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Karl J. Hinkle, 32°, K.C.C.H.
2563 Hot Springs Court, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919-3533
Defining elite as it applies to Freemasonry
results in a better understanding of the true nature of our Craft.
I had the privilege of attending the Scottish Rite Leadership
Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, a few months ago (May 17-18,
2002). The conference, conducted in four locations around the
country during 2002 (Charlotte, North Carolina.; Des Moines, Iowa.;
Reno, Nevada.; New Orleans, Louisiana), brought together Scottish
Rite Brethren from many Orients to witness as well as participate
in several stimulating and thought-provoking presentations, focus
groups, and breakout sessions.
In one of the breakout sessions, we touched on the question of
whether we desire to be an elite fraternity. Much discussion ensued,
which continued among several of us after the breakout session
concluded.
Some of the Brethren believed that we ought not to brand ourselves
elite. They supported their position on two fronts. First, elitism
to them connoted an exclusionary bent. If we are an elite group,
they asserted, we necessarily eliminate a significant portion
of potential members from consideration, particularly those who
may be less than highly educated or less well off financially.
Second, and this perhaps followed from their first point, these
Brethren contended that elitism carries with it a hint of snootiness
with which they preferred not to be associated.
I would concede that some may indeed react less than positively
to the elite label. In this sense, elitism and inclusiveness may
seem to run counter to one another, but Freemasonry is, and ought
to be, inclusive in the sense that men from all walks of life
may benefit from its precepts and practice.
While studying A Bridge to Light by Ill. Rex R. Hutchens
33°, Grand Cross, I noticed a pertinent passage written by
Sovereign Grand Commander Albert Pike. In 1865, Ill. Pike wrote:
Masonry is useful to all men: to the learned, because it affords
them the opportunity of exercising their talents upon subjects
eminently worthy of their attention; to the illiterate, because
it offers them important instruction; to the young, because it
presents them with salutary precepts and good examples, and accustoms
them to reflect on the proper mode of living; to the man of the
world, whom it furnishes with noble and useful recreation; to
the traveler, whom it enables to find friends and brothers in
countries where else he would be isolated and solitary; to the
worthy man in misfortune, to whom it gives assistance; to the
afflicted, on whom it lavishes consolation; to the charitable
man, whom it enables to do more good, by uniting with those who
are charitable like himself; and to all who have souls capable
of appreciating its importance, and of enjoying the charms of
a friendship founded on the same principles of religion, morality,
and philanthropy. (Morals and Dogma, p. 113)
This particular passage might reasonably be interpreted as supporting
this notion of the inclusiveness of Freemasonry. But does it necessarily
mean that we are not an elite fraternity? I submit that although
we draw men from all walks of life, this does not preclude our
being considered elite. Indeed, we are such a special fraternity
in part because we offer so much to so many.
More importantly, we ought to consider ourselves elite because
of all to which we pledge and commit ourselves, and this applies
to all of our appendant and related organizations-the women's
groups, the coordinate groups, and the youth organizations. Think
about it. We live in a world of ever-increasing demands in our
lives, ever-decreasing discretionary time, and ever-increasing
options as to how we spend that precious leisure time. How many
people in that world voluntarily pursue what we have chosen to
undertake?
As members of the Masonic family:
- We seek self-improvement.
- We hope, through our actions, to improve the condition of
others.
- We freely commit ourselves to higher ideals and hold ourselves
to
higher standards than are accepted by most others today.
- We invest our time, effort, and money in charitable work.
- We continually endeavor to understand that which we know can
never
be fully understood, and we remain cheerfully optimistic in
our quest.
- We hold ourselves to a standard of divine truth, steering
toward it as a ship
would steer toward a guiding star.
- We are steadfast in demanding of one another a firm belief
and faith in
God, but leave to each individual the choice of how to worship.
- We unite people of so many races, denominations, and opinions
who
otherwise would have remained at a perpetual distance.
- We maintain, support, and practice protocols of formality,
respect, and
ceremony in our proceedings while institutions everywhere have
slowly discarded even the most basic common courtesies with
which we used to treat one another.
Now, don't we sound like an elite group to you? We may not possess
superior intellectual, social, or economic status (as the American
Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines elite),
but aren't we still a choice or select body (as Webster's Revised
Unabridged Dictionary defines it)?
Do any of those characteristics necessitate an exclusionary stance?
I don't think so. We can still appeal to prospective members from
all walks of life.
This is more than a discussion of semantics. It cuts to the very
heart of the value we, as members of the Masonic Family, place
on our affiliation with the Masonic Fraternity. It directly affects
our self-image and, therefore, the image we project to others.
I, for one, believe wholeheartedly and unequivocally that we
are truly an elite band. Our elite status, though, is not determined
by externally visible trappings. No, our status arises from our
internal qualifications.
So don't fall into the trap of believing that we are simply regular
folk. We may come from virtually every station in life, but we
aren't common. Just because we may appear so to others doesn't
mean we aren't something very special inside.
We are elite. I believe so without hesitation and without apology.
Let all of us truly believe this in our hearts so that we may
be better enabled to spread our beneficent influence among others
and cause others to want to join us.
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Karl J. Hinkle
is a CPA in public practice. He is a Past Master and current
Chaplain of El Paso Lodge No. 13, Colorado Springs, Colorado,
and is currently the Chairman of the Grand Lodge Scholarship
Committee for the Grand Lodge of Colorado. A member of the
Pueblo, Colorado, Scottish Rite Bodies, he serves that Valley
on various committees and participates in numerous Degrees.
E-mail: hinklefamily@att.net |
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