By: Eugene L. Goldman, P.M.
[Brother
Goldman is a member of Blackmer Lodge 442, Free and Accepted Masons, State of
California. He served his lodge as Master in 1993 and currently serves as
Chairman of its Masonic Education Committee.]
While
serving my Lodge, I had occasion to call on one of our Entered Apprentices to
ask about the reasons for his long absence from the Work. Like all too
many men who join our Fraternity, he completed his initiation and then
disappeared. He had several reasons; the demands of his business had
picked up, some personal issues requiring his attention at home, scheduling
problems with his Coach, etc. All these were valid, but there appeared more to
this than he was letting on. After some more conversation the truth was
revealed... he was concerned about his obligation, particularly about the
penalties for revealing our secrets.
Our
Brother is a man who is very interested in Symbolism, Metaphysics, and (what we
call our) Esoteric Work. The reason he sought out a Lodge to join was to write
some papers on our Symbolism! He explained that he became alarmed when taking
the obligation. We never informed him of what "secrets" he had just
vowed to protect! We simply advised him of grave penalties for failing to
protect them. This caused him concern, as it was his goal to bring some light
to non-initiates in his writings. Being a man of much honor, he felt it better
to go no further in our mysteries to be free to explain some of our symbolism
to non-masons.
Symbolic vs. Pragmatic
We
entered a discussion of the penalties. The need for protection of our secrets
was, and is, self-evident . . . if everyone knows our secrets, we have none.
Having none, we are no longer unique, or even special. Nothing then remains to
induce men of good moral character to want to associate with us. We discussed
the historic nature of the penalties. Without addressing the accuracy of our
alleged descent from the Knights Templar, there have been other times in
history when Masons have faced death simply for being Masons, and living
according to Masonic principles. Hitler, Franco, Khomeni, and others have
issued death sentences for freethinkers. We teach our candidates to be
freethinkers by the nature of our ceremonies.
He
was surprised to learn that, under Masonic Law, the strongest penalty a Lodge
can impose on a member is simply expulsion from the Fraternity! Although to
most Masons, separation from the Craft would be far worse than the grisly acts
described in our Ritual! The term "no less a penalty" applies here,
in great measure. The thought of revealing our secrets to the unentitled should
cause revulsion in the minds of our membership.
The Secrets Themselves
What
are our secrets? Today, in this country, our existence is well known. Published
phone numbers and meeting times, even the jewelery openly and proudly worn by
many Masons is evidence of this.
That
we use mystic ceremonies, embedded with symbolism to impart moral and ethical
lessons to our novitiates is almost as well documented. Any interested person
could enter a specialty bookstore, purchase a book or two and learn the essence
of our ceremonies. At the Local Masonic Center in my area there is a book
store, well stocked with books on and about Masonry, and writings by many
Masons. Many of these books clearly explain our ceremonies and the reasons for
the manner in which we exemplify them. Within the same building there is a
library containing hundreds of volumes of writings by countless Masonic
scholars. Most of these books discuss either the history of our Craft, or the
Ceremonies and symbolism we employ in our Work. Who we are, what we do, and how
we do it are clearly not secret.We proudly refer to our modes of recognition as the only secrets in our craft today. In my library at home, I have books describing our ritual in detail. These books have clear English text and include our cherished modes of recognition (complete with diagrams). These books were purchased at a wonderful little bookstore in the Business district in my neighborhood. Any interested person, with a few dollars, can do the same. Though Masons treat the modes of recognition as secret, they could not be considered unknown outside the Craft.
Secrets Defined
Well,
what does that leave? It sounds like it's all out in the open. Our existence,
methods, ritual, even the ways we recognize each other are known to any
expressing an interest. The real secret of our Craft is the spiritual and
emotional growth we encountered because of the experiences we shared The true
Mysteries of Free-masonry are contained within the acts of being conducted
around the Lodge Room, kneeling at the Altar, first learning the Grips and
Words of the several Degrees, and participating in the Third Degree Ritual.
Experiencing this as we do (first hand) cannot be described in words. As with
many other life experiences "you have to be there" to really
understand it. Words could only confuse the issue, never explain it.
What this means to us, my Brother
What
does it mean that we are required to keep all this secret? The prohibition
against unlawful disclosure of these secrets is meant to protect our ritual
from corruption. It is not prohibited to instruct a candidate in the Work.
Proper instruction of Candidates is strongly encouraged by Lodges.
Candidates
Coaches (the unsung warriors of our Fraternity) spend hour after hour
personally instructing candidates in a myriad of areas. The Ritual Work, the
history of Freemasonry, even proper Lodge etiquette are topics of much
discussion. They spend many additional hours sharpening their proficiency in
the Work to do this more effectively. They patiently answer the hundreds of
questions posed by Candidates. Officers spend evenings away from their
families to attend practices to improve their Work. In California, Coaches and
Officers are required to attend District Schools of Instruction, and when
proficient, they are certified by District Inspectors. Inspectors are
supervised by Assistant Grand Lecturers. These men come under the oversight of
the Grand Lecturer. The Grand Lodge of California, and most of its constituent
Lodges, have active committees on Masonic Education. This elaborate system
exists to insure that Candidates receive proper instruction.
Work
is done only in a tyled Lodge, by qualified Officers. Coaching is done in
private settings, by skilled and dedicated men. In this way the Ancient
Landmarks are preserved. If Degrees were to be conducted by the unqualified,
errors would begin to seep in and Keystones would begin to change or disappear.
The essence of the Work would change and those elements that make it what it is
would be lost. Thus, it is easy to see why the admonition against unlawful
disclosure of our Work exists.
The ‘flip side"
"That
is it'? All I have to do is leave things to the Officers and Coaches and I have
fulfilled my Obligation?" Not at all! Remember promising never to reveal
these secrets unlawfully? That promise contains a hidden injunction to reveal
lawfully. Relate the emotions you feel in Lodge to your family and friends, and
to the way in which you conduct your life. Share what Masonry means to you by
your conduct out of the Lodge. Remind yourself why you are a Mason. Let the
world see, by your actions, evidence of the growth you experienced. Promote
your Lodge's activities and invite non-Masons to social activities. They just might
get caught up in the spirit of Brotherhood and ask "How may I become a
Mason'?". Then discuss the membership and degree processes with him. If he
asks for a petition, help him fill it out. Introduce him to other members of
your Lodge.
Lawful disclosure of our secrets
Signing
a petition also carries with it a moral obligation. It obliges you to support
our new Brother through his Masonic travels. Be present at his Degrees and
Proficiency examinations. Patiently answer his questions, or refer him to
his Coach. Sit with him at Lodge dinners and in Lodge. Be to him the friend you
told your Lodge he was to you.
Being
a member of a Lodge enjoins you to attend whenever you can, even if you are not
an officer. A full Lodge room for an initiation expresses the love of the
fraternity to the Candidate and encourages him to become more active himself.Doing these things will go a long way to fulfilling your "unstated" obligation to lawfully communicate the secrets of Freemasonry. Become a True and faithful Brother and encourage others by your cackle.
Meanwhile back at the Coaching Room
Remember
our Candidate'? As this paper is being written, he has actively resumed meeting
with his Coach. He is looking forward to completing his Degrees, and writing
many excellent articles on our Craft. I know he will be happy as he forever
reveals, and never conceals much of the non-secret information about our
Fraternity. He will be happier still as he lawfully communicates many of
our secrets.
