Short Talk Bulletin Vol 09 No 09

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Short Talk Bulletin

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SHORT TALK BULLETIN - Vol.IX   September, 1931   No.9 

ENLIGHTENING THE PROFANE 

by: Unknown 

Profane - from “pro,” without “fanum,” temple. 
Literally one “before,” or “outside the temple.”  In the Masonic  
sense a “profane” is one who has not been initiated. 

“No, I’m not a Mason.  I’ve never been asked to join!” 
How many times has this been said, usually with some indignation, in  
answer to the question, “Are you a Mason?” 
It comes to some men with a shock of distinct surprise that  
Freemasonry asks no man to join her ranks.  In this refusal to  
proselyte - nay, in the distant prohibition of any proselyting -  
Freemasonry, curiously enough, joins hands with Brahminism, the  
religion of much of the Orient, which has the distinction among  
religions of attempting to make no converts.  In its refusal to seek  
membership, Freemasonry stand alone among organizations. 
The reasons are dual:  First, Freemasonry, greater than any man, no  
matter how important he may be, confers honor upon her initiates.   
She is never honored by any man seeking her mysteries.  Second, it is  
an essential part of Freemasonry that a man come of “his own free  
will and accord.”  The Fraternity obligates a candidate for all time.   
“Once a Mason, always a Mason” is a truth, no matter how little  
interest the member may take, no matter if he demits, no matter if he  
be dropped N.P.D. or even expelled; he cannot “un-make” himself as a  
Mason, nor can he avoid moral responsibility for the obligations he  
has assumed. 
Could any man say:  “I joined under a misapprehension, I was over  
persuaded, I was argued into membership,” he might think himself  
possessed of just such a cause and a reason for a failure to live up  
to the obligations which no longer interest him.  But no man does so  
join.  He must declare in his petition, and around a dozen times  
during the course of his progress through the degrees, that his  
application is voluntary.  Were any persuasion used upon him before  
he signed his petition, he could not truthfully state that his entry  
was “of his own free will and accord.” 
This is pretty well grounded in most Freemasons.  But sometimes it  
has the untoward effect of making a Mason Chary of giving legitimate  
information about the Fraternity, properly sought for a worthy  
purpose.   It is highly improper to say to one’s friend “I wish you’d  
join my lodge, I’d like to see you enjoy the advantages of  
Freemasonry.”  It is wholly legitimate to answer a serious question  
asked by some man who is considering making an application. 
Some good brethren when asked questions about Masonry by the profane  
are puzzled as to just how much they may tell.  Knowing well certain  
matters of which they must not speak, they are not always sure just  
where these end, and where begins that which may not be told. 
Much more is tellable than is secret.  Literally thousands and  
multiplied thousands of books have been written on and about the  
Ancient Craft; the Aporetta, or secrets of Freemasonry, could they be  
written at all, might be compressed within a few pages. 
Let us suppose then, that we are asked by a sincere man:  “Tell me  
something of Freemasonry.  I think I would like to be a Freemason,  
but I know very little about it.” 
Such a query is the key which may legitimately unlock our lips about  
those outward matters concerning the Fraternity which all the world  
may know. 
We may begin by assuring the questioner that Freemasonry brings as  
many duties and responsibilities as it does pleasures and rewards.   
The Freemason becomes a link in a chain; he must be as strong as the  
next link or we want him not.  He who looks to the Fraternity to  
provides all, give all, and receive nothing, should apply to some  
other organization. 
It is legitimate to explain the structure of Freemasonry to a  
seriously interested questioner.  Freemasons gather together in  
lodges; local organizations chartered by, and holding existence under  
the Grand Lodge of the State in which they live and are.  A lodge  
comes into being when the Grand Master gives a dispensation to meet,  
U.D. (Under Dispensation); it becomes a “regular” lodge when its  
Charter is granted by the Grand Lodge. 
It is no secret that a lodge has a Master, two Wardens, two Deacons,  
a Secretary and a Treasurer, etc.  It is not, perhaps, necessary to  
go at length into the several duties of these officers, but it may be  
wise to explain the essential difference between a Worshipful Master  
of a Lodge, and the President or other presiding officer of secular  
bodies.  A Master, once installed, may not be removed by his  
brethren, only by the Grand Master or the Grand Lodge.  Within bounds  
he is all powerful in his Lodge; not the servant of his brethren, as  
is the presiding officer of a club, but literally the “Master,” with  
power to control and limit debate, put or not put motions, open and  
close Lodge at his pleasure, call special meetings, and so on.  All  
such matters are set forth in printed books and usually in the code  
or Ahiman Rezon of the Grand Lodge. 
Lodges naturally and rightly attempt to guard their West Gates  
against the entry of men who desire only to receive Masonic charity.   
For this reason it is natural to look with especially careful eyes at  
the petition of the elderly man.  When a man of mature years inquires  
regarding Freemasonry, we may well explain that while a Mason’s  
Charity is as boundless as his ability, Freemasonry. is not, per se,  
an eleemosynary institution.  It does not exist primarily for  
charitable purposes, nor is charity its greatest work.  In many  
Jurisdictions are Masonic Homes, Hospitals, Schools, Charity  
Foundations intended for unfortunate members of the Fraternity, their  
widows and orphans - sometimes their mothers and sisters.  They are  
not designed for the relief of the poor who are not members of the  
Fraternity, and those unconnected to members by blood ties.   
Therefore the man who desires to become a Mason that he may take  
advantage of its charity is turned back long before he reaches the  
West Gate.  The more an applicant appears as if he may in the future  
need help, the more carefully does the investigating committee work  
to discover the facts. 
Totally misunderstanding the purpose and spirit of Freemasonry some  
men seek it for business advantages.  Freemasons naturally frown upon  
such petitions.  But scorn should not be meted out to an ignorant  
profane seeking knowledge.  A man may be a good citizen, a good  
churchman, a good businessman and yet know nothing of Freemasonry.   
If such a one, in the course of his inquiry regarding the Fraternity,  
exhibits an interest in the business advantages which may inure to  
him through membership in a lodge, it is legitimate to explain -  
courteously but with emphasis - that Freemasonry is not a Board of  
Trade, a Chamber of Commerce, a Luncheon or Commercial Club; and that  
it makes no effort to aid its members in commercial relations.  The  
man who wants to become a Freemason because he thinks Freemasonry can  
help him can never be a good Mason.  He who desires Freemasonry  
because he thinks he can help his fellows is already a Mason in his  
heart. 
Other things being equal, Masons usually prefer to have business  
relations with their brethren, in the same way a man may prefer to  
buy footwear from his blood brother who is in the shoe business.  But  
no one will pay his blood brother ten dollars a pair for shoes he can  
buy for half price from a non-relative! 
It is unquestionable true, and may be stated to the serious inquirer,  
that Freemasonry does play a quiet and unostentatious part in the  
business lives of its members.  But it should be emphasized that this  
is a by-product of mutual friendship and association, and the he who  
seeks Freemasonry for this alone will be bitterly disappointed.  We  
all know of popular members of our lodge who win and keep the  
business of their brethren because of their likability.  But we also  
know that this is not the result of any effort by the successful  
brother to win that which is freely given him.  The brother who  
attempts to make his lodge association a feeder for his vocation is  
invariably hit by the boomerang of an aroused antipathy which hurts  
as much as he hoped to be helped. 
All this may be explained to the inquirer.  We may well quote a part  
of the Charge to an Entered Apprentice, as it is printed in most  
Jurisdictions:  “If, in the circle of your acquaintance, you find a  
person desirous of being initiated into Masonry, be particularly  
attentive not to recommend him, unless you are convinced that he will  
conform to our rules, the honor, glory and reputation of the  
Fraternity may be firmly established, and the world at large  
convinced of its good effects.” 
Often a Mason is asked by a profane:  “What does Masonry stand for?   
What does it do?” 
It is much more difficult to explain to one without the mystic circle  
what Masonry “does,” than what it is.  What Masonry “stands for”  
should be easy for any Freemason to explain.  We may inform the  
inquirer that the Fraternity “stands for” country, home and public  
school; for law and order; and decency; for honor, morality and  
religion; for brotherhood, relief and the inculcation of truth. 
Parts of our ritual are printed in books and in monitors.  There is  
nothing secret about this; while we do not go about spouting non- 
secret ritual upon all occasions; there is no reason why we should  
not and many reasons why we should, to be able to point out by such  
quotations some of the principles of Masonry. 
The essential matter is to give a true picture of the Fraternity to  
all who express a desire for it.  Freemasonry is not a “secret  
society” - although it is often incorrectly so called - but a  
“society with secrets” which is quite another matter.  In a “secret  
society” the membership, existence and whereabouts is a secret.   
Freemasonry’s membership, existence or whereabouts is no secret.  Men  
proudly wear the emblems on their coats and watch chains.  Many Grand  
Lodges publish lists of their members.  Most Grand Lodges maintain  
card systems of all Masons in their Jurisdictions, so that it is  
possible to ascertain whether or not a certain John Smith is a Mason.   
Our Temples are proud buildings, well built, handsome monuments for  
all the world to see.  Our printed Proceedings are to be had in every  
library.  Newspapers carry notices of lodge matters,  A flourishing  
Masonic Press carries news of the Craft far and wide.  Obviously, we  
are not “secret” although we possess jealously guarded “secrets.” 
Any profane has a natural right to know something about Masonry that  
he may decide whether it is an organization with which he wishes to  
associate. If we refrain from advertising our activities it is not  
because they are secret, but because they are private; not because  
they must not be told when there is a reason for telling them, but  
because we do not wish to persuade any man to our doors.  We want him  
to come, if he comes at all, from an inherent desire, from having  
conceived a regard for the Fraternity, from his belief that he has  
something to offer Masonry and that Masonry has something to offer  
him. 
Such a man naturally asks questions of Freemasons.   
Once he has made inquiry, the door is opened and we may tell him  
much.  Let us make sure that what we tell him is less, rather than  
more than the truth.  Let us never soil our gentle Craft with horrid  
tales of goats and “buttings” of “backing down” and “third degree”  
tortures.  Let us speak up like men and Masons and say roundly that  
there is nothing in Ancient Craft Masonry which is undignified,  
humorous, funny or playful; let us assure him with solemnity that our  
ceremonies are beautiful, impressive and instructive; and that behind  
and beyond the outward form of the degrees is a spiritual truth, a  
body of inner knowledge, an arena of wisdom which benefits any man  
who receives it, and in direct proportion to his ability to see  
behind the symbol to the reality.	 
Let us minimize the pleasures, and stress the duties when talking to  
a profane who wishes to learn of our lodges and their work.  True,  
the “innocent mirth” of Freemasonry, to quote the “Old Charge,” is of  
interest and value to us all.  Many a lodge is not only a center of  
union but a center of social intercourse in its home town.  Its  
amusements and entertainments may be, and often are, of real value to  
the community.  But a lodge does not exist merely to entertain and to  
amuse; in talking to the profane inquirer, let us lay less emphasis  
on the by-products of play, and draw his attention more to the  
serious and worthwhile sides of lodge life; charity, instruction,  
fellowship, mutual trust and dependence; religion without bias or  
doctrine - in other words, brotherhood. 
So shall we give an intelligent and Masonic answer to an intelligent  
and Masonic question, and, perhaps, lay the foundation on which the  
bridge will be built over which a new initiate may walk from the  
North of darkness into the East of Masonic Light!