Hi Squire.
Gosh Brethren, why would you think it proper for a Grand Lodge to ban you from Masonic electronic communication.
I personally wouldn't think it proper, no. But it's undoubtedly within their power if they insist on doing it - a GL is a private association, which has the power to set out rules of conduct which must be followed as a condition of membership, and members have a choice either to follow those rules or to get out. And it's clear that GLoAR has promulgated an edict saying that its members mustn't discuss these matters by any electronic means.
If the GL of Texas did that then you could be expelled for being on this forum!
Yes. So let's hope that they don't do such a thing. But in the case of GLoAR, it's already the case that any of their members would be breaking their rules if they joined this discussion.
Why is it not proper for Masons to have discourse with Masons of other Obediences. I talk with a Co-Mason all the time about Masonry. I don't reveal the inner workings or secrets of my Lodge/Grand Lodge and vice versa. But gee, I can even talk to a stranger in the grocery store about Masonry as long as I leave out the modes of recognition and the Obligations.
If you can do that under the rules of your GL, then fine. And I personally agree that, provided you're not revealing what is required to be kept secret, then this is unlikely to be harmful.
For reasons why any discourse at all ought to be forbidden, don't ask me, ask the GLoAR. I'm not trying to justify their rules. But they have the rules they have, regardless of whether or not you and I think it's daft.
Are we all going to sign on to a Masonry that it is so controlling that it can tell you what to think and say?
Masonry has always imposed some such restrictions as standard: for example, if you lose your faith and become an atheist, then you must resign. We all know when we sign up that it's an organisation for men of faith.
If masonry subsequently wants to impose additional restrictions, then obviously we must each consider individually whether or not that's acceptable to us. If it's not, and if we can't get it changed, then it's time to resign.
Are we obligated to blindly follow whatever a Grand Lodge and a Grand Master asks of us?
If it's something which is laid down as a condition of membership, then yes, we must either comply or resign. Just like any other private association, masonry makes its rules and occasionally changes them, and members have a choice to go if they don't like the rules. And surely we all support that principle, since we all want there to be a mechanism for kicking out bad guys.
If it's merely some arbitrary recommendation which isn't a condition of membership, then no, of course we can tell them to stick it if we don't agree.
The system relies on an assumption of rational behaviour by GLs and GMs. Of course it'll all fall apart if they insist on crazy rules.
So the Grand Master gives me a gun and demands that I make a hit against another Brother. And you say....................................................................
I'd say "I'm calling the cops right now, and I hope you'll have signed your resignation before they arrive". But if it were somehow a GL rule that I had to do it, then I'd say "I want nothing to do with such an organisation, I resign" ... and then I'd call the cops.
T & F,
Huw