The Shadow
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By John Garrison
Worshipful Master
Many people in our community have questions about Freemasonry, what it represents and what it teaches. However, they often do not know whom to ask, or even what to ask, to get answers to their questions.
In this and future articles, I will try to shed some light on what some perceive as a mysterious group.
Is Freemasonry a cult, or a religion? Freemasonry is neither, but does stand for religious tolerance. In fact, all Masons must believe in a Supreme Being, but each man’s religious beliefs must be his own and are respected as such.
Masonic Lodge meetings begin and end with a prayer to God, and a Lodge meeting is not official until there is an open Holy Bible placed on the altar. Masons ask for God’s blessings before, during and after their meetings, and ask for His assistance while traveling through life.
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest fraternities, and, at least in North America, membership is limited to adult men. However, there are “appendant” groups, such as the Order of the Eastern Star, DeMolay and Job’s Daughters that are specifically for the women and youth who have a Masonic connection in some way.
What about the misperceptions that Masons are a very secretive group? Actually, Freemasons are not very secretive about the Fraternity or their membership in it, and this public openness is demonstrated in many ways.
For example, most towns and cities with Masonic Lodges have signs posted on the outskirts that tell where and when the local Masons meet for their monthly meetings. Covington, Clifton Forge and Millboro Lodges all have prominently displayed signs at their city, town and village limits.
Also, many Masons are proud to display the Masonic symbol of the square and compasses on their vehicles or have personalized license tags with the Masonic symbol, and many more wear Masonic ball caps, shirts, and rings or other visible jewelry such as cufflinks, tie pins, lapel pins, and so on.
The well-publicized Shrine Circuses are enjoyed by many families and provide the Shrine with monies that are used for charities. What many of the people attending these circuses do not realize is that every Shriner in Virginia started out as a Mason in a local Masonic Lodge.
Freemasons have a number of “official” national charities that they publically support, ranging from Alzheimer’s disease, autism, speech pathology and eye disorders, to the dozen or so Shrine hospitals that treat children suffering spinal cord injuries and burns. Not commonly known, however, is that the Shrine hospitals treat all patients free-of-charge.
Masons also support their local communities through public blood drives, free child ID programs, sponsorship of children’s groups such as Boy and Girl Scouts and the Little League, and, here in the Alleghany Highlands, the Alleghany Highlands and Bath County Christmas Mother programs.
Numerous bookstores and many online websites provide ways that interested people can use to learn more about Freemasonry, and many of the Fraternity’s rituals are found in easily obtained books and on easily referenced websites.
Lastly, Masonic Funeral Rites are very public ceremonies that use numerous Biblical and philosophical references to comfort the grieving family and friends, and to lay a Masonic Brother to eternal rest.
So, what does Free-masonry actually stand for? What does it teach? In the next article, we will look at some of those principles.
John Garrison is the Worshipful Master of Covington Lodge #171 and a member of Millboro Lodge #28. Feel free to contact him at CovingtonLodge171@gmail.com with any questions or comments.
