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The Lodge: Its Chief End
October 24, 1996, by Francis Cushman©
The Masonic lodge is many things to many people, both men and women. It is
the focal point, a gathering place of like-minded individuals. The beginning of good
and beautiful ideals. It's also a stout refuge in times of trouble and sorrow.
Step across the threshold of the lodge room, and the problems of the unkind world
with its cowens, eavesdroppers, and profane are left without the door.
Our brother Mason, Rudyard Kipling, brought out the truth of "On The Level"
with these words in his poem, "The Mother Lodge":
Outside—Sergent! Sir! Salute! Salaam!
Inside—"Brother", an' it doesn't do no 'arm.
We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square.
An' I was a Junior Deacon in my Mother Lodge out there!
In this poem Brother Kipling lists twelve men, brothers, whose diverse cultures
were vastly different from his own. Our brother recognized the many walks of life
amongst the members of his mother lodge.
In our rituals we lay claim to these words: "To make men better, happier, and
therefore wiser."
To accomplish this noble goal takes the combined efforts of all. By word-of-mouth,
actions and encouragement, we attain this worthwhile goal. These deeds may be
accomplished in many ways: A kind word, a pat on the back, a firm handshake, a mild
correction and the assurance that he who is addressed stands as worthily before us as
does any brother. With our encouragement the laws of God, men and governments
are strengthened.
A question: "What does the lodge mean to you or to me?"
Ask one hundred brothers and you will get one hundred answers. No two will
be exactly alike. Each of us, in our own right, sees and understands the teachings of
Masonry a little differently. This is the right and privilege of a Master Mason. He is a
separate entity bound to his brethren by a common goal: "That the world may be a
better place for his having been here." These are a part of the basic laws and teachings
of Masonry.
Rules, regulations, and common agreement all combine to make up this great
body of like-minded men and women. Without these binding ties the world about us would be a chaos that would
surpass the wildest imagination. We, as Master Masons, are bound together for the common good. Not only for
ourselves, but also for the world around us. We find that the majority of those around us submit to the teachings of past
experiences for the common good.
However, there are those outside of this understanding (the profane) who are bent
upon the destruction of all that is good and profitable for the majority. We call them
dictators, outlaws, assassins, thugs, madmen, and less complimentary names.
Most of the great books of the many religions of the world have a common thread
of thought running through them. It is some version of the Golden Rule: "Do ye unto
others, as ye would they do unto you." These words hold as true today as when they
were first spoken years ago.
Before us, upon the altar where we each took our solemn obligations as a Master
Mason, are many holy documents. Each, for a brother of a different persuasion, is the
one he understands best. None of us need shy away from another brother's tome.
Rather, we can, with a little help and effort, gather to us the strengths, truths, and
wisdom each of these books represents- None of this will detract from our own beliefs,
and it may well enhance them.
This is not an attempt on my part to preach a certain type of religion. It is a way
of advocating tolerance, learning, and respect for another's beliefs and for the
other brothers. Masons and others brought forth three great documents. These are The Declaration
of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and The United States Constitution. It took great courage
to sign any one of these documents. King George III'? men
would have hanged any signer they laid hands on as a traitor against the Crown.
These men, signers of these words, had to do a lot of deep soul-searching before
they pledged their lives, fortunes, lands, and sacred honor to embrace a cause that only
free men can understand and appreciate. This is Masonry in one of its finest hours.
Brother George Washington had the ability to inspire men. He was able to draw
to him men of character, fortitude, and perseverance. He inspired loyalty in a divided
country. He held men together when food was scarce and hope was dim.
It took the best efforts of many worthy men to attain the goals that made this great
country we call the United States of America.
We are told in our degree work that Kings, Nobles, and others of high rank have
seen fit to lay aside their respective instruments of power and don the clothes of the
laborer, as furnished by the master of the lodge. They too have knelt before a similar
altar just as we have done. They kissed the Holy Book before them as a token of
their fidelity.
To be ranked amongst those candidates who have preceded me in this act makes
me proud, yet humble; for I, too, have bent the stubborn knee before the King of Kings.
Experience has taught us to keep a guard upon our tongues. Many and sundry
groups, often under the badge of religion, seek to spread falsehoods against men who
hold their Masonic vows most precious. This is being done in the name of a religion
of which we may not be in full agreement. These groups seem to have as their motto:
"Believe as we believe or else." What that "or else" is, I am not sure.
From the moment he first crosses the threshold of the lodge to the present
moment, a Mason is learning. Life is a school wherein we learn many a lesson. Some lessons are bitter hard while
others are easy and sweet. There are many variations of the lessons of life in between.
The degrees of Masonry are taught slowly. It matters not how many times we
have seen and heard these degrees we leave the lodge hall with a new and better
understanding of the morals, truths, wisdoms, and an appreciation of the time spent in
putting on these degrees. It is by repetition that the lessons become a part of us. We
leave with a deeper appreciation of the efforts of our brothers who present these
degrees. Our thanks go to these brothers who so lovingly embrace the craft and make
it work. All of this is done to the glory of a united brotherhood of Masons.
There are four words that go a long way in summing up the ideals of Masonry.
These are: Friendship, Understanding, Knowledge, and Wisdom.
The friendships we form in the lodge are to be treasured and held close all of our
lives. In a manner of speaking these may follow us to the grave for a living brother may
recall some cherished thought we have written or a word uttered. All of this and more
for the benefit of the brothers.
Understanding is one of the many lessons taught by degrees as we progress ever
further along the roads of life and Masonry. The more we understand, the better we can
meet our fellow man upon the level and the paths of peace.
Knowledge is a precious thing. We learn from our daily lives and associations with
our fellow beings. The mingling we do in the lodge hall with our brothers is bound to
follow us in our daily contacts, our outlook upon life, and in due time turn us toward
a better way.
Wisdom is the ultimate goal of a Mason, that he may not be found lacking in the
understanding of the words above. Each word, by itself, may not carry much weight. Put together and wisely used
they become a force that cannot be turned aside. We, who are Masons, know the true value of these words when they are brought
together and used for the betterment of mankind.
My Brothers, all of what has been said thus far is a part of the lodge and its
chief ends. We are told in the degree work that the solemn obligation we are about to take is
taken in the name of God and, once taken, can never be laid aside.
Think deeply upon these words. They will bring forth in your minds many
thoughts, some of which may be upsetting and worrisome to you.
Some of us have been faced with the unpleasant task of removing from our ranks
a man who we had called brother. I have had the misfortune of being privy to such a
move. This left a sad and bitter feeling within me. It is my hope that none of you have
had to, or will, take part in such a sad and solemn action.
Conduct unbecoming a Mason leaves a black mark upon the whole fraternity and
the individual who was a Brother. If all of this leaves the Brothers upset and ill at ease,
I ask: "What does it do to a man who has been expelled and shut off from the
associations he once held with us?"
There is no doubt in my mind but what he often reviews the events that lead up
to his expulsion and wishes that things had been otherwise.
This is another of the chief ends of the lodge: to prevent, if possible, such
occurrences.
Charity is a word that has, unfortunately, brought forth more arguments between
people than it should have. They bitterly debate the how, where, when, why, and what
of the act and forget the aim or purpose.
Charity is also one of the chief ends of our fraternity. Let us not lose sight of the
worthy goals of Charity in an endless argument of how to do it- Just do it, my brothers,
and by so doing you have helped the world along. You will have shown what Masonry
is about, and given the less fortunate a helping hand that will be felt the world over
long after it was done.
None of us has ever done a charitable act (no matter how small) but what the act
has returned to us tenfold and more. The Supreme Master of the universe has decreed, in His eternal wisdom, that the
fountain of Love will never run dry. In my mind. Love and Charity mean the same thing, under different names. The
more we give of Love/Charity, the more we will have to give.
The aims of Masonry are not to be found in far away places. They can be found in
the lodge, in the fellowship with Brothers, but more importantly they are to be found
deep within the individual Mason. Search yourselves well. You will not come up penniless (as you were when you
entered in the Entered Apprentice degree). All of this can be done without disclosing the
secrets of the Craft.
In the closing of the Lodge we are reminded of certain obligations that we owe to
our brothers and the world without. We are admonished to be of one mind, to know
and to practice that wise obligation of: "Not only does your fellow Mason deserve your
kind acts but the rest of the world also."
These deeds need not be great acts. They may be simple acts of helping another
through a closed door, encouraging them along the road of life, praising a deed they
have done, or telling them they are worthy and well thought of. All of this combined
may be the words that help the Wayfaring Traveler over the next hill and across the
next river.
In our legend of the building of King Solomon's Temple are wonderful and
worthy lessons. How each of you as a Master Mason receives and interprets these
lessons is a matter of individual choice- Each of us comes from a different mold and, as
such, is entitled to his different interpretation of the story. This is another of Masonry's
chief ends.
I have, at odd times, reflected upon this drama. I have asked myself how I would
have acted and conducted myself, as an individual had I been a part of this great
undertaking.
As an Entered Apprentice, I would have been a laborer who did as he was told.
There is no doubt but what I would have had my wonderments about the orders given.
But as an EA, I would have followed the orders. I in due time would have seen in the
progress of the building of the Temple, the end results of my and others' efforts.
Had I been a Fellowcraft, I would have had the added responsibility of seeing
that those working under me were doing the work in a right and proper manner.
Responsibility is a weighty matter.
Were I a Master of the Craft, I would have had more and serious duties to oversee.
No doubt I would have had many a restless night when I pondered the wisdom of what
I had directed and had done the previous day. The higher we rise in our respective
stations in life, the less peace of mind we have and the more we realize the weight of
command resting upon our shoulders.
If we are honest with ourselves and those about us we know and recognize the
truths of the above.
Another lesson we learn in the Chief End of the Lodge is to teach these truths.
As an aside, Capt. W.M. Bruest (under whom I sailed before the mast) was a
Master Mason. One night he told me that command is a lonely place. Then I was
too young to understand what he was telling me. Today I know the value of those
few words.
In "Poor Richard's Almanac" our esteemed Brother Benjamin Franklin said,
"Experience keeps a dear school for Fools will learn in no other."
My brothers, we have all learned the bitter lessons of the world through a variety
of experiences. The teachings of the lodge have helped us to understand and appreciate
the experiences, though bitter they may be.
In its kindly way the Chief End of the Lodge has been to teach, and thereby dull
the pain of past errors. These lessons help us find easier and better ways to face each
new day.
The helping hands I have received from the brothers in the past have done much
to change my attitude toward the world and those upon it. I sincerely hope that, in turn,
I have been able to repay the kindness and patience the older brothers have shown to
me by passing these assists on to others.
The rough and rugged road of life makes us need all of the help we can get.
We, in turn, pass this help along to others to smooth down the road and make the way a
little easier. Yes, the ruffians who beset this road, and who may go so far as to demand
our lives, are still out there in the profane world. Let us resolve to do all we can to foil
their dastardly aims and make the world an easier and better place in which to live.
It has been truly said that life is what we choose to make of it for ourselves
and those about us. This is but another of the chief ends of Masonry as practiced by
the brothers.
Masonry may not be the complete teaching of the way. It is a strong and valuable
asset toward that goal. We, the fortunate ones, can help all of mankind by and with the
examples we set with our own lifestyles.
Not only do our Brothers of the Craft have a claim upon our kind offices, but the
rest of the world also. The question remains, will the rest of the world outside of the
door accept this kind offer?
In many of the Masonic publications, we read about the many charities done by
Masons. Reading these accounts makes me feel better within. I know that I am, in a
manner of speaking, a small part of these helping hands.
The charities of Masonry (not always money) are a binding factor that reaches into
the core of each of us. These allow us to walk holding our heads a little higher and to
step a bit more confidently.
Being a brotherhood and sisterhood of men and women bound by a common tie,
we must/ of necessity, hold our teachings close to us and never lose sight of the many
valuable lessons taught in the lodges.
The lodge has many chief ends- To list them all would take entirely too much
time. Let us enumerate a few that stand out. They are charity, fidelity/ compassion,
aid and assist, honor, understanding, forgiveness, and the eternal love of God.
To continue this talk would soon find us back upon the same pathway we have
already walked. It is my sincere wish that the little I have said here will find a place
within your hearts.
Bibliography
Rudyard Kipling's Verse. Definitive Edition, Double Day and Company, Inc., Garden City, NY.
The Holy Bible. King James Version, The National Bible Press, Philadelphia, PA.
Poor Richard's Almanac. Benjamin Franklin, Peater Pauper Press, Mt. Vernon, NY.
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