Beyond the British Empire Toward Global Brotherhood

Some of you believe in “progress” as made popular by mathematician/philosopher Marcus de Condorcet. Others of you follow Darwin’s ideas of evolution. Yet still others of you may wish to ignore change altogether. Whatever your position it is undeniable that we are a process, immersed in and amongst other processes. The more you think about it, the more mind-boggling it becomes. Therefore, I will not be offended if you wish to stop at any time and read no further. For those of you who are less fundamental and more adventurous, come follow me!

We will explore the global universality of Freemasonry, where it has been, where it is going, with a few side trips along the way. It is without doubt that freemasonry is a beautiful system of morals with the potential to lead us toward global/universal brotherhood and peace. However, we have inherited the ethos of our past and must embrace the world's diversity. Most scholars agree that Freemasonry got its start on the Celtic Isles. It spread around the world through colonial expansion and with the British Empire. Although the British Empire laid the groundwork for what we today now call globalization, at the time it reached only a quarter of the world’s population. Therefore, Masonic Universality only covered one-fourth of the world. This holds true even today. This can be confirmed by simply comparing the number of our world’s existing countries with the number of those counties with Grand Lodges. Yes , I am aware that there are European Grand Lodges in countries that have never adopted Freemasonry. But Only a few of the countries’ indigenous populations adopted Masonry, e.g., notably India and Turkey. The existing lodges in other foreign countries are mainly populated by ex-patriots and belong to European Grand Lodges. Anti-colonial sentiment still exists. This anti-colonial feeling is the major player behind the present anti-Masonic havoc in Kenya, Africa. (There is no indigenous Masonry in Kenya.) In my travels I only witnessed one foreign Lodge that had a majority of indigenous population. That was an English lodge in Barbados. According to the Provincial Grand Master, Prince Hall recognition was their biggest problem due to and a high rate of visitors. I assume that problem has now been settled.

Masonry in the Moslem world is led by Turkey and its great liberator Kemal Ataturk. Lodge property was seized in Bangladesh in the 1970 revolution. On last word, indigenous brothers were working on a case before the Islamic Supreme Court to retrieve their property and status.

As processes continue to intersect, we find ourselves in a new reality: A reality of globalization, computers and plastics. To illustrate the basic nature of this new reality new Let me tell you about a drinking glass. I have a six-inch glass made of plastic. What is unusual about it is the four-inch crack down its side. I can pass a piece of paper down and through that crack. But when I remove the paper and fill the glass with water it will not leak. This uniqueness in the new plastic also results in a phenomenon known as superheating. Water in one of these plastic cups and heated in the microwave oven may then jump out[boil over] when in contact with an imperfect surface like a spoon or a lip.. The world is literally changing around us as we sleep!

As part of this new reality, I was first introduced to the science of Chaos by the Economist magazine in the early 1980's. Its Masonic significance was very apparent to me when they introduced it as the “new geometry”. I had visions of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry’s slogan “Order Out of Chaos” being rewritten

to “The Order in Chaos”. The implication to our perceptions is astounding. It gives new meaning and understanding to those processes we are immersed in. I’m reminded of the American scientist who counted all the items in the universe. That scientist, of course, was Albert Einstein. The number was not, as one might expect, the googol [10 raised to the power 100], (by the way, googol gave way to the name of the Internet search engine Google). However, in fact, the number is in fact, one (1). And referred to as the “Unity Theory”.

“Not Chaos-like, together crushed and bruised,

but as the world harmoniously confused,

where order in variety we see,

and where, though all things differ, all agree.”

-Alexander Pope

The globalization that is taking place is not an homogenization of ideas or cultures as many people fear, but actually an advancement of multi-culturalism, (the adoption of many different cultural ideas expressed and held by one person.) Tiger Woods has become the poster boy for this new reality. Let me explain. Tiger Woods defines himself as a cablinasin. That is His father is ½ Black, 1/4 American Indian, 1/4 White, and his mother is ½ Thai and ½ Chinese.

Dissecting the Masonic Mind

Today’s mind science has progressed on many fronts. There is a new science called neurotheology where brain waves and CAT scans are taken of people as they subject themselves to ritual. The effects are recorded and visualized. We are then able to determine what process, effect what areas of the brain. More simply explaining, why we feel the way we do during certain activities. For example a certain rituals may allow you the feeling of oneness with all and you feel no boundaries. Using modern methods this feeling can be traced to you directing your self to circumventing that part of the brain that provides us with physical orientation and boundaries.

Then there is the idea that thoughts and ideas spread through society in the infosphere through memes. A meme in thought functions much like a gene does in biology. In his book, Thought Contagion, How Beliefs Spread Through Society, The New Science of MEMES, Aaron Lynch categorized, “One should never argue religion or politics.” As a preservation mode, meme. A preservation mode meme makes one immune from proselytizing and avoiding the drop-out rate. (Of course, he has never read The Missing Mason, by John Belton)

The power of these meme/ideas can best be illustrated in the example of an debate held many years ago by the Philalethes Society within Virginia. Allen Roberts was a one man team arguing for change. On the other team upholding the status quo, was a psychologist with me as his advisor. Now mind you. I believe in change as the natural by-produce of both evolution and personal experience, but this was a debate! We decided to interject a Masonic preservation meme. This meme was the ritual statement relating that no man could interject change into masonry. The result: The Masonic audience immediately became completely mesmerized and unable to entertain any consideration of change. Allen was furious. Right or wrong, beneficial or not, Memes are a powerful psychological tool. Any good marketing advertiser knows that proselytizing pays. Current belief is that to survive, proselytizing memes are needed. Will our preservation memes hold out?

Patriotism is Not a Masonic Virtue

Henry Wilson Coil, in his 1961 Masonic Encyclopedia, expressed his concern over the Universality of Freemasonry. He saw the introduction of the USA Flag Ceremony into Masonic ritual after World War I as an erosion of masonry's universality. (I wonder: what his opinion would be on the current flag politics being pushed in American Masonry?) Also, Coil expressed his concern over our struggle between individual rights and organizational rights, specifically concerning the rights of the individual to visit another lodge. A concern dear to my heart. As a sojourning brother I am often shut out by local politics.

Democracy and Human Rights

Democracy and human rights go hand-in-hand. This is scary stuff: can you imagine Masons with human rights or Masons with democracy. I am often reminded of Hammurabi, the Babylonian king, who some 4000 years ago issued a set of laws to govern the actions of his people. Foreigners had no rights and were on their own, even when amongst his people. "This type of interaction is not a Masonic virtue." (Hope this statement is not too shocking.) The freedom of the press does not yet even exist in all Grand Lodges. Has society left us behind?

The Masonic fraternity in the United States no longer mirrors the population and is becoming a minority interest. Even our vignettes have now become the basis of hero/ancestor worship for many of our members.

Race is an illusion that has haunted masonry for years. Race was invented by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach in his book "On the Natural Varieties of Mankind", 1775). And some say that race was invented to justify European Imperialism. Today DNA blueprints make this a 18^th century pseudoscience irrelevant. Our kinship has become apparent. The Unity Theory more relevant.

"Intolerance and bigotry have been infinitely greater curses to mankind than ignorance and error." Albert Pike Morals+Dogma p161.

My country tells me that all men (male and female) are created equal. My religion respects the worth and dignity of every individual. My political persuasion is independent. My God does not have a religion, and like water, has no color, no form, and no boundaries. Which brings me to religion. In Masonry many Volumes of Sacred Light should bless our altars with no religion dominating. I have had to help several candidates who could not find a lodge that would except their religion. It seems that we are forever in the sandbox debate: Who’s God is bigger? Some Masons believe that in Masonry they have found the true religion as mentioned in the bible while others see nothing religious in Masonry. Beauty must be in the eyes of the beholder. Religion and politics have often had a close relationship. As they wrestle for power over our loyalty and commitment. Politics through out history often exploits the power of religion for its own good. E.g., according to Edward Peters, a Medieval Historian at the University of Pennsylvania, the Crusades did not start for religious reasons, but simply because the emperor in Constantinople needed more troops. Religion was just a tool to get those troops. The meaning of the Islamic word "Jihad" or the holy war has an interesting origin. "Jihad" originally referred to an internal struggle within the religious individual. It can be compared to the Masonic gavel. To divest our hearts and minds of the vices + superfluities of life, fitting our minds as living stones…..

“...It comes to whosoever will put off what is foreign and proud.”– Ralph Waldo Emerson in Oversoul.

The utopian idea of Universality encompasses all races, all religions, all social orders, all cultures, all sexes, etc. Yes! We do not live in a perfect world! Each of us probably has a different concept of universality. Each with varying boundaries. Each with a different set of “buts” and “ifs”. But it is wrong when anyone’s free will is compromised by someone else’s definition of Universality. It disappoints me that in our search for true brotherhood, we deny those who seek it. Change may imply that we were wrong in the first place. But can we not leave our need to control others. Only then can we ever realize our own spiritual depths. The mystery behind our behavior is found time after time again in our history.

Yet, we came to learn to subdue our passion.

Or in the words of the Zen Master Bodhidharma:

"Once you stop clinging and let things be, you'll be free, even of birth and death. You'll transform everything… And you'll be at peace wherever you are"

I will always stand up for Universal Brotherhood, because it is the right thing to do!

Rest assured, Brethren, no matter your pedigree or domestication, I will go to your aid when I hear the words or see the sign. For it is how you act, what you say, and your compassion for others that makes you a Freemason.

Finally, may I express the sincere hope,

To all brethren of mind and soul, family and friends,

No matter where dispersed upon this spaceship earth,

No matter your culture, race, religion, sex or social order,

May you all be blessed

With a speedy relief from your sufferings,

With a heart that leads you to happiness,

With thoughts that flourish in freedom,

With a gentle and soothing soul,

With acts of loving kindness to all.

-So Mote It Be.

Biblo

All Connected Now, Walter Truett Anderson

In our own best interest. William F Schulz

Thought contaion, arron lynch

Interveiw by Balimore sunof Edward Peters ,medevil historian U of Pa march 2oo2

Interveiw of Dr. Kidd U of Pa The Quote from Kidd, came from a series of articles by Scott Shane, April
1999 with the Baltimore Sun Newspaper call color line.