Don’s Diary - Boldness be my Friend
It often used to be said that you get
out of Freemasonry what you put into it. It’s a sort of “feel good” statement
that is readily accepted but perhaps not fully understood.
There seems to be two dimensions. First, one’s attitude behaviour and
performance of duties within the fraternity; especially in the lodge room and at
the festive board. Second, what you do
to further the objectives of Freemasonry.
A full and active participation in both seem to be essential for a
complete enjoyment of the Craft.
Nevertheless, there are brethren who are critical of the Craft who are
not, and have never been, fully engaged.
They see their lack of enjoyment as being everybody else’s fault but not
their own.
Attributes such as being happy and
communicating happiness to others, and high integrity are “givens” among
Freemasons and they are included in our instruction. So is the natural courtesy expected of men of
quality. However, conformity with these
requirements alone can result in a very passive outlook. What we need are brethren who are team
players, are also optimistic, enthusiastic, energetic, resilient, and willing
to have a go.
It feels good being around people like
this and they are the sort who have a vision for Freemasonry and get things
done. People like this are unlikely to
have a high sense of entitlement. They
will see themselves as the person who has to take initiatives for improvements,
to build bridges, and bring their brethren along with them. They will recognise when it is necessary to
change their attitudes, behaviour, appearance and all the other things necessary
to be a good Freemason and with that the happiness and satisfaction that
follows.
We also need brethren like this
because optimism, enthusiasm, energy, resilience and courage are the
ingredients to move forward and to achieve objectives. They will be unlikely to be constrained by
the precedent of what used to be done in Freemasonry or the limitations of past
objectives and practices. The desirable
attitudes are not constrained by age, however, they will be unlikely to be held
by a lot of grumpy old Past Masters who might be happier in another
organization or by younger Freemasons who have not been encouraged to
participate fully and develop in a lodge.
These latter groups are consequently likely to enjoy less reciprocity
from Freemasonry than their forward looking brethren.
The “knockers” in our fraternity will
oppose initiatives perhaps saying that they are examples of “The triumph of hope over experience”
(Samuel Johnston, 1791, in writing on marriage). I would rather the enthusiasts say “Boldness
be my friend” from Cymbeline, scene vi, Shakespeare, 1611, when Lachimo said:
“Boldness be my friend!
Arm me, audacity, from head to foot.”
To steal a line from JFK, we should be
asking not what Freemasonry can do for me but what can I do for Freemasonry.
Yours fraternally, Don
