Fear and Loathing
Dear Unknown Friend,
When did the network of our unity ever come to a point rendering us incapable of using a phone?
I speak of no one event or individual in particular. I’m guilty of the absence of communication myself, and more times I’ve erred on communicating and doing so poorly. But with the presence of silence amongst us, I do fear the approach of an old malice, one long absent from my Masonic view. When aggrieved, Brothers flee from open (and difficult and uncomfortable paths to) resolution and slip into terrible dark places, and plot, and conspire, and allow into their hearts hatred and fear, sapping away all vitality from their Work. I’ve lamented that we spread the veneer of brotherly love and virtue, painting over the obvious cracks in the cement. Now I dread it.
The Scottish Rite Degrees admonish us never to let such darkness slip into our hearts, or into our Lodges. During several degrees, we each promise to settle our differences outside of Lodge, and obligate ourselves to always seek reconciliation. Indeed before advancing, if there is a Brother with whom we have reason to quarrel, we must settle it. Our English brethren are given similar instruction within the Craft Degrees.
In spite of these lessons, decay as entered into our Craft, and it expresses itself more and more often, prompting me to worry how pervasive is this problem? Why can I not identify the source – am I the source? Are the outbursts this year the culmination or the beginning? What further darkness is present to squelch our Light?
In order for peace and harmony to prevail, it must have something against which to prevail, and that requires direct communication – even, as I have received it “you’ve hurt me, I don’t want to talk to you ever again”. In acknowledging the pain, we understand our faults, the wrongs we commit, and reveal the ways we need to grow, and furthermore we understand our Brothers better, increasing the strength of our bonds.
I feel the discord and confusion amongst the Craft, I see it readily in the breakdown of communication, and the creation of bastions within our community. Territories are being drawn. Isolationism advances. Us and them are being defined with granularity. Lists are being made, and judging eyes now scan the room.
My worthy brothers, in this hour of darkness what are we to do?
PotS
J.