Morality and Honor by Nelson King, FPS

"If you don't consider what happened Oklahoma, Tim was a good person."

Quote from Michael Fortier the prosecutions star witness in the Oklahoma City bombing speaking about Timothy McVeigh. [now convicted of the bombing]

Having just read that above quote in Time Magazine it brings to my mind the following debates that I have watched over the last year.

I have watched Masons debate to whether we [ Masons ] should have Lodges in Prisons. Quote "It would help rehabilitate the prisoners if they where Masons." End quote.

Other Masons debate whether it is proper for a Mason to visit Lodge within a Grand Lodge that is not in harmony with his own.

Yet other Masons state that Masonry should be for everybody, that no man, or woman should be excluded from Freemasonry.Now after those debates I have to wonder if morality and honor have changed?

Having watched and listened to these debates, I now profess to be a born again, fundamentalist, Freemason. I was not always so. But over the last few years I have been increasingly drawn back to our Ancient Charges and Regulations. I also feel that these Ancient Charges of a Freemason, should be read in open Lodge once a year. I also believe that Freemasonry is not for everybody. I believe that no one has the "right" to be a Freemason.

I also believe that for at least the last 50 years we [North American Freemasonry] have be more interested in members than Masons and this attitude has produce, Lodge Officers, Masters, and Grand Lodge Officers who have no or little idea of what it means to be a Freemason. We pass candidates from one degree to the next, from one chair to the next chair, who have not learned what it means to be a Mason. Oh sure some of them can do ritual, but ritual does not a Mason make. We elect Masters, not on merit, but due to the fact that he progressed from one chair to the next, and maybe he is a good ritualist, but is he knowledgeable, is he a good Mason, is he a leader, does he have merit? In a majority of cases the answer is no. Is it any wonder so many Lodges are in trouble? Is it no wonder attendance is poor?

Within the last few of years we have a DDGM from Toronto, a lawyer, who after his term as our Grand Master's Representative, was jailed for embezzlement his of clients funds. Funds embezzled while he was DDGM. Why we have even had a DDGM in Southern Ontario, who on his way home from one of his Official visits, while still dressed in his tails, solicited an uncover policewomen. Just this year a DDGM was removed from office because money that was paid to his District was missing. These were elected leaders of our Gentle Craft.

I still have to wonder if morality and honor have changed? I pray that they have not.

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