Page 18 - April May 2024 MFM.indd

Are We Truly Masons?

By Jack R. Levitt, PGM

Problems continue to emerge in our modern society. also told to caution the inexperienced against any breach
Šƒ‰‡• ƒ”‡ „‡‹‰ ‡ơ‡ –‡† ‹’”‘’‡”Ž› „› ˜‹‘Žƒ–‹‘• ‘ˆ Ƥ†‡Ž‹–› ƒ† –Šƒ– ‘ ‘–‹˜‡ •Š‘—Ž† ƒ‡ —• ˜‹‘Žƒ–‡ ‘—”
of standards and rules. Changes are necessary but vows.
should be attained legitimately by legislation or other
appropriate means. In the 1960s and the 1970s, youth revolted against adult
•‘ ‹‡–›ǡ ƒ† ‹–• ”—Ž‡• ’”‘†— ‡† ™‡ƒ‡‡† ƒ† ‘ơǦ„‡ƒ–
When the foundation of trust is shattered by scorn for standards. This may explain the permissive attitude of
rules, the result is a fragmentation of trust of the basic non-freemasons, but Freemasons themselves should
fabric, which results in the ultimate loss of values. ”‡ƒ‹ —ƒơ‡ –‡† „› •— Š Ž‘™‡”‡† •–ƒ†ƒ”†•Ǥ ‘ ”‡ƒ•‘
Unhappily, pervasive dishonesty is prevalent, not only in Ǧ ‹‰Š– ƒ• ™‡ŽŽ Š‡ƒ– „‡ ƒ—•‡ ‘–Š‡”• †‘dzǡ ‘” •‡ŽŽ ”ƒƫ‡
society but in our beloved Fraternity. An organization is tickets when prohibited because it is for a good cause,
known not only by its members’ abilities but also by their or hold a special or stated meeting in a prohibited place,
attitudes. The history of our Fraternity is the judgment of is to collaborate in the tearing apart of the fabric of trust
our Fraternity. The world judges us as they perceive us. To and the dismantling of the basis of our structure.
select those ordinances and tenets of Freemasonry, we
wish to comply with and violate others is not only a direct The best hope of reversing the trend toward ignoring
violation of our obligations but is to continue a Fraternity rules and to restore those standards which form the
built upon sand. Whether violations concern liquor, cornerstone of our nation and our Fraternity is to
”ƒƫ‡•ǡ ƒ†˜‡”–‹•‹‰ǡ ‘” ƒ› ‘–Š‡” ’”‘Š‹„‹–‡† ƒ –‹˜‹–›ǡ –Š‡ —†‡”•–ƒ† –Šƒ– ™‡ ƒ”‡ ‹†‡‡† ƒ†ƒ–‡† –‘ „‡ ‹ƪ‡š‹„Ž‡
rules relating to them lose their force as a result. More ‹ ‘—” Ƥ†‡Ž‹–› ƒ† –‘ ˆƒ‹Ž‹ƒ”‹œ‡ ‘—”•‡Ž˜‡• ™‹–Š ‘—” ”—Ž‡•ǡ
importantly, our standards begin to crumble. which we swear to uphold, and then to act in conformity
with them. If we do so, we will not only be heeding
The most precious wealth in the world is that of the prompting of the right reason and the voice of
established character. While not all of us can become consciousness but we will also be entitled to self-esteem
famous leaders, each of us can be pure of heart and and set a good example for others to emulate.
ˆƒ‹–Šˆ—Ž –‘ ‘—” ’”‹ ‹’Ž‡•Ǥ Š‡ ‰”‡ƒ–‡•– ‹ƪ—‡ ‡ ‘ˆ
”‡‡ƒ•‘”› ‹• –Š‡ ‡Ž‘“—‡– ‹ƪ—‡ ‡ ‘ˆ ‹–‡‰”‹–›Ǥ —” If we cannot justify them by abiding by Freemasonry’s
great Order has at all times religiously preserved the moral and philosophical principles, how can we expect
–‡ƒ Š‹‰• ‘ˆ ‘”ƒŽ •‡ŽˆǦ”‡•’‡ – ƒ† Ƥ†‡Ž‹–› –‘ ‘—” –”—•–• non-Freemasons to accept them or to join us in learning
and ideals. It has endeavored to endow us with spiritual them? Individual wills or desires, and even those that are
strength and moral fortitude. Our principles are the collective, cannot be imposed irrespective of lawfully
fundamental basis of our Fraternity. We have the right to enacted ordinances because to do so is divisive and
demand deeds of principle and integrity rather than the decline results. Remember, what we do today has a
‡‰Ž‹‰‡ ‡ ‘ˆ ‹†‹ơ‡”‡ ‡ ‘” –Š‡ –”‡ƒ•‘ ‘ˆ ˜‹‘Žƒ–‹‘•Ǥ •‹‰‹Ƥ ƒ– ‹’ƒ – ‘ ‘—” ˆ—–—”‡Ǥ
If truth is truly a divine attribute and the foundation To remain, or once again become, obedient to our rules
of every virtue, then to be good and true is more than cannot be accomplished solely by urging or enforcement
ƒ Šƒ”‰‡Ǣ ‹– ‹• ƒ ‘ƒ†Ǥ —” –‡ƒ Š‹‰• ‘ˆ ‹ƪ‡š‹„Ž‡ but by our own self-control. To be unwilling to commit
Ƥ†‡Ž‹–› ƒ”‡ •‘ ‡š–‡•‹˜‡ –Šƒ– –‘ ƒ‡ ”‡ˆ‡”‡ ‡ –‘ –Š‡ or tolerate a violation must originate from a dislike
is to state a commonplace. ‘ˆ –Š‡ ˜‹‘Žƒ–‹‘ǡ ‘– ˆ”‘ ‹†‹ơ‡”‡ ‡ ‘” ˆ‡ƒ” ‘ˆ –Š‡
consequences of being caught. Motivation comes from
Š‡ Ƥ”•– †‡‰”‡‡ Šƒ”‰‡ ”‡ˆ‡”• –‘ ‘—” ”†‡” ƒ• Š‘‘”ƒ„Ž‡ǡ within and is limited only by the mind. No law is real until
as tending to make all men who are strictly obedient to it is inscribed in the heart.
‹–• ’”‡ ‡’–• •‘ –Šƒ– ™‡ ƒ”‡ –‘ ƒ‹ˆ‡•– ‘—” Ƥ†‡Ž‹–› „› ƒ
strict observance of the Constitution of the Fraternity. Only when our pure principles and mandatory duties
become the reigning reality of our thoughts and the
The second degree charge demands that our laws and ‹•’‹”ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ ‘—” ƒ –• ƒ ”‡‡ƒ•‘”› „‡ –Š‡ ‹ƪ—‡ ‡
regulations be strenuously enforced and that we should intended - to make us masters of ourselves.
always be ready to assist in seeing them duly executed.
Š‘ƒ• ‡ơ‡”•‘ǯ• ‘„•‡”˜ƒ–‹‘ Ǧ Dz Ž™ƒ›• ‘‹– ƒ
The third degree tells us that duty and honor alike bind us act as though the world were looking at you” should
strenuously to enforce by precept and example a steady be our watchword. To secure the inward blessing of our
obedience to the tenets of Freemasonry. We are therein won consciences rather than submitting to the pressure

Montana Freemason Page 18 April/May 2024 Volume 100 No.2