Masonic Titles - An Observation

by RmOlano
09-09-09

Honorificabilitudinitatibus -"the state of being able to achieve honours."

In an organization that espouses a notion of equality among members in particular and humanity in general, it is worth mentioning of the widespread use of Masonic titles and its apparent acceptance. The titles come abound such as religious sounding designation--- Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful to self-styled label as Past Assistant Grand Secretary. On a personal level, there are the alphanumerical amalgamation after a name e.g. “32,”“33,” “PDDGM,” “Founding Mmbr,” etc., which sometimes attended by letters before ones name such as “SK,” “VW,” “WB,” and other similar symbology. The long list of letters before and after names sometimes compete with equally long list of Masonic affiliations which at times takes half the page of correspondence. While this practice is a personal choice therefore, could not be characterized as “right” or “wrong,” this writer sometimes wonder where is the real message. Is it in the body of the letter or imbedded somewhere between the alphabets and numbers accompanying the name? There a little doubt as to the object of the effort is to identify oneself to the audience thereby establishing credibility. Although someone can offer divergent rationale, an introduction to an audience is an accepted and civilized etiquette. In the same token, the manner by which one conducts his introduction also establish the rule on how the player intend to play or expected to be treated. When someone is placing heavy emphasis on the importance on titles and decorations thru symbols, this seemingly inconspicuous act could be interpreted as an alligorical attempt to illustrate ones transition from rough ashalar to a polished marble. The perceived state of smoothnes might be indicative of ones apparent understanding of arrival within the arena of Masonic honorificabilitudinitatibus where the number of degrees completed or offices held were deduced as the validation of fruitfull Masonic journey.

The Fraternity is not immune to this concept. Organized entities such as military, religious or even academia carry out this human pleasure world wide. Like any culture, there are rules when, where, and how honorifics are to be practice. From military’s colorful ribbons to announce achievements to feminine laces decorating black robes of Supreme Court female justices, symbols are unspoken message of one-way communication. In armed services, ranks symbolized by uniform collar, shoulder or sleeve badges denotes hierarchy and corresponding demand to adherence with the protocol of military tradition. A salute is given to the rank and not necessarily to the person wearing the insignia. There are times when salute is given when not in uniform, this is because of the respect owed to the individual. In military, true respect is earned by trust and not by dressing up with metallic devises. In the absence of uniform, most civilian entities utilize titles instead. In United States, a judge of court of the law is introduce as “The Honorable John Doe” while the judge will simply introduce himself as “I am John Doe, judge of XX Court” not as “I am Honorable John Doe.” The same rule applies to our Fraternity, someone would introduce a past master as “Worshipful Brother John Doe” who would sign his name as “John Doe, PM” not as “WB John Doe, PM.” Masonic titles such as “Sir Knight John Doe” is a title to be used within the confines of Knights Templar Commandery when in session. Outside the asylum the “Sir Knight” title has the same effect as using “32 Degree” within a Blue Lodge--- it doesn’t carry measurable connotation. There are honorary titles conferred by Universities to invidual such as Doctor in Education, Philosophy, etc. Generally, only those who received the degree in traditional manner are entitled to use the title “Doctor” however, there are segment of receipents that believed otherwise.

Honorifics are words or terms of respect used when referring a person. Its is given and awarded during the moment as recognition to deserving personage. A manifestation of respect, it is earned and at a times very challenging to own in perpetuity. Those who truly recognize the lessons of the Craft will receive the words with humility and with the same passion of wearing a plain lampskin apron rather than the model bedecked with fancy handwork. Indeed, astute student of the Craft understand that vanity loom to its conclusion when his “weary feet shall come to the end of its toilsome journey.”

...

Masonic Urban Legend

By RmOlano
07-07-07

The right of visitation quoted by many Brothers is the 14th Landmark in Albert Mackey's Twenty-five Ancient Landmarks. Let us remember that not all Grand Lodges universally accepted those Landmarks as some adopted portion thereof, while others adopted all. Albert Pike challenged Mackey’s assertion and pointed out that no one can visit a Lodge without being vouched for and without the permission of the Master of the Lodge.

Though this is hard to say but this is another example of Masonic urban legend along with no one was ever invited to join our Craft. With numerous volume of books written, one have to show that General Douglas MacArthur asked to be made Mason-on-sight. The same could be said about the long line of UK Royal family who traditionally held the Grand Mastership of both "Moderns" and "Antients” of GLE in their initiative to petition for Degress in Masonry. Let us face it, the "privilege" was offered and accepted for the benefit of both parties. In recent book by Walther Isaacson, Benjamin Franklin, an American Life, our esteemed Brother had to be "creative" to be invited to join in 1730. Asking one to be one is an American tradition/invention. The Continental and until recently English Freemasonry was almost exclusively by invitation only.

In UGLE website, their membership pitch did not say anything about adopting 2B1ASK1 and for clarification I did not hinted either. Postings from various Grand Lodges, from Singapore, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and even Lodge in Wales consistently mentioned of stories of well to do gentlemen of being invited to join the Craft. As of 2002 UGLE website advised any interested person to contact a Brother who will invite him for a chat and if the Lodge is interested, he will get his petition and so on and so forth.

We know that at least in 1730 Freemasonry in States was by invitation and I could only speculate that probably after American Revolution that asking one to be one became practice. Let us be reminded that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania or New York did not asked UGLE's permission to be a separate/independent Grand Lodge. One could postulate that the new republic wanted to be seen as different and more egalitarian than English brand of Freemasonry. Noteworthy that may be relevant to the concept were that almost half of American forces Generals were Masons, some were from same Lodges, and all State Governors were Masons when the first President of United States laid the cornerstone of either White House or Capitol according to some writings I read sometime ago.

As to the question of George Washington as a Grand Master, in The Temple and Lodge by Beigent and Leigh, the same author who wrote the Holy Blood Holy Grail which, was the basis of Dan Brown's DaVinci Code, mentioned that Washington was offered to be the Grand Master of all Grand Lodges in America but declined thus keeping the current structure of independent Grand Lodges in every State. One could speculate that if Washington agreed then probably he would also agree to be the crowned King of America as some writings revealed as sidelight of American Revolution. Our worthy Brother truly exemplified one of the traits of a true Past Master---wisdom.

There is another prime example of Masonic wisdom which became the cornerstone of the concept erected by our founding fathers. It was not coincidence that Benjamin Franklin, PGM, vision of a young country bear the resemblance of Lodges which forms a larger body known as Grand Lodge. His notion of a system where a Grand Lodge exists to support the need of smaller Lodges bear witness to the striking similatiy of a federal institution supporting the state governments. At least that was the idea and NOT supposed to be the other way around. This my Brethren, is not a Masonic urban legend.

...

One Day Class

by RmOlano

25Jul09

There are sections within the Fraternity which tend to “look down” upon those who did not take the “traditional” course of instructions. This group of hard core Brothers played by the rules and to see that the same rules get “optimized” for the benefit of some reasons they don’t agree is always comes down to a very predictable reaction. If we are to view Freemasonry as an entity that provide ladder for societal advancement, then the manner by which a brother achieve his laurel of victory i.e. Master Mason Degree is a consideration may be worth looking into. There are those who in spite of lack of memorization skills forged ahead to get through proficiency examination in front of the entire Lodge therefore, gets annoyed to those who skipped the process. Justice is a tenet of Freemasonry---meeting on the level, acting by the plumb and parting upon the square. Those words are more than learning by rote.

Having said that, in my view, it is un-Masonic conduct to the Brothers to be treated any “less” than those who did went through the “old fashioned way.” Obviously, there were not many options offered to the candidates as the some jurisdictions made the decision for them. I have witnessed candidates who preferred to go through “long form” rather than the easier “short form” proficiency examinations. One doesn’t have to be surprised why it’s easier for them to get “approval” and recognition from the old-timers.

On the other hand, if we perceived Freemasonry as “a system of morality, veiled in allegories and illustrated by symbols,” what moral lessons these one-day class can we identify as deficiencies from the preferred method? If we already taken the interest of some good men, would a one day class would make them less than from what they were? Men stayed with the Fraternity not because of the short or long class but because they found something that held and sustained their interest. Whether the curiosities are about philosophical, mystical, camaraderie, and even religious, these are also examples of why men joined the Craft. Sustaining interest on a deeply held notion is what makes an individual do what others do not even care about.

One of various rationale of one-day class is to make “easier” for the contemporary man to “join” the Craft. Time as always gets to be blamed for the majority of illness in this world. The process to become a Master Mason is “too long” for some hence, comes an abbreviated version as if the idea was taken from the “higher bodies” e.g. Scottish Rite or York Rite class concept. Same pretext, it takes too long to become Knight Templar or get 32nd Degree so instead of experience, the candidates get to watch the process from the comfort of his chair or bench. So much for the initiatory experience, the feeling of getting lost, uncertainty, rush of adrenalin, the acceptance of something beyond ones control, the initial thought of “Aha” and the possible glimpse of a dark side of the unknown. These concept are lost during our pursuit to draw “more” members. Somehow the quest becomes an exercise of numbers and statistics as if the Craft is about profit, operating expenses, overhead, etc. In the never ending discussion of quality versus quantity, the one-day class is heavily tilted to quantity cabal of Fraternity. There are those who opposed this idea for its unfairness to those who will miss the very essence of the initiatory process. There are many invisible small but valuable nuances that make up an experience, sitting on the chair and watching someone stumble on might be funny at a time but that is not what the Degree work is about. It is more than amateur stage plays and although the modern Freemasonry initiatory practice is a mere shadow of the real process---every Masonic Degree work is a favor not a required statistic for someone advancement.

“Each degree work should be considered as a favor to be given and not as a requirement to fulfill. We should and must hands out favors sparingly, to give it to those we hope that will return the same favor to somebody else when we old-timers were gone and soon to be forgotten.”

It is truly a gift.

Degree Work-A Favor.

...