Knocking

By Rudy Olano
15July06

“The idea that an organization would recognize everyone and every faith as equal and as a brother or that while they are praying the one next to them is sending praise to another God or differently perceived God is simply blasphemy.”

Your inquiry whether the preceding statement is correct in regards to complaints against the Fraternity can be viewed as partially correct. Our Craft is composed of multitude of men who joined for multitude of reasons. Brethren stayed, left and come back for motivation as diverse as the number of membership throughout the world. If you allow me to hazard an opinion, the statement was not the first time it was used to rationalize for dropping off from active participation and a bullet to discredit our Order.

“The idea that an organization would recognize everyone and every faith as equal and as a brother or that while they are praying the one next to them is sending praise to another God or differently perceived God is simply (blasphemy) a Tenet Freemasonry.”

“The idea that an organization would recognize everyone and every faith as equal and as a brother or that while they are praying the one next to them is sending praise to another God or differently perceived God is simply (blasphemy) a religious tolerance.”

Changing the last word with “a Tenet of Freemasonry” to be an accurate statement, will not change or entice those who left and those who cling to their dogmatic belief. Moreover, replacing the last word with “a religious tolerance” will still not make a difference with those who left and those with deep-seated passion of what other people should believe. Fundamentalists exist in every faith including Christians. This is a reason why some well established organized religious entities have some rather perplexing issues against Freemasonry.

If you allow me to remove the word “all” in the last paragraph of your original posting, I would agree in that nicely composed thought. Your description of what the Fraternity means to you is a very good vision especially coming from one who is not yet a member. Hold on that thought for it will serve you right whether you are a Mason or not. What you described is a notion that every human being in this planet ought to consider---- a nebulous dream in our time but then again we mortals can only dream of such things.

Don’t be annoyed if no one rushes to your doorstep or shoot a priority email to your basket. Remember that it is you who is asking a favor and not the other way around. Although through your writing, you seem to be in a right frame of mind to be considered for investigation. You will be contacted in due time. I will leave you with words that are familiar to all the Brethren of the Craft and who knows, that you might hear it again someday, “ …wait the time with patience…”

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