An Obligation?

I know the last few thoughts have been about Dedication and Initiations. I have written and thought about how I believe the first two Masonic rituals are dedications, and the third and last in the symbolic Lodge is the true Initiation. I will not go into the happenings of those rituals or even why I believe the way I do, for reasons.

Masons, like many other groups, do in fact swear an oath; in fact, we swear three. That is no secret. Each one builds on the next.

There are Masons who believe we are swearing an oath to the Grand Architect of the Universe and the other members of the Lodge. But again, I disagree with this thought. It is my opinion that when you take a Masonic oath or obligation. You are making a promise to yourself.

Let's start with what an Obligation is.   An Obligation is something (such as a formal contract, a promise, or the demands of conscience or custom) that obligates one to a course of action or ideal. You have promised that you yourself would uphold the ideals of the Order in which you want to be a member. While you have taken that obligation and given your oath. Your Brothers are only there to bear witness. You will later learn (or should) that they are also there to assist you in the lessons of the Fraternity to aid you in keeping your word. Even the GAOTU was invoked to assist you in keeping your word. But it is entirely up to you.

We are designed to ASSEST in making good men better. We cannot make you what you do not choose to be. It is entirely up to you, your determination, and your will.  This is YOUR journey, path, and experience.

In the book “No Common Fire”  the very first chapter is about this very topic. The history of taking and swearing an oath. He discusses the giving of your word from the Sumerians to current day Blue Lodges. He does a wonderful job discussing the subject from many different cultures. Far more references than I am able to write about in this brief thought. But I encourage him to share his thoughts here as well.

Let me finish with one reminder. Within Masonry, we often hear (especially online) “remember your obligation”.  While within Masonry, the core of all obligations may be the same, the wording is not. If I were not in attendance at your “dedications and initiations: I do not know for a fact what you swore to uphold, and you do not know what I did. But what I do know as a common theme among them. If a Brother is in error (and it happens), we should whisper good counsel in his ear to gently aid in his reformation.

While that Friend, who became a Brother swore to uphold his understanding, We as Brothers, before the GAOTU, swore to assist him.

So Mote It Be.

I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly