A Warm Welcome for a Russian Mason Even in Difficult Times

VAN NUYS -- Freemasonry transcends political, religious, and social differences.

It is in this context, even in difficult times, that the Masons of Clarence F. Smith Daylight Lodge No. 866, in Van Nuys, CA, warmly welcomed their Brother Mason, the RW Grand Inspector of the Grand Lodge of Russia, at the Lodge’s Stated Meeting (its business meeting) on March 5, 2022.

This is not inconsistent with the vision and mission statements of the Grand Lodge of Masons in California, which developed these new statements as a part of its 2025 Fraternity Plan:

The Grand Lodge’s vision is “The World in Harmony.” According to Past Grand Master, Arthur Weiss, “the Grand Lodge’s method for achieving this vision is reflected in our new mission statement: ‘Building peace and understanding through friendship, service, and self-improvement.’” See, https://californiafreemason.org/2020/11/29/the-world-in-harmony/ .

Neither was the welcome on Saturday for this officer of the Grand Lodge of Russia inconsistent with past acts of fraternal kindness, camaraderie and care as exhibited by Masons in past conflicts. One can find examples of such acts, for instance, in House Undivided: The Story of Freemasonry and the Civil War by Allen E. Roberts, and in other publications:

At a Civil War Prisoner of War camp, imprisoned Masons from one side were let out to join their captors from the other side for Masonic Meetings, thereafter to be returned to their prior situations after the meeting. Moreover, Masons from one side of the conflict, hearing or seeing Masonic signs of distress from a wounded soldier, many times came across the battlefield to bring medical attention to the wounded Mason or to bring him to safety. There were even instances where Southern real or personal property was saved by Union Officers who were Masons because the owners were Masons. And so forth.

To the uninitiated or the uninformed, the Masonic tie -- that brought together this Russian Grand Lodge Officer with the Clarence F. Smith Daylight Lodge – will seem incomprehensible, perhaps even offensive, given the present conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

But that misses the point altogether.

The goal of Freemasonry is to make the world a better place. The Lodge’s Russian visitor was not a part of the invasion; there is no guilt by association; and the visit was both apolitical and appropriate to the themes of worldwide harmony, friendship and hospitality so ingrained in the principles and ethics of Freemasonry.

To learn more about Freemasonry, visit https://freemason.org/ . To learn more about Clarence F. Smith Daylight No. 866, a diverse Van Nuys Lodge, visit https://clarencefsmith.org/ .

Contact:

David I. Karp, Newsletter Editor

Clarence F. Smith Daylight Lodge No. 866

818-515-9361

davidikarp@karpmediation.com

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