Freemasonry defines itself as a System of Morality.1
This brings forth the question: Do our Lodges adequately teach morality to our initiates?
I ask this question because I’ve recently learned of a long time Mason doing a horribly immoral thing. (Stealing) And no, in case you are wondering, the theft wasn’t because he is hard up for cash. It was simply done, apparently, for the hell of it.
When these things happen, and they do, for no human institution is or can be perfect, they hit me pretty hard. I guess when I learn of them, I wonder where we failed.
Hence the question. Do we adequately teach morality within our Fraternity?
I think many masons make the assumption that if a man is initiated he must already have passed the bar on basic morality. Don't steal Don't assault. Pretty universal concepts in all religions and all civil law around the planet. Given the failure of most lodges to do adequate investigations, it's a poor assumption to make. This level of basic morality should be learnt in childhood. Masonry makes good men better, by exploring advanced moral philosophy, not immoral men moral. The man in question should probably not have been made a mason in the first place. Expelled for unmasonic conduct is too little too late, but at least it is an option.
Morality is a lesson that is taught / learned throughout our lives. I would say that every decision of significance that we make in our lifetime is based on the moral foundations that we build as we grow. Like snowflakes, no two foundations are the same, but lthey are similar. Stories from the Bible such as the Prodigal Son, or Fables are woven with moral lessons. Certainly a lodge should provide educational experiences. Some will cover a moral lesson. The Four Cardinal Rules are steeped in moral lessons. As I see it and have experienced it, the “Checks and balances” of a brother’s moral compass doesn’t come through 20 minutes of education, but through the Brotherly Love that happens between Masons that are willing to to not only be honest with their brothers, but honest with themselves. We all know our own shortcomings, where our own moral foundation has a crack or two. Not wanting to use the word “All”, but I would say most Masons have a failing of morality when we forget our older brothers, widows and orphans. We’ve had many conversations here about the costs of keeping a Temple open and in good repair, but I would say forgetting a brother is a greater failing than the theft of a Lodge’s funds. We don’t need a building to be Masons, but the unraveling of our obligations, to care for one another, will be the end of us.
As the Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”. This unspoken message runs through our degrees and we would do well to re-orient our compasses where needed.
"The greatest joy for the Gnostic is to celebrate the discovery of any of his defects. Because a discovered defect will become a dead defect." -Samael Aun Weor
There are said to be five evils that serve the lower desires of humanity, those are; attachment, greed, lust, anger, and pride. Once a person discovers his root defect, such as thievery or attachment, he can begin to work on himself. If not, it would better serve the man to have his hand cut off.
“If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.” –Matthew 5:30
I, too, lament the situations where men who call themselves our brothers see fit to transgress basic tenants of moral behavior. However, as I have discussed in my presentation on Morals and Ethics, morals are those values that we each internalize and make our own set of values. Masonry did not fail these men. They failed themselves. Masonry can teach the difference in values and how those values can become moral standards for ourselves, but Masonry does not dictate morals since they cannot be dictated. They must be internalized by the individual. Each Mason learns the moral lessons in our rituals and symbols and through fellowship with brothers. But until that individual accepts the moral standard into his own moral fabric, it is not a governing force in his decision making. Through our investigations, we try to identify those men who have a fairly solid moral code and through continued practice in Masonry, we hope that the lessons contained in our craft will help that man grow stronger in his application of his moral compass (making him a better man). But in no context should we internalize guilt in that we failed a man if he succumbs to his baser tendencies. This is on the man himself.
I think many masons make the assumption that if a man is initiated he must already have passed the bar on basic morality. Don't steal Don't assault. Pretty universal concepts in all religions and all civil law around the planet. Given the failure of most lodges to do adequate investigations, it's a poor assumption to make. This level of basic morality should be learnt in childhood. Masonry makes good men better, by exploring advanced moral philosophy, not immoral men moral. The man in question should probably not have been made a mason in the first place. Expelled for unmasonic conduct is too little too late, but at least it is an option.
Morality is a lesson that is taught / learned throughout our lives. I would say that every decision of significance that we make in our lifetime is based on the moral foundations that we build as we grow. Like snowflakes, no two foundations are the same, but lthey are similar. Stories from the Bible such as the Prodigal Son, or Fables are woven with moral lessons. Certainly a lodge should provide educational experiences. Some will cover a moral lesson. The Four Cardinal Rules are steeped in moral lessons. As I see it and have experienced it, the “Checks and balances” of a brother’s moral compass doesn’t come through 20 minutes of education, but through the Brotherly Love that happens between Masons that are willing to to not only be honest with their brothers, but honest with themselves. We all know our own shortcomings, where our own moral foundation has a crack or two. Not wanting to use the word “All”, but I would say most Masons have a failing of morality when we forget our older brothers, widows and orphans. We’ve had many conversations here about the costs of keeping a Temple open and in good repair, but I would say forgetting a brother is a greater failing than the theft of a Lodge’s funds. We don’t need a building to be Masons, but the unraveling of our obligations, to care for one another, will be the end of us.
As the Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”. This unspoken message runs through our degrees and we would do well to re-orient our compasses where needed.
"The greatest joy for the Gnostic is to celebrate the discovery of any of his defects. Because a discovered defect will become a dead defect." -Samael Aun Weor
There are said to be five evils that serve the lower desires of humanity, those are; attachment, greed, lust, anger, and pride. Once a person discovers his root defect, such as thievery or attachment, he can begin to work on himself. If not, it would better serve the man to have his hand cut off.
“If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.” –Matthew 5:30
I think morality is central to our degrees. integral to our stories, and as a subject of discussion and exploration largely absent from Lodges.
I, too, lament the situations where men who call themselves our brothers see fit to transgress basic tenants of moral behavior. However, as I have discussed in my presentation on Morals and Ethics, morals are those values that we each internalize and make our own set of values. Masonry did not fail these men. They failed themselves. Masonry can teach the difference in values and how those values can become moral standards for ourselves, but Masonry does not dictate morals since they cannot be dictated. They must be internalized by the individual. Each Mason learns the moral lessons in our rituals and symbols and through fellowship with brothers. But until that individual accepts the moral standard into his own moral fabric, it is not a governing force in his decision making. Through our investigations, we try to identify those men who have a fairly solid moral code and through continued practice in Masonry, we hope that the lessons contained in our craft will help that man grow stronger in his application of his moral compass (making him a better man). But in no context should we internalize guilt in that we failed a man if he succumbs to his baser tendencies. This is on the man himself.