On The Cable Tow
A brief reflection
“If within the length of your Cable Tow.”
With those words, our Craft recognizes that some men have more time for Freemasonry than other men. It also recognizes that the amount of time an individual man might be able to devote to Masonry can change as his life circumstances change.
This morning I was listening to a podcast. (If I’m not careful, I’m going to lose my Luddite card here.) On it, the host, Dave Smith said:
“Charity is only Noble if it is done voluntarily.”
I certainly believe that to be true. Indeed, forced or required charity is not charity at all.
Somewhere around three years ago, I jumped into the officer line at my Doric Lodge, in the position of Senior Warden, because I was asked to fill a hole in the line. That meant that around two years ago, I moved into the East. Over those two years I didn’t miss a meeting, despite the long distance I need to travel in order to attend Doric. That’s A-OK, it’s what I signed up for, and I truly love every moment I spend at that Lodge and with those Brothers.
But tonight will be the very first time I’m able to attend Doric since I stepped out of the East. It’s going on a year, and in a lot of ways I feel badly about abandoning the Lodge.
There wasn’t really much of a choice though. Things came up in my non-Masonic life that had to be addressed, and that precluded me from attending. Luckily those things have slowed down now, so I should be able to get back to my regular attendance.
I’m certainly not unique in any of this. All of us, if we are active Masons for long enough will encounter periods when we have to step back a bit from Masonry.
And we shouldn’t feel badly about it.
It is why we are reminded of the Cable Tow, and its varying length.
And that brings me back to Smith’s quote about charity.
Attending Lodge is only Noble if doing so doesn’t negatively impact our family, our faith, and our occupation. Harming our family by attending Lodge when we need to be with them instead is not Noble. Harming our faith by tending to Lodge when we need to be tending to our devotion is not Noble. And harming our ability to “support myself and family, and contribute to the relief of distressed, worthy, Master Masons, their widows and orphans” by attending Lodge at the expense of our vocation is not Noble.
The Cable Tow helps to remind us of the need to prioritize.
In my Mother Lodge Daylight No. 232, when discussing brothers we don’t see very often, I am reminded of the sage words in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 which begins in the first verse “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
There’s a time to focus on your spouse, raising your children, your profession, your employers, your duties to your neighbors and community…
Our late VW Brother Don Lyman told me that he was eligible for his 50 year pin before he really got active. I know in my own case I needed a bit of a hiatus after my year in the East in Daylight. A couple years later, we moved to North Seattle (land of my birth) so we could be closer to our entertainment, sports teams, the marina, my Lodges, and the most likely location of the bulk of my work as a Freemason.
It’s good to see you out and about in the neighborhood MW. No one ever doubted your intentions.
Where I get my panties in a bunch is when a brother steps into the line when frankly he shouldn't be there, as his duties to his family or work come first. I have no issues with life's priorities, but when you make that decision to step into the progressive line, you need to be aware that you are putting those life obligations aside and making a commitment to the lodge and your brothers. It's not as big of a deal for some positions, but a pillared officer who duly accepted his election into that position, has certain obligations and expectations he has to abide by. It is no different that someone making themselves available to be elected as Junior Grand Warden. You know full well your life is going to revolve around masonry for the next four years.
As a pillared officer (I would even include the SD) you have expectations.
1. Attend every lodge function, including practices, game nights, meetings, degrees, etc.
2. Know the ritual and can successfully run a business meeting.
3. Confer degrees commensurate with your position.
4. Know and understand the goals and philosophy of leadership.
5. Be able to step in as WM if needed.
If you are negligent in these areas, you need to reflect on just what your priorities are, and adjust accordingly, including stepping away from the line if needed. Not being able to do what is expected of you does more harm than good.
The fault also lies on the lodge for not fully explaining all of this to that brother before being appointed into a chair in the line.