By their very nature, Masonic Lodges teach their members civility. In most cases, this is taught by example.
Would there be value in Lodges teaching civility to their members in a more formal way?
Would there be value in Lodges endeavoring to teach the value of civility to the world at large, outside of our own confines?
Would there be value in the Grand Lodge endeavoring to teach civility in a formal way within its Jurisdiction, to its own Masons, and hopeful of impacting society of a whole?
Would there be value in all of the North American Grand Lodges taking up such a quest in concert with each other?
It is my understanding (I don't have anything in black and white yet) that a proposal that the COGMNA take additional steps will be presented.
I presume that the recent publication of MW Charvonia's book, The Civility Mosaic will result in renewed interest and excitement within Masonic circles.
Were struggling with civility and couth all over the place. Between politics, and non moderate attitudes. Seeing the behavior of some when things don't go their way im just astounded. One would hope that we guard against such incivility during the application process. Here in my home jurisdiction an, irregular Motorcycle club sponsored by the outlaws attempted to circumvent masonic jurisprudence, assert they were regular and recruit with in my state. The GL pushed back and were quickly rebutted by several members, Past masters including. They refused to comply with the GL edicts, said some very vulgar things to our GM and were quickly expelled. The members of the home lodge showed up and made a stink at annual communication. That begs the question. At the local level who let these offenders join, tolerated their actions and then promoted what they were doing? Why? Why would a biker gang support a masonic club? Where do we draw the line?
Part of that is the propaganda biker gangs promote saying they are just a wacky bunch of guys, who don't deal in drugs, firearms, extortion, assaults, etc. They do toys for tots, they do charity runs, and other community activities to mask who they really are. They may be attempting to do the same thing, joining or affiliating with a charitable organization to hide behind as they break the law.
It’s my opinion that one of the ways Masonry influenced civil society was though its Lodge culture. A man would enter the Lodge, and progress through the chairs. Besides Masonry he would learn basic parliamentary procedure, he would learn how to work within a system of laws, he would learn financial systems and laws, and he would begin to learn politics. All this was done in a culture of civil behavior. Then that man would carry that experience into the world, and have a leg up, and consequently be influential.
Religion and politics were excluded in Lodge, because frankly these two subjects challenge the limits of civility. Both politics and religion have historically been the causes of most wars. By excluding those topics, brethren from warring nations have been able to sit in Lodge together as brethren.
In my experience, both politics and religion have crept into our Lodges and dining halls. I have seen a brother persecuted because his faith was not the same as the majority of his Lodge, even though he believed in God. I have seen open discussion of political issues in Lodge, in particular in the smaller Lodges where people tend to have similar beliefs and opinions. These were, in my opinion violations of our Landmarks.
So, to your question. Yes, civility needs to be addressed at every level of Masonry, but I also think our Landmarks need to be reviewed as well, our Landmarks bound our world and civility is the rule of behavior in that world. They work together.
I think you are correct, Freemasonry has generally been promoted within free societies because it is a school for democracy. It teaches men how to function within civil society.
I have seen sectarian religion touch Lodges on rare occasions, but I haven't seen persecution. When I've seen that in the past, I assumed at the time that it was a Brother who had somehow become a Mason without learning the fundamentals of Masonry. Rather than an attempt at conversion.
Nevertheless, I agree, such is a violation of our Landmarks.
As for politics, I think that Masonry proves that all of us in this nation can learn to get along, if we stop assuming that 'the other guy' has bad motives, and personalizing issues. My very first Masonic friend, a man I still greatly admire is completely on the other end of the political spectrum from me. Likewise, and rather interesting to me, my first Masonic friend when I moved years ago was also on the completely opposite end. None of that ever impacted those friendships in negative ways.
But, as you well point out, we never discussed such things in open Lodge, indeed they aren't things that we talk about. We recognize our differences, trust each other's motives, and talk about Freemasonry.
Ultimately, I figure that we can all get politics every waking hour if we want it. Freemasonry is a most excellent break from that, and a heck of a lot more fun to talk about too!
Does the Conference of Grand Masters no longer work toward Masonic promotion of civility?
https://themagpiemason.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-tools-of-civility.html?m=0
Jay
It is my understanding (I don't have anything in black and white yet) that a proposal that the COGMNA take additional steps will be presented.
I presume that the recent publication of MW Charvonia's book, The Civility Mosaic will result in renewed interest and excitement within Masonic circles.
https://www.macoy.com/The-Civility-Mosaic
Were struggling with civility and couth all over the place. Between politics, and non moderate attitudes. Seeing the behavior of some when things don't go their way im just astounded. One would hope that we guard against such incivility during the application process. Here in my home jurisdiction an, irregular Motorcycle club sponsored by the outlaws attempted to circumvent masonic jurisprudence, assert they were regular and recruit with in my state. The GL pushed back and were quickly rebutted by several members, Past masters including. They refused to comply with the GL edicts, said some very vulgar things to our GM and were quickly expelled. The members of the home lodge showed up and made a stink at annual communication. That begs the question. At the local level who let these offenders join, tolerated their actions and then promoted what they were doing? Why? Why would a biker gang support a masonic club? Where do we draw the line?
Part of that is the propaganda biker gangs promote saying they are just a wacky bunch of guys, who don't deal in drugs, firearms, extortion, assaults, etc. They do toys for tots, they do charity runs, and other community activities to mask who they really are. They may be attempting to do the same thing, joining or affiliating with a charitable organization to hide behind as they break the law.
It’s my opinion that one of the ways Masonry influenced civil society was though its Lodge culture. A man would enter the Lodge, and progress through the chairs. Besides Masonry he would learn basic parliamentary procedure, he would learn how to work within a system of laws, he would learn financial systems and laws, and he would begin to learn politics. All this was done in a culture of civil behavior. Then that man would carry that experience into the world, and have a leg up, and consequently be influential.
Religion and politics were excluded in Lodge, because frankly these two subjects challenge the limits of civility. Both politics and religion have historically been the causes of most wars. By excluding those topics, brethren from warring nations have been able to sit in Lodge together as brethren.
In my experience, both politics and religion have crept into our Lodges and dining halls. I have seen a brother persecuted because his faith was not the same as the majority of his Lodge, even though he believed in God. I have seen open discussion of political issues in Lodge, in particular in the smaller Lodges where people tend to have similar beliefs and opinions. These were, in my opinion violations of our Landmarks.
So, to your question. Yes, civility needs to be addressed at every level of Masonry, but I also think our Landmarks need to be reviewed as well, our Landmarks bound our world and civility is the rule of behavior in that world. They work together.
I think you are correct, Freemasonry has generally been promoted within free societies because it is a school for democracy. It teaches men how to function within civil society.
I have seen sectarian religion touch Lodges on rare occasions, but I haven't seen persecution. When I've seen that in the past, I assumed at the time that it was a Brother who had somehow become a Mason without learning the fundamentals of Masonry. Rather than an attempt at conversion.
Nevertheless, I agree, such is a violation of our Landmarks.
As for politics, I think that Masonry proves that all of us in this nation can learn to get along, if we stop assuming that 'the other guy' has bad motives, and personalizing issues. My very first Masonic friend, a man I still greatly admire is completely on the other end of the political spectrum from me. Likewise, and rather interesting to me, my first Masonic friend when I moved years ago was also on the completely opposite end. None of that ever impacted those friendships in negative ways.
But, as you well point out, we never discussed such things in open Lodge, indeed they aren't things that we talk about. We recognize our differences, trust each other's motives, and talk about Freemasonry.
Ultimately, I figure that we can all get politics every waking hour if we want it. Freemasonry is a most excellent break from that, and a heck of a lot more fun to talk about too!