MASONIC Digest Friday, 16 October 1992 Volume 4 : Issue 17 Today's Topics: Administrivia.
MASONIC Digest Friday, 16 October 1992 Volume 4 : Issue 17
Today's Topics:
Administrivia. (Peter Trei)
Order of the Arrow (cstech@acuvax.acu.edu)
Compuserve/Unseen Journey video/Why Join?
Pessimism (Peter da Silva)
Lodges spotted on trip. (Ed Greenberg)
Baptists attack (on Genie) (Bob Willoughby)
Pessimism (Justin du Coeur MKA Mark Waks)
Pessimism (Peter Trei)
Knights Templar (James Backus via Paul Raulerson)
Scottish Rite and the first amendment (Brian Naylor)
Some local matters (Peter Trei)
Send all submissions and requests to ptrei@mitre.org. MASONIC
digest is moderated. Please remember: THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM: YOU MUST
ASSUME THAT MANY READERS ARE NON-MASONS. Please include a relevant
subject line. If you require anonymity, say so at the top of your
message (and give a nom-de-net). All contributions remain the property
(copyright 1992), and responsibility of the authors. My own comments
remain mine (Copyright 1992 Peter Trei), and represent only my views
at the time of posting - not neccesarily those of my employer, or of
any Grand Lodge. Back issues are available, as are a few standard
pamphlets, either directly from me or via anonymous ftp to site
150.243.100.10
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From: Peter Trei
Subject: Administrivia.
This is a lot less organized than I would like it to be. I've got
some other material, but I wanted to get this issue out before the
weekend. Unposted articles will come out soon.
I've included a few local matters of interest to Masons and
non-Masons at the bottom of the list. I'm curious - do other people
have similar things for which they'd like to see brief notes on the
list?
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Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 14:30:31 -0500 (CDT)
From: CSTECH@ACUVAX.ACU.EDU (DR. ENTROPY)
Subject: OA, questions about Masonry
[ PT: The Order of the Arrow is a fraternal group within the Boy ]
[ Scouts of America. ]
I was inducted into the Order of the Arrow several years ago. The
general theme was that OA is based on American Indian practices. It
struck me at the time, however (I guess my thoughts ran deep for a 14
year old;') that the language and "metamessage" seemed very European.
Have you received confirmation on a link between OA and Masonic
ritualism? If so, it would certainly bring me closer to joining a
lodge.
[ PT: Does anyone have the straight dope on the origin of the OA? ]
PS- yes, please emphasize more of the positive aspects inherit in
Masonry. So far it sounds interesting philosophically, but not at all
beneficial. From what I've gathered on this list I can garner the
same benefits by staying active in my church and reading my librarie's
holdings, without risk of the so often mentioned stigma associated
with Masonry.
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Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 11:51:43 PDT
From: Edwards@wbst129.xerox.com
Subject: Compuserve
Peter,
Couple points from the last digest. Sorry they are long, my
fingers get typing and look what happens.....
CompuServe Information
In reagrds to your comment about CompuServe to Stuart Lewis. Here
is some info.
CompuServe can be contacted with the following number: (800)
848-8199, ask for number 378. They will mail you a free info kit with
a temp. CompuServe logon, 1 month free basic service ($7.95) and
$15.00 credit usage.
The Philalethes Society (International Masonic Research Society)
has a chapter on the service called "The Cornerstone Computer Club".
There is a lot of interesting masonic discussion that takes place. To
enter the Forum type Go Masonry any !prompt.
The Forum is an extended service and has $12.80 hour fee.
However, with a telecommunications capture log, all messages can be
retrieved in a few minutes and read off line. Any Messages to be
posted can be created offline in Ascii format and uploaded to the
service (reducing online connect time). I am a member of the service
and find it a valuable part of my Masonic Education/Involvement. Like
the digest, it allows masons and non-masons from all over the World
discuss masonic related topics.
I have also heard the Prodigy has Masonic Discussions, however I
am not familar with this service...any comments?
-------
Unseen Journey
I have recently seen "The Unseen Journey" multiple times and
found it very interesting and well done. As Alan Spies mentioned John
Robinson, the Author of Born in Blood, was featured in the video. The
other speaker is the late Jerry Marsengill, former editor of "The
Philalethes", the journal of the Philalethes Society. Jerry recently
died (last fall I believe).
Part of the video overviewed the different "histories" of
Masonry. Robinson presented his Templar connection and Marsingell
presented other theories which included the operative stone mason
guild connection. When I saw the video I was lucky enough to have the
producers there to discuss it. (Brother Toth and Brother Parsons of
IL. produced the video) They mentioned that there was some reluctance
by Grand Lodge's and Masons to accept the video. I suggest to anyone
who watches the video that you keep an open mind. Some points in the
video I do not agree with but overall I think this will be a valuable
tool to educate and I have enjoyed watching it. I showed the video to
my wife and a friend who is thinking about joining the Masons. (Our
local Masonic Library has a copy). After watching the video we had a
good discussion and I even pointed out the areas I disagreed with and
explained why. They also shared some comments.
The video covers a lot of material in 60 minutes and is a good
audio/visual introduction to someone who would like to learn more
about Masonry. Any comments from other brother's who have seen it?
--------
Why Join Masonry?
In response to the comment made by the Anonymous Writer "I will
close by stating that until such time as a majority of Masons profess
their creed by virtue of their actions as well as their words, I will
remain a non-Mason"
I am 25 years old and recently married (April 25th 92). I have
been a Master Mason since December 1990 (Webster NY). In that time I
have questioned many things about Masonry and became upset with some
of the practices of the organization. I have to thank two brothers
(and friends) for keeping me in the craft, One a Grand Lodge of NY
Mason and another a Black Lodge (Non Prince Hall) Mason. After some
long discussions, I realized that my reasons for being upset had
nothing to do with Masonry, it was with the practices of certain
members who belong to the organization.
Since that time, Masonry has helped me become a better person. I
have found a deeper respect and love for the bible and the Christian
faith (yes, I am an Espiscopal Christian who is a Mason). I have
gained skills that help me inside and outside of work. I have helped
raise money for different charities and am now helping with a masonic
living blood bank/blood drives with the American Red Cross.
I am an indiviualist by nature. Masonry has not brain washed me.
It is not a cult with a charasmatic leader. It has some simple
symbolic tools that are taught in the ritual of the three degrees.
During the degree I was an actor in a real live drama and learned some
lessons that will allow me to live a more productive life. Masonry is
not just an organization, it can be a way of life!
When in College I had the opportunity to be elected to a Student
Government office. When deciding if to run, I didn't know if I would
want to become part of an organization I sometimes opposed. (I was a
highly involved student activist sometimes at odds with both the
Student Government and the College Administration). Would joining it
make me one of them or quiet my voice? A friend offered me the advice
that sometimes the only way to improve an oragnization is from the
inside, by becoming part of it. And that is what I tried to do when I
was elected to the office. The same goes with Masonry. I believe that
the Masonic Organization is worth my efforts to help and try to
improve.
I have applied that same advice to Masonry and I am now working
slowing to improve the organization from within. I encourage you not
to wait but join now and receive the benefits of being a Mason (you
will understand if you join). Someday Masonry will practice what is
teaches (maybe not in my lifetime) but that will never happen without
effort and persistance from members who realize and act on the need
improvements. I have always been one to fight for what I believe in
and I encourage all of you reading this to do the same.
~ Bill Edwards
==============================================================================
Subject: Pessimism
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 22:29:15 CDT
> [ I'd also like to point out that a good portion of the audience are ]
> [ potential Masons. It's all very well to discuss the problems of ]
> [ Freemasonry. But to do so without mentioning it's positive aspects ]
> [ (those which make us care enough to complain and seek to fix it ]
> [ instead of just walking away), gives non-Masons as incorrect and ]
> [ biased a picture as would the most starry-eyed pollyannaisms. ]
As one of the non-masons, I would take it much amiss if you were to edit
out the views of the pessimists among you. Certainly I would find it less
than appealing to enter a group that find it necessary to stifle the
activists in their midst.
Oh, and I'm sure Masons need hugs too...
--
Peter da Silva, Houston, TX
[ PT: I'm not asking for a whitewash, but rather a balance - Certainly ]
[ Masonry has some, but we should not ignore or fail to mention the ]
[ goodness we find in it. ]
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Date: 30 Sep 92 00:30:53 EDT
From: Ed Greenberg <76703.1070@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Lodges spotted on trip.
Peter,
Please make the following changes to your mailing list:
Please delete: 76703.1070@compuserve.com
Please add: edg@netcom.com
As you may remember, I departed for a five week motorcycle trip
in early august and had you redirect my subscription to your digest in
the opposite direction at that time. I'm home (safe) now, and would
rather receive it on Unix.
It was interesting, as I travelled through city and small town,
to note the number and size of places where I found Masonic lodges.
Virtually every small town had one, usually advertised on the "lodge
board" at the entrance of the town. The buildings ran the gamut from
humble to grand. Bigger cities may be assumed to have more than one
lodge, but they are statistically harder to stumble across. Not being
a Mason myself, I wasn't really looking hard enough to go exploring a
strange city for lodges to which I didn't belong :-)
I have been musing on what attracts me to read your digest, and I
think I've come up with it. It's the most religiously oriented
organization that I've ever encountered that doesn't exclude Jews,
either by design, or more usually by character. Most things that are
"non-denominational" can be assumed to be exclusive of
_my_denomination_.
Best,
-edg
Ed Greenberg
San Jose, California
edg@netcom.com
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Date: 30 Sep 92 08:33:48 EDT
From: "71155.174@compuserve.com" <71155.174@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Baptists attack
Peter,
Thanks for including me in your mailing list. As I said when I
asked to added, I'm not a Mason. My interest is a bit hard to explain.
I started participating on a freemason topic on Genie about 2 months
ago. At the time I was suspicious and accusatory of Masonry. I have
done research since then, and have grown respectful of the
organization.
I noticed a message in this weeks digest about the Baptists
situation. We have had evidence of this on the Genie topic, from one
R.LEE, who the Mason's on the topic seem to think is somehow tied to
this Baptist faction. I thought it timely, seeing the message in this
weeks digest, at the same time this R.Lee has surfaced. I've captured
all of R.Lee's messages, and am including them with this message. If
it's not something your interested in, deleting files is easy enough.
I thought you might be interested in seeing some of his methods.
Thanks, Bob Willoughby
[ PT: 500+ lines of GENIE postings deleted - contains typical ]
[ Mason/Antimason debate (I'll mail them to anyone who's interested). ]
[ Now all the major online services - Genie, CIS, and Prodigy seem to ]
[ have Masonic sections. Does The Source still exist? ]
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 92 16:34:47 EDT
From: justin@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Justin du Coeur MKA Mark Waks)
Subject: Pessimism
Peter --
Some comments on the new Digests.
First of all, a meta-comment: it's good to see the Digest doing
so well. Looks like you've finally hit critical mass...
Anyway, here's that long and nasty article I've been promising
you for a year or two now...
An advance caveat: this message is not a flame, but it *is*
deliberately provocative. I'd like to get people talking about the
problems of Masonry actively, rather than trying to ignore them. I may
speak in some gross generalities, and probably some inaccurate
details; I ask that people consider the main thrust of the argument,
rather than miring in questions of whether I've got all my facts
precisely straight. This *is* being written from the gut, and off the
top of my head (to mix a metaphor rather badly)...
(Oh, and I have no idea if any of this is applicable outside the
US...)
I've disagreed with Paul Rich on some things, but I have to agree
with the overall tenor of his arguments here -- there is real cause
for concern about the future of Masonry. I should preface this
discussion by saying that I am a Mason, but not a broadly experienced
one...
Paul says that, by the year 2000, membership will have fallen by
half, and Peter questions that assertion. Frankly, it wouldn't
surprise me much. A year or two ago, there was a very disconcerting
article in Trowel (the magazine of the GL of MA) talking about the
demographics of Masonry. There was a chart showing the membership of
the fraternity, year by year, which was a bit worrisome -- after an
amazing spike in the 50's, there has been a steady decline ever since.
What really caught my attention, though, was a chart showing the
average *age* of Masons.
Now, I must say that I haven't looked at the article in a while,
so I don't remember the exact numbers. But my recollection is that it
indicated that the average age of a Mason in America was increasing at
a rate of something like 8 months for every year that passed. That is,
if in 1988 the average age was 60, in 1989 it was 60.6, in 1990 61.3,
and so on.
Regardless of the actual numbers (which I confess to be unsure
of), the very concept that the membership is aging rapidly is a real
danger sign. It indicates that, even if the membership falloff isn't
too bad right now, it's probably going to go exponential as that
average age creeps up on 75 or so.
So is it possible that we'll lose half our members in ten years'
time? I'd guess that it is. My lodge is healthier than many, with a
relatively young line (and a relatively interested one -- how many
lodges do you know that would seriously talk about the possibility of
a medieval degree team?). Nonetheless, we are losing members at a rate
close to ten times the rate they're coming in. And this is far from
the worst -- there are plenty of lodges that are essentially moribund,
with no new members joining at all.
Now, why is Masonry undergoing such a contraction? Again, I'd say
that Paul has his finger on at least one reason, with this "mini/mega"
idea. At this point, Masonry, at least in MA, is incredibly
bureaucratic and centralized. The Master of a Lodge may theoretically
have great control over it, but he really can't sneeze without Grand
Lodge approval. I can to some degree understand the merits of not
being able to make arbitrary changes to ritual, but the idea of
requiring Grand Lodge approval before you can reschedule a meeting is
*loony*! Every flyer has to be approved, most details of ritual are
dictated to a fine grain -- in general, the organization is more
centralized than most any other I've come across. (At least, outside
the government.)
What's the result? Well, it does accomplish what I assume to be
the goal: a high level of homogeneity amongst lodges, so that Masonry
is Masonry pretty much anywhere you go in the state. But it also
strongly discourages innovation. We've talked occasionally about
putting together some sort of Masonic study sessions, sort of informal
Lodges of Research. But to do such a thing would require all sorts of
approvals from the top, which might or might not be granted, and
frankly, it isn't worth the hassle.
So things stagnate. And an organization that isn't changing and
evolving is in real trouble when nestled in a culture that is evolving
and mutating as fast as modern America. I mean, look at the ritual. I
*adore* the language of the ritual, filled with magnificant archaisms.
But I'm an anachronist, and a student of language. Someone without
that fondness for history may well look at it, and say "what *is* this
nonsense?". And they have good reason. When these rituals were
written, they were formal, but they were also current -- the
rhetorical style was the style of the day. Today, the formality is
still there, but it's also archaic. It simply doesn't evoke the same
emotion from the average person that it could. And changing is damned
difficult, because it is mandated at such a high level.
(Someone is bound to point out examples of thriving lodges, that
are healthy and growing. I don't doubt that they exist. However, are
there are *jurisdictions* that aren't contracting quickly? I doubt
it, but could certainly be wrong...)
So where is Masonry going? It's difficult to guess the future,
but I suspect that Masonry *as we know it* is dying. The high-level
structures are ossified into place, and show little sign of budging.
Around here, I'd say that we have about three times as many lodges as
we should, but few want to fold or merge, because the price of doing
so is high. Talking with folks who were around ten years ago, it looks
to me like we're facing a general collapse within the next two
decades, tops.
Now, that doesn't mean the end of Masonry. I see two likely
outcomes:
-- Some Grand Lodges will change with the times. They'll reorganize,
and decentralize at least enough to allow their constituent lodges
to experiment and grow a little. Things will generally shift
away from the current lodge structures, where the membership lists
are bloated with dozens or hundreds of inactive members, to smaller
and leaner lodges with only a few members, all of whom are much
more active. (I envision something similar to the descriptions I've
heard of some English lodges.)
-- Other Grand Lodges will simply collapse, slowly but surely. Eventually,
some states will likely be left without a Grand Lodge. However,
Masonry is pretty addictive, and Lodges *will* form from the ashes,
some chartered from outside and some simply irregular. Again, they
will be smaller and more intense.
My biases are showing, of course -- I think that the current
Grand Lodge system, as practiced in the US, is headed for the pits. I
think Masonry *will* survive, but that it's going to need a fast and
painful evolution at some point, to catch up from decades (centuries,
even) of fossilization...
So there's a strawman to argue with. I'm sure that most of the
readers will disagree with it; I hope that most won't ignore it. If
Masonry doesn't recognize that it's in a decline, then the collapse
*is* inevitable. If the need for some changes are recognized sooner,
then collapse could be replaced by a more conscious and gradual
evolution...
(And please don't accuse me of being some sort of anti-Mason.
I'm in line in my Lodge, and will be taking the East in two years. I
don't feel that this precludes criticism of the fraternity, though --
my affection is for the Craft, *not* for any particular implementation
of it...)
-- Justin du Coeur
aka Bro. Mark Waks
Junior Warden
Ocean Lodge, Winthrop, MA
Random Quote du Jour:
"The Muse strikes. It's all so clear... "BoB" Dobbs is actually
Bizarro-Steve Canyon."
-- Prof. Moriarty
==============================================================================
From: Peter Trei
E-Mail Fredric L. Rice / The Skeptic Tank