Tolerance and Recognition

In 1922, Bro. Oliver D. Street, Senior Grand Warden and Chairman of Committee for Foreign Correspondence, Grand Lodge of Alabama talked about "The intolerance on the part of many Masons and Masonic Bodies towards others claiming to be Masonic is so extreme that they frown even on the suggestion of getting acquainted or of even conferring together." He also said, "Finally, we must rid ourselves of the self-righteous idea that by having any communication or association with Mason or Masonic bodies not already recognized as regular, we render ourselves unclean."

Although the above article was published in 1946 book, Little Masonic Library Book 1 with introductory remarks by Carl H. Claudy, PGM, the message still rings the bells of relevance in our contemporary times. While times change, despite of inroads created in fostering social changes with view of more understanding and tolerance between human beings, there are ideas and habits that will take more time to be accepted. As ordinary humans ordinarily inhabited our Craft, it should not be surprising to see human flaws among us. Nevertheless such limitation should not stop the Brethren from realizing what Albert Pike wanted us to discern --- eloquently suggested in Mark Stavish's book , Freemasonry: Rituals, symbols and History of the Secret Society,---- "the great secret of Freemasonry, clothed in the alchemical language of the Knight of the Sun."

On Recognition

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