Let's Not Engage

With those who mean us harm

Over on Facebook I just read a smear against our current Grand Master. A claim that he’s done wrong, because he is somehow an evil guy.

I’ve known our current Grand Master for a really long time. I know that nothing at all could be further from the truth. But, claims of that sort are perceived to have power in our society today, so people seeking to do harm will unjustly use them in service of their own irrational goals.

Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash

Freemasonry is an organization with rules. With a code of honor. With obligations. We demand certain behaviors, and we police ourselves.

As a first resort, we whisper good counsel to an erring Brother. We attempt to convince him to reform himself. Indeed this is what we are called upon to do.

But, sometimes it doesn’t work.

Sometimes serious measures must be taken. At their most extreme, these are suspension or expulsion from our Craft.

In my Jurisdiction, and I presume in most Regular Jurisdictions, it is actually really hard to be suspended or expelled. You’ve got to do something mighty egregious to have such discipline meted out. And that’s a good thing. We shouldn’t be throwing men out of Freemasonry willy nilly.

So, usually the men who face these punishments understand them, and go quietly.

But, not always.

Sometimes they lash out. Irrationally and publicly. Blaming others for their own unacceptable actions. I’ve seen three different men react that way in recent years. Attacking Freemasonry, and its leadership instead of reflecting on their own actions.

That’s certainly the case with the latest smear I read from a suspended Mason today.

And when this happens on Social Media, often Brothers will try to engage with the suspended or expelled Mason. To attempt to, I presume, convince him to see the error of his ways.

That engagement seems to never bring about the results sought. Rather it seems to always make the problem worse by fueling the irrational fire.

When a man is suspended or expelled, he is no longer a fellow Freemason. Our obligation to whisper wise counsel no longer exists. We are, in my view, much better off no longer engaging with him in any way that touches upon Freemasonry.

That removes his platform to continue spreading hate and discontent. By not engaging we are helping to protect the reputation of our Craft.

And maybe, just maybe, if we ignore the irrational rants of our former Brothers, they will allow the flames of their anger to slowly die down. If that happens, perhaps they can begin the important work of self reflection and self reformation.