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A parade
of misfortunes had culminated by forcing potato planter Fred Jensen
to stop his cross-country dash 85 miles short of his destination.
From his home in Pocatello, Idaho, across almost 3000 miles of
highway, Fred's car had given trouble, and now, at Henniker, N.H.,
the cooling system finally gave up. Stifling a groan, he edged the
large sleek car to the curb in front of Henniker's only garage. The
sun was sinking rapidly, as were his chances of acting, for the
tenth successive year, as keynoter for the Potato-Growers
Association to open in Portland, Maine, the following morning.
"Henniker," Fred mused, "some sign at the edge of town stated that
this is the only Henniker in the U.S." Watching the approach of the
garage man, Fred opined to himself that it was just as well that it
was. He could not help notice the Masonic emblem dangling from the
man's watch chain, emerging from the upper pocket of his denim
overalls. "Well, at least we have something in common," he thought.
"We have both met an obstacle, and both have overcome it. I wonder
if that will make any difference in the service I get?"
Three hours later Fred took stock. He knew by name nearly all the
business men of Henniker, had had a splendid meal at the lodge hall,
had a fine room and bed in the home of our garage man, and the
assurance that his mechanic would work all night, if necessary, to
have his car in readiness for the final dash to Portland in the
morning.
What wizardry lay in all this activity? What transformed this
traveler from far away, from a faceless person behind an auto wheel
into a man of specific merit, and deserving of the favors of these
staid New Englanders? Was he in possession of the proper amulet? Or
did the townsfolk mistake him for Marion Brando, traveling
incognito?
None of these wrought the change. It was his Masonic membership and
the privilege of visitation which was his, is yours, and is mine.
The Mason who travels often, particularly the salesman, is no
stranger to this privilege. Many depend upon it to relieve the
boredom of going from place to place alone, and in time establish
firm friendships in the cities visited.
Any Mason in good standing may visit any recognized lodge in the
country or abroad, subject at all times to regulations of his own
and the visited jurisdiction. The privilege offers itself to the
Masonic traveler at the corporate limits of the community, extends
an invitation to the sojourning brother, an invitation that fades
away only upon his departure from the lodge area. To the Fred
Jensens the world over are made available the facilities of lodges,
the assistance, companionship, and hospitality of its members, all
when he presents himself at the lodge portal. The cold exterior of a
strange community, and the aloof manner of its citizens disappear
upon his acceptance with the friendly and fraternal handshake.
That less than ten in every hundred Masons in the US avail
themselves of the privilege (or ever will) is a regrettable
circumstance. Many brethren are unaware of their ability to call
upon lodges abroad, or that they may seek assistance in case of
emergency away from home.
The word "privilege" has been mentioned frequently. One might ask
why visitation is not a right, especially since some by-laws refer
to it in this manner. It is a right only insofar as each Mason has
the same chance, meets the same requirements, and is greeted as are
all other Masons upon visiting another lodge. However, restrictions
are placed upon the indiscriminate visitation of lodges in much the
same manner as a man may regulate the traffic through his own home.
Any member present in lodge at the time a visitor presents himself,
may object to the Master, and our traveler must remain outside the
tiled door. If already sitting in lodge, he must retire. In Illinois
and other jurisdictions the member is not required to give his
reason, nor is the Master permitted to demand it, The lodge is the
member's fraternal home, so it is for him as well as any other
member, to select those from other lodges to sit with him in his
own. In some jurisdictions only the Master is clothed with the power
of exclusion of visitors. That this right of a member to exclude a
visitor is rarely employed is a tribute to the caliber of men in the
Masonic fraternity. Rarely is a case of abuse of this right brought
to Grand Lodge attention, and many lodges operate for years on end
without a Master being required to execute an order of exclusion.
However, there are logical times when objection is made, but the
objection is then not of a personal character. The visiting Mason
should avoid meetings at which election of officers and lodge audits
are discussed, as well as when any topic of a strictly local and
unpleasant nature is to be aired. He may not be present at Masonic
trials unless he is on official business in connection with such
trial. Only upon express invitation of the lodge should any visitor
presume to appear for admission under these circumstances. Otherwise
he may encounter an embarrassing "impasse" leaving an unpleasant
memory of his visit.
Again, there are certain nonmembers of lodges who are not usually
classed as visitors so far as exclusion is concerned. These include,
in most jurisdictions, the Grand Master, his proxy or accredited
representative, the district deputy grand master of the district in
which a lodge is located and a candidate of another lodge who is
receiving a degree as a courtesy to his lodge. The District Deputy
Grand Master is immune from exclusion only while he is on an
official visit. In Illinois, however, this can be during any time
the lodge is open and may be announced without previous
notification; thus it were imprudent to object to his presence,
should he be present informally. He would need only to retire and
have his office announced with the desire for admission, and the
objector would be shorn of his power.
Most of us have none of these titles and are not involved in trials.
Many of us do not actually know the procedure of visiting another
lodge. The method to gain admission is in most jurisdictions
basically the same.
First of all, be certain you have something to identify you, a dues
card or letter, under seal from your lodge, addressed to you, or any
document issued under seal by it. Make certain the dues card is
countersigned-many brethren have been careless of this in the past.
A card may fall into unscrupulous hands, and might be used in an
itinerant manner to beg money or other assistance, all in the name
of the brother who forgot to sign and then lost his card.
If you are just plain Johnnie Mason, one of the members who never
studied the work and seldom attend meetings, it might be well to
brush up on the principle grips and passwords with a member of your
lodge. Now, fortified with all this, you are about to invade the
precincts of the strange lodge. Let us take the procedure step by
step, beginning with the outer vestibule.
(a) You have previously determined that the lodge is regular and
recognized by your own Grand Lodge. You approach the Tyler and
advise him of your desire to visit, introducing yourself. He will
make the necessary arrangements while you remain with him.
(b) Two or more members of the lodge will appear, from the lodge
meeting if in session, introduce themselves, and chat with you a
short time. These brethren are entrusted with the task of satisfying
themselves that you are a Master Mason in good standing. They may
ask you to examine the register in the thought that a brother may be
inside who could vouch for you and eliminate the examination.
(c) You know not a single brother present however, and are requested
to exhibit the documentary evidence to which we have referred. The
committee will check the directory of lodges to ascertain the
regularity of your own, unless they already know of it.
(d) Having satisfied themselves in that regard, the committee will
retire with you to a convenient place from which any and all other
persons are excluded while the examination is being conducted. If
such a place is not available, all those present and within hearing
distance must aver their membership and good standing right along
with you, the visitor.
(e) You and the others hold the Volume of the Sacred Law while
swearing to your eligibility to visit, and at the conclusion of this
portion of the ceremony the examination proceeds at the discretion
and in the judgment of the committee, who may at this point vouch
for you without further discussion.
(f) This avouchment is made to the Tyler, who will cause you to sign
the register, to which will be appended the name of the member who
is making the avouchment.
(g) After the committee have reported their .findings to the Master,
you will be properly clothed and conducted into the lodge by the
appropriate officer. Here you will be introduced to the members
present and led to a convenient seat next to brethren, if possible,
so that you may be made to feel at ease quickly.
(h) If you are a Grand Lodge officer or hold any title in the
fraternity the Master may, at his discretion, have you brought to
the East for introduction, and accorded a seat beside him.
Now, suppose one day you find conditions reversed and you are
appointed as part of an examining committee. You will act as
described above, and will exercise tact and diplomacy in your
greeting and the way in which you make the various requests of the
visiting brother.
Some suggestions along this line may be timely at this point. When
about to give the oath of good standing as a Master Mason, it is
advisable to ask the visitor if he wishes to give it first, with you
following. Never ask him if he can give it; this is an impertinence.
Possibly he cannot, but it is not your province to be the judge. By
ascertaining whether the visitor has ever held office or has been
commissioned by Grand Lodge, you may decide just to what extent you
will examine him. You would not expect a visitor who is only
occasionally present in his own lodge to rattle off a long lecture
or conduct a degree for you in the examination. Remember to give the
visitor, at all times, the benefit of courtesy and friendliness.
Above all, put the visitor at ease. He may never have undergone this
ceremony before. if you perceive that he is becoming "out of his
depth" in replying to your questions, suggest to him that he relate
what transpired in the degrees in his own words. This will often
bring out the desired information from a brother who finds himself
unable to recite a word of ritual in the proper manner. Always keep
in mind that true Masonry lies far beyond the mere ability to recite
its ritual and ceremony, or the act of doing lip service to its
teachings.
Visitation is, then, a true privilege. We now know that it is such,
since one may visit only at the sufferance of all members then
present. It is a privilege, however, in a greater sense as it
enables a Mason to widen his scope of experience, his acquaintances,
his fund of knowledge, and his understanding of the complexities of
human nature. We shall sometimes find, as did our Western brother
mentioned above, a spiritual life and a renewal of our confidence in
mankind's basic honesty and compassion. When we observe men who were
complete strangers only a short hour before, greet us ' with a warm
and fraternal handshake, we realize that the fraternity is, after
all, a collection of Grand Lodges, which in turn are collections of
constituent lodges. Again, these lodges are made up of the
individual man-in a sense, a procession of "Hennikers" scattered
over the face of the earth, but with a common meeting point of the
mind and heart. Here are the "grass-roots" of the Craft, and with
these qualities the newly raised brother may well plan his Masonic
beginnings.
This Short Talk Bulletin
has been adapted from a service letter issued several
years ago
by the Grand Lodge of Illinois, Committee on
Masonic Education
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