According to my local Library, this is banned books week here in the United States.
It is, I think, valuable for those of us who value free expression to contemplate this issue. If not often, then at least for a few days each year.
The issue is really simple in my mind. I don’t believe that any book (I’m writing about what I consider to be books with this post, text on a page) should be banned for any reason. Indeed, like the founders of the United States, I believe that the right to write what we want, and read what we want are rights granted to us by God, and that no person or group of people have the right to try to strip away those rights.
Frankly, I live in the United States. Moves to ban books don’t often succeed. But people try. And in far too many cases even those who don’t outright move to ban books, attempt to suppress the readership of books.
It’s been my experience that some Freemasons, lots of Freemasons actually, are guilty of this. They might not be trying to ban Masonic books that they disagree with, but they surely are trying to suppress the readership of those books.
In my hometown, just this week actually, a group of moms (individuals whom I generally find to be quite reasonable) have taken to Social Media in an attempt to get our Library to less prominently display a book that they have an issue with children being exposed to.
I understand that. I’ve got a young Granddaughter I take to the Library with me. But, these moms are wrong. It’s not the Librarians job to monitor what my Granddaughter reads at the Library, it is my job. A job I take seriously.
And, here’s the thing…
Even though I too think the book is wildly inappropriate for kids, if my Granddaughter were to read it, it wouldn’t harm her.
I can say that, from personal experience.
When I was a youngster, not much older than she is now, I accidentally picked out a non-age-appropriate book to do an oral book report on. This took place in Catholic School. Clearly the teacher knew that it wasn’t appropriate for my age, yet she said nothing, and I read the book. I remember her, she was an older lady, with grey hair in the time before young women decided it was cool to dye their hair grey.
So, I read the book. Cover to cover. It was filled with things I probably shouldn’t have been reading about at that young age. Then I had to sit down with the teacher to explain the book and how I felt about it. I remember it being an extremely embarrassing experience.
But, it didn’t somehow mess me up. Indeed, it led me to understand that some things in life might make sense as I grew older. In fact, if memory serves after all this time, she communicated that to me. It wasn’t a bad experience, despite the embarrassment I felt.
My first experience with what I would consider to be a banned book was The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie.
There was no attempt to ban this book by people or forces in the United States, but the leader of Iran attempted to do so from afar. He put a price on the author’s head, and stoked fear of terrorism around bookstores that carried it.
I had just graduated high school when the book came out, and I decided that I needed to buy a copy of the book. Both to support the author, and to see what all the fuss was about. I’ve got to admit, Mr. Rushdie is a celebrated author, but I found little to enjoy in his prose.
But, I learned something from that experience…
I wandered into a large chain bookstore, couldn’t find the book, so asked for it. The person I asked had no idea what on earth I was talking about. Despite it being a major media story, she’d never heard of the book, or the threats coming out of Iran.
On that day I learned that a great many people in our society are indifferent to writers and literature. They just don’t care. Even some who work in book stores.
The second thing I learned that day is to shop smarter and support local bookstores with my dollars. It was in just such a store that I found the book, and I haven’t been impressed with those big national stores since.
My next ‘banned’ book was put out by the pop star Madonna, a book she titled Sex. I enjoyed her music back then, but didn’t have much interest in the book. I bought it though. I bought it because when I read the news, I saw stories about people who wanted it banned. They weren’t successful in that quest of course.
But, I learned something else…
I learned that every time a group of people start railing against a book, seeking to ban or suppress it, sales go through the roof.
The free market ensures that a book's reach is increased when people actively and openly work to decrease its reach. That’s a cool thing about our economic and political systems here in the western world.
But, once in a while, the book banners win, or come close to winning.
Last month, here in Washington State we had something quite interesting happen in a very small town. Some of the people in the town weren’t happy with some of the books in their library. So, they complained. In response, the library did nothing and kept the books in its collection. The would-be banners then moved to place a local initiative on the ballot seeking to eliminate the library from their town. Their quest didn’t succeed, but it came close.
But, what does all of this have to do with Freemasonry?
The sad fact of the matter is that Freemasonry is filled with Masons who actively discourage other Masons from reading books about our Craft.
I’ve known that for a long time, but last week it was once again brought to my attention. On social media some unhinged Mason was making attacks on a fairly well known, newer Masonic book that he disagrees with. I don’t know if I agree with the book’s conclusions or not, but I do know the author to be a sincere and thoughtful Mason. I verbally slapped the guy down and he stopped his ranting. Once in a while, I guess the whole Most Worshipful thing comes in handy.
But all of that brought back memories about something I’d seen on social media back in early 2021. A new Mason asked about reading Morals & Dogma, and the mob attacked.
I wrote an essay in response to that. It has never been published here on Emeth, but to illustrate my thoughts about individual Masons attempting to suppress books within our Craft, I’ve decided to re-publish it here:
Masons Killing Masonry
March 20, 2021
I'm a member of a large online Masonic discussion group. A topic published in it tonight clearly shows one of the major reasons for the Fraternity's membership declines and retention issues.
A young EA asked:
“Being new to the craft and having many questions and not wanting to spoil any up coming rituals I plan on doing some reading. Would Morals and Dogma (Annotated) by Albert Pike be a good read to inform but no spoil my journey?”
Of course we know that reading Morals & Dogma would not spoil his upcoming Degrees because it contains no ritual elements. Rather it is Pike's Lectures for the Scottish Rite Degrees, including the Craft Degrees of EA, FC, & MM.
Certainly no harm whatsoever can come to a Mason, or to anyone else for that matter from reading this book. I started reading it myself as an EA, and I've continued reading it ever since.
Then the irrational and harmful answers to this young man's question came. They included such gems as:
“Absolutely not. It's really only of interest to people who have been through the 32 degrees of the Scottish Rite, specifically in the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.” -This from a Past Master in Texas who apparently never bothered to read the book, so doesn't understand that it does include Lectures for the EA, FC, & MM Degrees.
“Nope. Morals and Dogma is highly overrated and frequently misunderstood. It has some value for members of Southern Jurisdiction Scottish Rite who want to dive into the degrees. It has virtually no relevance or value for craft lodge degrees.” -This from a Junior Warden in Indiana, who apparently also managed to miss the Craft Degree Lectures in the book.
“My strongest recommendation, and I can’t stress this enough, is that as you’re going through the first three degrees you should only work with material provided to you by your Grand Lodge education committee. Anything else can screw you up, because what’s done in one jurisdiction may not be done the same in another, and at this point you’re not going to be able to recognize the differences, and that could affect any memory work or proficiency you need to pass to proceed to the next degree.” -Texas Past Master. Apparently in his view, if it ain't written by the Grand Lodge it must be bad. Plus, all the ritual work in Morals and Dogma might be different from our EA's GL's ritual work, so will confuse him. Of course there is not a single word of ritual in Pike's Lectures, but alas, why should facts confuse the issue. The important thing is that we keep this poor young man away from scary books.
”...from the perspective of a SJ Scottish Rite Mason who loves Pike’s work and has read M&D... it’s highly overrated. It’s only appropriate for Scottish Rite Masons, and it’s not really that necessary for SR Masons. Even seeing the current SJ degrees and reading M&D alone won’t be very insightful.” -This gem from a Mason in Oklahoma. Seems pretty clear that he is exaggerating his love for Pike's work, and I've got to wonder: if he can actually read Morals and Dogma, and go through the Scottish Rite Degrees, and still not get much insightful out of all of that, why on earth does he bother? The lessons of Masonry do require some level of thought, apparently he needs a wee bit more of that.
“I would absolutely avoid M&D for now.” -Says a Mason from Arizona. What does this Mason suggest the young man read instead? “Corinthians, Genesis 28, Psalm 133” -Golly, the advice this young Mason is getting just keeps getting better and better.
“You'll need to learn to wait. After all, who knows if you want to join an appendant body after you are raised? Maybe you might stay with blue lodge your entire life. Maybe you might want to get involved with OES or the youth groups. Or maybe you'll want to go York Rite or become a Shriner. Maybe you'll focus on committees, or district or GL activities. Or you'll be interested in a lodge of research, or maybe the GL's library or museum. There is so much out there, you just need patience.” -Says a Mason from New Mexico. Getting slightly off topic. Of course what our Mason from New Mexico fails to understand is that this young Mason won't be around long enough to become involved with any of those things, because getting advice like he is getting from this bunch will drive him away from Masonry in very short order.
“There are a few books worse than M&D to give you a masonic education but not that many.” -The UGLE Mason from across the pond helpfully adds.
“No! Don’t read it yet. It’s only appropriate for 32° Masons. It will absolutely spoil your journey” -So says the Oklahoma Mason who's self chosen nickname in the group is a reference to his own penis. He doesn't spell out how the book could possibly spoil this young Mason's journey, but apparently it can, and it is bad. Gotta protect the EA from evil books that spoil things in mysterious ways.
You've read enough of that nonsense now.
So how many people in the group actually told this young Mason that Morals and Dogma contained Lectures? That it specifically contained Lectures for the Craft Degrees? That it contained no ritual, and therefore could not spoil his upcoming Degrees? That it is OK if he reads the book? That people don't have a right to tell other people what to read? That Masonry is a quest for knowledge?
One.
Only one.
Me. I told him these things. No one else did.
I also told him that the book is difficult to read, and that he might find a lot more enjoyment reading something else, but I made it clear that it is OK to read a book.
Nineteen Freemasons told him that it isn't OK to read a book.
Unbelievable.
Over 90% of Masons surveyed by the Masonic Service Association said that Masonic Education was very important to them. Over 65% of those respondents said that their Lodge provides no Masonic Education.
Think about that for a moment.
If we think about it long enough we will understand why Freemasonry does not retain its Masons.
Here is a brand spankin' new Mason, crying out for some Masonic Education. He obviously doesn't have a decent mentor in his Lodge or he wouldn't have had to run off to the internet to ask his question. All he wants to do is read a book and these 'elders' in the Craft do all they can to discourage him.
What's most fun about all of their pronouncements is that it is quite clear from their own statements that not a one of them realize that Morals and Dogma contains Lectures for the Craft Degrees. As these first three Lectures are at the very start of the book, it clearly shows that not a one of them have ever actually read the thing.
That is usually the case with Morals and Dogma though. Forever condemned as too hard to read by Masons who have never actually bothered to try and read it.
I also notice that if their concern truly was that he would read into the non-craft Degrees, not a one of them recommended Pike's book written specifically for the Craft Degrees, Esoterika, Symbolism Of The Blue Degrees Of Freemasonry. Perhaps because their Lodges don't have a dozen copies of it laying around, gathering dust, so they don't even know it exists.
Reading things like this reminds me again that it is Masons who are destroying Masonry. Masons who are refusing to teach Masonry to the young men who knock on our doors. Masons who discourage rather than encourage free inquiry among our own initiates.
Hence, I guess, why I'm currently working on Emeth. An online space that celebrates Freemasonry and Freemasonic education. A place where those who value the lessons of Freemasonry can discuss them without being drowned out by those who believe our Ancient Craft to be nothing more than a goofy old social club with aprons.
Sorry if this post tilts pretty close to a rant. I try to write positive things most all the time, but once in awhile one must call out what is so obviously wrong.
Thank you for reading Emeth! I truly appreciate it, because without readers a writer is of no value at all.
I hope that you enjoyed this post, and if you did, I have an important favor to ask:
Please take a few moments to share this post. On your own social media timeline, in an online Masonic group, or forward it to your Lodge Brothers. You can do so by clicking the blue ‘share’ button below, or by simply forwarding the email.
As social media algorithms continue to disfavor off site links, it is becoming more and more difficult to distribute these essays and discussion topics, but, the more Masons reading and participating here, the greater the positive impact we can have.
So, if you can, and if you enjoyed it, please share this post.
Just sent this to my Lodge 7941
For the first part of your article, I have to disagree to a certain extent. Restricting age inappropriate books would be no different than having adult magazines like hustler behind the counter at a 7/11. You are not banning the magazine (although some wanted to) but you do place restrictions on who can access it.
When I was in high school I was in a similar situation as you outlined. I was to write a book report, and the selection of books the teacher offered had an 18+ section. Since I was 17, she wouldn't allow me to read them, instead I had to pick from the other shelves. Now, as a kid growing up, I was reading heavy books like Ivanhoe when I was in the 3rd grade. One of my favorite books growing up was a book written by a guy named Frank Yerby called "the saracen blade". That book was both entertaining and historically educational. I still have the book to this day.
I had gotten the reading bug from my dad, who read voraciously and when he would finish a book, he'd pass it down to my brother and I, and we'd read them ourselves. This included all manner of books and the 18+ shelf had more than a couple of books I had read already. So, to spite her, I picked a book on the shelf I was allowed to choose from a book I had already read. Made writing the paper much easier.
For the second part dealing with Albert Pike and Morals & Dogma, I had a similar situation years ago. A young EA wanted to read it, but his coach told him not to, for the very same reasons a lot of the same Masons mentioned in your article. I agree with you, no one should discourage learning. My only cautions to young or prospective masons (if the topic comes up) is to stay away from the internet and don't find out the rituals and read those because that would definitely spoil the experience, although as you said, it may simply make them want to go out and read them even more.
We as a society have long placed restrictions on access to a number of media we deem inappropriate for underage children. TV shows, TV Channels, Movies, Magazines, Books, Record Albums etc. Did those restrictions ever stop anyone? Rarely. But does that mean we shouldn't? No. At the very least it does alert the parent (if they are around) that what that child wants to watch if it is suited for their maturity level.