Free Speech

Is there a such thing as free speech in Freemasonry? Because of our membership, are we always under the watchful eyes of our grand lodge officers? Your thoughts?

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Free speech, yes. Free action, no. I should probably expand that a little and say that I don't think our Grand Lodges are the big bad boogeymen that they are often made out to be. They are in a touch situation that the have to care for the good of the craft. In these media times, the stupid thing one random brother does can quickly end up being a story about the Craft as a whole, and that's tough.

So yes I do think that the GLs let us have freedom of speech. Whether they may always listen to the good advise that sometimes come their way, now that can be a different story.

chrmc said:

Free speech, yes. Free action, no." ..... "In these media times, the stupid thing one random brother does can quickly end up being a story about the Craft as a whole, and that's tough.

So yes I do think that the GLs let us have freedom of speech. Whether they may always listen to the good advise that sometimes come their way, now that can be a different story.

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You are correct. Many young men are being raised over here (Bagram) and are not grasping what Freemansonry is about. Each of them can recite back the first three degrees and each of them can define what is meant by each section. They can recite, by memory, everything they have been emailed. Yes, emailed all the rituals, grips, lectures, trial lectures are passed to new candidates via email in preparation for trial. You have no idea how many times I have found the entire 3rd degree sitting on a printer unattended. Then you have the young Knights...hosting large events, dancing vigorously with the ladies... with their shirts off. All in a very public show of what they should not be, Knights are gentlemen, these young kids apparently missed that. There is also a rank structure forming, they do not understand that 3rd degree is it, there is nothing higher. New 3rd degrees go around acting subordinate to 32 degrees.

These new kids have memorized the rituals yes and can define the different forms... but the meaning is lost to them. They are why the GLs have to have a heavy hand in regulating actions. Free speech yes, free action no.

Good point bro. Neumann. Recently in my area one lodge which consists entirely of men in the range of 23-40 years of age, got so drunk and were swerving over the road. The police were called for obvious reasons. But the GL sent an edict that was 10 pages out to the lodges about drinking and driving etc. I think some masons forget that someone somewhere, is watching.

With freedom come responsiblity. (Funny I was just saying this on another post.) DO we have freedom of speech? Sure. But, we have accepted the responsiblity to NOT USE THAT FREEDOM within certain things. We have promised to not speak of certain things at certain times. If we then choose to violate that promise, there coudl be consequences. Again, it is still freedom. For we have the freedom to choose to violate our promise or to not.

Other than those specific promises we have made, and certain ethicals "normals" (i.e. you can't yell FIRE in a crowded theater)... I say yes, we have freedom of speech.
The real question should be, If I say what I want to say, when I want to say it, how will it effect others? Am I in line with the principles of Freemasonry?

There's something in the fine print somewhere about "...conceiving our desires and keeping our passions in due bounds..." that tends to inhibit things sometimes...

bupton52 said:

Is there a such thing as free speech in Freemasonry? Because of our membership, are we always under the watchful eyes of our grand lodge officers? Your thoughts?

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Unfortunately, most Grand Lodge Officers (in my case GLOTX) love to make assumptions based on hearsay vs. actually participating and answering questions on facebook or on a discussion forum like this. My opinion of the GLOTX changed drastically when a Brother emailed R.W. Tommy Guest (Grand Secretary) and asked about our site. The answer he received was "I don't know much about them, but they seem anti-Grand Lodge". Once I saw that reply, I immediately wrote a long email to R.W. Guest and within a short period of time I received an apology from him.

I've always been vocal about my opinions and to this day I don't really care which badge, fancy apron or gold chain reads them. I don't mean that as an insult, I just hold the belief that it's the inner vs. the outer. We're all on the same team.

Many Grand Lodges have used their bylaws to protect themselves from criticism, but how can we improve things if we aren't permitted to voice our opinion?

Hearsay is easy, investigation is work. Masons are workers.

BryanMaloney said:

Hearsay is easy, investigation is work. Masons are workers.

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Thank you.

Bro. Bowden good for you for standing up to the fancy chain. Forums like these are the best way for masons to discuss real issues that might otherwise not be discussed in open lodge.

Blake Bowden said:

Unfortunately, most Grand Lodge Officers (in my case GLOTX) love to make assumptions based on hearsay vs. actually participating and answering questions on facebook or on a discussion forum like this. My opinion of the GLOTX changed drastically when a Brother emailed R.W. Tommy Guest (Grand Secretary) and asked about our site. The answer he received was "I don't know much about them, but they seem anti-Grand Lodge". Once I saw that reply, I immediately wrote a long email to R.W. Guest and within a short period of time I received an apology from him.

I've always been vocal about my opinions and to this day I don't really care which badge, fancy apron or gold chain reads them. I don't mean that as an insult, I just hold the belief that it's the inner vs. the outer. We're all on the same team.

Many Grand Lodges have used their bylaws to protect themselves from criticism, but how can we improve things if we aren't permitted to voice our opinion?

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Sorry about you getting that call..............And I agree with you. The free speach of questioning things the GLoT does helps them see thing they would not normaly see and keeps them on the leavel just like us.

Communication is key. We're all on the same sheet of music, really. The lines will be blurry looking back on it in several decades.

Ways to stimulate engagement seem like positive steps.