John C. Parmer, 32°
111 Dogwood Lane West, Fortson, Georgia, 31808

Prejudice remains one of the most pervasive of human failings and is particularly offensive, given the ideals of our Craft, when it appears in Freemasonry.

Psychologists define antisocial as behavior which is harmful to a society or its members, and they identify prejudice as one of its main forms. Prejudice is defined as "an unfavorable attitude toward groups of people based on insufficient or incorrect evidence about these groups." Literally, it means to prejudge without knowing all the facts. Although not the only factor motivating such brutality as seen in ethnic-related wars and hate crimes, prejudice is a relevant dynamic underlying many interpersonal tragedies which Masons work toward healing.

The Scottish Rite Hospitals and Childhood Language Disorders Clinics, as well as the Shrine Children's Hospitals and Burn Institutes, are known for "discrimination" based solely upon need rather than prejudice. Indeed, the Scottish Rite's 14th Degree's lessons are particularly oriented to help us eliminate prejudice, as Bro. Hutchens reminds us in A Bridge to Light: "Perfect Elus are both bound and free: bound by their obligation and free from prejudice, intolerance and envy" (p. 96).

Every culture examined by social scientists has some history of prejudice, and even after the devalued minority groups become the majority, they too often then adopt prejudicial attitudes toward other groups. In the sage words of the comic strip character Pogo, it is frequently true that "We have met the enemy and he is us." My tendency as a teenager was to prejudge adults, and now as a middle-aged man, I sometimes find myself prejudging teenagers. Men have referred to women as "the weaker sex," and women have complained that "all men are alike." Some Jews, Romans, and others persecuted Christians. Later, certain groups of Christians persecuted Muslims, Jews, and the Knights Templar. The Nazis persecuted Jews for equally unjustified reasons. In the United States, North American Indians, European, African, and Japanese immigrants and their descendants are among those groups whose civil rights were oppressed because of incorrect and insufficient evidence about them. Some of our Brothers recall a time in their lives when women were denied the right to vote.

Realistic-Conflict Theory explains prejudice as resulting from competition between groups for valuable but scarce resources. When not enough of the needed commodities are readily available, we often sort people into categories of "us and them" in order to justify unfair competition by perceiving the outgroup as less deserving than ourselves.

In another way, Social-Identity Theory explains prejudice as an attempt to protect our self-esteem when we feel threatened by feelings of inferiority. By devaluing others we deem as unlike us, we try to make ourselves feel better. These theories are not mutually exclusive, as when people unfairly compete for self-esteem as if it were a scarce and externally obtained commodity.

According to Social-Learning Theory, we may adopt prejudicial attitudes even without being exposed to deprivation or threats to our self-esteem. Why? Simply because persons we admire display prejudice. Particularly in this last instance, we may even be unaware of why we hold negative attitudes.

With compassionate management of resources, our planet can provide enough to satisfy everyone's physiological needs. Unfortunately, we too often convince ourselves that we need more than a fair share, and we forget in Whom we should place our trust. We are also particularly susceptible to threats to self-esteem when we rely upon external validation, as when we estimate our personal worth based upon material acquisitions and social status rather than as derived from within ourselves and being an inalienable right of all persons.

Some persons negatively prejudge our Craft because they have insufficient or incorrect information about it. Although we may tease Fellow Craft Brothers about "riding the goat," this now humorously employed phrase actually refers to an accusation that Freemasons worship Satan envisioned as a goat-like figure. I recently attended a Brother's funeral where his minister was disrespectful toward the Masons there to honor their deceased Brother.

It can be tempting to react in similar measure with prejudice against certain religious groups, but that would only perpetuate error. Persons familiar with Masonic principles realize we are certainly not anti-religious, although we do oppose any manifestation of tyranny even when it comes from an ecclesiastical entity or source. Further, as if religious-oriented misconceptions about us were not enough, some persons incorrectly believe that Freemasonry is a racist organization or, at best, segregated into black and white Lodges in the manner of mid-century drinking fountains.

A review of the 1998 Masonic Code of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, of our membership petition, and a recollection of the obligations for each Blue Lodge Degree, reveals no racism. Instead, it appears that discriminations against candidates are un-Masonic except as regarding whether the individual is a man, physically and mentally sound, legally able to obligate himself, accompanied by a good reputation, and professing a belief in a Supreme Being. Although not all Grand Lodges have yet reconciled their differences, in much of the U.S. and in several other countries and Canadian provinces, the Prince Hall Affiliates and so-called "mainstream" Lodges cooperatively interact on a more open and friendly basis, preferring to retain independent identities, but Masonic Brothers nevertheless. Indeed, the most recent videotape offering from our Supreme Council, Architects of Freedom, indicates that there should not be racial divisiveness among us.

Yet, I recently met a man who quit our Craft because he was too often told "no blacks allowed," and I have spoken with Prince Hall Masons who hear "no whites allowed" in their Lodge. Recollection particularly of the Knight Kadosh obligations should clearly expunge any tolerance for racial oppression in the Scottish Rite. With all our Fraternity has been through and fought for, and considering our fundamental tenets, Freemasonry should be the last place anyone would find prejudice.

At the end of every regular communication in Rose Hill Lodge No. 484 and Columbian No. 7, in Columbus, Georgia, our Worshipful Master directs one of the Brothers to present the Closing Charge, thereby reminding us that every human being has a claim to our kind offices. As Masons we strive to overcome the imperfections of a Rough Ashlar, we place our trust in a Power more valid than materialism or social vanity, and we usually have enough of what we need to go around.

Today, esteeming someone as less than others because they are of a different age, gender, race, religion, socioeconomic status, or personal creed remains one of the most pervasive of human failings. Freemasons are both obligated to, in a position to, and have a history of, the promotion of social welfare and optimal human development for the betterment of humanity and our Fraternity. Let us never forget this noble heritage.