Cardinals, Aprons and  Titles

by George Peter, MPS

While mowing the lawn the other day,
I saw a beautiful, red cardinal swoop
down and perch on the freshly mowed
grass. Mine is a large lawn, hence a lot
of time is available for meditation while
mowing it. The cardinal started my
thought process like this:

What a beautiful bird. No wonder the
Catholic Church imitates this part of
the divine plan by robing its high offi-
cials in the color and name of the cardi-
nal. Is this a prudent thing to do? It
certainly raises that office above the or-
dinary.

Usually there are scores of swallows
who swoop down for food while the
lawn is being mowed. They are much
more common and not nearly as strik-
ingly beautiful as the cardinal.

The thought process continues: Is it
prudent to robe any dergy in anything
to set them aside, or especially above,
the rank and file? What is the purpose?
Jesus Christ said, "follow me." He did
not vest himself even in the plain black
robe, i.e., of the Methodist minister.
Some would argue that the purpose is to
demonstrate solemnity and to cover up
"earthly " garments. It is a tradition. As
a traditionalist, I would not break a
tradition lightly. But anything that sym-
bolically, and in reality, places a leader
apart or above the rank and file, should
be broken. It is in direct violation of
modern concepts of leadership. It is
counterproductive.

The great Chinese philosopher, Lao-
tse, thousands of years ago, said, "As
for the best leaders, the people do not
notice their existence; the next, the
people honor and praise; the next, the
people fear; and the next, the people
hate. When the best leaders' work is
done, the people say 'we did it our-
selves'".

The most thoughtful minister I ever
heard said, "Every minister should
work in a coal mine, or do similar work,
before serving as a minister. "

How about Freemasonry? We have
our share of titles, hierarchies and re-
galia. The purple apron is designed to
set the leader above the rest of the
brethren. Masonic Protocol dictates the
use of "Worshipful, Right Worshipful
and Most Worshipful" as the prefix to
salutations of respectively titled Ma-
sonic officers.

Is it prudent to practice these mecha-
nisms and protocol in today's society?
Can they be counterproductive? Are
they perceived by those outside
Freemasonry as ancient customs which
are offensive to educated people? More
seriously do they cause the elevated to
promote self aggrandizement to the
point of losing an understanding of the
true purpose of a leader?

My thought process continues (there is
more lawn yet to mow): Is it possible
that Cardinals, Aprons and Titles,
which set the leader above the rank and
file, can be construed to be man-made
devices designed more to promote ego
than effectiveness?

The most valuable and most often re-
peated message of Freemasonry is that
we meet on the level. It packs the
greatest wallop in Freemasonry. Per-
haps more people are attracted to
Freemasonry because of this message
than for any other reason. But we
weaken, distort and corrupt that power-
ful message by capitulating to mecha-
nisms which can serve to promote ego.

If nothing else, think of time saved
(people hours) if lodge meetings could
be conducted without the protocol of
prefixing brother's names with titles. I
"Right Worshipful and Worshipful." I
are used, not only during the com- '
munication, but are repeated by the
secretary during the reading of the
minutes. It serves to add to the tedious-
ness of the business part of the meeting,
which is usually already too long. This
alone is a reason to modify the protocol.
Brothers may not stay away from meet-
ings in quite the droves that stay away
now.

Of greater importance, if titles and
aprons were abolished, perhaps greater
emphasis might be placed on leader-
ship. It would increase the chance that a
leader understands that to lead is to
serve. He should be chosen or promoted
on the basis of what he does and can do
for Freemasonry.

We cannot, nor should we consider
offering suggestions to the Catholic
Church or to any other church or Syn-
agogue. But in Freemasonry, let us get
up to date on leadership. Let us study
modern concepts of leadership based on
the principle that things are achieved
best by team work. This calls for the
abolition of Aprons, other than the
white leather apron, and titles other
than the highest title of all, "my
brother. "

NOTE: The author is aware that, like any
essay, this one runs the risk of being considered
'for the birds, " not taken seriously and even
offensive to some. The reader should remcmber
that it is the result of a thought process which
was initiated by the cardinal. Freemasons have
been referred to by their enemies as being just
as bad as the 'free thinkers. " Maybe it is
time we did morefree thinking.

115
