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aedifico42| Masonic Due Process…

Posted at: 11:48 pm

I was waiting for this to become a topic…

Recently, West Virginia, Ohio and Georgia have seen their share of controversy…in fact many of the flames are still being fanned.  But the baseline questions are not really being asked.  For example; “are we a democracy?”  “do American ‘rights’ apply to Masons…arguably the makers of this Nation?”  “do Masons deserve Due Process from the Craft?”

I’ll answer all three right here: no, no and no. 

We are the founders of the Nation that believes that the “Rule of Law” is something like its own God.  It is the Secular Religion of the United States…where no Man is above the Law, and no single Man should be able to transgress that Law without being held accountable.  (I will leave-out any present political discussions because ‘regular’ politics is, frankly, boring when seen in comparison to Masonry.)

But We, as Masons, are not committed to, nor are we sworn to uphold the Rule of Law.  We are sworn to uphold a system that pre-dates American Democracy and the Constitution which grew out of the deliberations of great men at the birth of our Nation.  Our rules have not changed much since the time of the formation of UGLE, and we are in no position at this point in time to claim that the rights we expect as citizens should apply to us as Masons.

Masonry has its own rules, and those rules are very old.

ANY rights that are granted to Masons in ANY jurisdiction are granted as a matter of Grace from the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master.  Manipulation of the process by ‘gaveling down’ a dissenter or by ‘tabeling’ discussion on certain points is perfectly acceptable and is not un-Masonic.  We may not like it, but that’s the way it is!

Our Craft (this, of course, depends on the jurisdiction you belong to…but the general ideas apply everywhere) is more like a Knightly Order than a government.  We are all expected to observe certain moral and ethical boundaries, but when we run afoul of the man in charge, he snaps us on the wrist.  Nothing wrong with that!

Look.  The bottom line is this…we are a men’s club.  Yes it’s anathema for a guy like me to say this, but in the right context, it’s true.  We’re nothing more than a well-dressed (in most cases) gang that has a swell club-house and more secret passwords than anybody else.  Feelings will get hurt and people will get pissed-off.  That’s life.  Deal with it.

My solution is this…grow-up.  Too many of us take the silly things in life too seriously.  For example…some of my brothers are concerned that raising dues will drive-away members.  Big deal!  If not raising dues means you can’t run your building…it’s a no-brainer!  Get over it!

As for the question of Due Process, forget about it.  The penalty for being a bad Mason is that you now have to hang-out with the VFW guys instead.  ouch.  But more importantly…tough toasties! 

Brotherhood is a two way street.  If you can’t get along with your brothers to the point where they actually take the time to charge you with an offense and threaten to try you…quit!

Masonry does not need more members!  Let me say that again for those of you who just went blank and need somebody to slap the back of your head:

MASONRY DOES NOT NEED MORE MEMBERS!!!

Masonry needs better members who are willing to pay and play.  Pay, by giving their time and energy and resources to the Lodge and the Craft…and Play, by teaching others and being the lifelong learners that Masons should be.

Don’t come to me with your Due Process and gripes about our little monarchist authoritarianism.  If you don’t like our rules, take your ball and go home.

Freemasonry is and ought to be an exclusive men’s organization where we get to do what we want…not what YOU think we ought to do.  If you can’t get along, go away.  This is not a place for those who want to do their own thing or be their own person…that’s what Rotary International and the Toastmasters are for. 

We are a pseudo-religious cult which selects members based on our own biases and preferences.  Without apology.  Get over it.

And you don’t get no stinkin’ Due Process!

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