What is All This Secrecy About?

I sat down on a bench and pulled out my pipe. I rubbed out a flake of my beloved Virginia tobacco, struck a match, and puffed as I contemplated the subject of the meeting I was about to have with a Brother. He was new to the lodge and had questions, so I had agreed to meet him in the park between our places of business. I noticed him approaching me, smiling and waving as progressed along the sidewalk.

"Good afternoon," he said, "I really appreciate you taking the time to meet me here. I have so many questions about the degrees, but everyone else seems to change the subject when I bring them up."

"Well, that isn't much of a surprise," I replied, "chances are that they lack the knowledge to give you a proper answer. Their silence is the best way to maintain their intelligent reputation. What kind of questions do you have?"

"Well, I'm kind of ashamed, but I don't really get the whole concept of secrecy...I mean, what is secret and what is not. My wife is constantly bugging me about what we do in lodge, but I guess I don't know what to tell her. I am excited about lodge and want to share it with someone, but well...you've heard the, uh, penalties, and I don't need to be going around getting myself into trouble." He had a sincere expression of anxiety on his face. "So, just how secret are we?"

I chuckled at his nervous demeanor. The old fogies had certainly put the fear of God into this lad. It is always an unfortunate side affect of the rigid atmosphere that some of our stalwart members brought into lodge.

"First of all my Brother, the penalties are symbolic. They are simply meant to represent the sincerity with which you hold your obligations. You needn't be worried about them, as long as you walk upright and life and strive to be a good Mason and don't go around announcing our secrets, you will be a welcome member of our fraternity."

"But, what are those secrets? How do I know when I am announcing them to everyone if I don't know what they are?"

I paused for a second and watched as a businessman hustled by, munching on a hot dog. "Well, are the ideas of equality, truth, enlightenment, and honor hidden from the world?"

"Absolutely not!" he replied with enthusiasm.

"Well, just as these are not hidden from the masses and are also taught in a Masonic lodge, so are all of the lessons and concepts which the order teaches common knowledge. There is nothing secret about the lessons we teach. Many people believe in God, morality, and the immortality of the soul, there is nothing esoteric about that. You can tell your wife all about what you learned in lodge and how it has made you a better man."

"That's a relief," he said as he wiped the perspiration from his forehead with a handkerchief,"so what is off limits?"

"What makes Masonry esoteric is the forms by which we teach these lessons. The system of hieroglyphic moral instruction which we use to teach these lessons is secret. Symbolism has long been the best way to express abstract concepts and you witnessed that. There are doubtlessly many lessons taught to you in Masonry that you were already aware of, but their presentation deeply imprinted them upon your mind."

I stopped to relight my pipe, the still, humid summer air had caused the embers to be extinguished. "Go on..." my friend said.

"So, we keep the forms secret so that they may have the maximum impact upon you. Also, they are how we can identify one another, lest someone undeserving of our lessons receive them and misinterpret their meaning. These are known as the modes of recognition, you didn't think that it was just a silly handshake did you? Everything in Masonry has a special meaning. I am still learning many of those and you will continue to learn, as well. We never become true Master Masons, because we are always improving our craft. The secrets are simply the esoteric symbols and forms by which we may know a Brother. This teaches us to be trustworthy and protects our craft from fraud."

"Oh, I see, so I can tell my wife all about the lessons which have improved my character, but I just can't show her how they were taught to me!"

"You got it!" I replied with a grin. I always enjoy watching the Masonic light burn in a new Brother's eyes.

"My lord, I am famished, I haven't eaten a thing all day. I'd better grab a frank and get back to work!"

"You'd better do that," I said, "I hope I helped out a bit."

"You sure did, say you want to meet here tomorrow?"

"Absolutely," I replied, "but next time, bring your lunch!"