THE BUILDER FEBRUARY 1929

The Practice of Freemasonry As a Solvent for World Problems

Being the second section of the discussion of the question:

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

The fourth of a series of articles discussing our ancient
fraternity and present day problems

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

Is Bro. Hungerford justified in his contention that Masonic
principles fearlessly applied would solve the problems facing us
today ? Could Freemasonry exercise a real influence in the world?
Have Masons forgotten their fundamental ideals, so that while doing
reverence to the Landmarks in word they neglect them in deed? Is
Freemasonry a Fraternity or merely a social organization? Is it
universal or only to some extent international? In short, Whist is
it ad about, what are we doing and what are we trying to do? Can
anyone tell us?

HOW AMUSING and absurd it is to have some "nervous Nellie" in our
Fraternity protest that the Landmarks of Freemasonry forbid the
discussion of religion in our lodges or other strictly Masonic
circles. If this were true, our entire ritual would have to be
revised and most of its principal tenets recast in order that our
official ceremonials might not transgress our own traditional
principles.

Surely no member of the Fraternity will deny that our ceremonials
are discussions and demonstrations of religious and ethical
principles from beginning to end. Every formal Masonic lecture is
a discussion of religious ideals and an admonition to religious
practices.

What our constitutional rules actually prohibit is the discussion
of sectarian questions or doctrinal religious issues.

There's a world of difference between discussing a disputed
doctrinal problem or a sectarian religious question and discussing
the application of those broad religious principles which
Freemasonry professes to uphold and to practice to the various
problems which are disturbing the world today.

I am dwelling upon this fact because it seems quite necessary to
get this particular point fully cleared up as we attempt to
consider the pertinent question as to whether or not the principles
and purposes of Freemasonry, if properly practiced, might become a
solvent for the distressing questions with which our civilization
is faced.


Let me remind you that I stated, in my previous article, my
contention that our Fraternity contains in its basic aims and
objectives, the principles and program which, if sincerely
practiced, generally and regularly, by our members throughout the
world, would actually prove a solvent for all the serious social
difficulties of our times.

Putting it plainly and boldly, I believe with all my heart and soul
that, if Freemasons throughout the whole world would begin to
practice the principles and precepts which the Fraternity professes
and teaches, we would set into motion such forces for human
betterment that it would mean, ultimately, the solving of every
present day problem.

You may regard this as a too bold and, possibly, too idealistic a
prediction. But, I hope, you will at least give it due
consideration.

In the first part of this particular discussion, I quoted from more
than a score of persons prominent in world affairs, showing how
diverse are the views as to what constitutes the foremost problem
which our world is facing today. Yet I think we may be able to
devise a fairly simple outline of the three principal world
problems which will be sufficiently broad and comprehensive to
include every major problem of our times.

Peace, Prosperity and Progress; Our World Problem

Suppose, for instance, we regard the promotion of peace, prosperity
and progress as the three-fold problem of the world. This, of
course, must mean universal peace, the prosperity of all mankind
and the progress of all humanity everywhere. Surely, you will
observe, if we provide a program and a plan that will promote all
these, in the broad universal way we have outlined, such a plan or
program will include the solution of all the major as well as the
minor problems named by our correspondents.

Will any Freemason dispute the statement that the central tenet of
our creed and the backbone principle of our Craft is the profession
and the practice of universal brotherhood? In every degree, our
ceremonials impress this central theme. Every emblem and symbol of
the Craft relates to this central ideal, either directly or
indirectly. Our reverence for the great Architect of the universe,
the Father of all mankind, is simply the basic idea or the main
root supporting this central trunk of our Masonic tree. The
acknowledgment of our common Father of all mankind presumes the
practice of universal brotherhood.

I am not pretending that Freemasons, as a rule, are practicing the
principles of universal brotherhood; but I do contend, without fear
of contradiction, that the central ideal upheld in all our
ceremonials as the most important endeavor for all candidates for
advancement in our Fraternity is to profess and to practice
universal brotherhood.

Putting my proposition into a nutshell, it is my firm conviction
that the practical exemplification of a truly universal brotherly
love, exactly as it is plainly advocated as the central theme of
Freemasonry, would do more towards promoting world peace, and
advancing the welfare and common good of humanity, than any other
political plan or social formula that could possibly be devised.

It is "old stuff," of course, to complain that we do not practice
what we preach. Every man and Mason has it dinned into his ears the
fact that we poor, frail mortals are prone to make mistakes and
fall short of living up to our pretentions and professions.

Are Masonic Lodges Stressing Superficialities?

So, please do not infer that I am merely trying to find fault
because we, as Freemasons, are subject to the shortcomings which
all flesh is heir to. My criticism is more pertinent and more
serious. Furthermore, the flaw that I point out could be remedied,
whereas only through the long painful educational process of
struggle and conquest, trial and error, failure and victory, will
the common faults of our humanity be overcome.

What I am trying to point out and drive home is my personal
conviction that most modern activities in our lodges are placing
stress upon secondary matters and failing to emphasize, as
effectively and fully as we should, the real Landmarks, the
fundamental factors of Freemasonry.

We conduct high-pressure fund raising campaigns to build memorials
and monuments. We play up the social features of our program to the
limit. We rush batches of candidates through our degree mills and
try to beat the records of our predecessors in office and outshine
our sister lodges. All these activities are in accord with the
progressive, competitive, strenuous spirit of our times. But, in
making them our foremost and, frequently, our only definite
objectives, it seems to me that we are departing much farther from
the ancient landmarks of Freemasonry than we would by any possible
discussion of religion in our lodge rooms.

What is the Central Theme of Freemasonry t

If the broad platform of brotherly love upon which the structure of
our great Fraternity is established comes to be regarded merely as
a pretty figure of speech and not a genuine working principle, a
real fundamental factor of Freemasonry, it seems to me that it is
high time for us to pause for a while that we may consider what
being a good man and a Mason should really mean. If it does not
mean, according to every intent and purpose of the founders of
Freemasonry, that you thereby acknowledge your allegiance to the
belief in universal brotherhood and the practice of brotherly love
towards all mankind, then I have sadly misinterpreted what appear
to me as plain statements of our professions of faith and practice.

If you still harbor the slightest suspicion that universal
brotherhood is not the central theme of Freemasonry, let me suggest
that you try to recall any portion of our ritual which does not set
forth some ideal either directly professing or closely harmonizing
with the cardinal virtue of brotherly love.

How Would it Work Out in Actual Practice?

Possibly, however, you may still wonder what are the grounds for my
assertion that brotherly love, really believed and practiced, would
act as a common denominator for developing the practical solution
of every world problem.

Suppose, accordingly, that we attempt to analyze and resolve the
ideal of brotherly love into some of its prime factors, or
essential elements. As we have been dealing with our other points
in groups of three, as for instance, the three-fold world problem,
let us consider three elementary factors of universal brotherhood.
These are by no means all the factors and, possibly, may not be the
most important. Yet they will be sufficient, I trust, to drive home
our point that brotherly love is the universal solvent for the ills
of mankind.

Understanding, confidence and tolerance are the three great
attributes of brotherly love to which I would invite your
consideration.

You will readily observe that all of these elements characterize
the true spirit of brotherhood. There always exists a bond of
sympathy and understanding between loving brothers. Likewise, love
that endures must always be built upon mutual faith and confidence.
Finally, there is, between those who bear true affection towards
each other, a spirit of tolerance, which overlooks common faults
and condones human weaknesses and shortcomings.

Now, suppose that throughout the whole world, among all the races
and peoples of every country, there existed a world-wide spirit of
real understanding, genuine confidence and true tolerance, would we
be so fiercely concerned in fighting over petty  partisan policies
or battling for the conquest of either property or political power?

Can Our Remedy for World Ills Be Applied?

I am sure, however, that it is needless for me to argue that the
world-wide practice of all the elementary attributes, relations and
activities of brotherly love certainly would cure the ills of
mankind. Doubtless, you will admit the efficacy of the proposed
remedy, but, probably, you will insist that we are today a long,
long way from finding a practical plan for the adoption and
application of this remedy.


I do not deny that present conditions seem to indicate that this
doubtful attitude is fairly justified by the facts. We may be,
according to current indications, a considerable distance from
world brotherhood.

But this does not diminish the importance of the point I have been
attempting to present. Admitting that world brotherhood may be
simply a far-off ideal for the many millions of mankind, yet we
must also admit that, among the several millions of Masons
throughout the world, this ideal is not, or should not be,
something in the dim and distant future. In Freemasonry, the ideal
of world brotherhood is something ever present and always advocated
as a real working principle of the Craft.

If world brotherhood ever becomes a universal working principle, it
certainly will have to have its beginning somewhere. It is my
sincere conviction that the leaven of this great ideal already has
begun its work in our great Fraternity. Too slowly, it may seem to
us, it is working and spreading the beneficent ferment in its
influence among the more thoughtful members of our Fraternity.

If this series of discussions, in which I am attempting to act as
sort of a chairman, should lead a few more brethren to see still
further light on the fundamentals of Freemasonry, and should
thereby, through these leaders, instill in a few more lodges more
emphasis upon the real and abiding factors of our Fraternity, I
shall feel that I have not labored in vain.

Again let me remind the reader, that when we call these articles
discussions, we mean that our principle objective is to stimulate
contributions from those who may be interested. My own endeavor has
not been to present an exhaustive treatise upon each topic
considered, but rather to raise as many questions as may be
possible, without making my article merely a questionnaire.

The editors of THE BUILDER will be pleased to consider any comments
or contributions that you may submit. Do not hesitate to write if
your views are at variance with the writer's. You should not
overlook the slogan on the cover of THE BUILDER. Why not do your
part to help make this magazine "An Open Forum for All the Craft."

