The Problem With Emeth
I guess that it can't be avoided
Each and every day, I’m here, in this online space I call Emeth. More often than not posting some commentary or starting a discussion. Other times putting interesting things into Chat, or digging through Notes for hidden gems.
But this is my thing. An online Masonic community called Emeth.
And I enjoy it. I enjoy doing it. A lot.
But there is one thing that does sometimes bother me about it.
When I write about something that I feel compelled to write about, and that I think is important to write about, but that I know some of my friends and brothers will disagree with or be bothered by.
Conflict and criticism are never fun.
But sometimes they are necessary. Sometimes they are necessary if we are to acknowledge our mistakes and improve our Craft.
When I call out things that I think Masonry is doing wrong, it is not to attack individuals or groups, it is an attempt to try and get us to notice our error so that we can correct it. Without that, I don’t think that we can grow and change.
I also don’t delude myself into believing that I am always right. I make just as many boneheaded mistakes as everyone else. Within Lodge and outside of Lodge. None of us are perfect, and the best we can do is strive towards that state.
So I appreciate it when we can have robust discussions here. Even when we disagree. Because only through those tough discussions can our understanding grow. As the old saying goes, iron sharpens iron.
When we disagree, even if we strongly disagree, we are all, I think, united in our desire to improve Freemasonry, and improve our own Lodge experience. We are all committed to creating Legendary Freemasonry.
You need to keep doing what you are doing. The lesson of Enlightenment principles that are the foundation of Freemasonry is to always keep an open mind, question everything and share in a scientific approach to diagnosing and solving problems of civil society as well as within the confines of Freemasonry. Free expression and speech, selecting our own leaders by popular vote, choosing your own theology were never popular by authoritarians and some churches. We progress as a society by the exposition and sharing of ideas. That's the beauty behind this platform. Freemasonry is not about ideologues but about brethren on a journey of self improvement for ourselves and our masonic communities. There's a saying that I need to clean up for this audience. "F-them if they can't take a joke."
I always take to heart the words in the EA charge which instructs me to converse with well-informed brethren. Your journey in Masonry to Grand Master affords a unique perspective that I do not have. If we are to improve the fraternity, I look to brothers, like yourself, to offer solutions that I may not have considered. Keep writing, and I'll keep reading. Thanks.