The lesson of the ballot

Title

Language

English

Year

1957

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

ed upon his own, and which concedes that another may be honest at heart even though wrong or mistaken in his opinion or conclusion. Masonic toleration does not in the least imply any obligation to condone wrong-doing or the commission of crime either by Masons or others, for Masonry undertakes to teach men what is right, just and true; and this field of toleration extends only to those who are trying to follow these precepts and not to those who are knowingly or willfully violating them. Men genuinely imbued with the principle of Toleration are qualified to lead the people in their struggle upward, and those not appointed to lead know how to follow and serve in every movement for Justice, Right and Truth. The Lesson Of The Ballot In small communities competition usually creates enmity. It is almost u nu s u a 1 to see warm friendship existing between business competitors. Avarice and self-interest destroy that consideration which should be' given between decent fellowmen.’ In the same town there once lived two men who followed the same line of business, that of a butcher. The competition for local trade had produced between the two a very strained relationship. Jim Bryant, the older citizen, was a member of the Craft and highly esteemed by the Brethren as well as by his fellow citizens generally. Ambrose Watson, the younger competitor, was also a highly esteemed citizen. The latter became desirious, prompted by a good opinion conceived of the Order, to be ranked among its members. With this object in view he approached his next door neighbor with a request that he propose him as a member. The application in due time came before the Lodge. There were few present who exp e c t e d the application to go through, as all knew of the enmity that existed between the two butchers. “How do you find the ballot in the South?” asked the Worshipful Master. “Fair in the South.” “And how in the West?” “Clear in the West.” “And bright in the East.” Jim Bryant went up in the estimation of his Brethren one hundred per cent: and complimentary remarks were whispered around Lodge—“Jim’s big.” “You can’t beat Jim.” “Jim’ll do the right thing every time.” One night following, Ambrose Watson knelt at the Altar of Masonry. In the country where this happened there is an ancient practice of extending “the right hand October, 19S7 Page 143 of fellowship” at an important point in the ceremony, and the first thing that caught the eye of Ambrose Watson was the right hand of fellowship extended towards him by one other than Jim Dryant, his sworn business enemy. This was hard for him to understand, so after the Lodge was closed he approached Jim Bryant. “Were you present the night 1 was balloted on?” he asked. “I was,” answered Bryant. “Then why in the name of all that’s holy didn’t you blackball me?” “Why should I, Ambrose? You’re as good a man as I arn, and in some ways a great deal better. Because we’re enemies in business doesn’t mean that we can’t be good Brother Masons. This staggered Ambrose Watson, and, with moist eyes, he took Jim Bryan’t hand and said: “Well, if that’s Masonry, it’s a thousand times better than I thought it was. Jim, if you’re agreeable, we won’t even be enemies in business any longer.” A solemn and sacred pact was sealed that night in the anteroom of that little Lodge by the warm hand grip exchanged between two strong men, now no longer at variance with each other because of the fact that Jim Bryant was a “big” man and a true Mason. A few weeks later Brother Watson was to be seen sitting on the chopping block in Brother Bryant’s shop. “What are you doing here. Amby?” he was asked. “As soon as Jim has served that customer he’s going to give me my lesson,” he replied. Jim Bryant had already given his first great lesson in Freemasonry the night he exemplified so well the true, broad principles of the Craft. And the lesson is here for all who want to read: “Big broad-minded”, open-hearted men give an uplift to Masonry. Vindictive, spiteful, narrow-minded men. on the other hand, disintegrate, degrade and counteract the benign influence of our noble Order. —The Masonic Craftsman Freemasonry endorses no particular religious creed but teaches man to respect and revere what his fellow’ hold sacred. To my mind the Grand Lodge deserves unlimited credit for the inception and execution of an idea which puts a paper such as this (The Cabletow) in the hands of the members. This is of all the more importance in that in our jurisdiction Masonry is essentially a matter of education, and it has always been my belief that the more opportunity you give a Mason to know of the history and activities of his Craft, the better practical Mason he will be — Wm. H. Taylor, P. G. M. Page 144 THE CABLETOW

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