Freemasonry & Empathy

Empathy is often confused with sympathy and compassion, although related, they have three distinct meanings. The feeling which arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering, and you feel motivated to relieve that suffering, is compassion, especially when those feelings and thoughts include the desire to help.

Sympathy is largely used to convey pity, or feelings of sorrow for someone else who is experiencing misfortune. By conveying sympathy to others, lets them know of your feelings toward them. These days, it is usually expressed by sending cards or letters.

Empathy on the other hand, is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. Empathy is the logical extension of Masonic Charity and a demonstration of “Brotherly Love” To a Freemason, it is a device, a mechanism to make the world a better place for all to live in. The admonition to walk a mile in someone else's shoes means before judging someone, you must understand his experiences, challenges, thought processes, etc. The full idiom is: Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. In effect, it is a reminder to practice empathy. Here is a story which encapsulates the meaning of Masonic Relief: A salesman breaks down in a remote country lane, a farmer in the adjacent field comes over and they discover that they are “Brothers” The salesman is concerned as he has an important appointment in the local town, “don’t worry says the farmer you can use my car, I will call a friend and get the car repaired whilst you go to the appointment”

Off goes the salesman and a couple of hours later he returns but unfortunately the car is awaiting a part which won’t arrive until the next morning. “It’s not a problem,” says the Farmer, “use my telephone and re schedule your first appointment tomorrow, stay with us tonight and we will see that the car is done first thing!” The farmers’ wife prepares a wonderful meal and they share a glass of fine single malt during an excellent evening, the salesman sleeps soundly and when he awakes there is his car, repaired and ready to go.

After a full English breakfast the salesman thanks them both for the hospitality. As he and the farmer walk to his car he turns and asks “my Brother, thank you so much but I have to ask, did you help me because I am a Mason?” “No” was the reply, “I helped you because I am.”

My thanks to Biggenden Masonic Lodge No.136 in Queensland, Australia.