We could all use a break from politics, I’m sure. Now that the election is over some of us have friendships to mend and some pride to swallow. Well, Republicans do anyway. Many were shocked to find out that not only did Romney lose but he lost by a popular vote margin that we have not seen in roughly a few decades. Tea Party candidates lost their seats; Democrats extended their majority in the Senate and shrunk the Republican majority in the House. All of the pundits and talking heads are saying that the Republicans will need to do a lot of soul searching and revamp their platform.
I am sure that in the coming months there will be robust debates and conversations on the issue, but for now let’s look ahead to the holiday season and how our community is going to forge ahead and come together to impact the less fortunate. No one talks much about the Freemasons anymore, but in our community they are quietly but effectively bringing joy to the lives of children and making life just a little bit easier for families.
Since 14 Presidents and countless leaders in the military, government, and entertainment industry have been Freemasons, one might question how discussing the Freemasons is a break from discussing politics. But once the Freemasons are officially engaged in their activities they recuse themselves from group political discussions. Locally there is a strong and vibrant community of Masons even though it remains unknown to many because they do not announce themselves as such without reason. However, the work of Masons in our Southern Maryland communities is undeniable.
They are one of many types of groups in the region like Lions, Moose, Elks, and Knights of Columbus, who all choose various community projects and work toward making the world a better place. Unlike other community groups, Masonry is not a “sign-up-and-walk in” type of organization. It is the oldest fraternity in the world and has a long and enlightening process one must endure to be accepted through which an individual proves himself worthy not only to his Brothers, but to himself.
Due to the age of Masonry and its long and varied history in different parts of the world many different rumors have made their way into the public lexicon that are humorous at best. Most of the rumors center around the fact that a Mason makes a series of obligations to himself, his Brothers, God, and his community in which he binds himself to behave according to certain moral precepts thus preparing himself to be a Mason and qualified to make a serious impact on the community.
Due to the length of the process and level of work involved there are steps along the way that a Mason keeps secret. This may seem strange to an outside observer, but to the Mason the secrets are part of a lengthy process of gaining enlightenment that non-Masons should not be privy to unless they themselves earn it. Much like an attorney learns about his or her craft and endures much more to earn a degree than another type of discipline. Why should someone who has not endured that work earn being admitted to the bar? Locally, Masonry has seen an increase in numbers since the state-wide “open house” initiative last year.
So what does
