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Cabletow

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
How long is a cabletow?
Within the context of Freemasonic Mythology: The length of an individual's cable tow is determined by and proportional to that individual's skills in properly maintaining his responsibilities, duties and obligations external to the Freemasonic organization.

Any instance where an individual doesn't appropriately maintain his responsibilities, duties and obligations external to his Freemasonic activities, roles, obligations is the moment he has exceeded the length of his cable tow.

How long is a cable tow? As long as each individual's properly maintained external responsibilities, duties and obligations.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Within the context of Freemasonic Mythology: The length of an individual's cable tow is determined by and proportional to that individual's skills in properly maintaining his responsibilities, duties and obligations external to the Freemasonic organization.

Any instance where an individual doesn't appropriately maintain his responsibilities, duties and obligations external to his Freemasonic activities, roles, obligations is the moment he has exceeded the length of his cable tow.

How long is a cable tow? As long as each individual's properly maintained external responsibilities, duties and obligations.
Acknowledging how you use the words, wouldn't you say "Masonic Mythology" rather than "Freemasonic" or is "Masonic" only concerned with logic and facts ?
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
Acknowledging how you use the words, wouldn't you say "Masonic Mythology" rather than "Freemasonic"...
I wouldn't say that. Freemasonry is about the organization; "cable-tow" is an organizational term, defined by the organization and used within ritual to convey the limits of ritual obligations as I have conveyed by the precursory "Within the context of Freemasonic Mythology:".
...or is "Masonic" only concerned with logic and facts ?
Masonry is about building. Logic and facts are but small parts of building.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I wouldn't say that. Freemasonry is about the organization; "cable-tow" is an organizational term, defined by the organization and used within ritual to convey the limits of ritual obligations as I have conveyed by the precursory "Within the context of Freemasonic Mythology:".

Masonry is about building. Logic and facts are but small parts of building.
See, I don't see the cable tow in an Organizational sense, perhaps extending to society, perhaps to family, but much more personal.. about the obligations I take on as a man; some of these are masonic, but the the most important ones stand outside the fraternity..
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
See, I don't see the cable tow in an Organizational sense, perhaps extending to society, perhaps to family, but much more personal.. about the obligations I take on as a man; some of these are masonic, but the the most important ones stand outside the fraternity..
This is why I premised it with: "Within the context of Freemasonic Mythology:"

It is an organizational term that's all about the burdens each of us have outside the organization.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
How long is a cabletow?

GL of Illinois defines it as 50 miles then ignores that definition and says each Brother defines it for themselves.

It's 50 miles because if you petition a lodge farther than that from home you're supposed to get a lodge closer to your home to submit a "Waiver of Jurisdiction" form to give you permission. It's a rule that gets ignored but the last time I looked the form is still available.

It's also the state border no matter how close you live to the border.

In either case any one Brother can go whatever distance he is willing.
 

Rifleman1776

Registered User
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a cable length as "about 100 fathoms: in marine charts 605.56 feet, or one tenth of a sea mile.
 

Rifleman1776

Registered User
Is a "cable-tow" equivalent to a "cable length"?

That would take a little research to verify. But, if my aging memory serves me, a "cable length" is the distance a level ships cannon could fire a ball before it hit water. Range was increased by raising the muzzle. An enemy ship might be several cable lengths away and adjustments were made to try to hit it.
 

acjohnson53

Registered User
My Cable Tow does not have a length,Always willing to assist in anyway I can, I only look down on Brothers when I'm helping them up./G\SMIB, I was raised that that way...
 
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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I remember asking my mentor how long it was (after it had become a part of my life). He told me, “only you can answer that.”
 

coachn

Coach John S. Nagy
Premium Member
My Cable Tow does not have a length,...
Are you seriously implying that its use within ritual as a rule, guide and healthy limit to your freemasonic involvement and obligations is just lip service when it comes to your health, your family and your vocation and that they are not really priorities over the Craft?
...Always willing to assist in anyway I can...
But you just boldly stated that your cable-tow does not have a length! "Anyway I can" implies that you actually DO have a limit. So, which is it?
...I only look down on Brothers when I'm helping them.....
Why would you ever look down on your Brothers?
I was raised that that way...
Are you stating you were raised to put Brothers and the Craft first and your health, family and vocation second, in direct opposition with the very intent of the Cable-Tow Clause?
Yes!!! The Cabletow shouldn't have a length. It should be endless.
Really? Then what good purpose does it even serve being put within ritual and repeated endlessly for candidates? Is it merely a quaint and manipulative statement to quell their imagined fears and fool them into agreeing with obligations that will overshadow their obligations outside the Craft?

At this point I believe we all need to better comprehend your original question and its main term:
How long is a cabletow?
1) In your mind, what is a freemasonic "cabletow"?
2) To your best understanding, what is a cabletow's freemasonic purpose?
3) For what intent is the freemasonic cabletow mentioned within ritual?
4) Why is it mentioned within ritual where it is?
 
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