THE LEVEL OF EQUALITY
From The Grand Lodge Of Texas
Within the Master Mason's degree is contained the charge that
"The ancient landmarks of the order, entrusted to your care, you are to
carefully preserve," along with no infringement, or deviation from the ancient
usage and customs. When raising a new Brother and giving this charge, we are
referred to these "landmarks," which govern our responsibilities to the Craft,
our Ritual, and our God. In early times, landmarks were stones placed to mark
property lines, roads, and places of importance. Their removal or change was
considered to be most serious, and carried great penalty if done unlawfully.
Within the Fraternity, one of our great landmarks is commitment to have equality
among the Brothers. The symbol used to remind us is the Level and it is found as
the jewel of the Senior Warden. This officer is charged to watch over the Craft
when it is at labor and insure that harmony exists within the Lodge. When
installed he is instructed that we come from the same stock, live in the same
world, and are Brothers. Each of us is deserving of regard and respect, for when
death, the Grand Leveler, comes, all of us are the same. Thus, we see the Senior
Warden's duty is to insure a state of equality exists within the Lodge when it
is at labor. The Brothers are to be treated with mutual respect and trust at all
times, but more especially when assembled in the Lodge room.
Admittedly the Master and Wardens are extended preferment as officers, but they,
too, are Brothers of equal status on our Lodge Trestle-Board. The many
references to the Level teach us we are all traveling upon the same "level of
time" and with the same destination. Regardless of status, wealth, or titles
outside the Lodge, within the Lodge we are bound together by equality and mutual
respect for the dignity of one another.
In our closing, we always are reminded that we meet upon this level. Time and
again, the message is the same as how we should meet as Masons. The ageless
lesson of "doing unto others, as you wish done unto you" clearly expresses the
level of respect and equality of conduct gained by being a Mason. Each of us is
a creation of the Grand Architect of the Universe and His Way is what each of us
seeks. Through the support of our Brothers as equals, we labor to improve our
conduct, our understanding, and sense of brotherly love. So, when we hear "upon
the level" or the "level of time," we should reflect upon both the tool and its
inner meaning. The lessons of equality, rectitude of conduct, and brotherly love
bind us all.
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