by Midnight Freemasons Contributor
W. B. Darin A. Lahners
I received a lot of comments on my last article. Regardless of your opinion on it, I feel like
I made a lot of my brethren think about our future as an organization. One of my main goals when I write is to try
to educate my brethren, and to make them think There seemed to be an overwhelming commonality in many of the replies to
my previous article. That common thread
is the notion that a Masonic Lodge should be a Male Safe Space. I believe that this idea is not only wrong
but dangerous.
You’ve probably been hearing or reading about Safe
Spaces. To be honest, it was a foreign
concept to me until I started working for a State University roughly two and a
half years ago. For those of you
unfamiliar with the term, let me define it for you. A Safe Space is a designated area (usually in
an educational setting) where a particular person or racial, ethnic, sexual or
ideological group can feel safe by banning those outside of their group. In this space, they feel that they will not
be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional or
physical harm.
Spaces. To be honest, it was a foreign
concept to me until I started working for a State University roughly two and a
half years ago. For those of you
unfamiliar with the term, let me define it for you. A Safe Space is a designated area (usually in
an educational setting) where a particular person or racial, ethnic, sexual or
ideological group can feel safe by banning those outside of their group. In this space, they feel that they will not
be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional or
physical harm.
A Masonic Lodge limits its membership to men, and requires
its members to believe in a supreme being. It is also historically, a place where men could discuss the radical
ideas of their time without fear of reprisals. Due to these characteristics, I guess a Masonic Lodge could be called a
Safe Space. However, I think you’ll
agree that we ultimately are not a Safe Space by definition. We accept men of all backgrounds, races and
religions and embrace them as our brothers. This isn’t a negative thing, but in terms of defining the Lodge as a
safe space, it goes against the definition laid out above. In fact, I’d argue that we are way more
inclusive of an organization due to this.
its members to believe in a supreme being. It is also historically, a place where men could discuss the radical
ideas of their time without fear of reprisals. Due to these characteristics, I guess a Masonic Lodge could be called a
Safe Space. However, I think you’ll
agree that we ultimately are not a Safe Space by definition. We accept men of all backgrounds, races and
religions and embrace them as our brothers. This isn’t a negative thing, but in terms of defining the Lodge as a
safe space, it goes against the definition laid out above. In fact, I’d argue that we are way more
inclusive of an organization due to this.
In a lot of respects, by claiming we’re a safe space, we are
limiting our organization. In a safe
space, you surround yourself with people that have similar opinions to your
own. There is little or no
diversity. There is not room for
different ideologies. Is this what you
want from your Masonic Lodge? It’s not
what I want. I’ve seen firsthand how
safe spaces are removing the ability to have a dissenting opinion, and limiting
or removing education all together. A
major part of education is the ability to dissect an opinion, or idea from all
possible angles, and to have a healthy discourse or debate about the pros and
cons of said opinion or idea.
limiting our organization. In a safe
space, you surround yourself with people that have similar opinions to your
own. There is little or no
diversity. There is not room for
different ideologies. Is this what you
want from your Masonic Lodge? It’s not
what I want. I’ve seen firsthand how
safe spaces are removing the ability to have a dissenting opinion, and limiting
or removing education all together. A
major part of education is the ability to dissect an opinion, or idea from all
possible angles, and to have a healthy discourse or debate about the pros and
cons of said opinion or idea.
One of our main goals is to recruit good men who want to
improve themselves. This is why we must
stress Masonic education. We need to be
able to learn new ideas regarding Masonry, and to be able to discuss and debate
them. If we act as a safe space for
men, then we end up stifling this. We
would only allow other members who have similarities in their background, and
we would all agree on certain ideologies. There would be no need for education. In my opinion, not having Masonic education is what is dangerous about
having a Safe Space. A major part of our Masonic Education is informal. It occurs
when you meet a brother from a different background, race or religion. While learning about them, you educate
yourself about their path to Masonry, and you bond over your commonalities in
the craft. Doesn’t eliminating this opportunity due to
having a safe space mentality go against our very essence as an organization?
improve themselves. This is why we must
stress Masonic education. We need to be
able to learn new ideas regarding Masonry, and to be able to discuss and debate
them. If we act as a safe space for
men, then we end up stifling this. We
would only allow other members who have similarities in their background, and
we would all agree on certain ideologies. There would be no need for education. In my opinion, not having Masonic education is what is dangerous about
having a Safe Space. A major part of our Masonic Education is informal. It occurs
when you meet a brother from a different background, race or religion. While learning about them, you educate
yourself about their path to Masonry, and you bond over your commonalities in
the craft. Doesn’t eliminating this opportunity due to
having a safe space mentality go against our very essence as an organization?
Because of our ability to bond over our common experiences, is
it possible that we are a support group? The definition of a support group is: A
group of people with common experiences or concerns who provide each other with
encouragement, comfort and advice. Within the lodge, we all have the common experience of our degrees and
obligations. We hold our
self-improvement as paramount to improving the world. It’s our sacred duty to turn the rough ashlar
of our inner selves into a perfect one. When we join a lodge, we meet with other men who have the same
goal. Once again, these men might have
a different background, race or religion. During our meetings, degrees, educational seminars, and community
events, we are able to provide each other with encouragement, comfort each
other during times of distress, and advise each other. However, there is a major difference between
the Masonic Lodge and a support group.
it possible that we are a support group? The definition of a support group is: A
group of people with common experiences or concerns who provide each other with
encouragement, comfort and advice. Within the lodge, we all have the common experience of our degrees and
obligations. We hold our
self-improvement as paramount to improving the world. It’s our sacred duty to turn the rough ashlar
of our inner selves into a perfect one. When we join a lodge, we meet with other men who have the same
goal. Once again, these men might have
a different background, race or religion. During our meetings, degrees, educational seminars, and community
events, we are able to provide each other with encouragement, comfort each
other during times of distress, and advise each other. However, there is a major difference between
the Masonic Lodge and a support group.
In most support group models, it is imperative that all
members share how each person’s life is going. There is then a discussion between the peers in the group regarding each
person’s issues and support is given. In
the Masonic Lodge, there is no imperative to do this. If a member has an issue he might approach
some other members of the lodge that he’s comfortable with, but on a whole this
information is not privy to every member of the lodge. It’s up to each individual to decide to
whether or not to share what’s going on with their life. It’s not required. I would then argue, that we are not a support
group either.
members share how each person’s life is going. There is then a discussion between the peers in the group regarding each
person’s issues and support is given. In
the Masonic Lodge, there is no imperative to do this. If a member has an issue he might approach
some other members of the lodge that he’s comfortable with, but on a whole this
information is not privy to every member of the lodge. It’s up to each individual to decide to
whether or not to share what’s going on with their life. It’s not required. I would then argue, that we are not a support
group either.
So where does that leave the Masonic Lodge? It is not a safe space by definition. It is also not a support group by
definition. I think its best summarized
by something that I heard repeated by the many brethren who took time out of
their schedules to help in my degrees. You might have heard something similar. It’s simply put as this: You get
out of Masonry what you put into it. I
would add a caveat to this: The Masonic
Lodge is what you make it. If you want
it to be safe space, then make it a safe space. If you need it to be a support group, then make it a support group. If you want it to be a place of education,
then make it a place of education. If
you want to make it a place to hone your memorization skills, then make it a
place where you can do that by getting involved in learning ritual. Engage with your brothers and turn your
lodge into something that you all can agree on. Challenge your brothers to be better, and
help make yourself better in the process. Just make it into something!
definition. I think its best summarized
by something that I heard repeated by the many brethren who took time out of
their schedules to help in my degrees. You might have heard something similar. It’s simply put as this: You get
out of Masonry what you put into it. I
would add a caveat to this: The Masonic
Lodge is what you make it. If you want
it to be safe space, then make it a safe space. If you need it to be a support group, then make it a support group. If you want it to be a place of education,
then make it a place of education. If
you want to make it a place to hone your memorization skills, then make it a
place where you can do that by getting involved in learning ritual. Engage with your brothers and turn your
lodge into something that you all can agree on. Challenge your brothers to be better, and
help make yourself better in the process. Just make it into something!
~DAL
WB Darin A. Lahners is the Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in
St. Joseph and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and Homer Lodge No. 199
(IL). He’s a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member
of the new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D. and is the
current Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign –
Urbana (IL). He is also a member of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356
Allied Masonic Degrees. When he’s not busy enjoying Masonic fellowship,
Darin spends his time as a DM for his children’s D&D campaign, reading,
golfing, watching movies and listening to music. You can reach him by
email at darin.lahners@gmail.com.
St. Joseph and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and Homer Lodge No. 199
(IL). He’s a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member
of the new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D. and is the
current Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign –
Urbana (IL). He is also a member of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356
Allied Masonic Degrees. When he’s not busy enjoying Masonic fellowship,
Darin spends his time as a DM for his children’s D&D campaign, reading,
golfing, watching movies and listening to music. You can reach him by
email at darin.lahners@gmail.com.
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