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aedifico42| Freemasonry is Unconstitutional…

Posted at: 10:21 pm

…or so argues a brother in a recent Research Lodge publication.

According to this brother, a Grand Master’s Edict that prevents Masons from meeting in a certain place violates the ‘freedom of assembly’ guarantee in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. The brother making this argument goes so far as to quote the entire first amendment…and then qualifies his criticizm of that Grand Master by couching his “opinion” as his own. (neither of these men are in any office today, other than in their own local Lodge)

First of all, there are other things at work here. To insinuate that an Edict from the Grand Oriental Chair somehow violates the Constitution is a pretty serious claim. Even if it is just one person’s opinion…if that person is a high-ranking individual, well-respected in the Craft…there are some serious implications. That kind of accusation will carry weight with many men in the jurisdiction, and if widely distributed, the opinion could sully the reputation of the accused.

In fact, now that I think about it…that could be VERY serious business…but I digress…

Second, it would be even more serious if the person making the accusation had any idea how the Constitution worked…then we’d be in real trouble. Thankfully, the man making the accusation never really read the first amendment that he quoted…otherwise he would have seen the first five words, “Congress shall make no law…”

See, the Constitution is a limit on government power…not the power we have voluntarily surrendered to (like the Grand Master). Paying your dues puts you at the whim of your jurisdiction’s Masonic laws, rules and regulations. If you don’t like how you or somebody else is treated, and you don’t have the courage to go talk to the person you think is responsible…quit. But don’t go making false accusations about some decision being unconstitutional. That’s an uninformed and hurtful way to approach the Craft…and it’s a bit silly.

Freemasonry is about knowledge and courage. We must know of what we speak before we present our opinions…especially to a research society. We must also have the courage to go up to a man, even if he is the Grand Master, and tell him what we think.

I have told brothers that I thought they were wrong, unprepared, unattentive and lacking in follow-through. I have done-so in a manner that is appropriate for the situation. In this situation, since the accusations (which were, as we remember, silly and wrong-headed) were made in a public forum against a man I respect as a friend and brother, I believe they deserve public airing (but I’m not mentioning any names…that would go too far).

So there you have it. We exercise our “right of the people to peaceably assemble” every time we pay our dues. And if the Master tells you to shut-up in Lodge, he is not “abridging the freedom of speech” because he is not Congress passing laws that will abridge something. He’s the Master, and he can do whatever he wants…you’re the one who paid dues to sit in that room…don’t go crying to mamma if you got your feelings hurt.

Lastly, I know it sounds like I came down real hard on the guy who wrote that stuff about the Grand Master. He is also a good friend and a well respected member of our Craft. I also know him well-enough to know that I can give him this kind of grief without hurting his feelings. (so don’t any of you locals go tattle-tailing on me and get me in trouble…that guy will kick my butt.)

If only we could find a place where men could learn about the US Constitution…  Hmmm.  Sounds like a good topic for some Masonic Education…

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