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
