The Regeneration Of Freemasonry

The Regeneration of Freemasonry: We Have Great Opportunities Today

By: Richard G. McNeill, October 4, 2009

In a world of Political Polarity and a similar continuum of Religious Extremism on one hand and Strident Secularism on the other, it seems that everyone is screaming unreasoned and unsubstantiated opinions– and, yet, no one is listening . Where is the Middle Ground of Balance? Masonry has always taught BALANCE AND MEETING ON THE LEVEL. Yet, our earlier influence in society has moved off the radar screen. But, trends indicate that THE TIME MAY, AGAIN, BE RIPE FOR REGENERATION:

1. The country seems to be wanting more balance in their political choices and are increasingly moving away from either Democratic or Republican party affiliation and increasingly registering as Independents.

2. Masonry’s future - the young Gen Y or Millennial Generation that is knocking on our door – are, in their everyday lives, accepting of Diversity among people and they expect the ideals of Masonry (that they read about on the Internet) to reflect this openness and a true practice of its On-the-Level philosophy.

3. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights actually protects and encourages Diversity of opinions and beliefs among people.* And, in the United States Diversity of opinions are expanding. Diversity will never go away – so we need to find a way to harmoniously negotiate our differences. And, shouting at each other from the extremes of often uninformed opinions on either the right or left is not an answer to the ills of our current culture wars.

* The First Amendment to the US Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the Congress from making laws “respecting an establishment of religion," of prohibiting the free exercise of religion, of infringing upon the freedom of speech, of infringing upon the freedom of the press, of limiting the right to peaceably assemble, or limiting the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

What is the opportunity? I suggest that Freemasonry’s timeless tenets and ideals offers hope for an improved society – by modeling a Middle-Way on the continuum of our present world of polarized extremes. We need to Walk-the-Talk of our principles and partner and ally with other like-minded organizations seeking the same Middle-Way.

This Middle-Way is a return to Civility. Civilitarianism needs to become our guiding battle cry for an improved society.

Civility is not a call for simple and polite manners. It is more robust in that it calls for people to discipline themselves to respect differing opinions found in their fellow creatures; and, we all know that this is not easy. This robust form of Civility asks people to support their own opinions and beliefs with substantiated reason and require the other person to do the same. There is no requirement to change one’s views – only to listen with respect to the other’s diversity of perspective and views. The concept of Religious Liberty (guaranteed by the First Amendment – see above) by definition drives diversity of views and this is a protected inalienable right.

Diversity, in a democratic society, drives a demand for increased Religious Liberty. And, Religious Liberty means more than matters pertaining to church – it’s the freedom to believe whatever one wants to, according to one’s private conscience. This is a First Principle of Freedom because what is in someone’s head leads to action. Thus, individual beliefs may lead to Second and Third Principles: freedom of speech , which may lead to freedom of assembly of like minds, etc. One’s individual thoughts are the motivating force of action.

Thus, Diversity is part and parcel of the founding principles of the United States – and it will only increase both domestically and internationally as formerly homogeneous European and other nations experience rapid immigration from varying ethnic groups.

Can Masonry truly practice the ideals that it inculcates as its own central tenets? Can we discipline and fortify ourselves with reason - to resist the common temptation to join with unthinking partisans in ignorant assaults on people who may just happen to agree with us on goals but differ as to how to reach those goals? A Mason is idealized as someone who can practice this Middle and Reasoned Way.

I believe that the Regeneration of Freemasonry will be found in reasserting our inherent core principles of dealing with our fellow human beings in a balanced Middle-Way – between the unreasoned extremes that seem to dominate society today. We can be a catalyst in partnering and allying with other organizations which have similar concerns for the health of our society. It calls for a robust form of Civility where the realities of diverse viewpoints must be harmoniously reconciled and accepted – but, not suppressed.

We must advocate and lead into existence, a Civilitarian Society. This can begin by forming small Civilitarian Society discussion groups in our communities – perhaps using our Lodges as initial meeting sites where Masons, non-Masons, men & women, and other interested people can gather to grapple with this important issue. This is a small beginning, but like all fundamentally essential and timely concerns, in a democratic nation, these small beginnings can spread to encompass increasing numbers of receptive people.

Working together, we all can make a difference. We can, “Make better men and – by extension – make a better society in the 21st Century?”


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