An Observation 5/4/08

Masonry Changes Men

Over the years I have seen the word alter used in place of the correct Altar when referring to the place in the center of the Masonic Lodge which is the focus of the Lodge. They are two different words with two entirely separatemeanings. Yesterday I connected them in my mind.

They are defined as follows:

Main Entry: al·tar
Etymology:
Middle English alter, from Old English altar, from Latin altare; probably akin to Latin adolēre to burn up
Date: before 12th century
1 : a usually raised structure or place on which sacrifices are offered or incense is burned in worship —often used figuratively to describe a thing given great or undue precedence or value especially at the cost of something else 
2 : a table on which the eucharistic elements are consecrated or which serves as a center of worship or ritual

Function: verb
Etymology:
Middle English, from Medieval Latin alterare, from Latin alter other (of two); akin to Latin alius other — more at else
Date:
14th century
transitive verb
1 : to make different without changing into something else

As I was looking at the Altar yesterday at the Cedar Rapids Consistory and listening to the many obligations which we take at that Altar. I realized that the intention is for the Mason become different while kneeling at this sacred place. In other words the Altar is there to alter him. Not a great revelation perhaps, but something to think about.

How does taking an obligation and becoming a member of this "society of obligated men" change a man?

Well, from my perspective it does several things:

Perhaps first and foremost it binds me to a group of men who (should) have high principles and who will stand together through their trials and tribulations and will be there in time of need.

It also places me under an obligation to them and to the world at large to be more and do more than I would have done had I not joined this brotherhood.

This life altering experience which began when I knelt at the Altar of Freemasonry is not a unique experience. Millions of men have knelt there before me and will in the future. It is a personal experience for each of us. For some it will make little difference. If they are there for the wrong motives and aims it may not change them much. For others the words they repeat or listen to at the Altar will make major differences in their lives.

The things we promise to do are not onerous. We pledge to be good men and true and to respect and treat our Brothers in a certain way. We promise to be true to our God, our Family our government and to respect and care for each other. We promise that if there are problems between us we will work to resolve them.

If we join the York and Scottish Rites we come under more obligations and in some cases they ask us for similar things. The obligations in both Rites are many and detailed. They are taken by each of us and they should be taken with a serious desire to live up to them. They both require that if someone who has wronged us asks for forgiveness we will give it. The Golden Rule is very much evident in the underlying principles of our fraternity.

In the Scottish Rite they mention the number of obligations which we take. They request that we not take them lightly but that we will listen to them and do our best to make the things we have promised to do a part of our lives. They also recognize that many will take them lightly and not live up to the obligations. But they ask us to try!

I am seeing a lot of young men become Masons right now. They are searching for that brotherhood and they take their obligations very seriously. Bob Davis of Guthrie, Oklahoma gave a very moving speech at the Scottish Rite one evening. In that speech he said that Masonry was where men come to learn how to be men. (paraphrased) - I find him to be one of the deepest thinkers in Freemasonry today.

If a man comes to Freemasonry to gain titles and to wear the purple of our fraternity he will be able to do that. If he comes to improve his business contacts that can also happen. If he comes for self aggrandizement that possibility is there also. If he comes to learn and perform ritual (without sometimes ever listening to the spirit behind the ritual) that can happen (and often does). If he is an opportunist who comes to get what he can for himself - to improve his status in the world, that can definitely happen.

But if he comes with a pure heart to learn to improve himself and to "spread the cement of brotherly love and affection," and with a sincere desire to be of service to his fellow man (more especially a Brother Mason then he has come for the right reasons and along the way the crude stone which was found on the ground can be chiseled and polished and made into a sparkling jewel in the crown of our fraternity. The Mason who does that can look back upon his life and know that his life was altered as he knelt at the Altar of Freemasonry and he can be eternally grateful for that experience.

I know I am and I shall endeavour to live up to those obligations and continue to "improve myself in Masonry."