Suck-Up 101

Brothers – this article is from my consulting practice but I fear we run into such situations now and then in Lodge. Hope you enjoy it. – TB

During our lifetime, we inevitably run into some rather unsavory characters who will wrong, cheat or defraud us. Maybe even worse are people who survive not because they are industrious, but because they are intuitively political. They are commonly referred to as “Suck-Ups,” “Brown Nosers,” “Ass Kissers,” “Yes Men,” and these are some of the kinder descriptors. We’ve seen such people in school, on the playing fields, at work, our places of worship, in our neighborhoods, as well as the volunteer nonprofit organizations we participate in. They’re everywhere and instead of earning their way through life like the rest of us, they’ve learned to develop alliances with those in a position to assist them in their career.

To illustrate, when I was in college years ago I took a class in English Composition. Each week we had to produce articles which would be reviewed by the instructor and the class. The professor was a nice guy who enjoyed a cigar and would smoke one at the head of the class as we reviewed our papers, and in the process it became his icon. You have to remember this was at a time when smoking was allowed indoors, including college campuses. It was a tough class as the professor demanded more and more from us and became sharper in his criticisms of our work which, in hindsight, improved the quality of our compositions. However, we had one classmate who was experiencing difficulties keeping up with the pace and output of the class. One autumn day, as the class began, the instructor lit up his cigar as had become his custom. Suddenly, our struggling classmate produced a cigar and lit it shortly after the instructor began smoking his own. This caught everyone by surprise, including the professor. It was all rather obvious he was trying to develop a connection with the instructor. As the semester went on, he went out of his way to help the professor anyway he could, including laughing at his jokes, and lighting his cigars. He thought he had developed quite a rapport with the professor, but his bubble was burst when the instructor surprised everyone by allowing the class to grade each other for the semester. Most of the class received fair grades, either “A’s” or “B’s” which everyone accepted. The “Suck Up” got an “F.”

Not all “Suck-Ups” receive such poetic justice. Many graduate through the ranks simply by hanging on the coattails of their superiors and live by the mantra, “It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know.” Such people have a tendency of creating problems with morale, particularly if they are rewarded for something they did not deserve.

In reality, you cannot blame the “Suck-Up” for his/her actions as the fault truly lies at the feet of the superior who allows or even encourages such conduct. In my college example, my professor gave the “Suck-Up” just enough rope to hang himself. Had he not taken the tactic he did, the professor would have lost the respect of the class and would surely have been reported to the ombudsman. Unfortunately, this story is now the exception as opposed to the rule in a lot of organizations where “Suck-Ups” graduate through the ranks faster than more industrious people, probably because a political machine of “Suck-Ups” has been established and only promote from within their own party. There is only three things you can do under such a frustrating scenario, either learn to become a “Suck-Up” yourself, stand and fight the establishment, which you will inevitably lose, or pick up your marbles and find a new game.

I do not have the time or tolerance for “Suck-Ups” or their superiors. They are detrimental to any organization, for profit or otherwise. By promoting only the same like-minded incompetent nincompoops, they accomplish nothing more than perpetuating their madness. As for me, I’ll take my marbles elsewhere.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim’s columns, see:
http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

 

 

Tune into Tim’s THE BRYCE IS RIGHT! podcast Mondays-Fridays, 7:30am (Eastern).

Copyright © 2011 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

The Book Of Fate

I just completed a week’s vacation where I did what I love to do most. And that is lay back and put my feet up with a good “escape” book. No heavy reading allowed on vacation.  My favorite “get away from it all,” fiction fantasy escape is a good murder mystery. I am addicted to them.  And among this genre my absolute favorite is the legal thriller or courtroom drama.

I have long since graduated from Perry Mason and Ellery Queen and now follow authors John Grisham, Scott Turow, David Baldacci, John Lescroart, Robert Tanenbaum and Richard North Patterson. These I can obtain at no cost from my local public library.

book of fateThis vacation I picked up a book by Brad Meltzer. Although he is grouped with the legal thriller crowd I would classify his work as more of a puzzle thriller. What attracted me to Meltzer’s The Book of FateContemporary Literature) was the square and compasses pictured on the front cover.

The bad guy in this story is a mentally deranged fellow named Nico who thinks that the Freemasons are out to grab political power to destroy the earth. And the proof of their perfidy Nico says is the layout of the streets of Washington, D.C. and an upside down pentagram in a circle.

Connecting the dots of these landmarks on a D.C. map – One – Dupont Circle, two – Logan Circle, three – Washington Circle, four –  Mount Vernon Square and five – 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue gives you the upside down pentagram.

Then Nico says, “Start at the Capitol and run your finger down Pennsylvania Avenue, all the way to the Jefferson Memorial – his own shrine! Now go to Union Station and draw a line down Louisiana Avenue, then on the south side of the Capitol, draw another down Washington Avenue. The lines will connect in front of the Capitol.”

And what do you get? Nico’s friend who he is explaining all this to retorts, “The compass and square. The most sacred Masonic symbol………pointing right to the doorway of the White House….all that power in one place. Why would–? What’re they doing trying to take over the world?’

“No,” Nico said coldly, “They’re trying to destroy it. They want the Antichrist.”

The plot is very interesting and flows well. The story revolves around Presidential politics and a conspiratorial collusion of agents from the Secret Service, FBI and CIA selling to the White House information, mostly terrorist tips. There is plenty of spy stuff, intrigue and codes to be broken. But there really is no need for the Masonic conspiracy theory. In fact it doesn’t really fit and looks like it was just thrown into the middle of a story for effect or bias.

If you go to Meltzer’s website you can see, Masonic maps and  members, some of which is also in the book.

But Meltzer says this on his website:

If you’re reading this, you’ve either read The Book of FateContemporary Literature)—or you’re now trying to ruin the Masonic surprises in The Book of Fate. Either way is fine, surprise-ruiner. We think the Freemasons are the ultra-coolest kids in the cafeteria—not just because they’re a secret fraternity (or as they like to say, a fraternity with secrets)—but because they’ve spent the past few centuries pulling off some of the most amazing and mind-blowing magic tricks right under all our noses.

GUESS WHO’S A MASON

The Freemasons are one of the world’s most secret and powerful fraternities. To this day, they wield their power in ways you’d never believe. But the question remains: who are their members? You won’t believe it.

I realize that this book is dated, released in 2006. Just the same it is evident that Meltzer is a conspiracy theorist and a Masonic detractor.

I don’t think I will be reading anymore of Mr. Meltzer’s books.

The Rite of Circumambulation

astronomy

The rite of circumambulation is perhaps the most overlooked of all Masonic rituals. This action is an inherent part of almost every Masonic degree and plays a critical role in the three degrees of the Symbolic Lodge. However, few Masons have ever truly examined this ritual or its symbolism. Even a short inquiry into its purpose will reveal that the rite of circumambulation is among the most universal and widely practiced religious rites in the world.

When I became a Freemason, my excellent Masonic mentor explained that the reason I was conducted once around the lodge (or circumambulated the lodge) was to allow the three principle officers to observe that I had been properly prepared and was worthy to receive the degrees of Masonry. That is a correct explanation, but it is only a functional explanation. The truth is that the purpose of circumambulating the lodge has a greater symbolism.

Albert Mackey links the Masonic rite of circumambulation to the practices of the Greeks and Romans who used it as part of their sacrificial rites. Mackey hypothesizes that this was done to imitate the movement of the sun from the east to the west by way of the south. He claims that this is the influence of the pagan mysteries on what he calls the “Spurious Freemasonry of Antiquity.”1 While we will avoid discussing the concept of Spurious Freemasonry in depth, it will be enough to explain that Mackey speculated that the ancient pagans practiced a form of Freemasonry which was tailored to fit their spiritual beliefs. However, a look at the use of circumambulation in the world’s major religions will give us another perspective.

In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to complete a circumambulation during the siege of Jericho.

“Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.’”
Joshua 6:2-5

Muslims practice the rite of circumambulation during the annual pilgrimage to the Ka’ba in Mecca (Hajj). Those participating in the pilgrimage make seven trips around the Ka’ba to imitate the movement of the constellations or in other words to imitate movement of the universe as created by God.2 Hindus and Buddhists also use circumambulation to imitate the movement of the constellations. In the Catholic religion, the circumambulations used to purify the sacrificial rites of the Romans have become part of the modern religion’s rituals. But is this rite’s presence in these religions merely the impact of pagan traditions on more advanced theologies?

Let us take a look at a verse from the Old Testament, which can also be found in the Fellowcraft Degree:

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork.
Psalm 19:1

Astronomy has long been a part of every religion. Often, the movement of the stars and constellations is seen as a representation of God. The act of admiring his creation is among the purest forms of worship. Therefore, it is no surprise that the rite of circumambulation appears in our lodges. The act of replicating the movement of the heavens around the lodge—which we are told in the first degree is representative of the universe—is among the most time-honored methods of appreciating God’s great creation.

  1. The Symbolism of Freemasonry by Albert Mackey
  2. No god but God by Reza Aslan

Porn puts the lower and middle classes into freemasonry

One Nation Under Sex, Hustler publisher, Larry Flynt

Image via Wikipedia

The following two quotes come from an article I stumbled across this morning, Flynt’s master plan, written by Jonathan Kay for the National Post on a new book about the place of porn (or at least pornographic ideas) in the shaping of America.

Before I send you over to the article, give the two quotes a read and then ponder for a few moments what you think they mean.

The [Playboy] magazine’s undercurrent (which now seems naïve and quaint) is that male sexuality can serve as a bonding agent among men, one that puts the lower and middle classes into freemasonry with their betters: Since we’re all enjoying the same centerfolds, surely we all appreciate the same fine cigars and the fiction of Vladimir Nabokov?

and

Like Playboy, Hustler also created a spirit of freemasonry among its readers -except this time, it was built around the lowest common denominator of male libido and sublimated woman hatred.

The full article is about a new book, One Nation Under Sex: How the Private Lives of Presidents, First Ladies and Their Lovers Changed the Course of American History, authored by the infamous Hustler publisher Larry Flynt along with an academic coauthor, David Eisenbach.

The gist of the National Article is to suggest that its because of centuries of open sexuality (which he blames on the French) with the prosperity of the western world. Flynt cites the bawdy debauchery of Ben Franklin in his Paris years with his acceptance into Parisian society and in turn their willingness to help the young America’s pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Happiness – attributes Flynt points to as the very type of sexual society that existed in the “sexual carnival” of Parisian swinging scene. ‘

Reading the piece, I’m still a bit flummoxed in Kay’s connecting Flynt’s book(or his ideas) to freemasonry (note the lower case f).

My guess in reading the piece is that Kay sees the work of Flynt and of Hugh Heffner, the publisher of the men’s magazine Playboy, into a mosaic of modern male bonding. As he says of Hustler’s content that it puts the lower and middle class man into their own society, into freemasonry using the “lowest common denominator of the male libido and sublimated woman hatred.”

He makes an interesting argument, but I can’t quite find an agreement with his perspective. Perhaps the men’s magazines provide some means of mental association, much the same way a baseball game might, but it strikes me more as an association of apples to oranges in that where the nudie magazines associate with the base and grubbiness of mankind, the fraternity of Freemasonry bases its association on the higher nature of man, his higher spiritual self rather than his base nature.

But that’s only my take. Give Kay’s article a read and tell me if you think he missed the mark. How he mixed Larry Flynt, Hustler, and freemasonry, I’m just not getting it.

Give Flynt’s master plan [now archived] a read over at the National Post a read and then come back to tell me what you think.

How you can practice Masonic Relief in Joplin

Chris Hodapp provided this info in the comments (Big Thanks Chris), but it needs to go further and wider.

To help the Joplin Scottish Rite and Missouri Masonry with the Joplin clean up you can contact the Valley’s office at (417) 623-3219 if you would like to physically help.

If you would like to make a donation, you may send a check payable to the Scottish Rite Valley of Joplin with the notation “tornado disaster relief”.

Scottish Rite Valley of Joplin
Attention: Richard Lowrey
505 S. Byers
Joplin, MO 64801

Or you can donate online via PayPal directly to the Grand Lodge of Missouri’s Joplin Area Relief Fund on their website at http://www.momason.org/

I’m using Paypal right now to send what I can – hopefully you can too.

Joplin Scottish Rite and the Spirit of Masonry

Joplin Scottish RiteThis is came off of a Press Release, and deserves to be shared.

If you’ve been completely disconnected form the weather tragedy in Joplin Missouri recently, the latest reporting has the death toll near to 140 people killed in the Missouri storms. Needless to say, much of the community was utterly destroyed.

Spared in the tragedy was the Joplin Scottish Rite, and even though members suffered their own loss, the Rite opened its doors and began to immediately help those who needed assistance.

Saying well done is an understatement of their work.  The only thing that comes to mind to ask is how can we help?

Joplin Scottish Rite Freemasons Opens Doors and Kitchen to First Responders and Victims

Washington, DC – June 1, 2011 – Freemasons in Joplin, MO began serving meals the day after the tornado hit to the First Responders and victims, even though some of them had lost homes as well.

PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 01, 2011 – The Joplin Scottish Rite Cathedral located at 505 S. Byers Ave. in downtown Joplin, MO was spared damage from the recent tornado. Even though some of the Scottish Rite Freemasons suffered damaged or destroyed property by the tornadoes, many of these same men showed up at the building to see how they could help the people of Joplin who were also suffering from the aftermath of the disaster.

According to Richard Lowery the Executive Secretary at the Valley of Joplin, members just showed up and decided to put the large professional kitchen to good use. Reaching out to the First Responders they began the process of cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner.

According to Lowery, the first day was somewhat disorganized, as they figured out how to get things done. The Scottish Rite publicized that hot meals were available at the Cathedral through Facebook, web sites, on radio and television. They contacted emergency personnel and volunteers and distributed a small flyer. In addition to First Responders, the masons began distributing food directly to families in the affected areas. The Masons started out on the first day delivering about 300-400 meals. This number grew quickly to 2,000 meals a day and reached a peak on Memorial Day of about 2,500 meals. Lowery said “Many grateful hearts accepted our gifts”

The organization will also be assembling teams to go to areas for removal of debris, to cut up fallen timber and to clean-up properties.

Lowery finds working the phones for help and donations somewhat frustrating as he wants to dig in and help in the field. Immediately after the storm, along with his sons, he went to volunteer at St. Johns Hospital where he had worked for 25 years. They tried to help a victim trapped in the rubble. “We weren’t successful… It’s so damned hard…”

St. Johns Hospital was inoperable because of the tornadoes damage to the building. Richard is doing great work, making sure those people in the field, as well as the victims, are being fed.Offers of donations and help have been coming in from all over the country.

Richard said, “We believe the tornado recovery is moving into a new phase and clean-up will become much more important, especially on the weekends. We’ll close food preparation today (June 1st), re-open for the weekend and see if there is a need. The City has begun major debris removal today. Our tent with household supplies will remain open, but we plan to begin taking our supplies to places where it may be needed. I wish I could put into words the devastation I have seen after the tornado passed through our city. And I wish I could put into words the gratitude we have seen from just a simple hot meal delivered into the affected areas.”

The Hour Glass, African American Freemasonry In The State Of New York

I’ve Walked With Friends

The Hour Glass, African American Freemasonry In The State Of New York

Ezekiel M. Bey

I’ve Walked With Friends
A Masonic poem
by Ezekiel M. Bey, FPS

What’s a companion,  What is a Friend
What’s the beginning, what is the end
What is the answer, to every question
What is the moral to every lesson

How can we fall, not knowing all
Why do we think, we know it all
Foolish the man who thought was tall
Foolish the person, who missed his call

A sight that’s blurry, a mental fog
Near sighted vision, can’t see the stars
Spiritual Kingdom greatly prepared
Where is the road, to lead me there

Is there a thought, I can create
A mental ship, to navigate
Is there a compass that I once knew
That I once measured, all latitudes

I can’t remember, I can’t recall
Did I forget, we all once crawled
What is the message to life itself?
To build internal, spiritual wealth

When will we see, what is above
The true experience, eternal love
So what’s the beauty that lives inside
I walked the distance with friends beside

Freemason Tim Bryce.

Your Management Style

NOTE:  I originally wrote this post for my management consulting business, but it is just as valid for those people hoping to become a Worshipful Master of a Lodge.  I hope you enjoy it.

I know a young man who was recently promoted to the position of “Project Manager.” This was his first management position and he was naturally a little nervous going into it. Knowing I frequently write on the subject, he asked for my advice as to what to expect. I began by saying management is not for everyone as it represents a leadership position where you become responsible for your subordinates. Some thrive in such a capacity, others prefer being led. I had a friend who was a master machinist and happened to be promoted to supervisor where he would be responsible for five people under him. This distressed him greatly as he worried about their performance. So much so, he developed ulcers and became quite ill. He begged his boss to go back to being a machinist, whereby he quickly regained his health.

Just because you’ve been given the title “Manager” doesn’t mean you’ve suddenly been imbued with certain knowledge. You have to work at it. For example, in the Information Technology industry, it is common to see a successful programmer elevated to analyst, then to project manager, then to I.T. manager. Such a person may have been a great programmer, but that is no qualification for becoming a manager. Not surprising, the Peter Principle is applied whereby the person is elevated to a position above his level of competency and the company suffers for it. In most cases, such I.T. managers have a rather narrow perspective as they tend to think less as managers and more as programmers.

Whenever thrust into the position, a person must develop his/her own unique style of management. Quite often we will try to emulate others we respect, we may also read books and attend seminars to learn management techniques, and solicit advice from our confidants. However, we must realize what works for one person may not for another, and because of this, we have to tailor our strengths and weaknesses to the situation at hand. We will inevitably experiment with different suggestions until we find a comfortable style of management.

There are ultimately three variables dictating our style of management:

  1. Our assigned duties and responsibilities which defines the scope of our management authority, and as such, our mission as manager.
  2. Available resources, both human and machine. The skills and proficiencies of our workers and equipment will play a significant role in the timely completion of work products. For humans we consider experience, performance, and skill set, which includes interpersonal relations (defining our socialization skills). For equipment, we primarily consider its limitations. As my old football coach was fond of saying, “A team is as strong as its weakest player.” If we have weak workers, we will need to improve their skills. If we have limited technology, we may need to consider upgrades. Of course, this depends on the availability of another type of resource, financial.
  3. The time allotted to demonstrate you are achieving your goal. For a single project, you will likely need to demonstrate the project is proceeding on time and within budget. For departmental management you will need to demonstrate it is under control and improving productivity. It is very important you understand the timing variable as it will greatly influence your style.

These three variables define the hand we are dealt; how we play the hand is then up to us. Some will become drunk with power and try to micromanage everything under the persona of Attila the Hun. Some will try to make use of carrot-and-stick techniques to encourage workers to perform better, and still others will allow workers to walk all over them.

As for me, I always had a strong sense of organization and communications. Standardized and reusable methodologies for conducting business are invaluable in terms of defining Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How, all of which improves communications and clearly delineates how work products are to be produced. Unlike micromanagement, I prefer managing from the bottom-up, whereby assignments are clearly defined and employees are then empowered to see the task through to completion themselves. Other than this, I monitor the operation and run interference to overcome obstacles and obstructions. In other words, I believe in spending less time supervising, and more time managing.

The point is, this is a style that works for me. It may or may not work for you. As to my young friend becoming a Project Manager, I admonished him that, until such time as he discovers his own style of management, I recommended he remain flexible, to adapt and adjust accordingly, study others (what works and what doesn’t), and learn more than teach. After all, stye comes with experience. As such, I advised him to learn everything he can about his niche of the business, be fair and honest, and lead by example. Never ask someone to do something you are not prepared to do yourself.

We must never forget human behavior rests at the heart of the science of management. It is not about technology, it is not about numbers, it is about people, which is why we call it “man”agement. Perhaps the best way to define it is “Management is getting people to do what you want, when you want to do it.” And it all begins with your style of management.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim’s columns, see:
http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Tune into Tim’s THE BRYCE IS RIGHT! podcast Mondays-Fridays, 7:30am (Eastern).

Copyright © 2011 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Masonry-An Ancient School of Symbolic Instruction

A beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols.”

The above quote is the description of Masonry that is most often given to the initiate in order to describe the nature of the institution. It is so oft repeated that I suppose many Freemasons don’t give much thought to its meaning. However, when examined closely this description of our order gives us a clear picture of the purpose of our fraternity.

Let us take the first part of the phrase: “A beautiful system of morality.” This is fairly easy to understand. Freemasonry is school of moral instruction. Throughout the three degrees, the initiate is taught numerous lessons on the subject of morality. These degrees discuss many different aspects of that concept including the physical and spiritual components of morality. In many ways, religion serves a similar role in a man’s life. Every religion teaches man to walk upright before God, gives him a sense of good and evil, and encourages him to pursue righteous ventures throughout his life. While Masonry is not a religion, it shares the purpose of moral instruction. However, Masonry’s method of teaching morality is very peculiar in modern times.

At this point, let us shift our focus to the following words: “veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.” The word ‘allegory’ is described by the dictionary as being “a symbolical narrative.”

A sketch of George Washington's Masonic apron which features some of Masonry's deep symbolism.

A sketch of George Washington’s Masonic apron which features some of Masonry’s deep symbolism.

A symbolical narrative is any story crafted in order to portray a deeper meaning. The Masonic symbols in the legend of the Third Degree, Aesop’s Fables, and Jesus’ parables are all examples of allegory. Masonry uses allegorical tales throughout the Symbolic Lodge, York Rite, and Scottish Rite in order to teach its system of morality. In addition to the legends of each degree, a multitude of symbols are used to illustrate and reinforce the concepts of the degrees. This is where Masonry differs from many modern systems of moral instruction. Today, most religions and philosophies convey their moral teachings through a series of long lectures presented either written or orally. They utilize very little symbolism in order to educate their followers. Albert Mackey explains this in The Symbolism of Freemasonry.

The older the religion, the more symbolism abounds. Modern religions may convey their dogmas in abstract propositions; ancient religions always conveyed them in symbols. Thus there is more symbolism in the Egyptian religion than in the Jewish, more in the Jewish than in the Christian, more in the Christian than in the Mohammedan, and, lastly, more in the Roman than in the Protestant.”

Masonry as an organization may only be a few centuries old, but its philosophical lessons can claim the most ancient of lineages. The moral education found inside the lodge is similar to that taught by any great religion, initiatic order, or school of philosophy. Take a second to think about your personal Masonic journey. Consider the moment when you were brought to light and received your first symbolic instruction. Think about how the solemn and deep language of symbolism enhanced your experience. Now imagine that the same lessons had been explained to you without the use of allegory or illustrated symbols. If you realize that the symbolic instruction provided a greater understanding of those moral precepts, you have discovered the true nature of Freemasonry.

The core of Freemasonry, and its Masonic symbols, is its allegorical and symbolic instruction. Without it, the order would not exist for it would have no purpose. It is Masonry’s language of symbolism that makes it appeal to the candid and industrious inquirer. It is Masonry’s allegorical legends that expose those ancient truths concealed within the fraternity. Symbolic instruction is our language, it is our identity, and it unveils the whole of Freemasonry.

The Path Of Destruction

This year my Grand Lodge will be involved in a major struggle for power at its Grand Session. So once again I am dismayed at the way Freemasonry is headed.

What is lacking is a Freemasonry focusing strongly on its message. The key words here are research, education, instruction, reading, scholarship and discussion. Oh we have some of that but very little. You can find a Research Lodge here and there and maybe an esoteric society if you look hard. But the majority of the Craft is doing something else other than learning about the organization to which they belong.

In the absence of scholarship and study what do Freemasons do? Released from the duty of learning and applying a philosophy, a way of life, they take up their time in vying for office, honors and titles. Years are spent in politicking, networking and implementing the pet projects of those ahead of them, so that they can climb the ladder to the next level. But the next level is not attained by any increase in one’s knowledge or understanding of the Craft.

Consequently much of Freemasonry is governed by leaders who couldn’t pass a simple test about their fraternity.

But that is not how it is supposed to be. Freemasonry derives much of its thought from the Ancient Mysteries. In fact some Masonic scholars contend that there has been from long before Christ a certain body of knowledge that builds a better understanding of life that has been passed down from generation to generation through various and sundry organizations. Most of the Ancient Mysteries ran “Mystery Schools.” And the focus of their efforts was directed towards learning and study. Pythagoras is a good example of one who taught a philosophy, a way of life, in the true Gnostic tradition, that is a body of knowledge that the masses were not privy to. Leaders were those, then, that had attained a certain level of scholastic achievement. The goal was to progress to a higher soul level – from knowledge to wisdom to soul development.

The modern day Masonic strategy to grow the Craft, is to turn Freemasonry into a charity, and in many cases a slave to Institutionalized charity. When not jockeying for position, Masons are consuming enormous time and effort in what they characterize as the betterment of humankind, but only if it offers some payback in return. The idea here is to gain notoriety and publicity through work in the community and also to prove that critics, who say that Freemasonry is some secret society only concerned with itself not giving a dam about society, are wrong. But when it becomes a way to buy and bribe friends, impress and convince the uninitiated that we really are a good organization to join, the morality becomes suspect.

The sad part of all this is that it doesn’t work. You don’t get a large number of candidates from marketing Freemasonry. The real way to grow Freemasonry is through its message. If Freemasons would regard themselves primarily as a philosophy and a tool for personal development instead of a charity and a tool for personal prestige then it would be successful in attracting new members. It never ceases to amaze me that Masons think they can sell Masonry by turning themselves into slaves for all those in need. What does that do for an individual looking into the Craft? The strength of Freemasonry is its ability to inspire and motivate members and to give them an understanding of how to live a rewarding and satisfying life that will leave a memorable legacy behind. This is something that Freemasonry can do for them rather than offering them, a life of service to others. All of this is found in the philosophy and teachings of this wonderful fraternity. But in order to sell that and teach that, passing it on to others, one has to study and understand what Freemasonry is all about and what it has to offer. If we will do that we will draw people like a magnet.

Picture a Christian church that runs a food pantry, mans a soup kitchen and does all sorts of community work (charity) and offers a weekly worship service (ritual-degrees) but never talks about or studies the Gospel, the good news, or mentions Jesus Christ – no Bible study, no Sunday school, no discussion groups. That’s where Freemasonry is at today.

The result of this path of destruction is constant power plays and Masonic purges. The Frank Haas, Derek Gordon, Mike McCabe stories are just the tip of the iceberg. All across this nation Freemasons are being expelled and the charter of Lodges pulled in record numbers because those involved are perceived as some sort of political threat to those in power. What has been created in the United States, are 51 fiefdoms, 51 monopolies, accountable to no one else who have all agreed to support each other no matter what the other has done, no matter how heinous the crime. And all 51 have a pact that if you are thrown out of one Grand Lodge you are thrown out of them all. There is no place for the unjustly treated to go. What you have is a system that is incapable of rendering justice, one of the Four Cardinal Virtues. If you lead a reform movement in your Grand Lodge you will be expelled. If you publish a paper where you express disagreement with your Grand Master’s policies you will be expelled. One Grand Lodge will even go so far as to prohibit its members from Masonically conversing via E-Mail. Another will not admit you if you work in the liquor business, another if you are missing an arm or a leg. And we haven’t even touched the race issue.

The mess is that we have too many versions of Freemasonry floating around and too many Grand Lodges violating their member’s rights as guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States. What is Freemasonry? Well it depends on what state you are in. You can own a McDonald’s franchise but you can’t change the product. But American Freemasonry can. The result of this mess is that there are no standards to be kept. Freemasonry is whatever any of the 51 Grand Lodges says it is. Imagine driving your car in your state and then hitting the state line where the next state required you to drive on the opposite side of the road. There is no need for such deliberate confusion. Nor are such radical differences in Freemasonry from one state to another so as to make them like night and day a great way to operate Freemasonry in the 21st century. We are not a land of 51 countries. And today’s Mason is so much more mobile than his 18th and 19th century ancestors.

To cement their authority and ensure that they have a free hand in all that they do, American Masonry invented the Rite of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction. As a friend and Brother from South Carolina told me, anything that is not part of the Mainstream Grand Lodge of South Carolina is clandestine Masonry even if it has a recognizable charter and even if it also practices regular Freemasonry. That takes care of any competition that might be an outlet to overbearing tyranny. Monopolies everywhere, however, are known as abusers of power. There are many clandestine Grand Lodges that do a better job of Masonry than the monopolies of Mainstream Freemasonry. Most, however, would not exist if abuses were not allowed.

I firmly believe that returning Freemasonry to a philosophy embracing scholarship and study and to a charitable organization rather than a charity will solve many of these problems. But the Conference of Grand Masters is still going to have to come up with a way to discipline the Craft.

I wonder what the world would look like today if in 1940 we had told the Japanese that we would not interfere in their conquest of all of Asia and if we had just ignored Hitler and let him do whatever he wanted. The United States has no designs of conquest in the world. Still it finds it necessary to interfere in another country’s business when to do otherwise would be to allow horrific injustice and depravity to prevail.

We all say we want the civil courts to stay out of Freemasonry. But when all else fails, when that is all that is left available, when the Conference of Grand Masters refuses to act, then to right wrongs the path chosen will be the one(s) that has not been closed. If Freemasonry refuses to police itself, then civil government will do it for them.

In the end it is possible to move from the path of destruction to the path of instruction and with the right Masonic leadership policing the Craft, to enter a new Golden Age of Freemasonry.