Qualifications for Public Trust re: Masonry
 

I used to be a denominational pastor. A very rigid denomination that felt it was better than the others (actually, all denominations think like that). A good friend was a city official and a member of a different denomination of the same genre that allowed the members to be masons – my denomination did not.

This had been a big deal to me as my family was all masons for several generations and they were not pleased that I had become one of “those kinds.” Consequently, I studied the issue thoroughly.

My friend and I got into a discussion. I asked him how he handled being a Christian, a public official, and a freemason. “What do you mean?” he asked.

            “Well how do you reconcile the oaths and vows you take being a Mason with being a man of your word? - a Christian man?”

“You’re not making any sense, Frank. What do you mean?”

I said, “Look, you know that nothing is secret today, and the oaths are around for people to see and read. I studied them because of my family, and I know that right up front you had to swear to ever conceal and never reveal these things under the penalty of having your throat cut, your tongue torn out and buried in the sands of the sea where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, so help you God. You are bound by oath to lie, and also to favor masons over others, and a bunch of other stuff too.”

“Come on, Frank. I don’t take that stuff seriously. Nobody does.”

Our friendship was severely tested when I said, “You can take a blood oath in the name of God, and not mean it? Not take it seriously? What do you take seriously? How can you be trusted? How can any mason be put in a place of trust and honor if they can make blood oaths in the name of God and don’t take it seriously? And if they do take it seriously, then it’s even worse.”

 Am I missing something or is this a huge issue for all those in public office?