Meeting our Ruffians

 This is for Master Masons in the Grand Lodge of New Jersey.  I doubt many will read this, but I think best through writing, so here goes.

As Master Masons, we have all encountered the ruffians.  The ruffians are portrayed by three masonic brothers during the Master Mason degree.  This portrayal is meant to shock the theretofore unchallenged candidate and provides much entertainment to the brothers attending the degree.  When we meet these ruffians as a candidate, we have symbolically assumed the role of Hiram Abif.  We, as Hiram Abif, encounter three ruffians just as we are about to complete construction of the Temple.

This is all esoteric symbolism, written and portrayed to enlighten us to obstacles we will face in completing our own, symbolic temples.  These are not mortal men.  It is all symbolism.  The death of Hiram Abif prior to completion of King Solomon's temple and the subsequent "raising" of new Master Masons symbolizes the completion of one's spiritual, higher being from the depths of his mortal being.  Hiram Abif is not reborn, but rather, it is supposed to be the birth of the higher, God-like being within us.

The ruffians, too, are not mortal men.  They represent our lesser impulses.  They are all of us.  They are the vices, behaviors, and immoralities that prevent us from starting on our travel to gain the light and spirituality needed to work on our "temples."  Along the "rough and rugged road," we, as Hiram Abif ultimately succumb to the obstacles within us, the ruffians.  Hiram Abif does not overcome them; rather they ultimately "take his life" and bury him.  Even so great and good of a man is not given the opportunity to complete his temple.  

My Brothers of The Grand Lodge of New Jersey, we have allowed ruffians to interfere with the peace and harmony of our Freemasonry.  They have pervaded our lodges and the very fabric of our purpose.  Recognize the current dissent and anger for what it is.  It is a manifestation of our lesser impulses undertaken by men who are missing the lessons taught in our gentle science. Spiritually enlightened men would not do some of things we've seen done.

 I say this without taking sides, because there are many Master Masons in Grand of Lodge New Jersey who have allowed the ruffians to run roughshod over their decency and obligations to their brothers.  This is not to claim that there are not issues to be resolved, because the issues are real to those who have allowed them to consumer their lives.  What I am stating is that we are not allowing the lessons of Freemasonry to guide us in our resolution.  

In Masonry, the Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge officers are not meant to be a superior political organization that governs subordinate lodges.  Rather, the Grand Lodge exists to enable to gentle science of freemasonry to flourish among the Brethren working in local lodges.  They are there to advise, to teach, and to help us perpetuate our philosophy.  That's it.  There is no political gain, no power, and certainly no special privileges.