One point should be made very clear. There is a tendency by some to regard Grand Lodge as some obscure clique or mysterious group working behind the scenes to decide the affairs of Masonry. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Grand Lodge is the Masters and Wardens and representatives of the Grand Lodge, who meet annually. Every action of the Grand Master and his committee is brought before that group and it is they who decide what the policies and laws of Masonry shall be.
Our Lodges have ample authority to enforce our regulations as this authority extends over all their own members, wherever they may be; and also over all other Masons who live within the jurisdiction of the Lodge. In contrast to our civil law, there is no statute of limitations in Masonic Law. Masonic trials; however, are unpleasant affairs that consume the time and effort of all concerned and are often a financial burden on the Lodges. Many of these could be avoided if we would take the following steps:
First, see that our members are educated Masonically so that they know what is expected of them as Masons. Second, when we find a brother forgetting his teachings, we should remember to whisper good counsel in his ear, gently admonish him of his errors, and endeavor in a friendly way to bring about true and lasting reformation. And finally, we should guard our portals so that only those are admitted to our fraternity who will be receptive to our teachings, and who will find it easy to conduct themselves as Masons.
In closing, I would like to point out that in this discussion of Masonic Conduct, we have only looked at one side of the coin. We have spent our time in talking about what lies outside the circle of our conduct. We could spend an equal amount of time discussing that portion of our conduct which lies inside the circle where we are expected to carry out the tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. We should always remember that the good name of Masonry is not the result of what we do not do, but instead is the result of the good things that have been done in practicing outside of the Lodge those great moral duties which are inculcated in it, and with reverence studying and obeying the laws which the Supreme Grand Master has given us in His Holy Word.
