You may remember in my last inspirational piece I spoke of Carl Claudy's Old Tyler Talks.
It is again, late at night when my children and wife are in bed, that I turn to the same.
Our subject this evening is the talk "Atheist and Agnostic," which you may find here.
When confronted with the news that a brother is an atheist, the Old Tyler recommends the preference of Masonic Charges against the brother who does not believe the same as the Young Brother does.
The charge the Young Brother believes worthy of bringing to the Old Tyler is thus: Brother Smith does not believe in the Divinity of Christ.
The Old Tyler responds with his wisdom:
"Oh! Is that what made you call him an atheist? Many thousand Masons don't believe in the divinity of Christ; some are in this lodge. Jews do not; the Chinese do not; Mohammedans do not, but that doesn't mean they don't believe in God."
The Old Tyler responds further.
"There is a conception of God in several churches in which I don't believe, either I" retorted the Old Tiler. "The God in whom I put my trust is not a vengeful God, swayed by passion or prejudice. The God in whom many good people believe is a terrible God, who gets angry and is revengeful and plans horrible torments for those who do not please Him. Because I don't put my faith in that particular idea of God doesn't mean I don't believe in God. And the people who believe in the Deity as pictured by Calvin and Luther and the Puritans may think my conception of Deity is all wrong, but that doesn't make them call me an atheist."
On reflection, the Old Tyler (as usual) makes a point. Freemasonry requires we espouse at the beginning a belief in a Supreme Being to whom all men are accountable. Just because we place certain ideas before others doesn't mean those with whom we sit in lodge don't believe in God.
I had an occasion to visit the Scottish Rite Grand Temple about a year ago when I was admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar. On their floor the altar contains three books: the Holy Bible, the Torah, and the Q'uran. This is by design of the Scottish Rite and the council of 33 members that comprise it.
In Tennessee we are required to keep the Holy Bible on our altar as the Book of Law. That doesn't mean we cannot admit Muslims, Buddhists, Hindis, or Jewish brethren. It means that we are required to follow certain precepts as set down by Tennessee code. It is law, and we abide by it.
That does not in any way mean we discount a man's version of what their religion states.
And we always leave religion and politics at the lodge door, knowing the divisiveness those subjects will bring.
Always, brethren, no matter what, remember that each man who comes to the lodge comes as an equal. Someone who espouses a belief in a Supreme Being to whom all men are accountable. The nature of that being is of no consequence to us; it is a requirement of the Fraternity.
Warmest Regards,
Bro. Chris Seaton
Junior Warden, Rockford Lodge No. 469
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