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aedifico42| The Importance of Masonry in America

Posted at: 6:09 pm

A generation (or two) ago, Americans had very similar narratives in their lives.  We could all identify with the national struggles, the greater issues facing our nation, and the feelings we had for certain other peoples and nations.  It certainly was a more simple time and a more unified time in our nation.

This, mostly, had to do with the fact that; no matter where you were or where you came from, you had the same narrative running through your everyday experience.  There were a limited number of media and entertainment outlets, and the information that we received from them was mostly the same.  Today, there are children and young adults who cannot and do not have that luxury.

For example; some time ago, I was sitting with other students outside the Memorial Union at Arizona State University (Go Devils) with students from all over the country.  We all knew Charlie Brown, Superman and the words to the theme song for Gilligan’s Island.  We had grown-up with Walter Cronkite’s fatherly storytelling and generally lived in a society that had a capacity for one portion of our population to somewhat understand what other portions were going through.

We now live in a nation divided as never before along political, social and economic lines.  Brutal attacks fill the airwaves and force us to consider the harm that other Americans are doing to our country, without telling their side of the story…an analysis that is no longer fashionable.  There are no common stories, myths or narratives.

I have spoken to this idea before…but it is worth repeating.

The common narrative of the life of a Mason is still as true today as it was generations and centuries ago.  A man, who cares for his family, community and country, who is willing to sit and fraternalize with others who are not like him.  A man who understands that those things that unite us are far more important and far more numerous than the trivialities that divide us.  This is the value of our fraternity.  This is the importance of Masonry in America.

Today, we are divided, as silly as it sounds, by our incapacity to relate to our neighbors.  We see lamentations like “Bowling Alone” descirbe the separation we have, one American from another.  We hear nightly why it is that “those people” are hurting our nation politically, economically, culturally.  In America, we accept that there are differences that seem so important as to prevent our willingness or desire to listen and learn from others.

Masons are different.  Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, educated in universitites or by ‘hard knocks’, Masons understand that we are one people, one nation, under one God.

So why is it, then, that some of us continue to be taken-in by the petty squabbles we hear on TV?  How do we justify making snap judgments about other people simply by knowing what label they wear?  What is so Masonic about intollerance and hatred disguised as patriotism or loyalty?  Are we that pathetic to think that just because you and I don’t listen to the same music that we cannot have a conversation?

Masonry is the shining example of all forms of harmony among men.  From political and religious to class and opinion, we have the tools and the capacity to make our communities better…one man at a time.

So to the brothers out there with intolerant opinions, I say to you this: think.  Think about the institution that you claim as your Craft.  Think about how our great founders came together…and the differences among themselves that they overcame…to create this Nation.  Think about what you say and who is listening to the Mason saying those words.

We may not always agree on the trivialities, but we do agree on the important things; that God created all Men as equals, that this Nation and its officers should be dedicated to protecting the Law (our Consititution) more than ANY other topic or issue, that men should act like men…not like children. 

And one day, when a rich kid from this State and a poor kid from that State find that they have nothing in common except that their fathers were Masons…may they have been taught those lessons by his example.  Tolerance, maturity and a willingness to listen.

There are many forces driving this Nation apart.  We should be proud to know that we are one of the few institutions that has the capacity, and the responsibility, to keep it together.

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