Masonic Neighbors

Cool or Culty?

Here in Washington we are blessed to have a really wonderful Masonic Campground. It’s a great favorite of mine, not so much because of the amenities it offers, but because everyone in there is a Mason. That gives me confidence. I know that no one is going to be stealing my stuff or be a danger to my family. We are all friends and Brothers.

Photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash

Some years ago, I moved from a little house in my city’s best neighborhood to a much larger house in one of my city’s less desirable neighborhoods. The new house is quite wonderful for us, but we weren’t happy at all with some of the goings on around it.

Then the people across the street sold their house and moved away. The new neighborhood improved immediately. Because the problem people had been using that house across the street as a hangout, and the new owners were intent on making things better. The change was immediate and certainly noticeable. I don’t worry about our little neighborhood being a bad neighborhood anymore.

Proving that who one’s neighbors are can make a huge difference. Even a single bad one can wreak havoc.

A truth pretty solidly illustrated by our Jurisdiction’s Masonic campground. Everything is good there, because there aren’t any bad ones.

If the place wasn’t a super long drive through horrific Seattle traffic I’d be up there constantly each summer.

I was thinking about all of this today because in California there is a little neighborhood on the river and under the towering redwoods, where Masons can buy a home and live, surrounded only by other Masons. A little tiny community in which only members of our Craft (Or OES) can live.

How cool is that?

I think it would be really awesome to live in a Masonic community. A community in which everyone shares similar values, and in which all have pledged Brotherhood to each other.

But, of course, we are in a new age of anti-Masonry, so I’ve found some discussions about it on online forums to be interesting to say the least. Discussions of strange ceremonies and nefarious things going on there. Discussions about the cult-like nature of the place, the cultish feel of it. All nonsense of course, but like much anti-Masonry rather funny to read if one forgets about the damage such attitudes can bring.

For me, well, I certainly think that I would enjoy living my life surrounded by other Masons. It would undoubtedly give me tremendous confidence in my neighbors.

---

Save the Date!

Saturday, September 26

Emeth BBQ Contest and Starlight Fellowcraft Degree!

Quilcene, Washington

Details to come.