Is this a new fear?
As we settle into the new year, when we often set resolutions, I wanted to share some of what I think is critical reading for any Mason. While our monthly talks focus on practical application, these “Bonus Talks’ have us focusing on the philosophy and future of our Craft. If your resolution is to seek more Light this year, this might help.
Following up on last month’s talk, I wanted to share the sources that have shaped my thinking. I don’t have a wall full of degrees, it is not difficult to determine I am not an academic, but in my time reading Masonic literature, I have noticed a pattern. For generations, our most respected authors have warned that the social aspect of our Order threatens to overtake the deeper truths we are sworn to guard.
This isn’t just my opinion; it is a concern that stretches back over a century. Below is a summary of these scholars—from Wilmshurst to Davis—and their thoughts on the matter. I encourage you to read through them and decide for yourself: Is our Lodge focusing on the menu, or the meaning?
I am not advocating who is right or wrong in my summary below. Just sharing what I personally ascertained from reading their material.
Here is my summary of other Masonic scholars and their thoughts on this topic:
1. Albert G. Mackey (19th Century) A physician and arguably the most authoritative Masonic scholar in American history. Best known for his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Mackey was a fierce advocate for the intellectual side of the Craft and often lamented the laziness he saw in the Lodges of his day. He kept a middle ground approach and was more of a compiler of knowledge.
- The Critique: Mackey famously distinguished between the “Bright Mason” (who merely memorizes words like a parrot) and the “Reading Mason” (who understands the philosophy). He argued that a Mason who does not study the history and science of the Order is effectively useless to it.
- Citation: “Reading Masons and Masons Who Do Not Read”. “It is the reading Mason only who is the accomplished Mason… The Mason who does not read, however fluent he may be in the repetition of the ritual… is a drone in the hive of nature.”
- Read Essay via MasonicWorld Note: This essay is short, brutal, and essential reading for anyone who thinks “knowing the work” just means memorizing lines.
- Via Oregon Scottish Rite Note: While originally hosted on MasonicWorld, this version provides the cleanest full text.
2. W.L. Wilmshurst (Early 20th Century) An English author and Christian mystic whose works are considered the gold standard for the “Esoteric” interpretation of Masonry. He viewed the Lodge not as a social club, but as a place of spiritual regeneration.
- The Critique: Wilmshurst argued that the Fraternity had become too focused on charity and conviviality, forgetting that its true purpose is the “science of the soul.” He believed the “secrets” of Masonry aren’t lost because they are hidden, but because we lack the spiritual maturity to see them.
- Citation: The Meaning of Masonry (1922) and “The Fundamental Philosophic Secrets Within Masonry.” “The deeper secrets of Masonry are… withheld from us by our own incapacity to receive them… to the uninstructed brother, the ritual is but a formality… to the instructed it is a life-giving fount.”
- Purchase on Amazon or Read Free via Sacred Texts
- Read Free “The Fundamental Philosophic Secrets Within Masonry” here.
- Note: Wilmshurst can be dense, but The Meaning of Masonry is the starting point for almost all modern esoteric study.
3. Dwight L. Smith (Mid-20th Century) One of the most vocal critics of the “service club” mentality. As a Past Grand Master of Indiana and editor of The Indiana Freemason, his editorials are considered seminal in the “Traditional Observance” movement.
- The Critique: Smith argued that by imitating service clubs (like Rotary or Kiwanis) and focusing on large classes of candidates (“mills”), Masonry was forfeiting its unique identity as a school of moral instruction.
- Citation: Whither Are We Traveling? (1962) and Why This Confusion in the Temple? (1966).”It was an unhappy day when some eager beaver conceived the idea that our Craft should adopt the methods of the service club… We are a peculiar people. Let us accept the fact, and be not afraid to be different.”
- Read PDF via Masonic Restoration Foundation Note: This site is a hub for the “Traditional Observance” movement, which Smith’s work heavily inspired.
4. Andrew Hammer (Contemporary) A leading voice in the modern “Observant Masonry” movement. His work is the most direct contemporary equivalent to Wilmshurst in its critique of the social drift. He takes Smith’s complaints and offers a modern, actionable solution.
- The Critique: Hammer argues that when a Lodge prioritizes business, bills, and “conferring degrees” without education or solemnity, it becomes indistinguishable from any other social gathering, thereby failing its promise to the candidate.
- Citation: Observing the Craft: The Pursuit of Excellence in Masonic Labour and Observance (2010).”If we fail to approach the Craft in this way… we soon become unable to tell the difference between the Lodge and any other social club in our community.”
- Purchase via Amazon or Barnes & Noble Note: This book is often used as a blueprint by Lodges trying to return to a more solemn, educational focus.
5. Carl H. Claudy (Early-Mid 20th Century) A prolific author and Executive Secretary of the Masonic Service Association. While softer in tone than Smith, he frequently distinguished between the “Social Ideal” and the “Ideal Mason.”
- The Critique: Claudy acknowledged the social side is necessary but warned that a Mason whose ideal is purely social (the “knife and fork Mason”) misses the “Real Secret” of the craft, which is spiritual and internal.
- Citation: The Old Tiler Talks (specifically the chapter “The Ideal Mason”) and Introduction to Freemasonry series.”To him [the social Mason] the Order is first a benevolent institution… or a ‘free feed’… But an ‘ideal’ Mason would have to live up to, to love, to understand, to practice, all the ideals of Freemasonry.”
- Read Selected Talks via The Skirret Note: The Skirret is a reputable repository for older Masonic papers. This index links to many of his best “talks.”
6. Joseph Fort Newton (Early 20th Century) A Baptist minister and one of the most quoted Masonic authors. He focused heavily on the spiritual unity of the Craft.
- The Critique: Newton argued that while “Masonry is Friendship,” it is a specific kind of spiritual friendship that cannot be found in a mere club. He feared that without the “spirit of the craft,” the rituals become “mere sounding brass.”
- Citation: The Builders: A Story and Study of Masonry (1914).”It is certainly not a club… If the forms and ceremonies through which the candidate passes fail to lift him to higher conceptions of life, duty and charity, then they are mere sounding brass.”
- Read Free eBook via Project Gutenberg Note: You can download this in ePub or Kindle format here for free.
7. Robert G. Davis (Contemporary) A modern scholar focusing on the initiatic experience and the “hero’s journey” within ritual.
- The Critique: Davis frequently contrasts the “initiatic experience” with the “social organization,” arguing that men join Masonry specifically because they want something more profound than a social club, and they leave when they don’t find it. He argues that by removing the difficulty, memory work, and solemnity to make Masonry “easier” and more social, we strip it of its psychological power to transform men.
- Citation: The Mason’s Words: The History and Evolution of the American Masonic Ritual (2013) and Understanding Manhood in America.
- Purchase via Amazon or Purchase via Bookshop.org Note: This is a denser historical read than Hammer’s but crucial for understanding the “why” behind American ritual.
My hopes are two fold:
- That this will urge you onto reading more, and in turn, strengthen your support in guarding our ancient truths for future generations while improving yourself and our beloved fraternity.
- Give you a glimpse into my study and reading for better understanding of my stance and opinion when compiling educational talks.
Questions for the Sideliners
- Is our Lodge in danger of becoming just a “knife and fork” club?
- What makes a Masonic gathering different from a Rotary, Kiwanis, or Lions Club meeting?
- Which of the scholars mentioned (Smith, Newton, Davis) resonates most with your experience of Masonry?
Fraternally,
James A. Clark
Author’s Note: The summaries provided above are condensed interpretations of the referenced works and are intended to serve as an introduction to these authors. I encourage every Mason to obtain the full texts for their own library. These works represent some of the most significant critiques of modern Masonic practice and offer a roadmap for those seeking a deeper experience in their Lodges. The author makes no claim, by any means, and is far from that of being a scholar or academic – just ask Heath!
