HEARD.TXT

Another in the series of informational booklets intended for
possible new Masons.  By the G.L. of the district of Columbia


"I HAVE HEARD THAT MASONRY......."



Before an aspirant for Masonry petitions for
membership, he learns one lesson -- he must seek
Masonry voluntarily. "Free will and accord" is a
phrase occurring in all degrees in the Blue Lodge.
It is placed there for the express purpose of re-
minding the applicant for the Masonic Degrees
that he comes of his own volition and not as a
result of persuasion or coercion by a friend who is
a Mason.

To many Masons, an answer such as "No, I'm
not a Mason as no one has ever asked me to join"
is familiar and a little touching. The purpose of
this presentation is to provide guidance whercby
you may assist that man, whom you feel "should be
a Masonn, to voluntarily seek a petition.

When the subject of Masonry arises, by all
means, DO NOT divert conversation into other
channels or retreat into silence. This is an oppor-
tunity to discuss the fine traditions of Masonry.
Don't try to "sell" it; if the inquirer is sufriciently
interested, it will "sell" itself

A friend, showing an interest in Masonry,
opens the door for you to brief him on the general
facts concerning the Fraternity, but until he asks
for a petition (or otherwise conveys to you the
solid impression that he wants to join, but doesn't
know how to go about it), detailed information is
unnecessary.

Many of you have gone through the experi-
ence of, "I have heard that Masonry..." is a secret
society; is a religion of sorts and is a bitter enemy
of Roman Catholicism; is a rich man's fraternity,
exclusive and Protestant; wields great power in
politics; forbids its members to discuss Masonry
with non-Masons; teaches its members that, right
or wrong, a member must defend another at all
costs; takes very strict obligations of a question-
able nature; provokes unhappiness in homes
because Masons are out evenings and do not tell
their wives anything; is good to join for business
and prestige; and so forth.

SECRET SOCIEITY

What could be further from the truth? Ma-
sonic Temples are to be seen in all principal cities
and towns and even in small villages. The build-
ings are usually well kept and distinctly marked
with a printed sign or the symbolic Square and
Compass. Most are prominent buildings on main
thoroughfares.

Notices of meetings for ritual, business or
special occasions are publicized by newspaper,
radio and TV. Frequently, meetings are held to
which the public is invited. Family gatherings are
on the schedule of most Lodges.

Secret? No. Secrets? Yes. Masons have (l)
their own modes of recognition; (2) degree work
which is not made known in the world at large and;
(3) symbolic methods of instructing members (in
the ways of neighborliness, the Golden Rule,
patriotism, charity, etc.).

Far greater are the secrets of Government,
college fraternities, and even families, but none
would acknowledge these to be "secret". The word
"secret" has come to be known as "sinister", "shady",
"a fraud" by those who do not know or understand
societies. Very emphatically we can say that Masonic
Bodies are just the opposite; i.e., they are benevo-
lent, moral, and proper.

Masons proudly appear in public to lay cor-
nerstones of buildings; to attend other ceremo-
nial and public functions; to attend funerals for
deceased members; and to worship in a body at
Divine Services. They openly declare themselves
and their purposes.

RELIGION

Few are the Masons who do not attend and
support some recognized Church, Synagogue or
Temple. Every Mason takes his obligations in the
name of God and is urged to attend a place of
worship of his own choice.
Many ministers, rabbis, deacons, Sunday School
teachers, Church lay leaders and workers are
Masons. Far from being a bitter enemy of the
Church, Masonry is the particular friend of
ANYONE professing a belief in a Supreme Being.
Masons worship God in their religious edifices;
they do not go to Lodge for that purpose. Ma-
sonry is religious to this extent; every Mason must
believe in a Supreme Being; the immortality of the
soul; the Fatherhood of God; and the Brother-
hood of Man. These are first line requirements.

RICH--EXCLUSIVE--PROTESTANT

A man's wealth is of little interest to Masonry
and certainly is no requirement to membership.
Masonry does not deny the presence of highly
paid executives and professional men on its rolls.
Their memberships are as beneficial and desir-
able as are others. However, Masonry points with
just as much pride to those Brothers whose voca-
tions are train conductor, salesman, welder, cow-
boy, butcher, truck driver, etc. The latter group of
men outnumber the former by a vast majority.

The initiation fees are most modest; the dues
per year are usually much less than for country
clubs or professional societies. Moreover, the
initiation fee and Lodge dues structure may be
discussed with your friends in dollars and cents as
applicable to your particular Lodge.

Exclusiveness may well apply to Masonry.
However, it is "exclusive" only in its moral re-
quirements. No man of good character who comes
to Masonry of his own free choice will be refused
a petition. Any qualified man may apply and few
are rejected.

"Protestant Organization" is one of the most
common misconcepts of Masonry and it is one
that is totally without foundation. Besides Protes-
tants, hundreds of thousands of our members are
adherents to other faiths. (Jewish, Roman Catho-
lic, Mohammedan, Hindu, etc.). In fact, the faith
that any man has in a Supreme Being qualifies him
to petition; this then, truly makes Masonry a fra-
ternity of and for all mankind. No atheist may be
a Mason.

POLITICS

Masons, while in Lodge, are prohibited from
discussing politics or any other subject which may
cause dissension in its ranks. This is a landmark
which is strictly observed. As citizens, Masons are
encouraged to vote for candidates or parties of
their choice, to hold appointive and elective of-
fices and to express their views on political issues.
Masons are good citizens. Their power in politics
is in direct proportion to their numerical vote,
keeping in mind that Masons are Republicans,
Democrats, Socialists, Independents, etc. Their
votes are spread as much as their political beliefs
differ. They do not vote in a body.

RIGHT OR WRONG

There is no more defense for a Mason who
does wrong in a civil, criminal or moral offense,
than for any other person. A strict adherence to
all the laws of God and of man is required by all
Masons. They are bound to uphold the laws of the
land in which they are located and to be true to
their own Government.

And more to the point, a Mason who is al-
leged to have broken a moral, criminal or civil
code may be brought before the Lodge and so
charged. He is, of course, entitled to counsel in
order to properly defend himself. If adjudged
guilty he may be subject to the consequence of
private reprimand, expulsion from the Fraternity,
or one of the other penalties from the lightest to
the most severe judgment.

STRICT OBLIGATIONS

In all Lodges, the Mason promises to uphold
his Government, obey the Civil Magistrate, be of
high moral character, practice brotherhood and
benevolence, uphold the rights of all good men to
freedom and happiness.

MASON'S HOME LIFE

A Mason, like any other person, makes his
home life according to his own views and circum-
stances. Most Masonic households are as congen-
ial as the average, if not more so. Masons are not
required to spend any time at Lodge -- evenings or
otherwise. (In olden days, small fines were as-
sessed for non-attendance at meetings). To the
contrary, they are told that while their presence is
desirable and welcome at Lodge, they are admon-
ished that the Lodge should in NO WAY conflict
with their own home or business life. When a
Mason attends Lodge, it is of his own free will and
for his own enjoyment of the brotherhood to be
found there.

It is true that many Masons do not tell their
families the whys and wherefores of Masonry, the
older Masons being more reticent than the younger
ones. Masons of today are not only urged to
converse about Masonic courses of conduct, but
their families are encouraged to attend Lodge
functions. Certainly, every Masonic wife should
know and appreciate the purposes of Freema-
sonry.

As a matter of information in reference to the
home or family aspect of Masonry, other bodies
have been organized to interest not only wives,
but also sons and daughters in Masonic families.
These include Orders such as the Eastern Star,
White Shrine, DeMolay, Rainbow Girls, and Job's
Daughters. Local public libraries carry many
books about Masonry and its family of related
organizations.

BUSINESS--PRESTIGE

Anyone detected trying to join the Masonic
Fraternity for business reasons will not be given a
petition. A petitioner who anticipates joining for
commercial advantages (and a few do pass with-
out detection) may be bitterly disappointed in
Masonry as they expect financial gain rather than
brotherhood. These men may drop out after a few
years.

As with other fraternities, clubs and even
vocations, no man gets more reward from it than
the effort he affords to it. Masons do buy from
other Masons, certainly, but usually bccause of
better service and friendlier relations, not be-
cause of Lodge affiliation.

The search for prestige, as a reason for join-
ing, may also be a source of disappointment. How-
ever, we must admit that a man joining Masonry
for proper reasons will soon find that he does have
more prestige in his community, but only because
he has consciously (or unconsciously) become the
better type of man which Masonry endeavors to
make of him.

CONCLUSION

These are some of the facts which you may
share with any person who is not a Mason. There
are, of course, many other facts about Masonry,
which you may discuss. If in doubt about discuss-
ing any phase of Masonry, consult with the Master
of your Lodge or other person well versed in ritual
and rules.

In any conversation when non-Masonic friends
are present, under no circumstances allow the
discussion to get out of hand or controversial.
Broadly speaking, Masonry is as open as the Bible
upon its Altar.
So Mote It Be!
