Masonic Unity, The Right Choice

C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°
Sovereign Grand Commander

Over the past few weeks, many Masons have been considering the question of Masonic Unity. The Internet has literally hummed as Masons from many different Masonic organizations have debated the question. Often, the exchange has generated more heat than light.

And yet light is badly needed. The history of our nation, and especially the history of Masonry, has shown over and over again that there truly is strength in Unity. Thus, in this publication and in the Northern Light (the magazine of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite), Masonic leaders have stressed the importance of Unity—of never forgetting that the Blue Lodge is the foundation of the entire Masonic family and that support of the Blue Lodge is critical.

In fact, just a few months ago, the Southern Jurisdiction released a new videotape, Architects of Freedom, The Story of Freemasonry in America. Produced with care and at considerable expense, it focuses on Masonry, the entire family of the Craft, not just the Scottish Rite. It is designed for loaning to friends, to tell them about Masonry, or for use in Friends Night in local Lodges. The price of the tape was deliberately kept very low ($10 a copy) so that individual Masons could easily afford to buy and give away copies. The tape, which has won three film awards, has been very well received by the Brethren.

Both Jurisdictions of the Scottish Rite, as well as the Shrine and other Masonic Bodies, have helped to fund the Masonic Renewal Committee of North America in the development of membership enhancement and retention materials. Where they have been used, these materials have proved successful. In these and other ways, the Scottish Rite has been advancing Masonry—all of Masonry. But true Masonic Unity involves more than the commitment of leaders and financial resources. True Masonic Unity requires the commitment of the individual Mason. For, in the final analysis, you and only you can make a difference. We can produce programs, videotapes, and information packets—but unless you talk to your friends about Masonry, unless you tell them why it is good and that you would like to share Masonry with them—then all we can do amounts to little. Grand Lodges can offer Lodge leadership training programs which can make a great difference for any Lodge. But unless you attend those programs and put what you learn there into practice in the leadership of your Lodge, the effort and expense are futile.

Masonic Unity begins in the heart of the individual Mason. It comes from a deep knowledge that Masonry is good and does good. It comes from a personal commitment to Masonry prospering as a whole and to making that happen. It comes from a determination to become personally involved in that Unity, that growth. It means that you will talk up, not down, every Masonic Body, whether you are active in it or not. We are a family. We must support each other fully, unconditionally.

You literally make the difference in Masonic Unity. There are things which could and should be considered at the national level—a public awareness campaign, coordination of efforts, increased philanthropic outreach. But Masonry grows when you talk to a friend about the Fraternity, give him a petition, and bring him into the Blue Lodge. You can do that, but without you, nothing will happen.

Those are the alternatives. We can work together, and we can bring our friends into the Fraternity. If we do, Masonry—all of Masonry—will not only live, it will be better than ever before. In contrast, we can do nothing or, worse yet, we can undermine by talk or action the Masonic Unity which has been the tradition and strength of our Craft from its beginnings.
It shouldn't be a hard choice to make.