The Old Past Master
by Carl Claudy- 1924
A MASON'S
CHRISTMAS
"I
don't believe in a Christmas celebration by the lodge. I don't
think we ought to have one, or be asked to contribute to one or in any
way engage in Christmas festivities."
"The
Junior Mason spoke emphatically and with marked disapproval of
the little ante-room group nearby, making happy plans for Yule-tide.
"That's very
interesting," commented the Old Past Master. I like
to hear points of view unfamiliar to me. Would you mind telling me
why?"
"Of
course not. It's very simple. Masonry is not Christian. King Solomon,
of course, wasn't a Christian, nor were either of the Hiram's.
Masonry admits to her ranks any good man of faith; Christian,
Jewish,
Mohammedan, Buddhist... it makes no difference, so he has a Faith.
Then, as a lodge, we celebrate a holiday belonging to one faith. Now I
personally am a Christian, and of course I celebrate Christmas. But my
brother across the way is a Jew, who does not recognize Christianity.
To ask him to spend his proportion of lodge funds in celebrating the
birth of a Leader in Whom he does not believe would be exactly like
asking me to celebrate, with my proportion of lodge money, the birth of
Confucius. Of course, I have only one vote and the majority rules, but
when it comes to personal contributions to a Masonic Christmas
celebration, my hands will never come out of my pockets."
He
shoved them deeper in as he spoke to emphasize his intention not to
spend.
"Hm!"
answered the Old Past Master. "So you think your
Jewish brother across the way doesn't recognize Christianity? Don't you
mean he doesn't recognize Christ as the Son of God? Wait a minute...
Oh, Brother
Samuels."
The Old Past
Master called across the ante-room. "Here a minute, will
you?"
The
Jewish brother rose and came forward.
"I
just wanted to ask you if you are in favor or against the lodge
Christmas celebration?" asked the Old Past Master.
"Me?
I am in favor of it, of course, both for the lodge appropriation
and the individual contribution."
"Thank
you," nodded the Old Past Master. Then as the Jewish
brother went back to his seat, he turned to the Junior Mason.
"You
see, my son, our Jewish friend is not narrow. He does not believe
in Christ as the Redeemer, but he recognizes that he lives in a
country largely Christian, and belongs to a lodge largely
Christian. To
him the Christmas celebration is not one of His birthday, but of the
spirit of joyousness and love which we mean when we sing, at Christmas
time 'Peace on earth, good will towards men!' If you argue that 'peace'
is only a Christian word, he might even quote to you the words of One
who said 'I bring you not Peace, but a Sword.'
"Now
let me explain something to you. The Jew has just as much right
to refuse to recognize Christ as the Son of God, as you have to refuse
to consider Mohammed the Prophet the followers of Allah say he is. But
as an educated man, you must know that Mohammed was a good man, a
devout leader, a wise teacher. As an educated man, you admit that the
religion founded by Buddha has much in it that is good, and you admit
that Confucius was a wise and just leader. Were you in the land where
the birthdays of any of these were celebrated, would you refuse your
part in the people's joy in their
Leader,
simply because you followed another? I trust not. Well, neither do our
Jewish brethren or our Mohammedan brethren, desire to be left out of
our celebration. They may not believe in the Divinity of Him we,
as Christians, follow, but if they are good men and good
Masons... they
are perfectly willing to admit that the religion we follow is as good
for us as theirs is for them, and to join with us in celebrating the
day which is to us the glad day of all the year.
"Believe
me, boy, Christmas doesn't mean Christ's birthday to many a
man who calls himself Christian. It is not because of joy the He was
born that many a good man celebrates Christmas. It is because
his
neighbor celebrates it, because it is a time of joy for little ones,
because it is a day when he can express his thanks to his God that he
is allowed to have a wife and family and children and friends and a
lodge, because of that very 'peace on earth' spirit which is no more
the property of the Gentile than the Jew, the Chinese or the Mohammedan.
"It
is such a spirit that Masons join, all, in celebrating Christmas.
It is on the Masonic side of the tree we dance, not the Christian side.
When this lodge erects its Christmas tree in the basement and throws it
open to the little ones of the poor of this town, you will find
children of all kinds there; black, white, yellow, and brown,
Jew and
Gentile, Christian and Mohammedan. And you will find a Jew at the door,
and among the biggest subscriptions will be those from some Jewish
brethren, and there is a Jew who rents cars for a living who will
supply us a dozen free to take baskets to those who cannot come. And
when the Jewish Orphan Asylum has its fair, in the Spring, you will
find many a Christian Mason attending to spend his money and help along
the cause dear to his Jewish brethren, never remembering that they are
of a different faith. That, my son, is
Masonry."
"For
Charity is neither Christian nor Jewish, nor Chinese nor Buddhistic.
And celebrations which create joy in little hearts and feed
the hungry
and make the poor think that Masons do not forget the lessons in lodge,
are not Christian alone, though they be held at Christmas, and are not
for Christians alone, though the celebration be in His honor. Recall
the ritual: 'By the exercise of brotherly love we are taught to regard
the whole human species as one family, the high and low, the rich and
poor, who, as created by one Almighty Parent, and inhabitants of the
same planet, are to aid, support and protect each other'.
"It
is with this thought that we, as Masons, celebrate Christmas, to
bring joy to our brethren and their little ones, and truly observe the
brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God, whether we be Jew or
Gentile, Mohammedan or Buddhist."
The
Old Past Master ceased and stood musing, his old eyes looking back
along a long line of lodge Christmas trees about which eager little
faces danced. Then he turned to the Junior Mason.
"Well,"
he said smiling, "Do you understand?"
"I
thank you for my Christmas present," came the answer.
"Please tell me to which brother I should make my Christmas
contribution?"
