The Symbol

The Rabbi and I were telling stories, laughing, and enjoying our coffee. I decided to bring up a story, developed from being a Christian, a Freemason, a Jew, and in spending time with Arabic people, given a name. Salahadeen.

He said, “Really?”

“Yes”, I said. “The freedoms of the United States allow each person to become as they choose. With Judaism, the philosophical courses I have taken at the Synagogue expanded my value of life, a giving of greater joy and meaning. As I learned, and cared for what I learned, that it has value, it became part of me, the experience of a person becoming more.” He smiled and nodded approvingly. Then I said, “Not all experiences are like that. Consider this.”   

The congregation I have been worshiping with holds services in a recently purchased older church building. The building needed work: painting, re-doing the floors, a new altar railing. There are also eighteen pews. They required refurbishing. 

Parishioners were asked by the minister to individually sponsor a pew. The contribution would pay for the work. When the work was completed, a plaque would be placed on the end of the pew, inscribed as the contributor wanted.

I decided to take a pew. I waited, giving others the opportunity to choose first. Seventeen were soon taken. After several weeks, and with no one speaking up, I took the eighteenth pew. The work could begin. 

When asked what I wanted on my plaque, and always liking a joke, I said, “How about drunken sailors only?” The humor was not appreciated by the minister. After some thought, and thinking of my Great Grandfather, my Grandfather, and my Dad, all Freemasons, I decided on the Masonic symbol.

My work is aboard ships. This means leaving, sometimes for several months at a time. Returning, I would look at the work accomplished. The quality was questionable, especially the pews. I was hoping someone active in the church would speak up. No one did. 

Arriving at church one Sunday for service, the plaques were in place. A year has passed since the contributions. I walked down the church aisle, looking through the dedications and names. There was no Masonic symbol. There was my name. I sat down, thinking. 

In my work as a Chief Engineer, I learned quality workmanship, of thinking, caring, and questioning. The missing symbol created a need, understanding why.   

In many churches, a time is chosen during the service for announcements of church business and events by the minister, vestry, and members. As this ends, the minister will ask, “Does anyone have anything to say?” giving all an opportunity to speak.  

In this church, for announcements, the minister decides before the service, what will be said and who will speak. There are no open discussions. Since my involvement in church business and events has been assisting, open discussions didn’t matter, I just listened. Today was swiftly becoming different.

I waited until the minister finished making his announcements and was about to choose someone to speak. I stood up. I said, “I have a complaint. I see the plaques are finally up. I see my name. I don’t see the Masonic symbol I asked for. When you are able to do the simple task of putting up a Masonic symbol, as I asked, I will return.” I turned and walked out of the Church.

That afternoon I received an e-mail from the minister.

“You disturbed the peace of the parish this morning by your public angry comments. That is not allowed. You should have come to me privately, or gone to the wardens and voiced your complaint. The issue then would have been resolved. Let me make it clear, it simply was an oversight a Masonic symbol was not placed on the pew.

Because of what you did, I am inhibiting you from receiving Holy Communion until I receive a written apology from you. Then I will give you Absolution. Your Penance will be to make an anonymous gift to the poor of no less than fifty dollars, the saying of the Lord’s Prayer five times slowly, and the reading of Chapter 4 of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians.

I have asked the Church warden who took it upon himself to get the name plates for the pews, to get a plate with the traditional third degree Masonic symbol on it which will then be placed on the pew just below your name. He said he will do that.

My brother, I look forward to you being restored to full fellowship in the Church.

Faithfully in Christ Jesus, the minister.”

The minister’s e-mail of excommunication, written apology, absolution, and penance was a surprise. For me, the problem was understanding the why, of the missing symbol. 

I sent an e-mail to the minister. “The Masonic symbol of a compass and square is a universal symbol of Freemasonry.

Freemasonry is a brotherhood of morality and integrity. The thinking, learning, and living of Masonic values contribute positively to the quality of life.

I told you and the Church Wardens, all I wanted was the Masonic symbol. Not my name. Not my name and the symbol. The symbol and my name means only a Freemason named Jackson attended the Church. The Masonic symbol placed alone on the pew is symbolic of all Christian Freemasons, and all Freemasons, past and present.

You did not listen to me. You show a disrespect of Freemasonry. You caused this conflict.

Since you did not do your agreed task, I am requesting a return of my pew contribution. I will no longer be attending your Church.”

From the minister, “We will miss you. God keep you. The Masonic symbol will be placed on the pew as per your request. There will be no return of your gift to the Church.” 

To the minister, “My effort was to get your attention. You think I should act in a certain way. I think you should too. Before going out the door, I said I would return when you could do a simple task like putting up only a Masonic symbol, as I asked.”

From the minister, “When the Masonic symbol is installed, I will let you know. God keep you till then.”

To the minister, “Thank you. God keep you as well.” 

This ended the e-mails.  I decided to look at my thoughts and actions, was I doing right, and then at other people involved. I took out my pen and started writing of the experience, creating a story. I sent copies to church members and friends. 

Several days later, the minister called for a meeting. In agreeing, I sent him a copy of the story. 

The meeting was at the Church. Present were the wardens, the minister, and myself. The wardens had written apologies, because the symbol had not been placed as I asked. They tried to hand them to me.

I was surprised and saddened. The two men were my friends. Their actions were being directed by the 

minister. I refused to accept the apologies. I looked at them and gently said, “The fault is with the minister.” 

The minister didn’t like my actions or the story. He read from Church law where he has the right to excommunicate a person that causes a disturbance during a service. I asked him if it said anything in his book about his personal responsibility, to do what he says he’ll do as with the plaques. The meeting wasn’t friendly. 

Eventually we apologized. I was reinstated. I had been excommunicated a week and a half. I left the meeting thinking the issue was resolved. 

When the minister asked for contributions, he added a value, a responsibility to those contributions. The plaques would be inscribed as each contributor wanted. 

When I stood and spoke during announcements, my effort was to understand why the symbol was missing. The minister wrote that I disturbed the peace of the parish with my public, angry comments, that our conversation should have been private. 

My approach to life is different than the minister’s. His control of announcements, open discussions, and the wardens are examples of him. I enjoy freedom, of being honest and open. By standing and speaking, I presented to him in an honest, open manner, and in front of the congregation, that a problem existed.

The problem, the why of the missing symbol, was our different perceptions. His, is of control, and then mine.

We are each responsible, for what we think, learn, and become. Of being controlling, controlled, or free, of being our own person, or what another perceives us to be. This process of becoming, is the same process as freedom of speech, of a person’s ability to think, learn, and express what they think is true. Attempts to control this process, are attempts to control the basis of individual freedom, thinking.

The Rabbi liked the story. As we were finishing our coffee, he said, “In Judaism, numbers can mean words. The number eighteen means life. By choosing the eighteenth pew, you chose life.” I laughed. I was surprised and pleased. The Kabbalah. 

I questioned myself and sought opinions in telling this story. Freemasonry and religion are positive parts of my life, of learning from all. Because of this, I wouldn’t want anything, to cause negativity towards any of them, knowing full well that some people will always do so. The Masonic symbol was never placed on the pew.

©Ernest G. Jackson 2021 All Rights Reserved | words 1,584.