What draws men into the fraternity [editorial]

Title

Language

English

Year

1967

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

ScUtonfat; WHAT DRAWS MEN INTO THE FRATERNITY There must be something that draws men into Freemasonry. Inspite of disparagements by others, men seek membership in our Craft. It cannot be material reward, for there is none. It cannot be honor, for the Craft cannot give it. It cannot be power, for Masonry thrives on humility. Masonry stresses responsibility more than privilege; duty more than right; giving more than getting. And yet, men petition for membership in Masonry in increasing num bers; drawn by it, not driven into it. They come of their own free will and accord, uninvited. Those of us who are now Masons came in without any sales talk from others and in like spirit, wo leave others to come in in like manner. We have the case of a marine officer on port duty managing a shipping firm. We remember him lasv year, coming to Plaridel Temple, smiling his way around. Nobody knew him at the start. But he would come once or twice a week. Sometimes he would pick up a conversation with bre thren: After months of this, he finally asked how he could join Masonry. Now he is a Mason and proud of it. Proud and happy in that while his late father remained an EA due to ship duties, he himself finished it and became a MM. A teacher from the north, unknown to us, came to our room, it being the first in the row of officesjn the building. Frankly, unhurriedly, he told us he wanted to be a Mason and would like to buy books and writings to add to whatever he had read before about Masonry. He wanted to get two sets of petitions, one for himself and another for his son. Long before the War he had already planned to be a Mason, but a school teacher's income would not let him. He has since become a school principal and was being promoted to district suoervisor. His children are almost through with their studies. He wanted his son, a mining engineer, to come in with him so they can be brothersl He never was interested in Masonry before. His father was a Mason, but .. . When his father died, he felt more than a physical loss. It dawned upon him that he would belong to is father more by becoming a Mason. And he did. He and his brother are now Masons with two more brothers coming up. He volunteered as Lodge Secretary and with his drive and industry, his Lodge is improving. They will probably keep him as secre tary for as long as he wants the post. He is a poet and thinker. He trains men in creative thinking. He had waited long to join a cursillo. Finishing that, he announced that the only ambition left to him is to become a Mason. He rationalized that the cur sillo made him a better Catholic; Masonry would make him a better man. And so it goes. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction. In this job of pushing the pen for Masonry, we encounter all sorts of situations even in so small a world as our cubbyhole. We do not have to sell Masonry, it sells itself. But, we Masons are in duty bound to conduct ourselves in such a manner as to merit our membership in our ancient and honorable fraternity. This is the kind of silent sales we must do for Masonry. A The Cibletow

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