they will do most anything, or maybe anything, to prove they are neither bigots or racists.
The problem is, when you do something to prove you're not a bigot, you've just proved you are. When you go out of your way to prove to a man of different pigmentation that you really, really, golly-gee, just have nothing against any of his kind, your condescension and pandering reaches deplorable depths. If you feel you have something to prove, then you most certainly have something to prove.
If we are going to seriously consider, as regular Masons, communicating with PHA GL's, we should first be willing and eager to allow Godly, patriotic men of every color into our Lodges to take the degrees. Otherwise, boasting that we communicate with PHA is only a novelty, a trinket and a trifle. We would make PHA Lodges no more than a token to us. It would be our way of saying, "See, I've got black friends too!"
Those who seek to enter our ranks for any reason other than a desire to join the Children of Light, grow and fellowship with us, will never be satisfied with any acquiescence we may offer them. They are not interested in friendship, morality and brotherly love. No, they are interested only in building themselves up by tearing everyone else down.
So, I ask: Are all Masons regular Masons now? Is there no longer such a thing as clandestine Masonry? Are we all the same in spite of our differences? I suppose if you just don't care, then you just don't care.
If we're not allowed to close ours doors to whom we choose, to be exclusive, to be esoteric, then they are no longer our doors. Precisely what other changes in our Ancient and Honorable Order would come next? Exactly at what point, then, would Masonry no longer be Masonry anymore? If Masonry isn't worth protecting, if it isn't worth working for, if it isn't worth humbling ourselves in gratitude to be even counted among such men, then, perhaps, we should simply close our doors!
I've often wondered if the time is not coming when Masonry should return back underground. As in olden times past. Well, I hope that doesn't become our only option.
Again, I digress.
So, will PHA Masons understand? Will the, so to speak, progressives in our Lodges understand? Will the profane understand? No, many will not understand our stance, but we have nothing to prove! Our call, as Masons, is to do what is right because it is right. There are times when we must follow the good and true even when the whole world is against us. Like the man said, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything!"
Tennessee is one of the few hold-out states that has not, as of yet, allowed Masonic communication between a PHA GL and our Grand Lodge.
While the idea of Masons of every color being able to sit in Lodge together should be one of the ultimate goals of our Ancient Craft, the question remains, how should we go about achieving such a lofty goal?
Many in our state say, "It's time." That may be so, but "time" for what?
As much as I would love to sit in Lodge with Brother Shaquille O'Neal, there are some things we should seriously consider.
The presumption that "Masonry" should receive all who wear a ring and refer themselves as "Masons" is at best complicated and at worst problematic.
These days, our country is beset with much pandering and political correctness. Our own Grand Lodge is not immune to it and, I imagine, the pressure is great to open our doors to "men of color" and any hesitancy or concern for the how is quickly alleged as prejudice by the willfully ignorant and the agenda driven who are only concerned with enhancing their own power and, quite frankly, emasculating those they see as "privileged."
Incidentally, we have been having a similar struggle over the idea of allowing homosexual men as members of our Lodges, but that would be another blog. Though, I can't help but wonder, is there a connection between the two movements? Perhaps not so coincidentally, both movements against traditional regular Masonry have come to the forefront more or less recently and interestingly coincide with the growing attack on universal, traditional values. It seems there is a lot of taste for revenge among those who have felt victimization and oppression, imagined or real. This often provokes men to lash out at any easy target. Particularly what they see as elitist and exclusive.
Back to the subject in discussion.
If anything, Masonry is about regulations and qualifications. I've been fortunate enough to attend the Grand Lodge session in Nashville on at least three occasions and have witnessed that much time is invested in voting on regulations, qualifications and the clarification thereof. Additionally, there will usually be a vote, after much research by committee, on whether or not we should communicate with a particular foreign Grand Lodge who has sought fellowship with us. Sometimes, the vote is up; sometimes, the vote is down.
Obviously, not all who call themselves Masons are welcomed into our society.
Perhaps, a little history is in order here.
I won't try to delve into exactly how long speculative Masonry has been around. (No, none of those arguments about the pyramid builders here.) We know the first Grand Lodge went public in 1717. This was, obviously, formed from pre-existing Lodges. These men, at that time, for whatever reason, decided to admit to the world that they were Freemasons and were proud to be as much.
As speculative Masonry spread throughout Europe, North America and elsewhere, certain men of interest in our fair land, while still only territories of Great Britain, petitioned the GLE (Grand Lodge of England) for charters authorizing them to form Lodges and Grand Lodges, work and make Masons in the several colonies. Exclusive Charters were granted to do the aforementioned within the confines of their particular territories. They all agreed that spilling over the lines separating the colonies, later states, was against the rules and against the charters granted by the GLE. Each Grand Lodge was sovereign within its own borders.
Time passed and, alas, we had that little spat with England. Although many Brothers on both sides often afforded consideration and kindness to one another, communication between American GL's and the GLE were then stained if not broken.
Sometime around that time, there appeared a black freeman, interestingly enough, named Prince Hall, in the New England area who received his degrees from a GLE affiliated Lodge. (Yes, there were a lot Tories in our nation at that time.) He organized, it's said, the first Masonic Lodge among black freemen in the Colonies. Though not given authority to do so by the GLE, African Lodge No. 459 then began to perform Degree work and Charter Lodges among other free blacks.
Much of this history, for obvious reasons, is speculative even to the point of legendary. There is argument as to several claimants of the name Prince Hall or whether he was an actual person. (Likely he was, if for no other reason, due to the number of Lodges created then and their descendant Lodges today. Along with contemporary witnesses and records of him.)
Now, here was the situation. A black man, possibly loyal to the crown, (differing opinions on that,) was starting Lodges in New England while the rest of the colonial Masons are divided in their loyalty to king or country. Things could only get worse!
There is a question that needs to be asked here: Was prejudice and bigotry a factor in the exclusion of PHA Masons from regular Masonry? I believe that I would be living in denial, (and that's just not a river in Mississippi,) if I said there was not. Men are men and men like men who are like them. With many exceptions, black men socialize with black men and white men socialize with white men. Asian with Asian. Latino with Latino. No wrong in any of that! The wrong is when we purposely avoid one another and/or view the other as "less." So, yes, white men of that time in Lodges weren't exactly what we might call welcoming to black men and, sadly, narrow-mindedness toward even good Christian men would often keep men without our doors who would've have enhanced the Lodge.
Frankly, I have no doubt that a "poor white trash" boy such as myself could never have gotten past the blackball, fifty, seventy-five or, definitely, two-hundred years ago. Yes, I am thankful that some things in Masonry have changed. I certainly hope for the better!
On the other hand, it must be asked, who is to say that these PHA Lodges were so desperate to join white Lodges. Perhaps, as today, they have their own way of conducting business and socializing and are uninterested in being beggars to any man. From what I gather, though the degree work would be recognizable to regular Masons, some of the teachings are at variance with ours. I don't mean a different morality, just that some of their legends and heroes are presented differently. (I'm not sure all of our heroes would be their heroes.) I've even received witness from an Entered Apprentice in our Lodge that he was told he was not welcome to join a local PHA Lodge because he is white.
Touche!
But I digress!
After the war, these Lodges were not recognized by regular Masonry in America. If for no other reason than that they were formed within the territorial bounds of former colonies that were now sovereign states. States that had been chartered by the GLE to have exclusive rights to form Lodges within their own boundaries. Not to mention some, though there are those who would argue otherwise, had been loyal to a king who had become the enemy of the people of the continent.
Even more so, communication became, at least for a while, suspended between what would become known as PHA Lodges and the GLE. (Seems there was problem with dues left unpaid.) The problem, I understand was later resolved, but the GLE was probably not overly upset to foster a little strife, even between the Masonic citizens of their former fellow subjects. (Yeah, the Grand Master of the GLE at the time was King George's little brother.)
So, what we end up with is this: Eventually, many, many, MANY PHA Lodges were formed across the ever-broadening USA. All being founded within sovereign borders controlled by regular GL's. GL's who either received their charters directly from the GLE or from another Grand Lodge who received theirs from the GLE. (Tennessee, upon becoming a state, was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of North Carolina who, in turn, had received theirs from the GLE.)
It gets even worse. For whatever reason, and I can imagine a few, among the black community, many PHA GL's began to form who actually had no connection to even the original PHA Lodges. They consisted of unscrupulous men, who attained enough information about Masonry, which was not that hard to do, and began giving out, or selling out, degrees and forming Lodges and GL's that those who have at least a bona fide connection to Prince Hall won't even recognize. (Bogus Lodges.) This has become worsened in the modern, internet age where information and fanciful websites are both abundant and anyone who is willing to cough up a few hundred dollars, or more, can receive an exquisite title, some spiffy duds and jewelry and, after hanging a square and compasses over their door, presto, chang-o, they are "Freemasons."
A quick online search for PHA GL's in Tennessee will reveal half a dozen or more. Actually, it's not all that uncommon, in a larger city, for there to be at least two Lodges who belong to different PHA GL's who don't communicate. Yes, it's a quandary!
So, now many Southern states, some already have, are considering holding communication with PHA GL's. Most, if not all, northern states have already done so.
This begs a very important question, though.
Sure, but which one?
Too many who have too much to prove are rushing far too fast to join with too many who are too far removed to be anywhere near verifiable through the haze of history. Many Masonic leaders are so afraid of being called names, albeit awful names, that they will do most anything, or maybe anything, to prove they are neither bigots or racists.
The problem is, when you do something to prove you're not a bigot, you've just proved you are. When you go out of your way to prove to a man of different pigmentation that you really, really, golly-gee, just have nothing against any of his kind, your condescension and pandering reaches deplorable depths. If you feel you have something to prove, then you most certainly have something to prove.
If we are going to seriously consider, as regular Masons, communicating with PHA GL's, we should first be willing and eager to allow Godly, patriotic men of every color into our Lodges to take the degrees. Otherwise, boasting that we communicate with PHA is only a novelty, a trinket and a trifle. We would make PHA Lodges no more than a token to us. It would be our way of saying, "See, I've got black friends too!"
Those who seek to enter our ranks for any reason other than a desire to join the Children of Light, grow and fellowship with us, will never be satisfied with any acquiescence we may offer them. They are not interested in friendship, morality and brotherly love. No, they are interested only in building themselves up by tearing everyone else down.
So, I ask: Are all Masons regular Masons now? Is there no longer such a thing as clandestine Masonry? Are we all the same in spite of our differences? I suppose if you just don't care, then you just don't care.
If we're not allowed to close ours doors to whom we choose, to be exclusive, to be esoteric, then they are no longer our doors. Precisely what other changes in our Ancient and Honorable Order would come next? Exactly at what point, then, would Masonry no longer be Masonry anymore? If Masonry isn't worth protecting, if it isn't worth working for, if it isn't worth humbling ourselves in gratitude to be even counted among such men, then, perhaps, we should simply close our doors!
I've often wondered if the time is not coming when Masonry should return back underground. As in olden times past. Well, I hope that doesn't become our only option.
Again, I digress.
So, will PHA Masons understand? Will the, so to speak, progressives in our Lodges understand? Will the profane understand? No, many will not understand our stance, but we have nothing to prove! Our call, as Masons, is to do what is right because it is right. There are times when we must follow the good and true even when the whole world is against us. Like the man said, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything!"
We will be a witness to the world of the Holiness of the Lord when we treat all men, whatever pigmentation or membership status as children of God. Imagine the power of our testimony when we judge men by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. That would be true Masonry!
I've always said, Masonry isn't everyone's cup of tea. I have many kinfolk and friends who are not Masons. Not every man needs to be in our Lodge though I may wish that all men of character would be.
As Julian H. Pettitt, Jr., P.M, said, "Some men are Masons already. They just need to come in and take their degrees."
So, do I want to sit in Lodge with good, black, white, yellow, brown and red men? Yes! Do I want to sit in Lodge with black men because they're black? No! Do I want to sit in Lodge with them because they are, like my current Brothers, good men? Most emphatically, yes!
Finally, let us be welcoming to all men without compromising our principles and our Lodge. Otherwise, we and they will know it is only pandering and compromise. Then, the value for all concerned will be at least lessened and possibly bankrupted.
While there are likely many PHA and regular GL's who sincerely seek fellowship, they usually are drowned out and manipulated by those of a more cynical inclination. We must not allow the embittered to undermine a time-tested producer of better men for the sake of their own chafed feelings. We must be stalwart and never surrender to vain hope that we might somehow, though yielding and compromising, avoid the slings and arrows of life that standing staunchly for our convictions might bring. We must be guarded, watchful and circumspect. We must be meek as lambs, but wise as foxes.
My father, Rev. Floyd Davis, was a very wise man and he would often say, concerning such situations, "If any way will do, then no way will do just as well."
I've always said, Masonry isn't everyone's cup of tea. I have many kinfolk and friends who are not Masons. Not every man needs to be in our Lodge though I may wish that all men of character would be.
As Julian H. Pettitt, Jr., P.M, said, "Some men are Masons already. They just need to come in and take their degrees."
So, do I want to sit in Lodge with good, black, white, yellow, brown and red men? Yes! Do I want to sit in Lodge with black men because they're black? No! Do I want to sit in Lodge with them because they are, like my current Brothers, good men? Most emphatically, yes!
Finally, let us be welcoming to all men without compromising our principles and our Lodge. Otherwise, we and they will know it is only pandering and compromise. Then, the value for all concerned will be at least lessened and possibly bankrupted.
While there are likely many PHA and regular GL's who sincerely seek fellowship, they usually are drowned out and manipulated by those of a more cynical inclination. We must not allow the embittered to undermine a time-tested producer of better men for the sake of their own chafed feelings. We must be stalwart and never surrender to vain hope that we might somehow, though yielding and compromising, avoid the slings and arrows of life that standing staunchly for our convictions might bring. We must be guarded, watchful and circumspect. We must be meek as lambs, but wise as foxes.
My father, Rev. Floyd Davis, was a very wise man and he would often say, concerning such situations, "If any way will do, then no way will do just as well."
Labels: England, Freemasonry, GLE, History, Masonry, PHA, Prince Hall
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
My Travels East
I am a Master Mason. My father before
me was a Master Mason also. I never sat in Lodge with him. I actually
became a Mason several years after he passed away.
This particular episode repeated itself
over a period of ten and more years on several occasions. I recall on
guy that the subject came up with explained that he was only a Fellow
Craft, (which meant nothing to me,) and wasn't sure what he could do.
(I've learned that he actually could've done a lot to help me.)
Again, time passed and I found myself no closer to my fulfilling my
wish of becoming a Freemason that I had been some years previously.
Dad and I discussed Masonry, at least
as much as he could, on more than one occasion. I expressed my
interest in becoming one and talked about the quality of men,
including cousins, who belonged to the Fraternity. He told me that
there was a “lot of Bible” in it and how it required men to be
honest and good.
I knew that I had to ask one to be
one,but I didn't know that I knew any Masons. So, I didn't know who
to ask to join, but it was something I always kept the idea of
joining up in the back of my head.
Time passed and I moved my place of
residence and began a new job. After being there for some little
while, I noticed a man that I worked with wearing a Masonic ring. I
was excited when I asked him if he was a Mason and he said he was. I
told him, in so many words, that I knew I had to ask to get in and I
was very interested. I asked him if he could help me get into
Masonry. He explained that he was not very active, but would do what
he could to help.
Time passed again and days turned into
weeks, weeks into months and months into years. I don't recall
actually investing much energy in reminding the man of my request,
but I didn't, obviously, understand if I was supposed to do so or
not. In short, we never spoke on the subject again and he never
actually helped me obtain my goal.
Again, time passed and I moved my place
of residence and began a new job. After being there for some little
while, I noticed a man that I worked with wearing a Masonic ring. I
was excited when I asked him if he was a Mason and he said he was. I
told him, in so many words, that I knew I had to ask to get in and I
was very interested. I asked him if he could help me get into
Masonry. He explained that he was not very active, but would do what
he could to help.
Time passed again and days turned into
weeks, weeks into months and months into years. I don't recall
actually investing much energy in reminding the man of my request,
but I didn't, obviously, understand if I was supposed to do so or
not. In short, we never spoke on the subject again and he never
actually helped me obtain my goal.
This particular episode repeated itself
over a period of ten and more years on several occasions. I recall on
guy that the subject came up with explained that he was only a Fellow
Craft, (which meant nothing to me,) and wasn't sure what he could do.
(I've learned that he actually could've done a lot to help me.)
Again, time passed and I found myself no closer to my fulfilling my
wish of becoming a Freemason that I had been some years previously.
I had all but given up on ever joining
a Lodge when I, once again, started a new job. One that lead me to
where I wanted to be.
I had been working at Plaza Electronics
as an appliance and electronics salesman for a year, when an
serendipitous occurrence came about. It seems my decade long dream of
joining the world's oldest Fraternity would finally be realized.
One day, I was completing a sale for a
gentleman, (no, I can't remember anything about the purchase,) when I
noticed his ring. I then looked to old guy up and down. He wore a
Masonic ring, a Masonic hat and a Masonic belt buckle.
At this point, I asked him if I could
ask him a question. He replied that I could.
I said, “You're a Mason, ain't you?”
He replied that he was.
I responded, “Well, can I ask you
another question?”
He said I could.
I asked, “Exactly how many Masons do
I have to ask before I can become a Mason?”
He chuckled and asked my meaning. I
told him the short version of my little story. He enjoyed it, I
think. After asking me a little about myself, he told me that he
would take care of me. The next day, Julian H. Pettitt, Jr. was
standing at the sales counter explaining to that he had been sent to
me because of my expressed interest in Masonry. I was well pleased!
He gave me a petition and told me he'd
be back to pick it up at an appointed time. I thanked him profusely
for coming by and we both expressed our looking forward to meeting
again. I replayed the story to my mother, wife and daughter that
evening with great enthusiasm.
Brother Julian came by to pick up my
petition and he informed me that he would be in contact. He called me
some days later and made an appointment to meet with a committee. We
met at Hardee's, of all places, drinking coffee and just generally
enjoying ourselves. As I recall, my committee consisted of Julian
Pettitt, David Duncan and Joe Minge.
I count myself as blessed that I got
into Masonry soon enough to know Brother Pettitt. Both he and Brother
Minge have passed on to the Celestial Lodge above. I feel sincere
sympathy for the young guys who never were fortunate enough to know
these great men. They have surely missed out!
Regrettably, I can't recall his name or
exactly what the old brother looked like who helped me get a
petition. I remember he was not small, heavy set, grey-headed and
probably a decade or two older than myself. I wish that I could thank
him for being there and being involved enough to assist me in
beginning my Masonic journey. One day, in that Celestial Lodge above,
I will.
Labels: east, Freemasonry, Masonry, Master Mason, traveling
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Performing Masonic Funerals
Performing Masonic Funerals is something that, ten years ago, I couldn’t have imagined myself doing. Yet, so far, I have done thirty and counting.It is always an honor when asked to say the last words over a fallen brother. The brethren in line are always nice and tell me what a great job I do. Their praise would certainly go to my head if the entire ordeal weren’t so humbling.
Recently, a brother who has only begun this taxing, but blessed service, asked me to give him some training. He’s very smart, capable and has an excellent delivery, so I don’t really know if he needs any “training” per se. Still, his request did cause me to give some thought to putting down a number of points I might give him or others on the subject at hand.
I’ve done a lot of public speaking in my day. Being a preacher’s kid pretty much made public speaking mandatory among my siblings and myself. Hence, methinks the following principles would be helpful while standing before any audience or congregation in a public forum.
So, without further ado and in no particular order:
1. Look ‘em in the eye. (Otherwise, they won’t believe a word you say.)
2. Pronounce the words correctly. (That doesn’t mean change your accent.)
3. If you don’t know what a word means, look it up in the dictionary.
4. If you don’t understand a term or reference, research it until you do.
5. Project your voice. (They need to hear you in the back too.)
6. Remember, it’s not about you; it’s about the family/listeners.
7. Practice the recitation ad nauseam. Once you feel extremely confident, don’t let a week pass without rehearsing it at least twice.
8. Listen to yourself. (Actually pay attention to what you are saying. Don’t just recite by rote.)
9. Don’t get in a hurry!
10. Get alone for just a few minutes, if possible. This will help you to clear your mind and calm your breathing and will also give you time to pray.
11. Empty your pockets; turn your cell off and leave it in another room; check your clothes and face for cleanliness.
12. Be expressive. Don’t be ashamed to let your face show what you are feeling.
Labels: funerals, Masonry, pastor, preacher, preacher's kid, speaking
Friday, April 22, 2011
Women Masons?
I wrote this in response to a FaceBook I read concerning a couple of purported women Masons in the past. It's not the first version of this story I have heard.
******************************************
Yeah, I've heard this myth before. Master Masons, though, know that there is no punishment for profanes when they discover our "secrets," but great punishment inferred for Regular Masons who reveal them to, for example, nosey women. It's a mildly interesting and politically correct story, but the details are "sketchy" at best and women cannot, I repeat, cannot be Regular Masons. One of my favorite things about Masonry is that it's devoid of that cursed political correctness that is prevalent in our modern society.
Labels: Freemasonry, myths, women
Friday, April 15, 2011
I Thought It Was About the Dollar Bill
It was nothing but a bunch of conspiracy theorists with books to sell attacking Masonry. Cracked me up when this one guy kept referring to "their god." Funny, I've always thought there was only one God. Funny, too, I thought this show was about the dollar bill.
Labels: dollar, History, History Channel, Masonry
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
To Be One Ask One!
My journey to joining the ranks of “Traveling Men” is probably atypical of the stories you have heard. It took me years of trying before having the opportunity of being “Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason.”
I, of course, knew George Washington to have been a Mason along with a couple of my other heroes. My number one Masonic hero was, of course, my dad. So, naturally, I wanted to follow in their footsteps.
Although he hadn’t been active for years, Dad and I, on several occasions, discussed Masonry. He only told me that Masonry contains a lot of Bible and it is an immeasurable honor to be one. Sometime after reaching adulthood, I decided it was time to take my first step in Masonry.
It’s not that I didn’t know how it worked. I knew no one would ever overtly invite me into the Craft. Because I knew to be one, I had to ask one. The problem was, at that time, I had no idea who to ask in order “to be one.”
I decided to keep my eyes open. Surely, I would run into someone who could help me.
It so happened that, sometime after, I started a new job. I hadn’t been there long when I noticed a man with “that ring” on his finger. So, I inquired, ignorantly, if he truly was a Mason. He replied that he was. Then, I explained to him that I was very interested in joining up and I hoped that he could help me. He explained that although he was a Mason, he wasn’t very active, but he would do what he could. Not knowing much about the way those things worked, I waited patiently for whatever would come next. Well, days passed into weeks and weeks passed into months, time flew by, and no other words were exchanged between him and me concerning the subject at hand.
Time passed and I changed jobs. It wasn’t very long before I met a man on this particular job whom I discovered to be a Mason. I inquired if he was, in fact, a Mason. He said that he was. Then I asked him if he could help me become one myself. Well, he explained that he wasn’t very active, but that he would do what he could. Days passed into weeks, weeks passed into months, time flew by, and, again, nothing else was said between us on the matter.
After a couple of years, I again changed employment, as I was wont to do. Again, after some little while there, I came across a man whom I believed to be a Mason. I worked up the gumption to ask him if he was or was not a Mason. He explained that he was, but he was only a Fellow Craft and had not been to Lodge in quite some time. I, of course, asked if he could help me get in the Lodge and he said that he would do what he could. Once again, days passed into weeks and weeks passed into months, time flew by, and nothing came of this most recent request.
I admit, at this point, I was feeling a little frustrated about the whole matter. Then, I had an epiphany. After asking around, I discovered where the local Lodge was located. I didn’t know what hours they kept or if they had a secretary or what. I thought to myself, “If this is how it works, I’ll try it.” I arrived at the Lodge one sunny day, only to find a locked door and even more exasperation.
Some time after this, I again started a new job. It’s a very public job in sales and I see many different people every day. One day, I was ringing up a customer’s sale, when I suddenly realized he was covered with Masonic regalia. He had the hat, the belt buckle and the ring too. I mused, “Surely this man is a Mason.” When we were finished, I inquired if this, in fact, were true. He assured me it was. So, I continued by saying, “Can I ask you a question?” He said I could. I then asked, “How many Masons do you have to ask before you can become a Mason?” A puzzled look swiftly overcame him so I related the short form of my quest to join the Masonic institution. He said that he was from a Lodge out of town, but assured me that he would have someone in the local Lodge come by to see me. Frankly, I had my doubts that this would have any different outcome from any of my previous inquiries.
The next day, to my surprise and great joy, a thin, grey-haired gentleman showed at the store looking for me. He introduced himself as Julian Pettitt and explained that he was told that I would be interested in petitioning the local Lodge. I stated enthusiastically and emphatically that I would love to do so! He gave me a petition, chatted with me for several minutes about the blessings of Masonry and explained the next steps involved in joining. To say the least, I was thrilled!
Well, as they say, the rest is history. Later that year, I was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. I now am Past Master of Meridian Sun #50 F&AM, am KYCH nominated, carry my Proficiency Card proudly, was awarded a Funeral Master’s pin by Most Worshipful Grand Master Tom Boduch and am currently serving as District Deputy Chairman for District 17 of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee F&AM. It’s more than I thought I would be doing, but I have no regrets.
It has been a wonderful journey and I’ve formed more friendships and made more connections than I could have imagined. The many brothers I have gained and the maturity I have hopefully acquired has, I believe, made me a better man. (I’ll work on humility next year.)
Yes, our Fraternity is not for everyone, but for those who decide to walk through the door of Masonry and gain admittance into the local Lodge, the blessings we receive far surpass whatever trivial sacrifices we make.
If you read this and you are an “inactive” Mason, be “inactive” no more. Join us as often as you can. Don’t just sit at home on those nights when you could actually be enjoying fellowship with the “children of light.” Be the man who helped me and not those before who could not.
Remember the joy. Remember your obligations. Remember your first steps in Masonry and let them lead you back to your brothers. We miss you! We hope you miss us too.
 |
| French Lodge 1790 |
My journey to joining the ranks of “Traveling Men” is probably atypical of the stories you have heard. It took me years of trying before having the opportunity of being “Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason.”
I, of course, knew George Washington to have been a Mason along with a couple of my other heroes. My number one Masonic hero was, of course, my dad. So, naturally, I wanted to follow in their footsteps.
Although he hadn’t been active for years, Dad and I, on several occasions, discussed Masonry. He only told me that Masonry contains a lot of Bible and it is an immeasurable honor to be one. Sometime after reaching adulthood, I decided it was time to take my first step in Masonry.
It’s not that I didn’t know how it worked. I knew no one would ever overtly invite me into the Craft. Because I knew to be one, I had to ask one. The problem was, at that time, I had no idea who to ask in order “to be one.”
I decided to keep my eyes open. Surely, I would run into someone who could help me.
It so happened that, sometime after, I started a new job. I hadn’t been there long when I noticed a man with “that ring” on his finger. So, I inquired, ignorantly, if he truly was a Mason. He replied that he was. Then, I explained to him that I was very interested in joining up and I hoped that he could help me. He explained that although he was a Mason, he wasn’t very active, but he would do what he could. Not knowing much about the way those things worked, I waited patiently for whatever would come next. Well, days passed into weeks and weeks passed into months, time flew by, and no other words were exchanged between him and me concerning the subject at hand.
Time passed and I changed jobs. It wasn’t very long before I met a man on this particular job whom I discovered to be a Mason. I inquired if he was, in fact, a Mason. He said that he was. Then I asked him if he could help me become one myself. Well, he explained that he wasn’t very active, but that he would do what he could. Days passed into weeks, weeks passed into months, time flew by, and, again, nothing else was said between us on the matter.
After a couple of years, I again changed employment, as I was wont to do. Again, after some little while there, I came across a man whom I believed to be a Mason. I worked up the gumption to ask him if he was or was not a Mason. He explained that he was, but he was only a Fellow Craft and had not been to Lodge in quite some time. I, of course, asked if he could help me get in the Lodge and he said that he would do what he could. Once again, days passed into weeks and weeks passed into months, time flew by, and nothing came of this most recent request.
I admit, at this point, I was feeling a little frustrated about the whole matter. Then, I had an epiphany. After asking around, I discovered where the local Lodge was located. I didn’t know what hours they kept or if they had a secretary or what. I thought to myself, “If this is how it works, I’ll try it.” I arrived at the Lodge one sunny day, only to find a locked door and even more exasperation.
Some time after this, I again started a new job. It’s a very public job in sales and I see many different people every day. One day, I was ringing up a customer’s sale, when I suddenly realized he was covered with Masonic regalia. He had the hat, the belt buckle and the ring too. I mused, “Surely this man is a Mason.” When we were finished, I inquired if this, in fact, were true. He assured me it was. So, I continued by saying, “Can I ask you a question?” He said I could. I then asked, “How many Masons do you have to ask before you can become a Mason?” A puzzled look swiftly overcame him so I related the short form of my quest to join the Masonic institution. He said that he was from a Lodge out of town, but assured me that he would have someone in the local Lodge come by to see me. Frankly, I had my doubts that this would have any different outcome from any of my previous inquiries.
The next day, to my surprise and great joy, a thin, grey-haired gentleman showed at the store looking for me. He introduced himself as Julian Pettitt and explained that he was told that I would be interested in petitioning the local Lodge. I stated enthusiastically and emphatically that I would love to do so! He gave me a petition, chatted with me for several minutes about the blessings of Masonry and explained the next steps involved in joining. To say the least, I was thrilled!
Well, as they say, the rest is history. Later that year, I was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. I now am Past Master of Meridian Sun #50 F&AM, am KYCH nominated, carry my Proficiency Card proudly, was awarded a Funeral Master’s pin by Most Worshipful Grand Master Tom Boduch and am currently serving as District Deputy Chairman for District 17 of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee F&AM. It’s more than I thought I would be doing, but I have no regrets.
It has been a wonderful journey and I’ve formed more friendships and made more connections than I could have imagined. The many brothers I have gained and the maturity I have hopefully acquired has, I believe, made me a better man. (I’ll work on humility next year.)
Yes, our Fraternity is not for everyone, but for those who decide to walk through the door of Masonry and gain admittance into the local Lodge, the blessings we receive far surpass whatever trivial sacrifices we make.
If you read this and you are an “inactive” Mason, be “inactive” no more. Join us as often as you can. Don’t just sit at home on those nights when you could actually be enjoying fellowship with the “children of light.” Be the man who helped me and not those before who could not.
Remember the joy. Remember your obligations. Remember your first steps in Masonry and let them lead you back to your brothers. We miss you! We hope you miss us too.
Labels: Freemasonry, jobs
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The First Freemason?
Who was the first Freemason? Easy! Adam.
"Why Adam?" you ask?
Well, remember when Adam and Eve sinned and they made aprons of fig leaves? Remember that the Lord made "coats of skins" to conceal their nakedness?
The Lord saw the deficiency of fig leaves and gave them animal skins instead. It is probable that these skins would've been nothing more than skirts or aprons to cover the most private parts of their bodies. (This would be in keeping with the more archaic definition of "coat.")
This, as even a layman knows, is the first sacrifice made for the sins of man. These "coats" would have been simple, fresh and, likely, somewhat bloody. There is, in my never to be humble opinion, no chance that this sacrifice would've been any other animal than a lamb. Therefore, making Adam, clothed in his pure, white apron, de facto, the first Freemason!
The purity that this time honored badge of Masonry represents would have been derived from the age old notion that the simplicity, innocence and whiteness of the lambskin represents the simplicity, innocence and righteousness of the faithful servant of God. The nakedness that was inadequately covered by the fig leaves was well covered by the lambskin that God Himself gave to man as a more than adequate veil for sin.
Alright, I'm obviously taking some poetic license here, but there's no doubt that our Masonic predecessors thought about this long before I did. This would've been a natural extension of the teachings of Masonry.
Yes, it would be absurd to think that Adam, or any other Old Testament saints, belonged to any proper, regular lodge. Still, it is the teachings, not necessarily the organization, of Masonry that will, should the Lord delay his return, endure through time immemorial.
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
"Why Adam?" you ask?
Well, remember when Adam and Eve sinned and they made aprons of fig leaves? Remember that the Lord made "coats of skins" to conceal their nakedness?
The Lord saw the deficiency of fig leaves and gave them animal skins instead. It is probable that these skins would've been nothing more than skirts or aprons to cover the most private parts of their bodies. (This would be in keeping with the more archaic definition of "coat.")
This, as even a layman knows, is the first sacrifice made for the sins of man. These "coats" would have been simple, fresh and, likely, somewhat bloody. There is, in my never to be humble opinion, no chance that this sacrifice would've been any other animal than a lamb. Therefore, making Adam, clothed in his pure, white apron, de facto, the first Freemason!
The purity that this time honored badge of Masonry represents would have been derived from the age old notion that the simplicity, innocence and whiteness of the lambskin represents the simplicity, innocence and righteousness of the faithful servant of God. The nakedness that was inadequately covered by the fig leaves was well covered by the lambskin that God Himself gave to man as a more than adequate veil for sin.
Alright, I'm obviously taking some poetic license here, but there's no doubt that our Masonic predecessors thought about this long before I did. This would've been a natural extension of the teachings of Masonry.
Yes, it would be absurd to think that Adam, or any other Old Testament saints, belonged to any proper, regular lodge. Still, it is the teachings, not necessarily the organization, of Masonry that will, should the Lord delay his return, endure through time immemorial.
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Labels: Adam, Freemasonry, lambskin
