Subordinate or Constituent?

[Torence]

Brother Ben Franklin made a series of statements that I am sure is
familiar to most who read this newsgroup:
☼ “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Brother Franklin said this long before anyone had any thought of
an American revolution on February 17th, 1755. And, with some font
changes the same statement was printed by Franklin in 1759 on the
title page of “An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government
of Pennsylvania,” by Richard Jackson, again more than a decade before
any thought of making a change.
Personally, I have had some time on my hands this week (passing
some stones...yuch) and have been going through my library.
As early as 1738 in Poor Richards Almanack Franklin printed, “Sell
not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power,” a
common adage taken from Ernesto Stoctman’s “Reim-Dispositiones,” a
German Lesson-book. I happen to be fortunate in owing a copy printed
in Stolberg, 1710. They are a collection of morals for school age
children set into German rhymes. Many, if you pick them out, are a
justification for servants to correct an immorally minded Master
regardless of risk. I also have a collection of German schoolbooks
authorized by the N.D.S.A.P. from World War II. Pecking my way through
them, (what German I know is from two years in High School), a
Nuremburg defense does not wash. These lessons often taught that
obedience is only desired to a point. On significant matters a
“subordinate” must exercise the best judgment, again regardless of
risk. Surprisingly for those of us who are foolish enough to rely on
stereotypes, the German Instructors of both centuries sought to
instill heroism as a virtue for both genders. I should know better, my
wife was born in Kaiserslautern and did not speak English until she
was five. Putting up with my silliness for twenty-three years is the
stuff of a Super Woman.
In a letter to Peter Collinson in 1754, Brother Franklin wrote,
“Everyone cries, a Union is absolutely necessary, but when they come
to the manner and form of the Union, their weak noodles are perfectly
distracted.”
Across US jurisdictions, IMHO, we have had a rather lazy generation
that preceded us, the 21st Century Craftsmen. Their thinking was often
to “pass the buck to the Grand Master,” IMHO, especially on the
significant operating matters. The office of Grand Master was never
intended or designed to act or decide questions such as whether or not
or how to boost enrollment, affect diversity, review local lodge
financial decisions or building administration, their independent
language and choreography choice in ritual, nor was the office ever
authorize to encumber our statewide charities and fraternity by
integrating our finances to gain government money. These issues should
have been left to the Supreme Authority in Ancient Craft FreeMasonry.
The Supreme Authority being, of course, the sitting Masters and
Wardens of the constituent Lodges with a Grand Master at the head only
as an Administrator.
May I suggest as a starter to correct the condition, that we agree
to calmly but firmly have our Grand Lodge Representatives consider
adopting a new resolution or By-Law, that going forward, “Whenever the
term “subordinate” has been used in the past to describe the Local
Lodges, that the word “constituent” be forever substituted.”
Please comment.
Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Senior Deacon – Auburn park Lodge No. 789 – Crete, Illinois
PM – Arcadia Lodge No. 1138, Lansing, Illinois