From the Office of the Right Worshipful Grand Lecturer
March 27, 2010
The Right Stuff?
Today we come to this meeting with the theme of “Back to the Basic“ how Masonic, civil and moral laws affect our fraternity in the past present and future? With this in mind we first must define the two laws to assure what we are talking about. Civil law is defined as a body of law derived and evolved directly from Roman Law, the primary feature of which is that laws are struck in writing, codified and not determined, as is common law, by the opinions of judges based on historic customs. Thus Moral law is defined as the law of duty as regards what is right and wrong in the sight of God; specifically, the Ten Commandments given by Moses. With this in mind what do we considered to be the Masonic civil and moral laws? These would be the laws written down over time and followed and kept true by the Masonic bodies throughout the world. In addition to the traditional followings of being upright men that follow the ten commands and know right from wrong.
The written laws of Masonry can be found dating back to the year 926 when Prince Edwin summoned all the Masons in the realm to meet him in a congregation at York, who came and composed a General Lode of which he was Grand Master. These Masons brought with them all of the writings and records extant in the various languages of which they were from thus the writings were in Greek, Latin, French and various other languages. At this assembly the body present approved and confirmed what was to be known as the fundamental law of Masonry. The original constitutions adopted in 926 contain fifteen articles and fifteen points of Masonic Law. Here are just a few of the articles included in that document and how they affect our fraternity:
3. No Master shall take an Apprentice for less than seven years. You may look at this and wonder why such a long period of time and how does this relate to us today? In the time of this document we were truly looking at operative stone masons that had to truly learn not only their daily craft but Masonry as a way of life for the fraternity. Today we are busy trying to make numbers in most of our Lodges as we rush to gain membership and try to get men thought as quickly as possible. We forget the practice of patience and making them earn the right to wear the square and compass as not all are worthy enough to move forward and must show that they have that special something to receive all of the rights, lights and benefits.
7. He shall harbor no thief or thief's retainer, least the craft should come to shame. Today we must truly be aware of the character of men we bring into the organization. Once again we tend to see numbers as the goal and look at quantity not quality. We need to get back to the basics of bringing in good quality men who we feel deeply possess the qualities we value in a mason. Too often we do not look deep enough into the background of a potential member. If you do your research and homework you will find that not all potential Brothers truly exemplify the qualities we seek in a member. When we take heed to do a thorough investigation we can truly make sure we have quality members joining our Fraternity. We will not just rush them through but take our time with them to assure they know what they are doing and what we are about.
13. The Master shall instruct his apprentice faithfully, and make him a perfect workman.
14. He shall teach him all the secrets of his trade.
15. And shall guard him against the commission of perjury, and all other offences by which the craft may be brought to shame.
I felt that I had to include all three of these articles to get across the point that we must truly teach the new brother that is coming into the Lodge. We know that the new Brother will be instructed in the basic ways of Masonry i.e. from whence come you, how to enter the Lodge etc. but what about the unwritten parts of Masonry. What about the proper ways of addressing officers or properly greeting the ladies of our organization? There is the side of Masonry that is not just a ritual but a way of life that allows us to be seen in public as that outstanding gentlemen that is verse in the ways of the world and has that special something about him that make non-members what to be like him and make ladies admire him. We need to pass on the knowledge we have gained over the years to these younger brothers so it can be passed on to those who come after them. Keeping your knowledge pinned up inside as a secret will do the world or the fraternity no good. You have to share your history and experience as if it is not passed on it will be lost forever.
The last article that talks about perjury is very important as we need to stick together as an organization and keep each brother close to us as they are learning the ways of the organization. We too often forget that as landmark number XXIII states: That Freemasonry is a secret society, in possession of secrets that cannot be divulged. Help teach your new Masons that what we do and what we know needs to be kept true to the heart and only expressed and talked about in the presence of known Masons. Too often we are in a social setting where we freely talk about what is going on in the loge or challenging a Brother at a location that is neither the time nor the place to do so. We must remember that the secret rituals of Masonry have a place and out in the public is not one of them.Moving on there are just two of the Fifteen points coming from the assembly of 926 that I feel are of interest given today's subject matter and they are as follows :
1. Every Mason shall cultivate brotherly love and the love of God, and frequent holy church.
I gave a lecture a few weeks ago at one of our Grand Master's visitations about how we as Mason's tend to let the little things get under our skin and how these little things force us to walk away from the lodge. We are not willing to calmly express what bothers us as we are not willing to discuss matters rationally but irrationally and forget that we are brothers not enemies. We need to remember what this point states and that is we shall cultivate brotherly love the love of God, and frequent the holy church. How many of you here today can honestly say you have a church home? I am not talking about the church you go to for St. Johns day, Prince Hall Day, or the one you picked to go this coming Easter Sunday. I mean the church that even though it is football season on your team comes on at 11 you know you will be in the house of the lord as that is the right thing to do as it is first Sunday any you must pay your tithes. We forget that if not for the Lord above we would not be here today to have this meeting. We need to get back to the church and be a part of what has started this entire body of brotherhood. We must get back to our church visitations and giving thanks to our creator. It is this recommitment to the church that will help us get the men of quality wanting to join our organization as we will already know them to have a good foundation.
12. The General Assembly, or Grand Lodge, shall consist of Masters and Fellows, Lords, Knights and Squires, Mayor and Sheriff, to make new laws, and to confirm old ones when necessary.
This is the heart of the theme for this lecture. How Masonic, Civil and Moral Laws affect our fraternity in the past present and future. From our ancient brethren we have been given the laws of Masonry and this last point from the assembly of 926 gives us the right to assemble once a year as we make new laws and hold steadfast the laws from the past. Each year at Grand Lodge we have questions on our old laws and as the times change we will have resolutions to adopt new ones. The laws of the past allow us to change the future.
I closing, my lecture today has been more of a history lesson that a true lecture as in keeping with the theme I hope that I have shown you how the laws set forth by our ancient brethren have been adhered to and massaged to work for our society today. I have talked to you about the time we use to teach our new members about the ways of Masonry as they move forward to each new level. I have talked to you about how we need to get back to assuring we are bringing in men of high quality and good character and how once this new Mason is in the fraternity do not just cut him loose but make sure he truly knows what it is to be a Mason. Thus we moved on to love for your Brother, love for God, and the church. I hoped you listened carefully to this part of my presentation as we truly do need to get back to the church as this will help strengthen our foundation not only as a fraternity but men in general. Lastly I talked about your right to make things better for the future by changing or sticking to the laws your Grand Bodies have set forth over the many decades each Grand Lodge has been in existence. With this said when you leave this convention and head back your jurisdictions just remember we must get “Back to the Basic”.
P.M. Edward J.A. Moore
RW Grand Lecturer