Past Grand Master, The MW Grand Lodge Of Washington

Secular or Sacred?

Earlier this month, before the most recent shut down order, I was able to open Chehalis Lodge. This wasn’t done for any regular purpose, rather the Lodge had to open in order to make an extremely serious and rare decision that will impact it, potentially, for generations to come.

In keeping with our Governor’s guidelines at the time, there were only five of us present in the entire building, we maintained social distancing, and the Secretary collected contact tracing information from each of us.

It was the very first time I’ve been able to wear the Deputy Grand Master apron and Jewel since I was installed half a year ago.

It was also the first time I’ve done any Masonic ritual in what has become almost a year. I regret to say, my memory wasn’t good. I had a hunch that I would be rough, and I needed to get the Lodge open quickly so that we could turn on the Zoom feed for everyone who was at home, so I opened the Lodge with the assistance of our printed Standard Work. I decided to close it from memory though, and let me tell you, that was rough. Much rougher than I ever hope to be again.

To my mind, none of that is particularly important though.

What is important is the feeling that I got from being with my brothers, in person, despite maintaining the mandated distance. What was also important was hearing, and once again absorbing, our ritual as so many men have through the generations.

It was to me an uplifting experience, a spiritual experience.

I must confess, although this may sound ‘sappy,’ that it felt very similar to me as my first entrance into Lodge years ago when I became an Entered Apprentice Mason.

It reminded me of a question about Freemasonry:

Is Freemasonry a social organization that is a part of our larger society?

Or

Is Freemasonry a spiritual organization that is set apart from our larger society?

I think that question has likely been pondered by a great many Masons over our long history.

Indeed while he doesn’t use the same words as I use above, Albert Pike discussed the question in detail, interestingly taking both opposite opinions through the course of a single one of his books.

I suppose that it is for each of us an individual question, and that like so many things in Masonry the answer may be different for each of us.

As for me personally, I come down to the latter option. I do see Freemasonry, our brotherhood, and our mission in the world as belonging in the realm of the sacred. Of course we have secular concerns as well, but ultimately I believe Freemasonry should be, and is, uplifting to the soul.

This past month stood as a stark reminder to me that it is just that for me.

I think that is likely why our Masonic forefathers called our buildings Masonic Temples. The term ‘Masonic Center’ is much newer, the result of some misguided public relations idea. To me, and I think to the vast majority of our Masons, our buildings are just what they were called in the days of old, Masonic Temples.

Since that meeting of Chehalis Lodge, and since I had these thoughts, our great State has again shut down normal operations. We had hoped that Lodges that felt it best to do so would have been able to begin meeting (with limitations) on December first. Unfortunately, for reasons of public health, those plans have had to be put on hold.

It is my hope that all of us can remain safe and healthy, so that we can all be present when this pandemic is defeated and we can once again sit in Lodge together.

#Spiritual #AlbertPike #Lodge #Chehalis

-Cameron

Cameron M. Bailey
Past Grand Master
The MW Grand Lodge F&AM of Washington

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