By Allen E. Roberts
Reviewed by Bro. Jason F. Hicks
Masonic author Allen E. Roberts was a prolific author and advocate for Masonic Education and leadership development. This book was a seminal work in his writing career. It is one that has a little age on it now; however, the value of what he says is still very applicable and should be looked to.
The importance of Masonic education has been a battle that Brother Roberts fought for his whole career. He speaks of the skeptics that put such an emphasis in the craft of the ritual. He speak of Masonry as being a body of such parts, which are:
Ritual = Skeleton
Symbolism = Heart and brains
Benevolence = Soul
Philosophy = Bloodstream
Jurisprudence = Muscles
History = Flesh
He says that ritual is one-sixth of the heart of Masonry yet many brothers wrongly only emphasis that. This is a very valid point. Most people believe a good mason is one who can do all the ritual. However, this misses the boat; just like someone who is a book worm is not a good communicator. Just because someone can do ritual does not mean they will be a good leader of the lodge.
Leadership Development is an important emphasis of his. Saying that you have to focus on his to help the long-term health of the fraternity. You cannot simply take a laid back approach to this topic, good leaders must be developed. If you spend the time working with them then when they are called upon they will step up to the plate.
Training is a common theme over Brother Roberts entire career. That you have to train leaders in topics like leadership development to enable them to be the best leaders that they can.
One of the most powerful stories, in the book, came out of the Civil War involving the universality of freemasonry. A union officer killed himself of a ship and the other shipmates rowed ashore and asked for representatives of the local lodge so that a Masonic funeral could be performed. This was done with both masons from north and south looking on. This story just illustrates the universality of the fraternity and its impact on its members.
In closing, Mr. Roberts was a man before his era. He had foresight like many others have not had. We are blessed with his works long after his death. If we listen to his words, we will have no problems believing that the fraternity will be around for many more years.
