Greetings from the East
The world is shattered by war. Who can hide from it? Even those of us fortunate to be at a safe distance from its horrors and depravity, still share in some part the gut-wrenching misery and devastation, if only in the understanding of how it fractures and damages civil, moral and peaceful humanity. Apart from its rationale, war is also hard to contain. It can, and has pulled nations into its indiscriminate death spiral, claiming millions of innocent lives.
Our early modern Freemasonry traces its roots into the mid-1600s, where in the aftermath of the English Civil War (and other European conflicts) opposing sides were repulsed and shocked at the magnitude of the raging violence, meted out against their fellow countrymen. Essentially, it is here in this moment, certain historically notable men came together, as brothers, and formed a nucleus for a new, intellectual and private society, where the discussion of religion and politics would be diminished and replaced with the search for truth in nature. Such began the greatest advance in the history of the world.
And it is also here, where we see a nascent scientific awakening, that will characterize The Enlightenment, guided by a reverential religious philosophy that begins to form the early structure of our Freemasonry. The call to a brotherhood founded on the principles that make men better through friendship and mutual affection, despite their differences, was also almost certainly established here. Such a new brotherhood was based on a higher call that meant advancements in learning, together with civility and decency as guidance, that would displace the wrangling over politics and religion— the twin causes for sharp differences in opinion among people.
Who can best work and best agree, other than men who truly see themselves as brothers? To discover what works for the best of all in consensus: This is the Call. Being united in the understanding that morality and its offspring of justice, civility and innocence, can only be sustained when men pursue higher aims, being part of a universal Brotherhood of Good, under the fatherhood of God!
John McCargar, HA, 32°