Throughout our Masonic Degrees the theme of justice is emphasized. We are called, over and over to be just. Justice as an attribute of the Divine and of proper government is emphasized.
Unquestionably, justice is one of the most important of Masonic tenets.
It is rightfully difficult when we see justice denied, and when we do see it, we as Masons have a responsibility to call it out however we are able.
But we must also recognize that justice denied harms us all. For we can not have liberty unless we have justice. Both are indispensable.
For most of a year, I’ve been forced to think about justice quite often because of what has happened in my small community.
In August of 2022 a young adult male, in his 20’s was out hiking with his girlfriend, when he shot and killed a man. Without provocation, apparently he shot blindly towards a noise he heard in the woods. After shooting, he apparently walked to where he had shot and discovered the man, whom autopsy showed was still alive for hours following the shooting. The young adult did not try to render aid, rather simply continued his hike.
None of this is really in question. One of the young adult’s relatives called the Sheriff’s office to report what had happened a day or so after the fact, and the young adult quickly confessed.
Yet here we are, almost a year later, and that young man has never been arrested. Has never been so much as put into handcuffs.
I see the case headlined in my local newspaper all the time, yet despite press coverage and protests, government officials have refused to act.
The Prosecutor claims that he can’t act because the Sheriff and the Coroner messed the case up. The Sheriff blames the Prosecutor. The Coroner is the only one who has offered any hint of apology, but it was apparently his office that told the family members of the dead man that the young adult male who shot him was a good kid from a good family.
Frankly, the whole thing is shocking.
The dead man’s family and friends led a protest at our State Capitol this past Sunday, but I don’t imagine that will be of any help to their cries for justice.
As of today, justice is denied in Lewis County, Washington. As Masons, it is our duty to ensure that those who deny justice are removed from power. In this country we do that through the ballot box, and hopefully that is done by the people who live here at the next opportunity.
As Freemasons we are charged to not discuss politics within our Lodges. That is indeed one of our Ancient Landmarks, one of the few that all regular Grand Lodges agree upon.
But a cry for justice is not politics. It is a demand for that which society can not exist without.
Indeed, the fight for justice is an indispensable part of Freemasonry, as evidenced within our own Degree rituals.
Beyond the Divine requirement that all good men strive for justice, we do well to remember that injustice has a very direct impact on all of our lives, no matter if we are directly involved in an injustice or not.
Because liberty can not exist unless there is justice.
I think this particular case illustrates that well, and reminds us that as Masons we are called to be just, and to work for a just society.
Wow you are just on a heresy binge today, especially in this era where politics gets in the way of justice routinely. Sad to say I can think of about fifty different examples right off the top of my head where something similar is playing out in every virtually state in the union. Most days I feel like there are no adults in the room anymore. I find it useful sometimes, to make grade school analogies of things in order to depoliticize something. It works in varying degrees, and unfortunately quickly identifies people are no longer committed to our democracy or way of life when they openly admit they have no interest in the truth and start making arguments about unrelated topics.
Injustice has always been endemic to our society, be it economic or racial. We've had Civil Rights leaders in the Craft, but we've also had our share of supremacists throughout this time. If all this wasn't true, there would have been no need for Prince Hall, Black churches and other institutions, or civil unrest in the 1960s or recently. But the idea or society is so imperfect offends those of us who don't feel the sting of it.
I feel that if we did more than simply recognize Prince Hall and actively worked together, we could set an example for society of at least having a conversation as to why some of us don't see or even actively ignore justice.