The North Carolina Mason

Freemasonry Is Learning to Love One Another By Jonathan Underwood, Grand Secretary The eminent poet, author and philosopher Dr. Samuel Johnson once said, "The use of travel is to regulate the imagination with reality, and instead of thinking of how things may be, see them as they are." In January I had the honor of visiting Johnson's homeland and attended the tercentenary celebration of the publication of James Anderson's Constitutions in the Great Hall of the United Grand Lodge of England in London. The trip was memorable for many reasons, not least of which was a better understanding of the origins of our Masonic Landmarks, rules, and regulations. Those points, of course, help me better direct the policy and procedures of our Masonic administration. I realized sometimes we get so bogged down in the business of the fraternity that we forget that our business is each other. The Constitutions were revolutionary in many ways and far beyond the scope of simply dictating Annual Returns forms or balloting procedures. The lectures and presentations and my own readings reinforced in me the fact that the establishment of Freemasonry's formal governance in 1723 was intended to be fluid, flexible, and modern. Adaptation and innovation were at all times paramount to the success of the institution's administrative success. Its core tenets – the Landmarks – remain steadfast: to believe in a supreme being or power; to obey the civil law, to meet regularly in lodge; that masters and wardens be properly skilled and capable of administering the business of lodge; that the brethren of a lodge be properly trained and maintain the regularity of work; and, that all members be upstanding in their behavior and deportment in society. The United Grand Lodge of England summarizes these points in their current Code of Constitutions and summed them up with a message very close to our Grand Master's message: love one another. It's a clear, but sometimes difficult, lesson to comprehend. Freemasonry is not a building, nor a number, nor a cookout, nor a fundraiser. Freemasonry is learning to love one another, learning to love ourselves, and through that love understanding how to make our world a better place. In that vein, it is the duty of the Grand Lodge to simplify the business component of Freemasonry as much as possible so our members can enjoy and benefit from the true foundation of our Order – friendship. OPINIoNs Freemasonry is learning to love one another, learning to love ourselves, and through that love understanding how to make our world a better place. 8 | T H E M A S O N M AGA Z I N E

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