
The 'peculiarity' of Freemasonry

RW Bro V.E. Petersen, PDGM,
                          Zambia

Some Brethren never learn to adjust themselves to the Masonic system. Somehow 
they cannot seem to see through it. They find themselves playing a game that 
they do not understand. Very often they are surprised to discover that some-
thing that would go over with a 'bang' in some organisations does not go over 
at all in a Lodge. To these Brethren, maybe, they should give some thought to 
what I would call 'The peculiarity of Freemasonry'.

A Lodge is fundamentally different from any other organisation of men. It has
traditions, laws, standards, customs, all of its own so that a man may know 
ever so much about clubs, societies and unions, without knowing how a Lodge is 
run. Let us consider a few examples.

Most societies are only too happy to solicit new members and hold out all
sorts of inducements. 
     Masonic law forbids 'improper' solicitation. A man must ask for the 
privilege of becoming a member of his 'own free will and accord' and must 
state that he does not apply for personal gain. He is not permitted to lay 
down the conditions on which he will join a Lodge. (The key word here is 
'improper'. Should you know a man who would benefit the Order by being a 
member, I see no objection to asking him if he is interested in Freemasonry. 
Should he say no, leave it at that, but if the answer is yes, then tell him
about our wonderful Organisation).

Many societies ask for very easy qualifications. Usually a man need have 
little more than the joining fee. If he or she is acceptable to the group, 
that is all that is asked.
    In Freemasonry a petitioner must be a man - never a woman or a child - and 
a certain type of man, sound in mind, be of good report, a believer in a 
Supreme Being. He is a picked man.

In a large number of societies obligations and duties are loosely defined.
    In Masonry one is asked to assume very specific obligations. He must be 
obedient to a set of by-laws and binds himself to keep the rules and obey the 
officers of the Lodge.

In a great number of voluntary organisations one is not subject to very much 
discipline. A 'cold shoulder' if he is disagreeable, or a polite request to
withdraw, without any fuss, is about all the discipline there is.
    How different in Masonry. It is a serious and painful thing to be 
disciplined by a Lodge. It means something. It is probably the kindliest and 
most considerate of law enforcement, but it is real for all that and a vastly 
different thing from being called down for breaking a loose set of rules.

In other organisations the officers have little authority. The president or 
chairman is little more than a presiding officer.
   In our Fraternity the case is very different. There are powers vested in 
the Grand Master that even Grand Lodge cannot take away and to a lesser extent 
this applies to the Master of a Lodge. In many cases he makes the decisions 
himself and has the power to enforce them.

Most voluntary organisations have no specific standard of morals or etiquette
of their own and usually make a point of leaving religion out of 
consideration.
    In the Lodge, morality occupies a central place and while it does not 
require a member to belong to a certain church its ceremonies are charged with 
reverence and religiousness.  Questionable entertainment, high jinks or 
vulgarity are completely out of place in our organisation.

In a typical club or association, the members can control or shape or change
things as they go along very often making most radical changes by a majority 
vote.
    This is the most fundamental difference between Freemasonry and the 
majority of other associations. The fundamental character of Freemasonry 
cannot be changed by its members, in whole or in part at any time for any 
purpose. If by some miracle all the members in a Lodge or District were to 
vote to cast aside the Landmarks of the Order, it would avail them nothing 
except to have themselves cast off by the United Grand Lodge of England and 
the rest of the Masonic world (witness the recent withdrawal of recognition 
by the United Grand Lodge of England of Grand Lodges in Italy, Greece and 
France).

The rules, conditions and principles of Freemasonry are already fixed. The man
who comes in must adjust himself to them. For him to feel upset because they
do not conform to his desires means that he has not yet learned the lesson of
'peculiarity'.

