Curtis N. Lancaster,
33°
S.G.I.G. in Utah
555 West 2525 South, Syracuse, Utah 84075–8570
Our heritage, our obligation to our Craft, and our duty to our country demand that we get on with the purposes for which we have been destined.
There have been several thought-provoking articles published recently concerning the relevance of Masonry in modern times. Many outside the Fraternity and, perhaps, some inside the Craft believe Freemasonry once served a great and useful purpose, but that its time is now past. Were I asked if Masonry has a role in our society today and tomorrow, my answer would be an emphatic "Yes!"
I think it is fair to say that America owes much to Freemasonry. History provides us with detailed accounts of the significant impact Masonry has made in defining and shaping moral standards, developing cultures, promoting free thought, advocating education of the general public, and establishing systems of government that are honest and just in the governance of its citizens. But these are not only past accomplishments. Rather, Freemasonry continues in these roles today. By celebrating morality and individual merit, Masonry exemplifies today, as it always has, the ideals necessary to build a society based on virtue and liberty.
With that premise in mind, let us look at what has occurred in America in the last half of the twentieth century. We have experienced the greatest advancement of technical knowledge the world has ever known. Exploration of outer space had previously been thought of as science fiction, yet in the period of a few decades, we have been to the Moon and have sent vehicles to explore planets in the far reaches of our universe. The ability to do this was brought on by electronic advancements that have completely changed the ways we communicate, learn, work, and relax.
Unfortunately, these developments have also changed our whole system of values. As we prospered as a nation, our standards of decency and morality deteriorated. This situation is similar to that of the Israelites, as related to us in the Book of Judges. Every time their condition improved, they forgot what brought them peace and prosperity, and turned away from God's teaching. As we prospered, we became obsessed with material things and physical gratification. The family unit rapidly lost its significance as the foundation of our society. Sexual permissiveness, unwed parents, and single-parent families increased alarmingly.
Our government appears morally bankrupt. We demand less from our elected and appointed officials and get it. We tolerate an entertainment industry constantly pushing the boundaries of decency and morality. Some churches preach a starry-eyed "new morality" that is anything but moral. School boards lower academic standards to the point where graduating seniors are unable to read their own diplomas. Clearly, we have a society out of control and pandered to by self-interested politicians and an amoral media.
Why have we as Masons, with our legacy of promoting and demanding high standards of responsible citizenship and leadership, sat by complacently and watched these transitions occur? Our conduct is probably why many are wondering whether Masonry is still relevant in today's society. Should Masonry change and conform to current societal attitudes? Has Masonry abandoned its sense of duty and standards of morality? The answer to both of these questions is an unequivocal "No!"
We have a Volume of the Sacred Law on every Masonic altar and have adopted it as the guide for our faith and the rule of our lives. It clearly defines morality and sets forth standards for our conduct. We have all taken an obligation on that book, vowing to conduct our lives in accordance with its precepts. I sincerely believe it is the will of the Grand Master of the Universe that we continue as the oldest and largest fraternity in the world. We know from accounts in both the Old and New Testaments that God called men to service, and I believe He still does that today. God has a place for Masonry in His plan for mankind. As Ill. Norman Vincent Peale, 33°, Grand Cross, once stated, "To me, Freemasonry is one form of dedication to God and service to humanity." Sadly, a large majority of our members have become content to be Masons in name only. Current dues cards seem the only requirements to be a Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite Brother.
Yet I am convinced Masons can meet the challenges we face. General Douglas MacArthur observed, "Freemasonry embraces the highest moral laws and will bear the test of any system of ethics or philosophy ever promulgated for the uplift of man." We have things to offer that no other organization does. We teach skills that are directly transferable to vocations in the world. We teach men to use their memories and speak before audiences; to organize activities and work together; to value ethics and moral conduct; to practice brotherhood and charity. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, although not a member, had a great respect for Masonry and its potential power for the betterment of mankind. He once stated, "What couldn't a million Masons do if they made a concerted effort to change the world. We could approximate brotherhood in the twinkling of an eye."
To return our country to the basic principles that made America great, we must require men who call themselves Masons to start living Masonry. In most cases, a refresher course will be necessary. It is absolutely essential that our Lodges get back to teaching basic Masonry. An uneducated Mason is an ineffective Mason. We cannot expect our members to be advocates for Masonic principles without a basic knowledge of our history, fundamental precepts, and responsibilities. Today, we need the participation of every Mason in the affairs of the nation even more than we did 200 years ago when America was formed.
We need to get involved in our local, state, and federal governments. We need more dedicated Masons serving on planning boards, city councils, county commissions, in state legislatures, and Congress. We need more Masons in the judicial system who are dedicated to enforcement of our laws and to dispensing equal justice under those laws. We need more members serving on our school boards where matters of policy on educational standards are established. We need to use public forums, letters to the media, and public appearances to voice our objections to the erosion of standards for civility and decency; and we need to quit patronizing those entities that are supporting this erosion.
Our Lodges must get involved in the life of our communities. Only then can we regain the respect we once enjoyed. We must have a greater influence in the development of character and leadership qualities in the youth of our nation, and not only our Masonic youth groups. Our Lodges and Temples can adopt and sponsor programs that will help shape the hearts and minds of those who will eventually lead our nation. In essence, we must again become a part of the decision-making process in this country.
The magnitude of this challenge seems overwhelming, but I am convinced it can be met. Masons who truly believe in the tenets of Masonry and are willing to live those tenets can certainly make a difference. It is easy and convenient to fall back on that old excuse that we are too few in number to have an impact on current events. Yet Freemasonry's strength has never relied on the number of its members. Its power and endurance come from its moral teachings and from the character of its members. Masons who are living like Masons and working for the betterment of our country would attract other men of like persuasion to our ranks. Inactive Masons, seeing their Lodges alive and fulfilling a need again, would be enticed to return and be part of that great movement. The effort we now spend worrying about decreasing membership and poor attendance could be directed productively to building a better future for us all.
Earlier I stated that America owes much to Freemasonry, but Freemasons also owe much to America. We are living in a sick society. Hopefully, the illness will not be fatal and Masonry will help in the recovery process. The only questionable factor is us. Do we have the will and the determination to do what is necessary? We owe it to those dedicated Brethren who unselfishly gave of themselves to build this nation. We owe it to the future leaders who must be influenced to redirect our course from the road of degradation we are now traveling. We certainly owe it to Masonry itself to preserve the legacy of an organization that has served mankind so effectively for centuries.
Freemasonry has been termed a sleeping giant. The time to awaken that giant is long overdue. Our heritage, our obligation to our Craft, and our duty to our country demand that we get on with the purposes for which we have been destined.