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Masonry's Timeless Allure
The genius of Masonry is that it understands the value of common experiences and
symbols to the learning process and uses them to illustrate the principles of
its philosophy. For example, all men have experienced the night and the day, the
darkness and the light, and have associated them with ignorance and wisdom, with
fear and confidence.
All men have observed materials in their rude and natural state and have seen
them fashioned into useful implements. All men have had working tools in their
own hands and have fitted them to their own use. All men have observed and
experienced youth, manhood and age, and have been confronted with the fact of
death. All men, in their own way, have set out on a quest to find some part of
themselves, some essential spirit, that will never, never, never die.
Masons can be confident that Masonry will continue to speak in terms we
understand, will make sense and ring true as long as it uses symbols which have
lived in men's imaginations and have been a part of the common experience of all
men since the beginning of time. This is important to us.
If anyone asks you, "What is the attraction of Masonry anyway?" you can tell him
or her this:
Masonry teaches men to treat each other, and indeed, to treat all men, with
respect and dignity. Masonry asks men to place their trust in God, but leaves
each man to find God in his own way.
Masonry is a philosophy that encourages men to find the best in themselves, and
is a philosophy that a man can always be proud of. Masonry encourages men to be
good citizens and to be active in serving their communities. Masonry has at its
core a few simple ceremonies that exemplify its philosophy and ideals. Masonry
illustrates its great lessons with symbols common to the experience of all men.
You can tell them Masonry holds that we are individually responsible for our own
actions. You can say, "These things are important to me." To a non-Mason you can
add, "I bet they are to you, too."
-- From an article by Wayne T. Adams in the fall 1996 issue of The Maine Mason.
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