Martin Luther King Day
Let's remember his words on this holiday
In this time of great divisions within our society, Freemasonry stands as an example for humankind. We do not allow artificial divisions to separate us. Politics, religion, and the conflicts they can engender are rightly left outside of the Lodge room so that all men of goodwill can come together in unity.
We stand for reason, truth, and civil discourse. Tools that we can use to improve ourselves, and in so doing, improve the lives of everyone around us.
Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
These are our watchwords. Our guiding principles.
We might often fail to live up to our loftiest ideals, but we can never give up on striving towards them. Only through that striving, that effort, towards becoming better men can Masonry find meaning within our lives.
On this Martin Luther King Day, in acknowledgement of all the hate and anger currently boiling in our society, his words, his admonishments are vitally important.
I close this brief message with a quote from his 1963 speech entitled ‘I Have A Dream.’
“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence”
It is right, and good, and important, that we stand for what we believe in. That we endeavor to communicate the truth as we understand it. That we speak out against injustice when we see it.
But while doing so we can’t forget Dr. King’s call for dignity and discipline. And as he so rightly said, we must not allow our protests to degenerate into violence.
I think this is pertinent ... http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2021/10/in-which-all-men-agree.html
I wonder if leaving out something so impactful as our lives as politics and religion is doing ourselves and Lodges a disservice.
I’m not talking about advocating or proselytizing one’s personal beliefs or parties. I mean trying to understand perspectives other than our own to better connect with each other. Working towards a more comprehensive view of why things presently appear so divided or incongruent. We certainly can’t seem to discuss them on forums or media platforms, as opposing viewpoints or questions are downvoted to oblivion, or reverberated back ad nauseam.
Today’s Mason is inundated with politically charged media, conversations, and relationships. Then they come to Lodge with questions that they might not understand and are unable to ask or explore them in the refuge of polite company. A place we are taught is one for us to cultivate our higher thoughts, working to temper our passions, and seek enlightenment.
It reminds me of someone with persistent health issues avoiding a Doctors recommendations to eat better, drink less, or smoke less. Instead asking for medication or surgical procedures to mask the issues they are manifesting. Preferring an easier route to avoid the challenges and difficulties it might represent.
I wonder how our forefathers and past Masons dealt with these restrictions or challenges, or if they are more recent changes to the Craft.
Great topic!