Every year in mid-October, all Massachusetts Masonic Lodges have a day set aside to invite anyone interested, and for whatever reason, to visit a Masonic building near where they live.
This year, the Open House is this Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Here in the “Happy Valley,” we have Lodges in Amherst, Hatfield, South Hadley Falls and Holyoke.
There will be members there who are looking forward to giving tours of their lodges and answer questions about the craft of Freemasonry. Coffee and donuts are traditionally available as well. After World War II, there was a huge influx of returning veterans who became Freemasons. Back then, the annual dues to join a lodge was close to rent for a month. That did not deter the vast majority of applicants.
Today, annual dues are much less money proportionally. The general concept of Freemasonry is to aid and assist in making already good men, better. We are not a secret organization. We are nevertheless an organization that has some secrets that should only be shared between Freemasons. There are some signs and words that historically are kept secret as a way of sharing what degree of skill a workman had in the building of castles and houses of worship. One couldn’t pick up a phone and ask for a reference from a town 20 miles away in 1200 AD.
What I appreciate most about Masonic thought is our desire to apply reason to all issues of the day. The political polarization that keeps good men apart does not exist in Masonry.
Why? Because we don’t talk about politics whether in Lodge, or at meals before or after meetings. We all have so much in common, the joy of good food, good humor, caring for our loved ones and our community. We can truly appreciate and learn from the paths of different lifestyles, religions, faiths, and economic standards. We call it “brotherly love.”
All people agree that the many types of love is in shorter supply these days. “Agape” is one definition of love, which means unconditional love. This is what we strive for. This is why Freemasons off all political and social stripes seem to get along with each other and form an indissoluble chain of genuine affection toward one another. This is hard to find in a world that has so much isolationism built into our daily lives.
Freemasonry is cyclical, we older members learn from younger ones, and visa-versa. We need more members of all ages so we can continue doing the charitable things we do, and the preservation of our beautiful buildings therein. You cannot become a “Shriner” without first becoming a “Freemason.”
There is the “Order of the Eastern Star,” of which both men and women participate equally. Further enlightenment within the craft can be found in pursuing “Scottish Rite” or “York Rite” degrees. I became a Freemason in 1998 at the suggestion of a friend of my mother. He suggested that since I was newly married with one child and no family anywhere close by, that I would appreciate developing close friendships where I lived. He was right!
Metaphorically, I think of Freemasonry as the vines that wind their way through a stand of trees. Thereby all can better withstand the challenges of the weather. We do have a short prayer at the beginning and end of our meetings. And that prayer is dedicated to, “The God of Your Understanding.”
There are Freemasons from every country, religion, sect and nonreligion. We respect all peoples through the practice of “reason.” It seems to work. After all, how many organizations are still respected and active worldwide after a good 800-plus years of existence? Hoping to see you at Open House, and give you a tour of our building, Masonic Temple and its history.
Jimmy Burgoff lives in Belchertown.
