   THE BUILDER JANUARY 1929

Is Freemasonry Playing Its Part In Promoting the Welfare of the
World Today ?

The Third of a Series of Discussions of Over Ancient Fraternity and
Present Day Problems

By BRO. HERBERT HUNGERFORD
Author of Seeing Both Sides of Yourself

The question that Bro. Hungerford raises in this article is one of
the gravest importance, and we may certainty add, of peculiar
difficulty also. It will probably be taken in very many different
ways, but we hope that it may lead to a fresh scrutiny of the
fundamentals of Masonry, and to consequent clarifying of ideas. For
there is undoubtedly much confusion on the subject of the relation
of our Institution to vital world problems, especially in the minds
of the younger generation of American Masons.
THE ban upon discussions of sectarian religious questions and
partisan political problems in lodges has proven a wise precaution
on the part of the founders of Freemasonry. Let no one misinterpret
the intention of our present series of discussions as suggesting
the slighting of this sensible rule for promoting peace and harmony
among the brethren.

Like every good policy, however, this ban upon partisan and
sectarian arguments may be stretched beyond its natural limitations
so as to read into it a prohibition never intended by its
originators and entirely contrary to the basic objectives which the
rule itself seeks to foster.

For example, where certain narrow-minded definitions of this rule
attempt to proscribe all discussions of the great problems of
religion or of world welfare, in my humble opinion, we are
emasculating Freemasonry by a denial of the cardinal principles on
which our great fraternity has been established.

It is easy for critics to claim that Freemasonry is not a forensic
forum or a debating club. No pretence is made to the contrary. But,
does anybody deny that seeking light, more light and still further
light is proclaimed as the central activity for all candidates for
advancement in our mystic Order ? If light-seeking does not mean
investigating, discussing and studying the problems of life, what
does it mean?

In brief, I contend that those who denounce this sincere effort to
stimulate the discussion of present day problems in Masonic lodges
have lost sight of this principal aim of our craft. We are seekers
after true Masonic light. We are builders of temples not made with
hands. We profess the broadest principles of benevolence and
brotherhood and seek to serve humanity and advance the interests of
civilization. How can we accomplish these worthy aims and endeavors
unless we investigate, discuss and study the conditions of our
world today, and seek to make a practical tie-up between the
principles and practices of our ancient craft and the present-day
problems of humanity?

Those who charge us with attempting to inject political and
religious disputes into our lodges, are deluding themselves and
raising up a bogeyman. While we do not prebend that weak, frail
mortals will keep their discussions of any proposition entirely
free from expressions of personal prejudices and partisanship, we
maintain that the best way to minimize the amount of bigotry and
intolerance in any discussion is through the choice of subjects of
such broad and basic universal interest that the natural trend in
their discussion will be upon a high plane. In other words, it is
the trivial and narrow nature of the questions discussed which,
generally, accounts for the airing of petty notions and unkind
personalities.

Real Charity Demands Real Understanding

If we are to practice charity, in accord with the tenets of our
profession that the scope of Masonic charity is without limits,
certainly this means that Freemasonry is vitally interested and
deeply concerned in all the real problems of humanity everywhere
through the world. The conclusion inevitably follows that the
investigation, discussion and study of world conditions and world-
wide problems should be a definite factor in every Masonic program.
If the outlook of Freemasonry is not a world-wide view-point, our
professions of universal benevolence and brotherhood would
certainly seem like a hollow mockery.

Yet, we must confess that the charitable aims of some lodges we
have observed seem to be about as circumscribed as those of the old
fellow who prayed 

"Lord bless me and my wife and my son John and his wife us four and
no more. Amen."

Before we can properly inquire (1) why (2), to what extent, and (3)
in which ways Freemasonry ought to participate in aiding the
solution of present day world-problems, we must first make some
survey of these problems to discover and decide what problems are
of outstanding importance. This is by no means an easy task, since
we shall find no unity of opinion as to what is the most important
problem before the world today. In fact, we shall find that there
are almost as many claims that certain particular problems are
paramount as there are prominent leaders in various phases of world
affairs.

For example, a few years ago, the writer was leader of an informal
group of members of the "younger generation" who, because of their
propensity to engage in red-hot debates on all sorts of subjects,
were dubbed "The World Savers' Club." One day, in this group, this
question was raised, and as a result, on the following day I wrote
a note to about fifty persons, selected somewhat hastily yet
covering rather a wide range of view-points and interests and each
representing real achievements in a particular field of activity.

I was both gratified as well as pleased to find that so many of
these prominent persons responded so promptly and with such evident
personal interest to my request that our World Savers' Club would
like to have their views as to what should be considered the
foremost problem before the world at that time, about four years
ago.

Brief excerpts from the replies from a number of these well-known
personages are presented herewith:

What is the Most Important Problem We Are Facing Today?

REV. HARRY EMMERSON FOSDICK Preacher, philosopher, author.

"The provision of international substitutes for war." 

DR. FRANK CRANE Prominent philosophical newspaper writer and
lecturer.

"The promotion of a League of Nations or its equivalent."

EDWARD W. BOK-Former editor of The Ladies' Home Journal who offered
$100,000 for the best plan for achieving international peace.

"The achievement and preservation of peace in the world."

SAMUEL UNTERMEYER One of the United States' greatest lawyers.

"The just distribution of wealth." 

REV. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES Well-known preacher.

"The re-organization of industry in terms of cooperation and
democracy." 

HON. GIFFORD PINCHOT Ex-Governor of Pennsylvania.

"Equality of opportunity."

UPTON SINCLAIR Leading socialist, author, publicist, publisher.

"The abolition of poverty."

SOPHIE IRENE LOEB Chairman of National Child Welfare Committee.

"Elimination of pauperism among children."

DR. CHARLES W. ELIOT President Emeritus of Harvard University.

"Shall alcoholism and venereal diseases, acting in combination as
they have been doing for more than a century past, and aided as
they are now by birth control and the rejection by some women of
motherhood as their most desirable occupation, be allowed to
extinguish before long the white race, or be resisted to the utmost
by effectual means now available."

BERNARR MACFADDEN Prominent publisher and leading exponent of
physical culture and sanity in sex-education.

"The general prevalence of venereal diseases."

WILLIAM J. BURNS Internationally known detective. 
"The spreading of radical propaganda."

JOHN FARRAR Spokesman for the "younger generation" and former
editor of The Beckman.

"Shifting standards of morality among women."

NICHOLAS MURRAY BUTLER President of Columbia University.

"How to preserve personal, civil and political liberty in the face
of a movement which, by the use of conformities, aims to establish
law-made conformity and mediocrity for all."

CHARLES M. SCHWAB Head of the United States Steel Corporation.

"Making the most of our lives while having as good a time as
possible."

CHARLES AUSTIN BATES Leader in the advertising profession.

"Making a living in a manner which shall be helpful to other
people."

STUART P. SHERMAN Famous educator and essayist.

"The clear conception of an objective for our civilization. From a
clear conception of an objective, we might formulate a practical
and binding working philosophy. With a realistic and cogent working
philosophy one could go to work at producing a type of democratic
character. And thus the movement of disintegration now so
observable in our society  the movement towards disintegration and
anarchy  might be checked."

GLENN FRANK Then editor of The Century Magazine, now, head of the
University of Wisconsin.

"Can modern civilization morally control and socially use the
results of modern science? Every other problem is subsidiary to
this."

JAMES C. PENNEY Founder of The Golden Rule Stores and publisher of
the Christian Herald.

"The Home."

OTTO A. ROSALSKY Judge of the Court of General Sessions New York
City.

"The religious education of the young and the reeducation of the
mature, where needed."

HENRY SEIDEL CANBY Editor The Saturday Review of Literature.

"Preventing what the French call 'The petit bourgoisie' from
vulgarizing our whole civilization."

DANIEL CARTER BEARD National Scout Commissioner and founder of the
Boy Scouts of America.

"The land question."

While some of those whose opinions are presented here have since
passed to the great beyond, I believe it will be agreed that the
group, as a whole, represents a fairly broad cross-section of
American leadership. So, it seems quite probable that any similar
questionnaire today would bring forth a like diversity of opinion.

In brief, any broad survey of world-problems always will disclose
a wide variety of view-points as to the relative importance of all
these problems. So we may not hope ever to reach a common accord or
agreement as to any one or two problems being of paramount
importance.

As a matter of fact, it is not of utmost importance that we reach
a common agreement that one or another world-problem is of all-
surpassing importance. The more pertinent inquiry is to see if we
can discover a common denominator for all these problems; something
that will act as sort of a universal solvent to them all.

I sincerely believe that there is such a common denominator
solvent. Also, I maintain that we shall find this solvent, this
cure for the ills of the world, in the basic doctrines and
fundamental principles of Freemasonry. But this is a matter of such
importance that I intend to devote a second article to it.  
