Masonic Labor

Our Fraternity throughout the ages has revered labor and charges its members to labor to build spiritual Temples throughout their Masonic lives. Labor is a central focusing all our degrees and activities. It is easy to define labor as the act of performing specific duties or the exertion of physical or mental effort. Time, and time again, our Fraternity explains that the operative Mason labored to build a building physically or materially, while the speculative Mason labors to build a Temple mentally or spiritually. The ancient Masons physically worked while the more recent Masons mentally worked, so what is to be learned?

Firstly, we should understand that when a Lodge is between its opening and closing, it is "at labor" or "at refreshment". The time when the Lodge is "at work" is when it is engaged in the initiation of candidates into its various degrees, for these initiations constitute Masonic "labor" and it through these that men become Masons.

Secondly, labor involves more than merely exertion or effort. It expects the exertion to involve difficulty, challenge, or compulsory activities. For the ancient apprentices, there were compulsory tasks, which tested them, both physically and mentally. Moving great stones, breaking off the rough portions to obtain smooth blocks, and having the patience to earn the right to higher wages were placed before all apprentices to determine those who earned the right to advance. Not all were expected to travel this rough road, only those willing to labor with patience and fortitude, and prove they were worthy to advance.

Today's candidate faces similar expectations in memory and proficiency, without the physical aspects. There are challenges to proof of proficiency and some time constraints, but years have been replaced by months, and polished stone by words. Herein lies an interesting contrast between the operative Mason and the speculative Mason. The operative Mason produces a visible creation, open to judgment. A building is built and the wages paid. His labor is clear and he knows it is done.

On the other hand, what of the speculative Mason and his labor? How does he, or we, know the building is complete, or even being built? The answer to this question must lie in the eyes of the Brethren and within the Brother's own conscience. The Brothers must understand and appreciate his labor for the Craft, and know that his labor is well done.

The Brother must appreciate the importance of the internal aspect of his Temple and how important his conformity to the moral law is to the Fraternity. Spreading the cement of Brotherly love, affection, and happiness must be a constant goal of his labor, as it is for the Fraternity..

When faced with a moral choice or a choice of conscience, the true Mason must choose well, regardless of the temptations of short term gain. Integrity, honesty, and honor are not idle works within the Fraternity. We work in our Lodges to make ourselves as pure as the lambskin we wear and as deserving of the acceptance of the Great Architect as we may possibly be. Let us never forget that Masonic labor alone will yield the plaudit, "Well done".