Masonic Education Series
Uniformity
Before I begin, I want to clear up any misconceptions that might arise about what I plan to say to you today. There are men in this room who may some day be called upon to work on the ritual of their grand lodge. There are men in this room who have it within their power to command changes to their ritual. There are others who may some day in the future have the opportunity to work on a ritual revision committee. These are the people I want to address today.
Now, before anybody jumps to any unwarranted conclusions, I want to impress on you that uniformity in the ritualistic work is mandatory within most Grand Lodges. Every Mason is obligated to follow the laws of his Grand Lodge. What I want to discuss is the concept of uniformity, a concept that is presented to us as an asset, and try to explore how it benefits the Order of Freemasonry. Uniformity is not one of those ancient laws that has been in force from time immemorial. Uniformity is a recent addition to the practice of Masonry, also know as an innovation. The question I want you to consider is this: is it a good innovation or a bad innovation. I want to explore the benefits that uniformity brings, and the disadvantages, if any, that come with strict uniformity.
We hear a lot about uniformity these days. First of all, what do we mean by uniformity? Uniformity means that everybody does the same thing - the same way - every time. So, what do we mean by uniformity? Uniformity means that everybody does the same thing - the same way - every time. So, what do we mean by uniformity? Uniformity means that everybody does the same thing - the same way - every time. That get tiresome, doesn’t it?
So what’s the big attraction about uniformity? If you go from one Masonic jurisdiction to another, you will see that there is very little uniformity among the Prince Hall grand lodges. I have heard brothers ask, “Why don’t the Prince Hall Grand Lodges adopt a standard ritual?” Well, apart from issues of sovereignty, I ask, “Why?” What do we gain from having every grand lodge look exactly alike? Every lodge meeting looking just like every other lodge meeting? Every lodge in every country, in every state, in every city, doing the same thing, the same way, every time? What do we gain?!?
Uniformity is a concept that I first learned about in the military. In the military, it is a management tool, not so much to improve performance but to simplify the process of inspection and evaluation. When everything has a standard form and a standard procedure, it becomes easier to evaluate performance. Inspectors and supervisors don’t have to really evaluate the situation to find out whether or not a procedure is effective or efficient, but only has to observe whether the standard steps have been taken to get the job done. Did this person follow the book? Or did he not? So inspectors have an easy time when strict rules have been set down about how things are done. That is the strongest argument in favor of uniformity: it makes it easy for management to criticize workers.
In Masonry, which has strong and long-standing traditions, uniformity is necessary to some extent, because every Mason and Masonic body binds itself to the Landmarks of the Order. There are things that Masons do that distinguishes them from any and all other fraternal bodies. There is no question that there are things that we do that cannot change, because to change them would change the very nature of the Order. In this regard, we need rules and we need a measure of uniformity. Now the question is, how much uniformity do we need to protect the nature of the Masonic Order?
I want to demonstrate two method of doing the step and dugard of a Master Mason. Watch my feet and hands to make sure I do everything called for in the book (demonstrate subdued steps). Now watch again to see how it might be done in another jurisdiction (demonstrate exaggerated steps and motions). You will see that there was a great deal of difference between the first demonstration and the second. The substance of both was the same. Symbolically, both demonstrations were exactly the same. No informed Mason would mistake the symbolism shown here. The difference is merely one of emphasis, not of substance.
The point of the demonstration is to show that a lot of latitude is possible in Masonic symbolism depending on the emphasis a Mason puts on the various signs and symbols. In some jurisdictions a brother rests the tip of his finger on the appropriate knuckle when giving the grip; in other jurisdictions, the brother embeds his fingernail into the knuckle when the grip is given. In jurisdictions where this is encouraged, the brothers often let the fingernail on the thumb grow to an effective length. In both cases, the action is the same, but the emphasis is different.
As you travel from state to state and visit lodges in other jurisdictions, you will observe many differences in the way things are done. In most cases though, you will recognize the symbolism of every action observed in a Masonic lodge. I have been in a lodge in The Netherlands where bothers stand like this (demonstrate) on the EA degree, like this (demonstrate) on the FC degree, and like this (demonstrate) on the MM degree. We don’t do that here, but you ought to understand the symbolism of that practice. It is not a matter of one jurisdiction being right and the other being wrong, it is simply a difference in emphasis in the way things are done.
Now, here are the points I want us to consider: The less specific the ritual, the more latitude a Mason or a lodge has to develop an individual style; the more detailed the ritual, the less latitude for variation.
The first criticism I offer for the detailed ritual is that it stifles the kind of experimentation that allows brothers to interpret the symbolic meaning associated with an action. Now I realize that the last statement was a mouthful, so let me put it another way. If there is more that one way to show the symbolism associated with an action, you will never see the different possibilities in a jurisdiction with a detailed ritual. I make this point because seeing the same sign given in more that one way is very instructive and educational: it forces the observer to think about the symbolic meaning of the action and this reinforces the lesson of the symbolism. The detailed ritual allows one way of doing it, and any other way will bring criticism. The most detailed ritual will be the easiest to enforce, but will be the least interesting because it allows for no variation. My guess is that the jurisdictions with the most detailed instructions in their ritual will have the most boring meeting.
I have had the opportunity to practice masonry in Europe, where several jurisdictions had lodges (mainly Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Maryland) and I have practiced Masonry in the Metropolitan DC areas where lodges of three jurisdictions were close enough to visit in less that an hour (DC, Maryland, and Virginia). Each of these jurisdictions are different in many ways, but in the important matters, they operate the same. There is much difference in emphasis, little difference in form.
So, how much standardization do we need in the Masonic Order? If you are ever put on a committee where you are allowed to modify the Masonic ritual, what direction should you choose as being for the good of the Order: detailed instructions that govern ever manner of action in the lodge, or general guidelines that might allow variations to slip in?
I know how I would answer. One of the reasons I enjoyed visiting lodges in other jurisdictions was to observe how there could be so many variations on the same theme. Every visit was different, but the differences were instructive and refreshing, and I was motivated to come back. I have also been in jurisdictions where every minute action is required to be identical in every lodge. If you see one of them you’ve seen them all. It’s just plain boring to go back. Members don’t find the meeting fulfilling and visitors find reasons not to return.
One of the reasons for this attitude is that we as Americans value individuality. We do not easily accept conformity and uniformity as virtues in and of themselves. We know how to cooperate, but the more detailed the instructions, the more resistant we become.
Masons know that they have to conform to the landmarks, but within that conformity lies room for much variation such as is seen in the different Masonic jurisdiction.