Dear Unknown Friend
In the context of our ancient art, the obligation is one of, if the not the most powerful works wrought by a Freemason. It is the expression of one’s will, adamant and inviolable, made before all Brothers, sworn before Deity, and symbolically sealed with penalty; and once made can never be un-made, even if one should try.
As we progress from Entered Apprentice to Master Mason, each obligation more explicitly binds not only the Candidate to us, but we to him, and all of us to society as a whole. It is a fabric, each candidate a strand of thread, and each obligation a weave joining us together as a complete whole.
No Brother stands alone, for if he did, there would be no Brotherhood. Freemasonry is therefore a community effort; that is to say, it requires several Brothers to be done. Brothers certainly come, and regrettable they go. We acknowledge that someone can leave our circle of fellowship, but the point is, by their obligation to us, are ours to them, they are still a fellow; they are still part of the fabric, even if the stand is never revisited in the weave.
When a Brother demits, he demits as a Master Mason in good standing. And even if the nature of the demit is such that the Brother is now antagonistic or hostile towards the Lodge or Freemasonry in general, they are, as far we Masons are concerned, still a Master Mason. Ergo, a Brother they remain, albeit one at a great distance. As such demitted Brothers are to be extended the kind care, love, and protection afforded any other Brother.
I want to be very clear on this, so I say it again: Demitted Brethren are to be extended the same kind care, love, and protection afforded any other Brother.
Treating a demitted Brother as anything other than a Master Mason is a failure to satisfy your obligations: your obligations to them, to all Brothers, and to the world. Failing to satisfy your obligations prompts one to ask did you mean them? Did you understand them? Did you appreciate the nature of what it is you have done, and what you have sworn to do?
PoTS
J.
