Friday, August 18, 2017

The Freemasons interview




Boston, Ma.- Ever since 1717, the Freemasons have grown into not only the world’s oldest fraternity, but one of the most fascinating organizations around. In an exclusive interview with three members of the Freemasons who work at the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts located on the corner of Bolyston and Tremont Street, these members talked about how the founding fathers, including Paul Revere, played a role in the formation of the United States, the structure of the Freemasons, and how they have evolved in the digital world.
            James Orgettas, who has been a member for 20 years and works as the assistant to the Grand Master, says that the Masons “were very instrumental in influencing a lot of the Founding Fathers.” He says how Joseph Warren who was a general in the Commonwealth is also a Grand Master, the head of the Grand Lodge. Orgetta says, “You find that most structures of American history, the creation of the government and the creation of the country was formed here in New England, which was very strongly influenced by the Masons.” Similarly, David Abbott, a member since 2009, who works for the Scottish Rite, one of the key bodies of the Freemasons, says, “We can take a lot of correlations from the teachings or lessons of Freemasonry's and how they shaped those individuals and their view.” Similar to the latter, Robert Huke, a mason for 23 years and Director of Communications and Development for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, says, “I think that what you see in terms is the influence that Freemasonry had on the thinking that went into a lot of the documents and the rights…..the documents being again the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution, and also again our rights as individuals, things like Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion.  Really just the equality of all men. Those were and are Masonic concepts.  They are concepts and thinking that the fraternity had been practicing before the establishment of the United States, so I think that that's where we again find the influence of the fraternity in the foundation of the country.”
            All three of the members each talked about the very notable members of the fraternity and how they have contributed to them and to society. Orgetta said that throughout the halls of the Grand Lodge, one can find Samuel Lawrence, a philanthropist who has donated to various libraries and hospitals. The city of Lawrence is named after him. Other notable members of the division include Alijia Crane, a South Shore native who was a large merchant, Comedian Norm Crosby as well as The Welch, The Briggs, the Strattons and The Gillete families, and even members of the New England Patriots, such Ron Bertan and John Hanna, who was a past Grand Master of his lodge. Another well-known athlete who is also a member is Shaquille O’Neal, who is a Prince Hall Mason, an independent organization very similar to the Freemasons.  
            Orgetta compares the structure of the Grand Lodge to an umbrella. Orgetta says, “They support Masonrys, they support their communities whether it's with blood drives or ham and bean suppers or raising money for some significant group within the community.” Orgetta also says they have tenets for the profession and each of them have social norms such as like-minded men, businessmen, and churchgoers. In addition, Orgetta also ended by saying that the fraternity is all about “supporting and helping one another” and used the example that if someone needs something like a will, banking, or mortgage, they can contact the people that they know. Similar to Orgetta, Abet says that “A lodge is simply a group of individuals, a group of Freemasons and they meet locally in cities and towns all across.” Abet adds on saying that, using Massachusetts as an example, they would all report to the Grand Lodge similar to how city/town governments report to the state who in turn report to the federal government.  Finally, Huke adds how all the members of the fraternity “experience and went through the same and learned the same lessons in the Lodge together.” Huke also said they deal with the big issues affecting the world. He said we would need what Freemasonry can offer such as the lessons of tolerance and respect for one another.  Huke ended his statement by saying that “we have more in common with each other and we shouldn’t be quick to demonize each other.”

            Even though the Freemasons date back to 1717, they have evolved and joined into the digital world. With Social Media, according to all three of the members, it has helped take away the negative association they used to deal with in the past. With the power of Social Media, it has shown people what goes on inside. They have posted pictures that have shown awards ceremonies and they have even shown who their members are, which could be their neighbors and friends. All of this has benefited into recruiting millennials into the organization.  Huke said, “We do want to try to hit people where they are the most comfortable getting their information and consuming media and information. “

James Orgettas 

Robert Huke 

David Abbott

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