Masonic Penalties
by Roger
M. Firestone, 33 KCCH
rfire@jtan.com
http://mastermason.com/rfire
In
recent years, a movement has developed to do away with the traditional
penalties associated with the most basic of a Mason's obligations as a member
of the fraternity. In Pennsylvania, for example, along with some other states,
the alterations passed without much notice by the rest of the world, but in
some cases, notably that of the Grand Lodge of England in early 1987, this
change has been deemed sufficiently significant that the news was reported on
network radio and in major metropolitan newspapers. Unfortunately, the
treatment given by reporters was at best light, if not derisive. Can we
consider a change that has made the Craft a subject of amusement to be
beneficial? And what are the causes that have impelled this change after so
many years?
The
origins of Masonic penalties have been reviewed in a number of Masonic journals
at some length. Reference is often made to the Mysteries of ancient
The
first point to be dealt with is that the actual penalties that may be inflicted
upon a Mason by his brothers, which is to say the organized structure of the
Craft are those of reprimand (also called admonition), suspension, and
expulsion, and no others. This information is clearly stated in monitors. In
the
This
should be a matter of concern for all Masons. The historical degrees of the
Scottish and
For
example, Masonic lodges are no longer welcome on military bases because they
are selective of membership--a far cry from the time of George Washington, when
the traveling lodge played a vital role in the morale of the soldier. A
misguided spirit of "egalitarianism" has subordinated the rights of
free assembly for individuals when charges of discrimination are brought. In
recent Senate confirmation hearings for an appellate judge, the attempt was
made to consider Masonic membership a disqualifying element for public service,
no matter the long history of service by Freemasons in all branches of the
Federal and state governments. Given these circumstances, it seems particularly
unwise at this time to make accomodations to the
demands of outside organizations for changes in the ritual; this creates a
precedent for other alterations that would undermine our landmarks and perhaps
threaten the very existence of the Fraternity.
Moving
on from the matter of why the changes may be taking place, we turn to the
Masonic purposes that the penalties, symbolic though they are, may serve. As we
have noted, the penalties being discussed may not be inflicted on a Mason by
his brothers. Indeed, the language and nature of the obligation shows this. A
Mason's obligation is an undertaking between him and Almighty God, not a
contract between him and the Lodge or any other group of men. This is why such
an obligation cannot be laid aside--it is not in the power of the Master of the
Lodge, nor of any man, to dissolve such an undertaking. Thus we see that the
penalties are invoked by the candidate upon himself, freely and voluntarily, as
a reminder of the serious and weighty nature of his obligations. A child may
"cross my heart and hope to die" without being taken seriously, but a
mature adult, and we consider no others for Masonic membership, should
understand clearly that an obligation falsely sworn before God is an offense
against the Third Commandment and merits severe consequences. In the legendary
history of the Craft, although for a different offense, certain craftsmen
invoked upon themselves just such punishments as we here allude to. Only after
declaring themselves liable to such penalties were they subjected to them.
Turning
from legendary history to more authentically recorded events,
it is worthwhile to note that the penalty of death has often been inflicted
upon Masons by governments and other organizations. Jacques DeMolay is merely
the example best-known to most of us, through the recounting of his martyrdom
in Masonic degrees. Within the lifetimes of some of us, many Masons perished under
Hitler for no crime other than that of belonging to an organization that allows
each man to think for himself. Indeed, the Nazis came for the Freemasons well
before they came for the Jews. Tyrants have long understood the threat that an
organized group of free men poses to their rule. The Soviet Union published
anti-Masonic literature in profusion, and Masonry has been suppressed in
Since
the symbolic penalties of Masonic obligations serve the purpose of reminding us
of the seriousness of our undertakings and of the possible consequences of
membership at the hands of outside organizations, it is with the utmost care
that we should consider modifications to this element of Freemasonry,
especially in the interest of satisfying the objections of an outside group. In
the pursuit of more members, many suggestions have been made that would alter
long-established usages, to paraphrase
This
article first appeared in The Scottish Rite Journal
(under its former name, The New Age).