Masons

On Tuesday night I went to dinner with the local Masonic lodge. Yes, these are the grand-conspiracy-theory, illuminati-were-styled-off-them, Washington Masons.

It was a very pleasant evening. This was the usual dinner that they have after their “lodge” meeting at the “hall.” Outsiders aren’t supposed to be in the hall, so this is the first and most accessible way to get someone in the door. Prime Rib or Swordfish for dinner, with copious amounts of wine and booze. It reminded me of nothing so much as my old Men’s Glee Club. A very masculine, assertive, proud, and boisterous group of men … who get together because they can do some things as a group (make music, serve charity, whatever) that none of them individually could do. “Men who are trying to become better men” was a phrase I heard a couple of times. At dinner were 50-some men from all walks of Rhode Island life. White collar folks predominated – Bankers, Attorneys, Physicians … but there were also warehouse managers and small businessmen. Most of the guys are 50+ years old. There were a few 40’s, and one or two mid 30’s. I was obviously the youngest person in the room who wasn’t carrying appetizers. I was also the least formally dressed, in my coat and tie. Tuxedos were the rule of the day.

They had invited the president of the RI society for the Blind to talk about his organization and what they do … and the whole room listened intently and then asked very specific questions about what they could do to help. I don’t doubt that he left with a whole pile of commitments for money and assistance.

It was obvious, right from the start, that young men – potential new Masons – are highly prized. There was a membership boom back in the 50s, but enrollment was very low in the 60s and 70s. I was clearly there as a prospective enrollee. I also got the distinct impression that I should regard it as a high complement that I had been tapped. See again the reference to a proud fraternity. I’ve been in that sort of club before … and it was vaguely nice to be back. They stood me and my “sponsor” up after dinner and I was briefly introduced.

I had lengthy chats with all the officers, and wound up lingering at the bar well into the night, talking history and culture with some of the old guard. Discussion of politics and religion is expressly forbidden within the lodge … which kept things moving smoothly.

I don’t know where we go from here. I’ve been looking for some sort of social / community service outlet of this sort for a few years now. The Rotary club is the other contender … and they haven’t called.

The core problems I have with the group should be pretty obvious:

* Ritual for its own sake doesn’t do much, if anything, for me. Ditto for the self-importance that comes from being in the secret boys club with the secret passwords and handshakes.

* Masons have to profess a belief in a “higher power”. That would require a bit of a restatement of my proud atheist stance. There are, worldwide, many Buddhist, Islamic, and Jewish Masons. I’m trying to figure out exactly what questions I’m going to get asked … and if I can give a satisfactory answer without hypocrisy.

* The gender exclusivity is a bit odd, but I’m familiar with the unique social things that happen when you simply drop away all gendered interactions. There’s a place for such groups in the world … but they must be very, very careful that they’re excluding half of the population for the right reasons.

* Similarly, there used to be a tradition of racial exclusivity … but that’s also true for the country as a whole. However, all these guys were white. That said, most of Rhode Island … at least on the East Side … are white. More questions to ask, I suppose.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.