By Alex G. Powers, Director, Kansas Lodge of Research KSLOR.org
Masonic buildings crumbling and slipping away
spaces in which we meet, we would treat these
seems to be a growing trend these days that is
spaces in higher regard. Temples are sacred spaces
promptly followed by passionate feelings on both
intended to be kept separate from the profane
sides of the matter. I am not going to address that
community. Their intended purposes are specific
issue here directly, but rather some of the thought
and serious in nature. These said intentions are what
process that goes behind those feelings; and the
genuinely separate our workings from the various
terminologies that commonly coincide. So why start
groups and clubs that attempt to steal away the
this article off with that line? Well, within the
Masonic luster. On a deeper level, these intended
arguments that ensue after these buildings go, a
purposes are what truly ignite our spiritual journey.
phrase commonly uttered is “the lodge is the
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Brethren, not the building.” Yet, we use the term
Many today express a sincere disappointment in the
“lodge” in a manner that would directly conflict
overall image portrayed by the Craft. The image
with that statement. “Are you going to be at the
that was is rarely the image that is anymore.
lodge tonight?” Now, one could, and more than
Freemasonry has regressed from elegant halls,
likely will, argue the point that they could be
lavish events, and dapper men to that of run-down
referring to the group of men and not the building
or abandoned buildings, and men in shorts and
directly. That’s true, but if you examine that phrase,
polos that want to sell various raffle tickets or
they are not. How about “Hey, I think the lights got
crummy meal admissions. What happened to us?
left on at lodge.” We can hopefully agree at that
Simply put, we got lazy, cheap, and started putting
point that we do commonly refer to the building
our efforts into excuses, rather than into actual
itself as “the Lodge.” This is where I throw you all
Masonry. There is not just one reason for this
for a loop as I am not going to defend the use of the
change; it has been many things over time in
word lodge. In fact, I am going to propose that we
regards to appeasing the individual over holding the
stop using the word lodge in that manner all
individual accountable to the precepts of the
together and call it what is intended to be, a Temple.
Masonic traditions. With that being said, maybe,
Many of our beautiful old buildings even have this
just maybe, changing the viewpoint of where we
term written in stone along the top. “Masonic
meet will change how people treat it, thus causing a
Temple.” So why does it matter what we call it? My
ripple effect of improvement. It is much more than a
belief is that if we understood the principle of the
“Diet Coke fix”as some say. However, a step in the
