The last few weeks I’ve noticed a Masonic social media group heavily pushing some new ‘Masonic’ graphic designs.
In a nutshell, over time they seem to be coming up with one for each State (they started on the eastern side of the country) suggesting that the graphics can be used on shirts, mugs, and other such merch. I presume the plan is that folks could use these graphics on the web as well.
They all seem to follow the same pattern:
They are in the shape of the State in question, with the Confederate Battle Flag in the background, some particular State symbol in the middleground, and the Square & Compass in the foreground.
Without going into a discussion of the American Civil War and its symbolism, I think that all thinking Masons can agree that the flag most closely identified with the Confederacy is completely incompatible with the symbol of a worldwide Fraternity that seeks universal brotherhood.
I must presume that these graphics are being created and supported by ignorant men who understand the negative association the majority of people in this country have for that specific flag, but who just don’t care.
The problem with this is of course that it will be seen. It will be seen by the public, and the majority of those who see it will negatively associate Freemasonry with a symbol they hold to be abhorrent.
These graphics do nothing but give Freemasonry a black eye, and will drive men away from our Ancient Craft.
The Square and Compass symbol is of course in the public domain. Masonic organizations can do nothing to prevent any profane person from using them however he or she would like.
That said, Masonic organizations can control their own Masons. They can prevent Masons from using the Square and Compass in inappropriate ways. The guys creating these graphics could be prevented from continuing, or be cast out of Freemasonry.
So all of this brings a question to mind:
What is the best way for our Fraternity to address issues like this?
Should the Brothers of their Lodge try to talk with them about it? Should their Lodge consider bringing Masonic charges? Should their Grand Lodge step in?
How can we, as a Fraternity, best handle situations like this when they arise?
I think that we must answer that question, and be able to act meaningfully, if we hope our Craft to thrive in the future as it has in the past.
In Ohio the Grand Master every year has a pin produced for distribution to the Brothers. I assume this is a common practice in other jurisdictions. Most all of these pins are in good taste and carry a slogan or message the GM wishes to convey. Maybe controlling the use of Masonic symbols begins with an example set by the Grand Masters of not producing a pin, or a simple square and compass with the year of their service. It's a small thing but maybe a start.
Having worked in the South I can say from my experience that the Civil War isn’t over.
As Masons it is our responsibility to project Masonry in the best light. We can control what we post but the integrity of the Craft has to fall to the grand lodge in each state to police what is posted. I can only hope that each gran lodge has some kind of social media policy and is diligently in forcing it.
This is quite an interesting problem. As a libertarian minded person (in the old classic liberal sense), I value our freedoms given to us by our creator, including the freedom of speech and expression. For the confederate battle flag, one side may find it a symbol of repression and slavery, while the other side could argue that it's a symbol of southern pride. There are many many symbols that are viewed differently depending on your personal perspective. In freemasonry, there are symbols we cherish that have been co-opted by others and can make our symbols be perceived poorly. The skull is an obvious example. Another is the OES pentagram. Should be stop using those symbols because of someone else's ignorance?
As a biker, the Maltese Cross has been adopted by the culture as one of their symbols. In the 50s they did it to piss people off, knowing that it carried some NAZI connotations. For them, it was a symbol of rebellion. The Cross wasn't invented by the NAZIs, it dates back to the 1860s as a medal for battlefield heroics. Hitler won his in WW1, and it was one of his most prized possessions. But that doesn't mean it's a NAZI symbol. It's just perceived that way. The same could be said for the skull, since it was adopted by the SS as their insignia (the famous death's head).
Do I like the Confederate Battle Flag? No. Do I wear or own one? Of course not. I'm not from the south. But I have no issues with other people waving one around. That's their right. Do they do it to provoke a response? Obviously.
Some people don't like my masonic tattoo (Square and Compass with a skull instead of a G). Shrug, that's their problem, not mine. I can't fix their ignorance.
Well, enough rambling. In my opinion, it's not the GL's place to interfere with a persons rights of free speech and/or expression. I hold this opinion, as unpopular as it might be for a lot of things, including the civility push. I always point to the public feud between two eminent masons, Harry S Truman and General Douglas MacArthur. Both famous and well know public figures and distinguished freemasons. Truman publicly called MacArthur a "dumb son of a bitch".
I’ll give the unpopular view point on this, as being familiar with the history and not uninformed or guided by misinformation of the cancel culture mob. The original “X” shape was taken from the Scottish flag, both of which represent the cross of St. Andrew, and not related to white supremacy as some claim. As noted, the South accepted the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. Unfortunately, many in all states were self-serving, money hungry low lifes, who paid little to no wage for its workers. This was prevalent in the industrial farming of cotton and tobacco. I can see how the bigger issue was greed and not primarily racism. One of the first slave owners was a black Angolan man who cashed in on forced labor, named Anthony Johnson.
The south was populated by a lot of Scottish descendants. After organizing to fight against unfair wages and terrible work conditions they work red handkerchiefs around their necks to identify each other, which meant solidarity against the wealthy owners they worked for. This became the first workers union, and inherited the nickname, ‘rednecks,’ from the handkerchiefs they wore.
With that said, I know there have been racist who sport the Southern flag with a different ideology, and it ruined the image. So I really have no strong opinion on it, but if someone wants to rock the flag, more power to them. Masonic lodges were set up in a way that each jurisdiction rules its own state and not controlled by one overreaching body, which I believe is the model the United States got its governmental structure from. Hence most of the founding governmental bodies were ran by Free-Masons.
Anything else are personal opinions expressed which detracts from the universal identifier which the Masons in question have done by altering the natural order.
I have seen t-shirts with affirmations…do they really communicate the brand or does the brand illuminate the brand.
The best way for the fraternity to address issues like this is to regularly, loudly, publicly, restate our core values. They haven't really changed. You don't punish people who are doing the wrong thing, you set a positive leadership example and let others see the gap between bad behavior and the leadership example.
Let me give a concrete example: in 2020 when the "Black Lives Matter" protests were in full swing, MW Bradshaw in the GLoNC issued this statement:
I want to call out several important and laudable things about this statement:
- It did NOT take a political position on Black Lives Matter or protests
- It DID take note of obvious facts any man can see (disease, division, and racism invade our daily lives)
- It took a firm and specific stance on a moral issue: "Racism and violence have no place in our hearts, minds, or society"
- It restated core masonic values in this context (Brotherly Love, relief, truth)
Strongly recommend reading this because in an utterly messy, complicated, divided situation -- plenty of people were unhappy about this statement, but in my opinion (and for the reasons I gave) this is an example of what positive moral leadership can look like in the face of such messes.
A similar statement would be possible with respect to things like Confederate imagery, the legacy of racism & slavery, etc.
At all times I expect my Grand Lodge to display leadership, to constantly underline and reinforce the core tenets of the organization. (Disclaimer I'm not from WA or NC)
Brothers of the local lodge should whisper good council in other brother's ears, let's just be honest: it's more complicated than that. Parts of the country have lodges that would all be aligned on these things.
THAT is a bad idea.
We have enough made up as it is by the public.
I think their Grand Lodge should step in.
At least I hope they would.
In Ohio the Grand Master every year has a pin produced for distribution to the Brothers. I assume this is a common practice in other jurisdictions. Most all of these pins are in good taste and carry a slogan or message the GM wishes to convey. Maybe controlling the use of Masonic symbols begins with an example set by the Grand Masters of not producing a pin, or a simple square and compass with the year of their service. It's a small thing but maybe a start.
Having worked in the South I can say from my experience that the Civil War isn’t over.
As Masons it is our responsibility to project Masonry in the best light. We can control what we post but the integrity of the Craft has to fall to the grand lodge in each state to police what is posted. I can only hope that each gran lodge has some kind of social media policy and is diligently in forcing it.
This is quite an interesting problem. As a libertarian minded person (in the old classic liberal sense), I value our freedoms given to us by our creator, including the freedom of speech and expression. For the confederate battle flag, one side may find it a symbol of repression and slavery, while the other side could argue that it's a symbol of southern pride. There are many many symbols that are viewed differently depending on your personal perspective. In freemasonry, there are symbols we cherish that have been co-opted by others and can make our symbols be perceived poorly. The skull is an obvious example. Another is the OES pentagram. Should be stop using those symbols because of someone else's ignorance?
As a biker, the Maltese Cross has been adopted by the culture as one of their symbols. In the 50s they did it to piss people off, knowing that it carried some NAZI connotations. For them, it was a symbol of rebellion. The Cross wasn't invented by the NAZIs, it dates back to the 1860s as a medal for battlefield heroics. Hitler won his in WW1, and it was one of his most prized possessions. But that doesn't mean it's a NAZI symbol. It's just perceived that way. The same could be said for the skull, since it was adopted by the SS as their insignia (the famous death's head).
Do I like the Confederate Battle Flag? No. Do I wear or own one? Of course not. I'm not from the south. But I have no issues with other people waving one around. That's their right. Do they do it to provoke a response? Obviously.
Some people don't like my masonic tattoo (Square and Compass with a skull instead of a G). Shrug, that's their problem, not mine. I can't fix their ignorance.
Well, enough rambling. In my opinion, it's not the GL's place to interfere with a persons rights of free speech and/or expression. I hold this opinion, as unpopular as it might be for a lot of things, including the civility push. I always point to the public feud between two eminent masons, Harry S Truman and General Douglas MacArthur. Both famous and well know public figures and distinguished freemasons. Truman publicly called MacArthur a "dumb son of a bitch".
I’ll give the unpopular view point on this, as being familiar with the history and not uninformed or guided by misinformation of the cancel culture mob. The original “X” shape was taken from the Scottish flag, both of which represent the cross of St. Andrew, and not related to white supremacy as some claim. As noted, the South accepted the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. Unfortunately, many in all states were self-serving, money hungry low lifes, who paid little to no wage for its workers. This was prevalent in the industrial farming of cotton and tobacco. I can see how the bigger issue was greed and not primarily racism. One of the first slave owners was a black Angolan man who cashed in on forced labor, named Anthony Johnson.
The south was populated by a lot of Scottish descendants. After organizing to fight against unfair wages and terrible work conditions they work red handkerchiefs around their necks to identify each other, which meant solidarity against the wealthy owners they worked for. This became the first workers union, and inherited the nickname, ‘rednecks,’ from the handkerchiefs they wore.
With that said, I know there have been racist who sport the Southern flag with a different ideology, and it ruined the image. So I really have no strong opinion on it, but if someone wants to rock the flag, more power to them. Masonic lodges were set up in a way that each jurisdiction rules its own state and not controlled by one overreaching body, which I believe is the model the United States got its governmental structure from. Hence most of the founding governmental bodies were ran by Free-Masons.
MW,
Simple.
The only recognized “brand” is the S&C.
Anything else are personal opinions expressed which detracts from the universal identifier which the Masons in question have done by altering the natural order.
I have seen t-shirts with affirmations…do they really communicate the brand or does the brand illuminate the brand.
I for one wear the S&C on my shirts and hat.
Simplicity wins out…IMHO
WB Art Liss
Extremists... looking for other extremists. A brilliant recruiting ploy for building up a national network. What state is this operation in?
The best way for the fraternity to address issues like this is to regularly, loudly, publicly, restate our core values. They haven't really changed. You don't punish people who are doing the wrong thing, you set a positive leadership example and let others see the gap between bad behavior and the leadership example.
Let me give a concrete example: in 2020 when the "Black Lives Matter" protests were in full swing, MW Bradshaw in the GLoNC issued this statement:
https://www.grandlodge-nc.org/storage/wysiwyg/protests_against_racism_statement_add.pdf
I want to call out several important and laudable things about this statement:
- It did NOT take a political position on Black Lives Matter or protests
- It DID take note of obvious facts any man can see (disease, division, and racism invade our daily lives)
- It took a firm and specific stance on a moral issue: "Racism and violence have no place in our hearts, minds, or society"
- It restated core masonic values in this context (Brotherly Love, relief, truth)
Strongly recommend reading this because in an utterly messy, complicated, divided situation -- plenty of people were unhappy about this statement, but in my opinion (and for the reasons I gave) this is an example of what positive moral leadership can look like in the face of such messes.
A similar statement would be possible with respect to things like Confederate imagery, the legacy of racism & slavery, etc.
At all times I expect my Grand Lodge to display leadership, to constantly underline and reinforce the core tenets of the organization. (Disclaimer I'm not from WA or NC)
Brothers of the local lodge should whisper good council in other brother's ears, let's just be honest: it's more complicated than that. Parts of the country have lodges that would all be aligned on these things.