Vital Through Diversity: The Missing Role of Classicism in Contemporary Masonry

Don't you think we've been at the banquet table a little too long? Ennui penetrates the walls of lodges not as the welcome fragrance  of sandalwood, or the calming of lavender. Indifference has almost lost any pretence of subtlety. And surely we must not fall prey to a complete loss of objectivity?  The walls we build are very thick and sound; no need for the aesthetic or is there? 

I think sometimes we haven't been very good stewards of the Craft and as a result, we feel impermanent. So many things change with time. Time moving at the pace of nature, is a harsh unyielding judge but one that has stealth on her side. No epoch but gradual death by a thousand self-induced cuts. Time has shifted us off our foundations. And today, we have begun to pick through the rubble to salvage as much as we rebuild. And that is where an singular advantages comes into play.   Twenty-first freemasonry can claim we have saved best for last!  Now that our labours have slowed into a steady rhythm, we can begin to concentrate our attention on the big picture- the bigger purpose- the key questions that are posed to a thinking man!

We learn most about our own character, when we begin the observation of others. Which might be why Freemasonry has left best for last, giving us all an amazing opportunity.  The so-called 'me generation' has finally come of age.

Breaking through indifference means ending the practice of frog boiling, one that is noticed in many lodges, throughout masonry.  A study of the classics; making distinctions between various classical systems and ideals can enrich understanding and promote appreciation for different peoples the world over. By doing that, we revive the legacy of Freemasonry to the position it richly deserves.