MASONRY IN BUSINESS
How many brethren in this lodge are
worth a hundred thousand dollars?" inquired the New Brother of the Old
Tiler in the anteroom.
"I don't know. Jones and Brown and
Robinson and Hitchcock, certainly, and perhaps Wilson and Moore. You want to
make a touch?" The Old Tiler looked curiously at his questioner.
"A friend of mine is interested in
forming a company," answered the New Brother, "and I intend to invest
with him. As I want to see it succeed, I'll go to see all the wealthy men and
ask for subscriptions. We are going to manufacture a patent elevator device,
that. . ."
''Why confine your list to those in
this lodge? There are more men with money outside the lodge than in it."
"But I have no right to ask them
to invest money in a company just because I am interested in it!" The New
Brother looked very virtuous.
"Have you a right to ask brethren
to spend money on your behalf because you belong to the lodge?" The Old
Tiler looked shocked.
"Why, of course. We are brethren,
are we not? Brethren help each other, don't they?"
"I see no reason why any brother
should spend money exploiting an invention, just because you are
interested," answered the Old Tiler. ''Masonry is not intended to influence
a man's business. If these brethren think well of the invention they will
invest. If they don't think well of it, they won't. But Masonry does not enter
into the matter."
"But it would mean much to me and
to my friend, if this company should succeed and make a lot of money!"
explained the New Mason.
''Suppose it doesn't succeed, and loses
a lot of money?" suggested the Old Tiler. The New Brother began to write in
his notebook.
''That won't happen," he answered
as he scribbled. "This is bound to succeed. But any business man takes a
risk in any company in which he invests."
''Now we get to the root of the
matter!" exclaimed the Old Tiler. "They are to help you, because of
their Masonry, which is mutual with you both; but if they lose, that's because
they took a business risk!
''If the company was to develop a
Masonic property or build a temple, I could see that your common Masonry might
make an appeal. But I see no reason for anyone to buy stock in your company
except a business reason.
"A mutual lodge membership may
serve as an introduction between any two men to discuss anything of interest to
one, in which he hopes to interest the other. Your mutual lodge membership is a
guarantee that you will receive a welcome. It ought to guarantee the other man
that you will not abuse his time and confidence by taking up the one to exploit
the other. He has the same right to expect consideration from you that you have
to expect consideration from him. But you have no right to expect him to suspend
his business judgment just because you are both Masons.
"If you have what you believe is a
good proposition, and, therefore give your Masonic friends an opportunity to
make some money, your motive in listing thc wealthy members of this lodge is
commendable. But you have no such idea. You hope they will win, and so, help you
to win. But if they lose, that's their lookout. That is not Masonic.
''Masonry does not butt into a man's
business. Only insofar as it guarantees that a brother is honest is it a help in
business. As it promises mutual esteem and helpfulness it smoothes the business
path. But when you use Masonry to make the other fellow do something financial
which he otherwise wouldn't do, it is not a proper use of Masonry. Ask your
friends to help you-that's what friends are for. But don't ask strangers, merely
because they are fellow lodge members, to risk their money unless you are
willing to begin by not using Masonry as a means to private gain! Your friends
will help you-brethren not close friends expect you to treat them in a brotherly
way. It's not brotherly to go to wealthy strangers and say, 'I want some money
from you, because we are both Masons!' " The Old Tiler stopped, short of
breath.
The New Brother looked up from his busy
writing , "I could hardly, keep up with you!" he exclaimed. ''You
talked so fast. But I'm sure I got most of it. This will make a dandy
speech!"
"Speech?''
"Certainly. I have no intentions
of getting any subscriptions from anyone. I was after material for a talk I have
been asked to give on Masonry in Business!"
"Upon my word!" cried the Old
Tiler. Then he chuckled. I hope you will see that I am invited inside to hear
it," he said good naturedly.
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