Defending the masonic emblem???

[JMartinez]

Please help me understand the terms "Defending your light", "defending the letters", "defending the fraternity", "defending a brother mason". I am fairly new to these particular masonic terms and phrases.

 

[Bro Darren]

I'm pretty sure that these questions should be handled by your lodge and not on a public non Tyled forum.


My Freemasonry

 

[Brother_Steve]

It has to do with knowing your catechism, knowing the answer to questions that might be specific to your local, etc. It is a game some lodges play. I've read on here and other forums that it is more common in PHA lodges. Some deny the practice but where there is smoke there is fire. Anyhow, I personally do not believe in trying another mason in public. It is poor form. Try me in lodge or when visiting but no mason outside of lodge has the right to try you. You represent your lodge where ever you go. You are not appointed by your WM to be the mobile investigation committee to see if others are up on their work.

 

[BryanMaloney]

I'm pretty sure that these questions should be handled by your lodge and not on a public non Tyled forum.

None of these are esoteric in definition, although they are in detail. They have already been nicely defined in this thread.

 

[Bro. Michael]

Anyhow, I personally do not believe in trying another mason in public. It is poor form. Try me in lodge or when visiting but no mason outside of lodge has the right to try you. You represent your lodge where ever you go. You are not appointed by your WM to be the mobile investigation committee to see if others are up on their work.

I would agree that it should be done in relative privacy, but as great a joy as it is to meet brothers when travelling, we must be able to try them sufficiently to know that we are in the presence of a Mason and not a cowan. Perhaps I am misunderstanding what you mean, but as I recall we not only should but must identify each other with some certainty as Masons prior to any kind of fraternal association in or out of lodge.

 

[Browncoat]

There is a notable difference between "trying" and "identifying".

At least in my jurisdiction, the means for being tried is specifically laid out, and must be done in a lawful Lodge of Brothers of the same or higher degree. Lodge here of course meaning gathering, and not the building itself.

We are given the means to identify ourselves to each other through words, signs, and grips. But that doesn't mean are also judge and jury.

Sent From My Freemasonry Mobile App

 

[Bro. Michael]

I see. That is a bit different from what I thought. I was thinking of all of those things as means of trying a person. I didn't realize there was a difference. My mistake. Thank you for clarifying that.