David Dalton wrote:
> Doug Freyburger <
dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> There's a sanity requirement to join. You're harmless but you
>> hallucinate regularly and that's not sane. I recommend that you do not
>> attempt to become a Mason.
>
> But are people with a mental illness, even if it is well
> managed, actually excluded from becoming a Mason?
That's an interesting question.
When it's not well managed it's clear. In the oath of the third degree
in both of the jurisdictions I know there's a list of qualifications to
be willing to attend a degree or to agree to allow a person to become a
Mason. Because all applicatants must be elected by unanymous vote they
are important qualifications. No women, atheists, men under age
(specificially defined in the by laws), men over age (never defined
anywhere that I've read), mad men or fools. There's a similar caution
in the charges to the candidate after getting his degrees.
When it's well managed perhaps the example of physical defects applies.
When Masonry was a guild or labor union centuries ago apprentices
needed to have no physical flaws because the union took care of those
crippled on the job as well as widows and orphans of those killed on
the job. Since the switch to a fraternity we no longer have an
insurance aspect so the need for a ban of physical defects no longer
applies.
But are the reasons for excluding men with mental defects still valid?
I know of a brother who's so badly dyslexic he could not memorize the
proficiencies and he's as active contributing to events as any Mason
I've met. But where the line is I can't make any general judgment. The
prohibition against men not of right mind includes not being able to
understand what should be kept private and what should be made public.
Masons tend to be a private bunch who share personal details and we need
to be able to trust each others' judgment.
Fraternal regards,
Doug Freyburger
PM 2007-8 Arlington Heights 1162 Illinois AF&AM current SW
PM 1999 Pasadena 272 California F&AM