The
candidate, as instructed, knelt at the altar. In front of him in the
east, the Worshipful Master stood at his podium and asked a question
we have all been asked, "In whom do you put your trust?"
Silence
followed.
Having
encountered similar hesitation before, the composed WM rephrased the
question and asked, "In whom do you put your spiritual
trust?"
After
another long pause the candidate finally answered, "I guess I
put my trust in myself. If you are trying to get me to say I put my
trust in God, I can't. I don't believe in God."
Another
period of silence followed. Still composed and carefully assessing
the situation, the Master asked, "Would you please repeat what
you just said?" The candidate repeated his answer. Standing
before a hushed and stunned Lodge, the veteran Master knew exactly
what he had to say next, "Brother Senior Deacon, you will escort
the candidate to the preparation room."
Freemasons
believe in God; and we take it seriously. It's not just lip-service.
We tolerate all religions, but hold a belief in Deity as the single
non-negotiable requirement to becoming a member. No exceptions. And
no exception was made that night, either.
Epilogue:
This incident took place early a couple years ago, at Brotherhood
Lodge #269 in St. Joseph, Missouri, with a friend of mine, Dennis
Vogel, presiding. The Missouri petition is very clear in stating
that the candidate holds a strict belief in God, but this candidate
signed the petition anyway. The investigating committee covered the
issue of belief in God with the candidate; and the candidate very
skillfully crafted a satisfactory answer. The question in Lodge,
however, "In whom do you put your trust," doesn't leave a
lot of wiggle room... as the candidate discovered.
