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.

"Hum!" 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?"

www.themasonictrowel.com/mason...as.htm