What Are A Freemason’s Obligations During A Pandemic?

COVID-19 puts this question in a new light.

Freemasonry is a charitable, educational and religious society, as well as brotherhood. The body’s membership has included famous people like George Washington and Simon Bolivar. Today I’m earmarking the ‘charitable’ portion of that definition of Freemasonry in recognition of the COVID-19 pandemic that sweeps the nation.

From the day that I was nominated to become a Freemason, to the evening that I earned my third degree as a full Freemason (and beyond), I’ve seen the practice of providing charity to distressed Freemasons.

What this means is that if a fellow member of my masonic lodge falls under hard times, the lodge may vote to provide that member and his family charity. (Alternately, an individual member may approach a fellow Mason, his widow or orphan about providing support).

A few words about masonic charity. It goes without saying, no matter how industrious or frugal a man may be, through sudden misfortune, or other conditions over which he has no control, may be in temporary need of a helping hand.

Enter COVID-19.

As I write this official lodge activities in the District of Columbia (where my lodge is based), Maryland, Virginia and other states have halted because of the grave public health crisis that COVID-19 poses. In other words, masonic lodges near and far aren’t meeting to discuss charity of financially distressed brothers and their families.

Moreover, mandatory statewide-quarantines of most residents of California, New York and other states foreshadowed restrictions in DMV-area, where my lodge is located. The coronavirus pandemic could push the U.S. to a 14.7 percent in April— numbers foreign to America since the Great Depression.

As the economy tanks and infections skyrocket — absent official masonic mechanisms in place — what is a Freemason’s charitable obligations to his fellow Freemasons?

Admittedly, my own interactions with my brother Freemasons have been somewhat limited over the past several years. In 2016, I returned to school, and my lodge attendance had been sparse for the three years that followed. In other words, my knowledge of current business at Potomac Lodge №5, my principal lodge, is granular.

Just before the COVID-19 crisis ballooned I had vowed to become more active in my lodge. Now that COVID-19 has placed me under virtual self-house arrest, I wonder what is my obligation to my brother Masons?

Uncertain over my official masonic charity obligations, I’ve told my cleaner (not associated with Freemasonry) that I would continue to pay her as usual during the COVID-19 crisis, even as I tell her not to come to my house. (Meanwhile, my partner is sending Whole Foods groceries to a local bank through Amazon.)

I haven’t wrapped my arms around what my obligation to members of my masonic lodge are during the lean weeks and months of COVID-19. Yet, I’ve carefully reviewed masonic education training booklets to glean insight.

In the second of five masonic education booklets I received training to become a full Mason, I found the following quote: “Any conception of brotherhood must include this willingness to help, as and assist” because this willingness to help fellow Masons is one of the naturally impelling acts of brotherhood.

The only question is how a Freemason, wherever, he may be located, implement this willingness to help.

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