Putting the Brother Back into Brotherhood. 2/11/09

William Morgan is not a hero in Freemasonry. The "Morgan Affair" is well documented and his disappearance led to the Anti-Masonic party.

In the newest copy of The Northern Light Peter J Samiec, 33° of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction writes:

"...the fraternity that arose from the ashes of the anti-Masonic hysteria was never to be the same. Changes in the fabric of the society, the temperance movement, and increasing religious opposition all combined to influence the re-emergence of the craft.

Gone were the vestiges of prestige and political influence. Masons no longer claimed a "special" relationship with God and Christianity. Relegated to the past were the festive boards and much of the conviviality replaced with a focus on Masonic ritual, community involvement and public charitable acts. Meetings were no longer held in taverns and hotels, and Grand Lodge forbade the consumption of alcohol at all lodge meetings. ...And the beat goes on.. albeit to a different drummer. Many feel that post-Morgan Freemasonry has a spirit of fraternalism greatly diminished by comparison to the pre-Morgan era. The focus on ritual quality, memorization and grand public charities rings hollow with some who feel it's time to put the Brother back into our Brotherhood."

John William McNaughton, 33° - Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction writing in the same issue in his article entitled "The Morgan Affair is History, Get Over it!" says:

"My Brothers, those days are far behind us. It is just fine to change our way of thinking about what we are doing. It is okay to enjoy each others company.

I want you to remember that the Morgan Affair is history. It is past. Let us get over it and put to rest the results of the rumors, unproven conclusions and fear. We are a living presence, a vital force, an energetic driven group of men who want to bring happiness and life back into our meetings. ...
We are 21st century Masons, We are alive and we are Brothers. May we, therefore enjoy each other's company and put William Morgan finally to rest."

I think that is what I enjoy most about Specialis Procer Lodge. A band of Brothers who enjoy each other's company in Festive Boards and learning. We are trying to restore Masonry to what it once was and we have made a good start. I heard one of our Brothers say in his paper at our last meeting:"Masonry is not ritual and ritual is not masonry." Masonry is Brotherhood and putting the Brother back into Brotherhood is what we should be about.