From the South

By Andrew Hawes, PM — Jr. Warden

In July, we celebrate our Independence Day.  The idea of togetherness versus independence is an interesting one to me, so I thought for this July article I would write on the topic of individuality versus conformity.

There’s a constant struggle between conformity and individuality.  We live in a country where privacy and the rights of an individual are strongly protected and codified – but that in turn is only possible because we have all agreed to follow a common pact, and obey the laws under whose protection we live.  We need to keep in sync with the rest of society when it comes to those laws, to ensure that they are not tread upon and disregarded, because they protect the very thing that lets us be and act as unique individuals.  It’s somewhat paradoxical that in order to express ourselves, we must first agree to conform.

But that’s the world in which we live.  Any individual, living alone on an isolated island, can and will make all of their own choices as suits them-  it is the only choice they have.  Not having any other option, they form their own opinion and follow their own course of action on everything, all the time.  However, once we introduce the concept of “society” in the picture, we have to start the balancing act.

We, as Masons, agree on their being three main tenets for us – Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.  When a second person is placed on this island, suddenly these come into play.  Where before the man living alone could say anything he liked, he now needs to consider the impact of his words on the other member of their small society. Why he should care about this is contained within the three tenets – if he loves his brother, he wants to relieve his distresses and avoid causing new ones – speaking truthfully and caring about what the other members of society want will help to avoid conflict and injustice that may arise otherwise.  He must, in effect, listen to the beat of a drum other than his own, that is agreed to be the beat to which he and the other members of his society will now march.

I think the key to resolving this paradox is to remember syncopation.  You can march to more than one beat at a time.  Step in time with society… but take those extra steps that keep  you in beat to your own drummer.  Make yourself a good citizen and civil member of society… but take those extra steps to express your individuality along the way.