As a matter of fact, the duties do not differ; but there are grave
reasons why the Mason should add the weight of his Masonic
membership, his loyalty, his obligations and his Masonic Character to
his intent to be a good citizen of the country in which he lives.
In the Charge to an Entered Apprentice in most Jurisdictions, these,
or similar words appear in the manual or monitor:
"In the State you are to be a quiet and peaceable citizen, true to
your government and just to your country. You are not to countenance
disloyalty and rebellion, but patiently submit to legal authority,
and conform with cheerfulness to the government of the country in
which you live."
All citizens will agree that to be "quiet and peaceable" is a duty.
To be "true to your government" may have many interpretations; in a
large sense it means "do not be a traitor." In the narrow sense it
may mean "don't fake your income tax!" No good citizen "countenances
disloyalty and rebellion" against a "good" government, yet such a
revolution as our War of Independence against the mother country was
certainly considered at that time, by the British Authorities, as
"disloyalty and rebellion." To "patiently submit to legal authority"
needs no interpretation; to "conform with cheerfulness" means a
smiling willingness to abide by a particular statute or an equally
smiling shouldering of the inconvenience of going to the polls on a
stormy election day.
The great lesson of life - as distinct from spiritual values - as
taught in the Master Mason degree, is integrity, fidelity to trust,
staunch loyalty to duty in the face of the greatest odds and most
severe temptations.
To most citizens, at times, comes the opportunity to break some law
for private gain. We are fond of making the statement that we are a
"law abiding people" but, as a matter of fact, "going to the law
about it" has been called "the great American pastime." In
practically every suit of law, one side accuses the other of not
having acted in accordance with some law, made and provided. There
are many acts which are difficult to prove to be illegal, but which
all may see as unmoral, or immoral; it is these, perhaps, more than
the infraction of the letter of the law, which the real Master Mason
will avoid, if he lives his Masonry.
For instance! A Master Mason possesses a valuable painting. He
insures if for a thousand dollars. As he leaves his house to go to
lodge, the nail pulls out of the wall and the picture falls to the
floor breaking the glass, which cuts the valuable painting to
ribbons. Being in a hurry, and there being nothing to do about it
right then, the Mason leaves the wreck on the floor and goes on to
lodge. While he is away his home burns down.
A Man might collect that insurance and still be a "good citizen"
according to the law. But a good Mason would no collect it - even if
the man who sold him the insurance and the men in insurance company
were "not" Masons. A real Mason will not wrong any man, Mason or
not, out of the value of a penny, even when the letter of the law
permits it.
In the charge to the Master Mason, he hears "Your virtue, honor, and
reputation are concerned in supporting with dignity the character you
now bear. Let no motive, therefore. make you swerve from your duty,
violate your vows or betray your trust "
True, the vows and the trust here mentioned are those made within the
lodge. But, "virtue, honor and reputation" a man possesses as a
citizen, not as a Mason. The newly-raised Master Mason is told that
all with which he faces the world, unafraid, able to look any man in
the eye, is concerned in his character as a member of an Ancient
Craft.
It is a poor rule which does not work both ways. "Per Contra," then,
all the reputation as a Master Mason, all the "teachings" of
integrity and fidelity, all the magnificent examples of firmness and
fortitude in trial and danger - even in the Valley of the Shadow -
which a man has been taught, as a Master Mason, are concerned in
supporting with dignity his character as a citizen of the land of his
birth.
It is well understood in all Masonic lodges that politics are never
to be discussed. This law, so well known and obeyed that it is not
even written in most Grand Lodge Constitutions of lodge by-laws, and
comes down to us from the sixth of the Old Charges in which it is set
forth that:
"No private Piques or Quarrels must be brought within the door of the
lodge, far less, any Quarrels about Religion or Nations or State
Policy * * * we * * * are resolved against all Politicks, as what
never yet conduc'd to the welfare of the Lodge, nor ever will. This
charge has always been strictly enjoin'd and observ'd," etc.
In the lodge we meet upon the level and part upon the square. We are
not Democrats, Republicans, Progressives; but Masons!
Similarly, no lodge may take any political action; to do so would be
to draw upon it the immediate censure of the Grand Master and Grand
Lodge.
But neither of these prohibitions mean that Masons should not study
political economy; even as a lodge of Masons they may listen to talks
upon the science of government, which is, of course, a "political"
matter if the word is used in its broad acceptation.
It is the duty of all citizens to be interested in the Public Schools
of their city, town, country or state. The prosperity and progress
of this nation rests on education. So much is agreed. The Masonic
citizen should be especially interested in education; his interest
should mount higher than the non-Mason's, for the reason that
Masonry's continued existence rests upon the kind and character of
the candidates who enter her West Gate. Give the Fraternity
educated, intelligent, thoughtful men and she will grow, prosper and
continue to be a silent, static power for good in a noisy and dynamic
world. Provide her only ignorant, prejudiced, intolerant men for
candidates and in time she too must become intolerant, prejudiced and
ignorant.
"A FREEMASONRY WHICH IS INTOLERANT CANNOT LIVE!"
The welfare of the state depends upon the education of its youth.
But the very life of Freemasonry depends upon the quality of its
membership. Therefore, the Mason as a citizen has two reasons for
his interest in, his support of and his loyalty to the Public Schools
of his State and Town.
No doctrine is more fundamental to America than the separation of
Church and State. No body of men insists more strongly that the
individual brother need subscribe only to "That Religion in Which All
Men Agree" (Old Charges) to be left free within the lodge to worship
God as they choose. Freedom to worship God was the reason for the
perilous voyage and the terrible privations of the Pilgrim Fathers.
Separation of Church and State is a natural outgrowth of freedom to
worship as we please. Masonry has only the Fatherhood of God and The
Brotherhood of Man for her religion - the foundation of all
religions, a faith in which Presbyterian and Parsee, Methodist and
Mohammedan, Buddhist and Brother of Christ may, and do agree.
The Public School System is one of the bulwarks of liberty in this
nation; not only political liberty, but liberty of thought and
conscience. As long as the Public School has no sectarian or
political bias, it will remain a cradle of liberty of thought.
Therefore, not only as American citizens but as Masons, our brethren
are obligated to see that no encroachment, from any angle, from and
sect. from any political party or private organization be made upon
the utter and complete freedom from any religious bias of our Public
Education System.
In a few words, and brief:
The duties of the citizen of the United States, devolve upon the
citizen by virtue of the "manifold blessings and comforts he enjoys"
because he lives in the United States.
As a citizen, a man is expected:
To obey the law;
To uphold the Constitution and Government;
To do his duty in jury service;
To go to the polls and vote;
To bear arms when called to the colors;
To pay his just share of taxes;
To take an intelligent interest in his Government, his party and
political economy;
To support the Public Schools;
To reverence and honor the Flag;
To keep peace;
To serve his country, state, country and town; when called to
leadership;
To live so that his neighbors are happier for his living.
When the citizen becomes a Mason, he adds to these moral obligations
his pledged word, his sacred honor, his character as it is seen naked
to God; that he will do certain things, and refrain from doing
certain things. Every one of these pledges involve not only his duty
as a man but as an American citizen.
Underlying all Masonic duties as a Masonic citizen are those which
are meant when it is said to the Newly-raised Master Mason:
"You are now bound by duty, honor and gratitude; to be faithful to
your trust, to support the dignity of your character upon every
occasion, and to enforce, by precept and example, obedience to the
tenets of our Order!"
The Master Mason should be a better citizen than the non-Mason
because he knows better, has been better taught, and has pledged his
sacred honor!