Open Letter to the Brethren

George the 3rd · 05-28-2008, 09:17 PM

Brethren,

Over 28 years ago I asked the recommendation of a friend to be made a Mason; through his recommendation I sought admission, then I knocked at the door of Freemasonry and it was opened to me. Since that time I have never stopped seeking more Light within the bounds and bonds of Masonry.

That search led me to the internet and eventually to a discussion forum that was hosted by Worshipful Brother Stephen Dafoe. At first I was exhilarated by the notion that I could expand my Masonic experience to include Brethren from around the Globe. And early on, those hopes and desires were not disappointed. But all too soon, the ugly reality of human nature soon disrupted the peace and harmony of “The Lodgeroom”. Critics and distracters of Masonry were given a chance to engage in open debate with fellow Masons on the merits and propriety of the Craft.

It was assumed that they would debate with the same respect and congeniality that prevails in a Masonic Lodge. However, within a short time, the criticisms turned to attacks and both Masons and profane began to act in ways that were unMasonic, unchristian and antisocial. The tone and attitude of the forums turned into an “us vs. them” mentality. The primary purpose for checking into the forum was to prod, goad and engage in the latest catfight and discussions of Masonic subjects, developing new friendships or sharing positive Masonic experiences soon got shoved to the side.

Unfortunately, the same attitudes and approaches that were employed with our detractors became the norm when areas of Masonic concerns were brought up. Eventually men were considered less of a Mason if they had not received the Three Degrees of Masonry in the same manner that others had in the past. They were not Brothers; they were not Master Masons, they were “McMasons”!

Anyone unfortunate enough to have been raised in a jurisdiction that still maintained segregated policies were automatically racists. And if one happens not to belong to a form of Masonry who’s origins and philosophy do not suit another’s concept of what Masonry was intended to be they are at best ignorant fools and at worse, agents of a corrupt and degenerate system.

This so-called “Internet Masonry” is not, in my opinion anything remotely resembling Freemasonry. Men come to a forum, identify themselves as Masons and proceed to act in a manner that in no way resembles the Masonry that was inculcated to me over a quarter of a century ago. How is one to know another as a Mason? By certain signs? A token? How is that possible in this media? How am I to feel the friendly or brotherly grip of another when my only contact is the click, click, click of the keyboard? Was not the intention of Masonry that two Brothers would receive each other on the Five Points of Fellowship? Isn’t the whole purpose of “Lodge” to have a sanctuary from the piques and quarrels of the outside world? Why then does internet Masonry delight and revel in them?

Freemasonry is supposed to unite men of every country, sect and opinion and conciliate true friendship among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance. Instead, Internet Masonry facilitates the possibility that men may become rivals and enemies when they would have been better off remaining at a perpetual distance.

Recently, someone whom I had “known” over the past few years via the internet passed away too soon and too young. His passing was a shock. It is a great sadness. And it has caused me to take stock of my actions over the past years with regards to how I interacted with Worshipful Brother Theron Dunn and others. I’m sad to say on balance I am ashamed. When Brother Dunn and I were on opposite sides of an issue I was all too quick to ridicule, demean or attack him. If he were in error I found delight and satisfaction in publicly exposing him. If he and I had been Brothers in the same Lodge I would have offered my council mouth to ear instead.

Opportunities in the past where I might have taken the time to know him better, understand his positions and attitudes more clearly were squandered and lost for the sake of confrontation and discord. And although I might be tempted to take solace in the fact that others on the web have treated him with even greater distain I only find it repulsive that those who were all too quick to tear him down were among the first to cry, “Oh Lord, My God, a good Brother has been taken from us all too soon!” Apparently the limitations and shortcomings of the internet are surpassed only by the hypocrisy!

His “signature” that appeared at the bottom of his postings read, “Freemasonry: It’s not about me changing them, it's about me changing me!”

Well, Internet Freemasonry has changed me and not in a positive way. My first reaction to this realization is to leave it for good; resign my associations with every Masonic Forum and never look back. But then, when I think that I would never have had the chance to have even the limited and imperfect relationships with those Brethren have enriched my life I find it impossible to do so. So what is the answer? Is it possible to have a similar experience to a physical Lodgeroom through an electronic media? Does the seemingly extremely limited good that comes out of this form of Masonic communication justify the rancor, the hatred, the lack of respect that is prevalent in almost every forum, blog and personal website?

I don’t know, I just don’t know.

Brother George

Tinker · 05-28-2008, 11:34 PM

perfect points

Ken Cornett · 05-31-2008, 05:41 PM

Brother George,

There is so much truth in what you say. I have only been a member of this forum since mid March. I was excited to find fellows like me and hopefully to ask questions and learn more on freemasonry. And yes I have, but I have also seen some ugly things here as well. Enough that I don't visit here or post here as much as I thought I would.

As internet forums go, I created and host one myself. My first rule is that all members are required to sign all posts with first and last names. As administrator, I enforce this rule. It is nice to know who it is you are conversing with.

How do we know everyone on a forum to be a Mason? We don't. There is no way the staff here can mandate a true vouching system. It's the internet...too many holes for moles. So, we Masons on the internet have to take to heart the MM charge "Duty and honer now alike....". Trust is what we go on, but it is still not 100% on the internet because anyone can join us.

I will still come here and read valuable learning lessons and help brothers where I can. When brothers are in disagreement, that is fine. When brothers are allured to vicious attacks, then they need to go back and review their oaths.

It's simple really. We are all in Masonry because we asked to be.

Stealth · 05-31-2008, 05:52 PM

Do you expel those that you disagree with like the 100 other fourms??

Ken Cornett · 05-31-2008, 05:59 PM

Stealth, not sure to whom you are directing your question.

Mystic knight · 07-04-2008, 04:31 PM

It is very easy just to type whatever you are feeling without really thinking about the possible consequences. Masonry never anticipated the internet. However, it can be used for good. In my experience I found that brethren have many divergent views about what Masonry is, where it should go and what is most important in the craft. There are strong emotions here because the vast majority of Masons do care a great deal about the craft. There is a tendency to let emotions take control and forget about respect. The good news here is that while a brother may not agree with you about Masonry he still cares about it very much. We should try to remember this online. And yes there needs to be more done about keeping non-Masons out. That said, it is also good for Masonry if some cowans are allowed in our forums, albeit on a limited level, as they may sincerely wish to become Masons.

It will always be an imperfect medium. Yet, as brother George has pointed out perhaps this "bad medium" can make good men better through reflection.

chgregory · 07-04-2008, 07:22 PM

My Brothers,

I would like to inject just a little bit of my opinion, for the value you might find in it, and not in any unmasonic fashion.

The internet is the Wild, Wild West of the technology age. When you show up packing a six gun, and end up in a fight it is not the fault of the medium or the six gun (technology for the purpose of this post) it is the fault of losing sight of why you want to take part in open conversations. I mean no disrespect in say this, but we are each responsible for our choices and actions.

In the lodge rooms, just like in this forum, a man must decide to act in a brotherly way. If he chooses not to, eventually he will feel left out of the group, and likely find a more comfortable path to follow. That makes him no less a man, just he has made a different choice.

The internet is too annonomous in some ways because we can hide behind veils of IP addresses or screen names or even assumed lives. That would be harder to do so in a lodge of lifelong friends or men you would have to face month after month.

Certainly men have become masons for the wrong reasons, and have left the organization because of that wrong choice.

I believe that having open talks about lodge workings would be a violation of our oaths, but I think there is a very strong good here to be mined if we hold those things of the lodge into the lodge and hold open talks about how to improve our actions, understanding the actions of other men and masons, following what is happening in other jurisdictions, how we might well lead better masonic lives and reach for the goal of "making good men better" whatever the forum or thread.

I have read posts that made me want to say things I would not say to a brother in a lodge, so I police myself and as I would in lodge try to give a brother all the help I can while keeping in mind my point of view might well differ from his.

I have been wronged by a brother in my experience for his own gain, and it was my choice to avoid further contact with him. This forum gave me reason to rethink that choice and to drop him a note telling him we are still brothers and I still owe him a debt of friendship. He has not responded, but at least I feel better about myself.

That is a good deed done by this board. Every act of change starts with a conflict, either internal or external and I fully believe that this media helps us to make positive changes.

Exposure to non-masons (even ones who oppose the organization) helps us to see things in a clearer light.

This as I said at the start is my opinion, and I offer it only in the spirit of friendship and brotherly love.

S & F

D. W. Brown · 07-05-2008, 01:28 AM

Great response there Brother Gregory.. I look forward to your being a part of TBL.

LarryW · 07-06-2008, 04:02 PM

Brothers and friends,

I first apologize for not visiting this site for many months. I joined in early 2006 and I don't believe I logged in since that year. Those of you who regularly read or post to the alt.freemasonry and soc.org.freemasonry know of me and have likely formed opinions of me based upon my postings.

In Lodge I am surrounded by like-minded men, all of whom are my Brothers in fellowship, none of whom would intentionally cause disharmony. Should there be any distress in the Lodge, the Brethren make efforts to ease that distress, whether it be to take up collections or to whisper counsel. In person, among non-Masons who have questions about the Fraternity, discussions are polite, courteous and honest. I've had the opportunity to talk with a man who was distrusting of Masonry and had formed opinions that could have come from any of our detractors, and when we were done he had a better understanding of the Fraternity and I had made a new friend who no longer thinks of us as somehow evil.

But online, whether in this forum or in the very anonymous Usenet, we take on a very different persona, similar to that assumed by some people when they get behind the wheel of their car. We sometimes find the easy path is to mock our detractors instead of provide thoughtful, intelligent responses, or to heed the charges and offer no response.

Mystic Knight is spot on - Masonry never could have anticipated the Internet. Brother George observes quite accurately, IMHO, that Masons online, in general, have demonstrated they (we) don't know how to make proper use of our compasses because our passions are rarely kept within due bounds.

It takes an extra effort to apply our compasses to our Internet persona because it is so easy to fall victim to its lures. When we make light of our detractors we do less to refute their claims and more to reinforce a reputation as miscreants and bullies. And if you think I'm pointing a finger at you, please remember that I'm pointing a finger at me, too. I am equally guilty.

Peace to all. Let harmony prevail.

Larry W,
Humble Master, Holbrook Lodge #30 AF&AM
Forest Grove, Oregon

chgregory · 07-06-2008, 04:42 PM

Brother Larry and all who hold interest,

I also beleive we are in agreement, this medium opens the to door to choose unmasonic behavior, but just as in lodge we are obligated to treat brothers and others (for eveny man has a claim on your good will) as we would be treated with respect and honor.

In lodge, I freely admit it is easier to identify with a masonic posture, because it is expected and the norm, but we don't have to give in to the "freedom" and unfettered morals of the World Wide Web (or as I prefer the Wild Wild Web) we are men of honor and even more we are brother masons and need to bridle our passions and zeal to always remember to live to that barometer.

I find the genereousity and kindness I have seen in Masons singular in our world, and truly these fine men stand out, but it is that same passion and zeal that make all of these men fine that could open the door to unintentional dsicourtesy.

What I am trying to say in way too many words is that all of us, me certainly included can fall short of our intended purpose, especially in this new world of the internet and it is unfair to belabor any failing either in the real world or the virtual one because we are in the end men, and darned good ones to my feelings.

Perfection ain't always perfect, no matter how hard we try, the nobility is in the trying and not necessarily in the succees.

I am proud of the things I post for the most part and I am please to read most things written by my brothers.

If I am ever displeased enough to feel anger, I have a delete key on my keyboard, and I have to power to just log off. We decided to become masons to help good men become better, and I am certain I am one who is helpped by those efforts.

Thanks the Supreme Architect of the Universe and also to the guys who architected the World Wide Web.