The Mother Lodge and the Cement
Brethren,
The Trowel is used to spread the cement of Brotherly Love and Affection. It unites us into one sacred band, or society of friends and brothers. But in a world that is increasingly divided by politics, religion, and class, spreading that cement has become difficult labor.
Brother Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author, experienced the true power of this cement in a way few of us ever will. In 1885, he was made a Mason in Lodge Hope and Perseverance No. 782 in Lahore, India.
The Inner Chamber: A Sanctuary from the World In the outside world of British-occupied India, society was rigidly segregated. There were rulers and subjects, rich and poor, and deep religious divides between Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews.
But Kipling wrote of his lodge, often called “The Mother Lodge,” as a place where these rules were suspended. He described the Junior Deacon as a Jewish brother, the Treasurer as Hindu, and the membership as a mix of every caste and creed. Outside, they might not even eat together due to religious custom. Inside, they met on the Level.
The Trowel: Binding the Unlike Kipling noted that they talked of religion and God, not to argue, but to compare notes. They realized that while they called the Grand Architect by different names, they were looking at the same Trestleboard.
This is the true work of the Trowel. It is easy to spread cement between two smooth stones that are exactly alike. It is much harder, and much more necessary, to bind together stones of different shapes and origins. That is what makes the wall strong.
The Cable Tow: The Length of Our Obligation Kipling’s experience teaches us that the length of our Cable Tow must be long enough to reach across cultural and political divides.
If we only call men “Brother” who vote like us, pray like us, and look like us, we are not Masons; we are a social club. The strength of Masonry is that it brings together men who, otherwise, would have remained at a perpetual distance.
The Lesson of the Mother Lodge is this: The Lodge is not a place to reinforce your worldview; it is a place to expand your humanity.
Therefore, let us imitate this example:
- Spread the Cement where the cracks are widest.
- Use the Compass to keep your prejudices in check.
- Remember the universality of the Craft: In every clime a Mason may be found.
Questions for the Sideliners
- Is our Lodge a true mix of different backgrounds, or does everyone look, vote, and pray the same way?
- How can we better welcome men who are different from us, rather than just tolerating them?
- When have you learned something valuable from a Brother you initially disagreed with?
So Mote It Be.
James A. Clark
Author’s Note: The following story is derived from popular anecdote found in general reading. No historical evidence is offered to verify its complete accuracy; it has been adapted here solely to illustrate a Masonic application of self-improvement and discipline. This talk references Kipling’s famous poem “The Mother Lodge,” which is a poetic reflection of his real experiences in Lahore.
