OPINION:
FREEMASONRY – NOW NATIONAL TREASURE, BUT IS IT LOSING THE X-FACTOR?
W. Bro Tony Barstow, PSGD of Western Circuit Lodge No. 3154 writes... M
y good friend and Masonic colleague, the late and much
lamented John Churly, was once asked, at the time of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge being formed, why young men were no longer lining up in numbers to become Freemasons. “It’s quite simple, dear boy – there is no longer a cachet associated with becoming a Freemason”. John was a wise and experienced Mason and, professionally, expert in Sales and Marketing. He educated students in the dark arts of unique selling propositions, subliminal messaging, brand loyalty etc and was always therefore sought after to join this Metropolitan committee or that advisory panel charged with raising Freemasonry’s profile with the public. I am convinced that he was definitely onto something when talking about the loss of cachet but what did ne mean by the term? By ‘cachet’ one immediately thinks perhaps of an enhanced social prestige, something that makes a man stand out from the crowd but in the past, halcyon days of a prospering Craft, a brother’s membership would often be concealed, not only from his employer and social milieu but even from his nearest and dearest; hardly an obvious route map to social betterment, although we ought to also remember that not too long ago Freemasonry included in its ranks more members of the British Establishment (for example an Archbishop and members of the Privy Council) than could be conceivable today.
10 Of course when John and I were
made Masons, one needed to be invited to join. Overt recruitment such as we currently promote would have been strictly taboo thirty years and more ago. It has become inevitable nowadays as our leaders attempt to defuse a ticking demographic time bomb. Equally inevitable therefore is their desire to bring down barriers to entry, dispel urban myths, deconstruct conspiracy theories, deny secrets and mysterious modes of conduct and recognition, anything which would set a Mason apart or make him different from or alien to, the rest of society. If we consider the derivation of the word ‘cachet’ -from the French verb ‘to hide’- I think we start to close in on John’s interpretation by giving us another nuance of meaning – ‘a distinguishing mark, often concealed or barely visible, by which something may be recognised, by the discerning eye of the beholder, as being of true value and worth’. Is it this essential, unique and esoteric quality which Freemasonry is in danger of losing forever? Like Faust, have we sold our soul to the devil of popular acceptability by becoming the spirit which forever denies – ‘Der Geist der stets verneint’? There is another more recent
switch in direction which would add to John’s disenchantment with the Masonic status quo and have him turning in his grave. A prospective Mason is advised to park his religion at the door before entering. However I wonder how many of our new intake would admit at interview to
feeling themselves more spiritual than religious? Our continued focus on a purely secular definition of Freemasonry’s aims and values will have the effect of sanitising the Craft and devaluing our ceremonies, sacrificing their spiritual element upon the altar of expediency. To my pharmaceutically-trained mind, it is as if we are administering a huge prophylactic dose of antibiotics, thereby preventing the growth of nasties but unfortunately at the same time eliminating all the body positive organisms. Without a deeper insight into our
secrets and mysteries, our latter-day Mason, having been fast-tracked to the Chair, may find himself afterwards feeling empty, isolated and disillusioned at a time when he ought to be inspired to extend his researches. He therefore needs to be sustained and nurtured along the journey, not only in the mechanics of the Craft, through mentoring, but essentially also in his contemplation of what the three degrees of Freemasonry are telling us and how they prepare us, in a spiritual manner and dimension, for the Holy Royal Arch. The Orator Scheme was introduced to provide such insight and, most importantly, to allow a brother the opportunity to express himself openly in lodge on the value of Freemasonry and what it truly means to all of us. It is a shame that it (or another similar initiative) does not so far appear to have been endorsed or promoted, but it is hopefully not too late - SOS!
ISSUE 13
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