THE DEMANDING NATURE OF FREEMASONRY

When we sit together quietly enjoying the company, our conversations are much different than when we are speaking to a classroom full of student intensity.  Our conversations are intimate. So for a moment let's consider the pros and cons of expansion.  Once upon a time, small groups of men were meeting and intelligent conversations were breaking out.  We have no way of knowing if this was by design or coincidental but we do know, when a group of intelligent people begin to mingle and relax and exchange of ideas is likely to happen. Even before we have tidy definitions we had concepts. Metaphysics was one of them. Broader, more encompassing and abstract.  We know philosophical opinion was absolutely being explored. We may not know the mechanics that transformed that chemistry to standards but it happened.  What this did to the high risk thinkers, that spoke without an intellectual support, was drive it into corners out of sightlines.  Expansion gave us so much; broader interpretation of masonic principles; increased emphasis on tolerance; challenges to authenticity and consistency; global fellowship and fraternal networks; enhanced study of symbolism and philosophy, modern challenges to traditional values; expansion enriched and complicated the study process. If I told you this was freemasonry, it would probably cause alarm, so I leave comment to you. If physics were taught in your schools by cliche', it would not stop or derail progress. We would still be watching physics returning to philosophy for help understanding contradictions.  I will wonder about philosophers in our lodges with my own sense why they have been moved from centre stage to the 'lunatic fringe'. As we know, the philosophers are active in masonic lodges somewhere, if not in ours. Fortunately we have the power to retrieve and examine their work. The Craft isn't as passive or in stassis as we might be lead to believe.