THE
PROPER BALANCE OF MASONRY: THE GREATER AND THE LESSER MYSTERIES
The American Freemason - May 1912
"I THINK
you are making a mistake," writes a kindly brother, "in
unsparingly condemning that phase of Masonry that is concerned
with ritualistic performance. Is it not true - an unpalatable
truth, perhaps - that for most of us this ritualism must remain
as chief aim and purpose of our connection with the Fraternity?
We know that there is an intellectual side to the Institution,
where the scholar and the student find highest satisfaction. But
why should those who have not yet reached that high plane, or
who may not be able to appreciate the full value of these
advanced studies, be denied such pleasure and such profit as is
available to them in lower paths?" My kindly critic gives
opportunity to discourse briefly upon the proper balance of
Masonry, It is true that in these pages, as elsewhere, the
editor has urged insistently the higher imperatives, as those
which should have dominating force in the world of Masonic
thought and action. He would hold out to all brothers the
intellectual promise, rather than show in grosser terms the
rewards and satisfactions of the Craft. He would have every
Mason enter upon the quest "for that which was lost," though
convinced that few there be who shall achieve to complete object
of the search. As from King Arthur's table many valiant knights
arose, with high resolve to seek the Holy Graal - men bold of
heart and true of soul - though only to the few was granted
vision of the chalice sacred, mystical. And yet, if so I read
aright these meaning stories of the past, the knights that
travailed long in places perilous, doing bewhiles great deeds of
fealty and of faith, although denied the precious thing for
which they fought and prayed, were made the better, braver,
nobler, even because they were accounted to have
failed. The properly balanced Masonry is that which gives
full place and scope to all the workmen. The Master who draws
designs upon the trestle-board may not speak with contempt
of those who labor faithfully in the mountains and the
quarries. He may indeed seek for disciples and scholars
among the more eager and ambitious, who are most likely to
profit by his instructions. These, indeed, he will urge to
higher things, knowing full well that the great cause is to be
advanced most surely and speedily by men trained to highest
capabilities of head and heart. But in Masonry, as in the world
without, there must ever be the greater number content with
tasks of lesser thought. Yet to them - to all - should be
unrolled and explained the full plans and meanings of the
structure to which their toil and skill are dedicated. They
should gain significance of the timbers and the stones upon
which their labor is expended. Such brethren are not mere
wage-workers, put by task-masters to their various toil. They
are free Craftsmen, and should receive instruction, increasing
ever with their understanding. So for the Temple of Humanity and
Brotherhood should Wisdom put forth ever nobler effort, with
Strength evident in the mass and Beauty showing in every
detail. I know of no other comparison for Masonry than the
great religious systems of the world, past and present. From
them we may, perhaps, learn where proper balance lies, where
associative effort before has failed and where and how best
purpose has been served. So we find that wherever in the
world's history an organized system has made successful
appeal to the masses of men, there has ever been ample
allowance for the varying capacities of adherents. The
exoteric, outward showing is for the greater number - for that
larger body of worshipers content to remain in the outer
court. Where subtler wants are not felt, the higher spiritual
sufferings would be unmeaning. It is enough for such
exoteric religion that the norms of conduct be established,
and that fear of punishment or hope of reward shall be so
adjusted to unawakened intelligences as to enforce
compliance therewith. I know that this will be called
superstition, and in no way to justify comparison with aught
in Masonry. But superstition, as I take it, has two distinct
meanings. To the man who has advanced beyond the necessity
for grosser compulsions, the term represents no more than do the
old definitions and enforcements of the common law, altogether
superseded by higher mandates. The outworn things are for him
valuable as records of the spiritual evolution through which he
himself, or his ancestors, have passed. But for the unlearned
and unleashed radical the word "superstition" stands for such
things as he will not and can not seek to understand, which he
is concerned only to revile ignorantly, and to proclaim his
refusal of obedience. For him the commands of ancient force no
longer hold, not that they are without reach or meaning, but
that his soul has gained only to a stage of irrational rebellion
against authority. Like an immature boy, such a one seeks only
to express a newly-sensed independence, being altogether unaware
of the eternal compulsions, When I hear "superstition" cried the
loudest, in matters of faith or symbolism, l am inclined to
linger longest, that so I may hope to discover something
more of what has been preserved from an ancient time, and is
today found worthy of the adherence of men. For whatever endures
has in itself the heart of truth. And, likewise, what is true
of religious symbolisms and observances, is true of Masonry in
its exoteric form. There is a superstition, perhaps, of the
fraternity, and it may be regarded from the same standpoints as
mentioned above. The radical by condemning and rejecting
indiscriminately, loses much of highest value. It is only by
providing and maintaining the proper balance, by serving the
needs of the greatest possible number of men, embracing the
broadest range of intellectual capacities, that this or any like
institution can hope, to achieve and hold real meaning in the
world. The brother who can only grasp the outward phases of
Masonry will certainly receive all that can have use for him.
Go into your anterooms after the conferring of degrees, and
answer if this is not true. Hear those who are grateful and
appreciative after receiving the Master's degree, and have
been impressed for good, though no hint even of the esotery
has come to them. The true learner will from that point still
seek and find, will ask and receive, will knock thereafter at
many doors, hidden oftentimes, and these will be opened to
him. But also for him who chooses to remain in the outer
court, to be satisfied with sensuous observances, there is
gain, nicely calculated to capacity. For those having ears to
hear, there are things cryptic, mystical; well worth the
hearing. For those who are content with the ringing of bells,
the bells will ring, and in beautiful harmony. It might perhaps
be permissible to compare Masonry of the Lodges - the
Masonry of routine and of ritual - with those old chthonic
religions, while the real esotery of the Craft rises to the
region where subtle inspirations are received and understood
by highest processes of thought. In answer to my brother, I
esteem very highly that one who finds in ritual his best
enjoyment, though I will not cease to urge upon such a one that
he should use this ritual as a guide to upper paths. But
Masonry, even in its simplest requirements, demands more than
that one should go and remain upon the tread-mill of verbiage,
making no advancement upward or forward. If advancement is made,
whether by means of ritual, or by study or by intuitive
process, be that advancement less or more, in so much is
Masonry honored and benefited, and by so much has the
individual brother made his gain. back to top
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