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A MAN, FREEBORN...
"...Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son
of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son..."
Gen. 21:10
As true because the foregoing could also be , it doesn't go far enough in interpreting what Freemasonry intends being freeborn to symbolize. it's equally important to also understand how this relates to Masonry's attitude toward despotism and mankind's ceaseless pursuit of freedom. Within the teachings of the Craft we learn that life may be a law of Nature which he who imposes his own selfish desires upon another man's natural born spirit of freedom may be a criminal against the laws of Nature.
To succumb to the infiltrations of the immense "me" of the despot is tantamount to sacrificing freedom on the altar of materialism. If a person doesn't resist those infiltrations, he's doomed to be absorbed by them making the planet less free than it had been before.
Against what threats to freedom does a Mason stand? And, how does a Mason manifest his resistance to such threats? War and rebellion are faraway from the thoughts of a real Freemason. Peace, harmony and good will toward all mankind are his motto. he's obliged by his vows to pay due obedience to the laws under which he lives.
When the us of America was on the brink of war within the late 1850's, Grand Masters from many nations spoke about the necessity for all man to require a deep breath and find how to avoid bloodshed. Not one openly promoted the commencement of hostilities - whether his constituents resided within the North, or within the South. Yet, once war began, Masons on both side of the good divide fought and died in battle after battle.
Freemasons are united in eternal hostility to tyranny and despotic power. Those evils aren't solely found among history's legendary tyrants, like Hitler, Stalin and therefore the beasts of today who slaughter their own kinsmen for the aim of consolidating and perpetuating political power. Rather, they're found everywhere men act to scale back the lifetime of the various for the profit of 1 . Tyranny and despotism has been found to reside in churches, also as in castles. Wherever life is extinguished, compressed, stifled, corrupted, or diminished to suit the desire of 1 over many tyranny and despotism reign. it's these that weaken the soul of humanity and shackle the desire of each free person. it's these that Freemasonry abhors and resists.
That resistance is personified by the inculcation of universal benevolence, tolerance and love of all mankind.
Where darkness reigns within the heart of men that's where the sunshine of Freemasonry must shine brightest. We are reminded of the parable in our Holy Writings which teaches us that a shining lamp must not be placed where it can't be seen. The unwarranted taking of human life isn't mitigated by taking lives either in revenge, or during a misguided effort that it's so necessary to defeat our enemies.
Freemasonry doesn't teach "an eye for an eye fixed ," but love in situ of hatred; peace rather than war; and tolerance as against domination. it's that lamp which must be kept within the open for all to ascertain .
Yet, during a peaceful manner Freemasons have for hundreds of years vowed to resist arbitrary power and rule. that's not a call to war any longer that Gandhi called his people to war against the colonialists in India. Rather, it's a vow to use the means available to peaceably effect change; to personally remain absolutely the master of one's voice, vote and opinion; and never to permit another to dictate in matters of conscience.
Perhaps the best threat against man's freedom comes not from monarchs, dictators, or evil minded rulers, but from the widely well-intended people that permit themselves the unseemly luxury of besmirching another person's good name. In legal circles, such conduct is named libel or slander. round the device of the many workplaces it's simply called gossip. On clock time television, it's often mentioned nearly as good journalism.
An idle tongue wags caring not that the story about the person within the corner is merely half true. Suddenly another person is imprisoned by the disapproval of the many and should not easily free himself albeit he successfully proves the story false. Too many will say, "Where there's smoke, there's fire," and therefore the damage will therefore be irremediable. However, a Freemason assumes vows obligating him to guard a brother Mason's good name - a vow that's far more meaningful during this age of instant communication than ever before. A breach of fidelity here could leave a mark on another brother which will never be erased. It matters not that the breach actually involves a truthful statement about another brother's failings or flaws. that's not the test in Freemasonry, for those within the Craft know that there's quite enough misery to be spread amongst all of God's people.
A breach of the vow occurs wherever there could be an opportunity that another brother, his family or friends are going to be held in low regard on account of something said by another brother. the rationale is simple: such a breach involves the potential compromise of another brother's freedom.
Thus, to be free born means something quite being born free, or never having worn the chains of slavery. All men are naturally intended to be free and it's this truth to which the phrase free born pertains. Men have made slaves of other men, but God has never done so. Men have created prisons to deal with offenders - not so with God. If it's true that man is placed here on earth to find out that which God desires of him, then man must also find out how to stay all men free. We don't speak here of opening the doors for dangerous criminals to roam and victimize society.
But, we do admonish society to line aside its frustration and work ceaselessly to know why man offends others unlawfully and the way best to peaceably effect a change in behavior. Such won't occur instantaneously, or maybe during a generation. The stain of poverty, violence and fear is difficult, indeed, to get rid of and should require several lifetimes of several generations. But, no matter the problem , this must be a fundamental objective of each Mason - to labor against all that threatens to enslave mankind.
Mr. Heisner has also been a practicing attorney within the State of California since 1973 and is currently a partner and trial specialist during a San Diego firm where he emphasizes complex business litigation, secret litigation, land and probate litigation. He formerly served as an Assistant DA , Deputy DA and Special Assistant us Attorney. As a criminal prosecutor, Mr. Heisner investigated and prosecuted gangland , public official corruption and major fraud matters.
In his professional capacity, Mr. Heisner has also chaired several committees for the San Diego County Bar Association and been a member of varied criminal justice committees.
Within his community, Mr. Heisner has served as president and director of his homeowner's association, participated within the immigrant nationalization process as a member of Kiwanis. he's married, father to four adult children and grandfather of 5 young children.
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