Over the past few days I have received a few texts messages from some concerned Louisiana Masons. One told me that his Brother in Law passed away from this virus. He is deeply worried about what this whole situation can do to us as Masons. Another asked me if I thought that Louisiana Freemasonry can survive this virus and the lack of getting together as Masons. A third one wrote me in anger. He said that all this “stay at home nonsense” was a waste of time for him. He saw no value in it and that it was only an attempt at trying to make us do what was not wanted. I’d like to give a few thoughts on this situation.
It is my firm opinion that Masonry is NOT in a dues card or in a lodge room. Masonry is either in your heart or it is not. The lodge can help Masons in their personal growth as Masons, but it is not, in itself, Freemasonry. The routine of going to lodge is not going to make anyone a Mason. Staying away from lodge does not automatically make you less of a Mason. It is who you are inside that makes you a Mason. There are times, like right now, when going to lodge does not serve the best interest of the individual Mason nor Freemasonry as a whole. We have to be smart and not focused only on our personal wants and needs. We must think about the other guy.
I believe that we are in a time of evaluation. The simple truth is that we, as a Grand Lodge, have gone through a tough time. Let’s be honest and open, over the past number of years a small number of knuckleheads have placed ego ahead of Masonry and nearly tore our Grand Lodge apart. The “I” was placed before the “we.” For too many years it has been the drive for power and titles that has been the motivation for some. The true teachings of Freemasonry were forced to take a back seat. So, what do we do now? We have no control over a virus that is unseen and we only know about it when it hits us or someone we know. There is a lesson and an opportunity here!We have no choice but to obey the law. We can’t go to lodge meetings now. If all that Masonry is to you is visiting with other Masons, then I ask you to stop and reevaluate. I ask you to take this time off to do a little reading of some Masonic literature, some lessons and teachings of who and what we are. It is very possible that if we are forced to stop, think and learn, then we can come out of this isolation better than before. We may just, as a whole, remember who we are. Sure, if ego drives you, or if your Masonry is just getting together with friends socially every so often, then you may not get much out of this time. But, for the “silent majority,” I truly believe that we can make the most of this time and come out this better than we were. Sure, I may not know what in the world I am talking about. But again then, since we have no choice, why don’t we do some thinking. I have more faith in Masonry in this state than you may imagine.
Michael R. Poll
A Louisiana Mason
(Reprinted by permission of the author)
