CHANNELS OF DIFFUSION
by George H.T. French



Solicitation

The solicitation of petitioners for the mysteries of Freema-
sonry is a subject that is not dealt with specifically in the An-
cient Charges, nor in the early Constitutions, nor in the cur-
rent Grand Lodge Laws. Hence, it is very frequently the
source of confusion and misunderstanding. A tentative clari-
fication of solicitation and the restrictions that surround it
may help in one's approach to a possible petitioner considered
to be good Masonic timber.

PERSUASION

    The art of selling does not consist of only one approach to
the operation. One way is to attempt to influence the prospec-
tive buyer in such a personal way that he will be prevailed
upon to buy. The basis of the procedure is the action of one
compelling personality upon the will of a person who will
yield.
  There is another way, which consists in a favorable pres-
entation of a merchandise or service offered. In this case the
worthiness of the product, its usefulness, the ease with which
it is operated or used, the benefits derived from its possession
or consumption, are presented in a favorable light and in as
glowing terms as possible.
    In the first case, solicitation may win the day and the sale
is effected. Solicitation, by definition, supposes entreaty, plea,
request, or importunity, and strives for a certain consent of
submission.
    In the second case, the information presented may lead
the interviewed person to want that which has been described
to him. Information, when truthful and offered with sincerity,
expects and can bring about a freely taken decision to act.

IN THE MIDDLE AGES

    The first lodges of masons established in Britain in the
14th century found themselves in possession of knowledge
that could be beneficial to the whole world. However, instead
of diffusing that precious knowledge they guarded their doors
more vigorously than ever, they strengthened their obligations
and oaths, and they made it more difficult for new men to
enter. Nor did the old English and Scottish lodges solicit
members, nor send out agents or salesmen or missionaries to
proselytize, nor advertise itself, but gave everywhere the
impression that accepting a new member was almost the last
thing it wished to do.
    Our ancient brethren met principally to enjoy convivial-
ity and to study the Catechism. For instance, York Lodge in
1725 wrote its Articles, and Article 13 stated that at every
meeting "an hour should be set apart to talk Masonry." In
those days the ceremony proper of "Making a Mason" was of
secondary importance and very brief, and thus very different
from today's practice. In some lodges it was so unimportant
that it was performed, not in the lodgeroom proper where the
brethren were assembled, but in a small adjoining room to
which a limited number of the members retired to enact the
ceremony.
    The point is that historically the petitioner was wholly in
the position of one who prays, or seeks, or asks, and was doing
so with no encouragement except from his own internal de-
sires.

DEVELOPMENT OF SOLICITATION

    Then how did solicitation ever get started? It could not
have been a practice in the days of operative masonry, for
once a young man had finished the apprenticeship that he had
commenced as a lad he would automatically join the lodge to
become Entered Apprentice, and then afterwards Fellow
Craft or Master. These were simply prescribed stages in his
career as a stonemason.
    Therefore, no solicitation was necessary or utilized in the
old days of operative masonry, and, consequently, there were
no prohibitions to restrict something that did not even exist.
    As the age of Transition came round, and the Craft gradu-
ally became non-operative and finally speculative, silence
seemed to continue to reign on the subject. Such records as An-
derson's Constitutions, both the 1723 and the 1738 editions, do
not ban nor refer to solicitation. As a matter of fact, the subject
is not even mentioned, much less specifically dealt with.
    However, in the catechism transcribed in the Wilkinson
MS., which is dated circa 1727, there is the following:
       Q. "How came you to be made a Mason."
       A. "By my own desire & ye Recommendation of a
friend."

    The years rolled on, and there appeared a 1760 exposure
called Three Distinct Knocks, wherein the opening words of the
Obligation are the ones familiar to us today: "I,... of my own
free will and accord."
    Moving onwards in time one comes to William Preston's
Illustrations of Masonry, first published in 1772. Therein is
found what is probably the first version of the Declaration
which every Candidate is required to make nowadays:

  I, A.B., do seriously declare, upon my honor, that unbiased
  by friends and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, I freely
  and voluntarily offer myself a candidate for the mysteries of
  Masonry.

THE PROHIBITION

    There is no rule or law prohibiting solicitation, and,
therefore, there is no penalty attached to the act of soliciting.
However, the prohibition does exist. It is implicit in the fact
that the interested party cannot honestly petition if he has
been solicited. If he has been solicited he cannot truthfully de-
clare that he is "unbiased by friends" (Texas) or "unbiased
by the improper solicitation of friends" (Emulation).

RULE OF CONDUCT

    Hence, it becomes un-Masonic to solicit, and therefore
unlawful. Unfortunately, this restriction has been built up ex-
aggeratedly in the minds of many brethren to the point that
they are afraid to mention the word Freemasonry to anyone,
whether family or friend.
    To solicit a person to become a Mason is wrong. To dis-
cuss Freemasonry with a man whom one feels is proper Ma-
sonic material is plain common sense. To share with him the
Craft's printed material, to tell him what Freemasonry is,
what it does and what it means to one, is also common sense.
    After the prospective petitioner has read and heard all
the information that can properly be given him, do not make
it easy for him, do not offer to propose him until he has given
full evidence of his interest and intention to petition. This dis-
cussion about joining the Craft must be opened by the pro-
spective candidate himself, not by the brother imparting infor-
mation.
    In other words, unless a man has clearly expressed --
dearly expressed - a proper interest in the Craft, asking the
kind of questions fully indicative of his sincere interest, any sug-
gestion that he ought to join would be improper solicitation. But
do give him all the proper information he should have.
                 Published in The Texas Freemason
                 Spring 1981

