“The
Power and Action of One Man or:
The Continuing Tyranny of the Ballot Box”
by William N. Wine, aprox. 1996
[The
following is a letter posted to Ken, a Master Mason and
member of the Masonry Forum on the former CompuServe computer
network. It was in response to a problem Ken was having
with respect to a comment his brother-in-law received
from a member of Ken's lodge. The member informed Ken's
brother-in- law, who was seeking admission, that, because
he was black, he need not bother putting in an application
for the degrees of Masonry. He was assured by this person
that if his petition came to a ballot, it would be rejected.]
My
apologies brother Ken for getting into this message thread
rather late. Perhaps, however, it has been for the best.
I have been able to closely review 21 excellent replies
responding to your message submitted only 24 hours ago.
I was asked to search my heart and respond with whatever
good counsel I can offer.
You
mentioned being hurt by the comment made to your brother-in-law,
as well you should be. Comments like these should not
be permitted in our universal Masonic Brotherhood. I,
too, was hurt to learn that you have chosen to withdraw
from actively supporting your Blue Lodge or any other
based upon the comment made by one individual. I hesitate
to assume that the brother who made the remark is a "worthy"
brother Master Mason. In our California ritual there is
reference with regard to ‘.. assisting all “worthy”
brother Master Masons’. There is a definite reason
for the word “worthy” otherwise it would simply
state “to assist all brother Master Masons”.
Far
too often I have seen brothers leave the Craft because
of a comment or an action by one individual. Unfortunately,
some brothers know not what they say on occasion. They
speak in haste without thought. Nor have they any idea
as to what damage their comment, action or inaction might
cause.
Bothered
by a personal comment received by a brother Mason I spoke
with a friend who was a District Inspector. He told me
not to feel bad about the comment but rather feel sympathy
for the erring Brother who made it. He was right!
In
your situation a loose comment prevented what might be
a very qualified and valuable candidate from joining the
Craft. It also diverted a brother, namely you, from gaining
further light in Masonry by discontinuing your membership.
How sad it is that yours is not an isolated case. It is
one that hits very close to home.
In
the Korean conflict my father was an infantryman in the
US Army. He was part of a group captured by the North
Koreans and held as prisoners. This was only a week or
so after entering the fight. One night the North Koreans
were marching the POWs from one camp to another. While
crossing a bridge this group was bombed by the US Air
Force. The pilots were only told that North Koreans were
marching and their target was the bridge. There were over
500 prisoners and many North Korean solders in that group.
My father was one of only a few on both sides who survived
the attack.
Winding
up in a ditch he was left for dead or nearly so. A charitable
North Korean medic administered morphine for the pain.
A few days later, after the area was reclaimed by US forces,
he was discovered by a US Army medical unit. They rushed
my dad to a field hospital.
Following
a year recovering in various hospitals, he was finally
well enough to come home to his wife, his family and a
new life. Work was not easy as he suffered from loss of
30 percent in one arm and 70 percent total disability.
This included major surgery near his heart. He received
a purple-heart for the wounds he received and a full disability
retirement.
Once
comfortably home in Richmond California and medically
retired from the military my father was interested in
joining a Masonic lodge. A number of his military buddies
were doing this at that time. He wanted to be a part of
whatever they were joining. This was in the early 1950's.
Following the reading of his petition, a member of the
lodge remembered the many newspaper articles of my father's
capture. He refused to believe that my father, Lawrence
E. Wine, was anything other than an enemy spy or at the
very least, a communist. This was a time when a good many
innocent men and women were being accused of being a communist.
Without further investigation, this man black-balled my
father denying him membership into the lodge. It was many
years before this sad truth came to light.
My
father felt that Freemasonry had turned its back on him;
that regardless of the sacrifices he had made for his
Country, he was unqualified and unfit to be considered
for Masonic membership. Twelve years later he moved our
family to another city. Gathering the courage to make
another attempt he again petitioned the fraternity. My
godfather, understanding the earlier situation, urged
him to submit the application to this other lodge. This
time he was successful.
One
man, just one man, kept my father from
enjoying Masonic Light for 12 years! Twelve years!
Without my father's courage my family would have
never experienced the joy which comes in participating
in the Family of Freemasonry. It enriched each of our
lives and I know made my good father an even better man.
In his desire to improve himself my father served as Master
of his Lodge, High Priest of his Royal Arch Chapter and
President of his High Twelve Club. He set a good example
for his two sons. He also enjoyed serving along side my
mother when they were Matron and Patron of their Eastern
Star Chapter. It simply took extra courage and determination
to ignore the hasty and thoughtless action of one man.
I
shudder at the thought of all the wonderful Masonic experiences
and opportunities I would have missed had it not been
for my father’s courage. My entire life would have
been totally different. Much of what I am and much of
what I have I feel I owe to Freemasonry. What my family
was nearly denied because of the thoughtless action of
one man is impossible to determine. One man and one black
cube in one evening nearly changed the future course of
one entire family for all time!
So
please, my brother, I beg you, be at peace. Have the courage
and wisdom to realize that the actions and opinions of
one man or a few do not always reflect those of the many.
Do not allow the action of one man to deprive you of your
journey toward greater Masonic Light and the possible
rewards that await you. If at all possible, convince your
brother-in-law that there are brethren within the fraternity
who take a very dim view of those who are blinded by the
Light and fail to recognize the Universality of our Masonic
Brotherhood.
Perhaps
your brother-in-law will need some of the courage my father
displayed when he reapplied. I pray that he will make
the attempt, and that in so doing, be as successful as
my father was. I also pray that you and your brother-in-law
will be able to share many years of pleasurable membership
together in our ancient, honorable, and "universal"
fraternity.
William N Wine
Grand High Priest (2005/2006)
Grand Chapter RAM of California
Page updated/reviewed: July 14,
2007
