Attacking Windmills?

DESIDERATA

(By Max Ehrmann, 1927)

 

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.  Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they, too, have their story.

 

Man did this hit home this morning. I will look at a number of Masonic groups and read their content. Truth be told some of their content rattles around in my head and makes it over here.  Today is one of those days. A couple of days ago a page I really like posted about Albert Pike and his writings. I will not go into detail on it because well…if you know you know and I do not want to stoke the flames here.

The subject seems to be the one thing that Anti-Masons (notice I did not say Non-Masons) cling to. Their entire platform hinges on a section of Morals and Dogma, and a comment made by Pike.

Have you ever heard the statement “Don’t read the comments”? I have and I tend to read them anyway.  The majority of the time you have some good discussions. Other times the Anti-Mason crowd comes out, and they are either funny or sad. In some cases, both.

So how do we deal with people who are “Anti-Masonic” and online “trolls” spewing this false information about Freemasonry? Well, there are a number of opinions on it. Part of what makes it funny are the responses. Which is honestly nothing more than wasted energy. They are not going to change your mind and trust me; you will not change theirs.

So, how do we respond to such things? Well, there are two ways and a question I would ask.  The first being to just say “Hum, that’s interesting”.  The second and honestly the best, don’t respond at all. Like a stary cat, if you feed it, it stays. It is getting the attention it craves. Almost like an addiction. You know ones to many ten is not enough? Same here, it becomes a psychological and in some cases physical need to continue to “argument” and try to prove either side right.

Now to the question. Are we (because I have been guilty too) using the principles taught in our Craft to better ourselves when we grab a horse, lance, and attack windmills? Are we bettering ourselves? Are we bettering the “windmill”? No, we are not.

I was raised in a very Evangelical background and I have heard every Anti-Masonic thing there is. By the way not all Evangelical Christians are “Anti-Masonic”.  To say they are would be painting not only with a broad brush, but a paint sprayer, it just isn’t true.

But, lets be honest the “Anti-Masonic” crowd has never stepped foot inside of a Temple or I am betting watched the Public Meetings on History Channel.

To continue to argue with someone in person or online is about the same as “banging your head” which if your listening to 80s metal is cool, otherwise not so much.

But, Worshipful, then how do we go and tell people that the “Anti-Masonic” folk are wrong. How do we let people know they are being untruthful…how…how…how.

DON’T. Let them believe and think what they are going to.  Masonry is not for everyone.

Do you really want to know how to make a difference? This is something we all need to work on, myself included.

Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one .Marcus Aurelius: Meditations

Waste no more time arguing what a Mason should be. Be one.  W Duane Marshall. Slightly stolen, I do share part of my name with Marcus.

I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly.