the regular freemason - michel l. brodsky

7/23/2019 The Regular Freemason - Michel L. Brodsky

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The Regular Freemason - Michel L. Brodsky

The Regular Freemason

By Bro. Michel L. Brodsky

This STB was extracted from a paper written by Bro. Michel Brodsky and published in Vol.1061!!" of #rs$uator %oronatorum &Transactions of $uator %oronati 'od(e ) *0+6, This -aper describes the process by

which reemasons are deemed to be /re(ular/ in n(lish 'od(es ditor

Man, being a social animal, establishes very specific peculiar relationships beteen himself andthose hom he encounters during his life! family, schools, business, church, sports clubs and

Freemasonry are groups in hich such relationship" arise. They mature as his age increases#

from a child dependent on parents he progresses to being a father and a grandfather. $imilarly,

the Freemason develops from an %ntered &pprentice through degrees and offices until

becoming the senior member of his lodge. 'f vieed ithin an historical perspective, there can

be observed the transformation in these relationships hen they are sub(ected to the changes in

environment of the society in hich e live.

The term )Regular Freemason) represents a comple* set of relations delineating the common

field hich binds the individual Freemason and organi+ed Freemasonry. The boundaries of thefield are e*pressed by )landmarks), a distinctive ord hose e*act and comprehensive meaning,

though never authoritatively defined or taught, can only be understood by a )regular Freemason).

hichever theory of origin of Freemasonry is preferred, one may assume that, prior to the

establishment in of the first /rand Lodge, the operative modes of recognition ere

sufficient to establish the 0uality of a visiting brother and indeed his right to visit and to obtain

assistance in case of need. Freemasons in a given locality ould kno each other ell. 1isiting

brethren had to prove themselves before being admitted into a lodge or petitioning for help,

though it is conceivable that, as more lodges ere established, some form of ritten

recommendation may have been carried by those traveling far from home. The cautione*ercised toard a visitor, aimed both at the protection of the societies of Freemasonry and at

the e*clusion of 2oans and impostors from the benefit of charity, is evidenced in the first

ritual te*ts 'n the early Masonic catechisms there are 0uestions hich a visitor had to anser

before he could be admitted to a lodge. &s soon as lodges began to ork 3independently, if the

)operative) option is favored4 it as necessary to determine that he as a Freemason and that his

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lodge and its members could be acknoledged as regular. hen, through intervisitation. Ties

beteen lodges became more formal, and as lodges gave allegiance to the /rand Lodge, it had

to be understood by all that masonic duty included e*tending charitable assistance to a visiting

brother.

Because in the eighteenth century there as neither social security nor personal or medicalinsurance, the problem of assistance to needy brethren as one that the young /rand Lodge of

%ngland had to tackle ithin its limited financial ability. Funds granted by the /eneral 2harity

had to be directed e*clusively to members of the regular 2raft. This as possibly a contributing

factor in persuading lodges to accede to the premier /rand Lodge and a place on its register

offered at least a moral guarantee of reciprocity.

2hanges in attitudes and the evolution of %nglish society beteen 768 and 9 created a

climate of opinion in hich religious# tolerance. the transfer of political poer from the :ing to

5arliament, and the appearance of an e*ecutive capable of decision making created conditions

in hich Freemasonry could appear openly and gro. 't included the coe*istence of a largenumber of diverse denominations ho had to comply ith governments opposed to a

monopolistic religious solution. 2onse0uently many dissenters ere tolerated as long as they

did not represent a threat to the stability of the $tate. The concepts developed during the 2ivil

ar of the 768s ere translated into positive legislation, such as the imposed use of the

%nglish language in the 2ourts of ;ustice.


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lodge and the brethren, beteen the private lodges and /rand Lodge and beteen the /rand

Lodge and the /rand Master. C describe the base necessary for the government of the 2raft but

circumstances change and ne rules ere from time to time adopted by /rand Lodge. $ome

years later, the first edition being out of print, a )?e Book of 2onstitutions) as compiled and

edited by ;ames &nderson in CD. The concept of the )Regular Freemason) is not formulated as

such but is implicit, as is demonstrated in!

1'''. 3as modified on C March C94... The /rand Lodge decreed, that no 5erson so

Eclandestinely made, nor any concerned in making him, shall be a /rand-6 ;uly 99.


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by /rand Lodge-the specified sums to the /eneral 2harity and sends an annual list of its

members to the /rand $ecretary. These conditions, hen fulfilled, enable the traveling brother

to receive a printed and scaled 2ertificate identifying him as a fit and proper Freemason ho

ill be elcomed in any lodge ithin the authority of the /rand Lodge of %ngland. & similar

procedure as enforced by the /rand Lodge of the &ntients.

To this day, an %nglish Freemason ho carries a /rand Lodge 2ertificate, pays his dues and

abides by the 2onstitutions of the @nited /rand Lodge of %ngland is deemed a )Regular

Freemason). =e is entitled to visit any regular lodge and he en(oys all the privileges of

membership of the 2raft.

STB March 1!!2

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the regular freemason - michel l. brodsky

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