FILED UNDER: How To Spot A Cowan

 

Good Day Fellow Traveler!

Our fraternity offers Light to it's members.  We do this through ritual instruction and proficiencies.

Even with this offering, there are many Brothers who do not have the slightest idea how to practically apply the light our Craft offers to them.  

A case in point could be easily made with the Light surrounding our collective understanding of Cowans.  Sure, most members can spout off the Craft dogma about them if asked.  Some of that dogma might actually sound good to the ignorant listener; like, Cowans are pretenders to the Craft or are non-members who pretend to be members to get our secrets.  These are great to respond to, but they do not go into detail as to how to spot them, much less handle them once you spot them.

We know they are pretending for a specific reason - they want our "secrets!"   However, we should know that these individuals, try as they may, will never get our secrets.  This is because every one of our secrets is an internalized discipline that cannot be obtained in any other way then Working diligently upon ourselves to develop them.  Such secrets cannot be handed over!

Sure, they can find out what they believe to be our modes of recognition. But even these modes are symbolic and they only reflect the internalized disciplines that can only be recognized by those who have them. Those who do not have these internalized disciplines are blind to them.

So, this raises a question. How does one apply this Light?  More specifically, when it comes to practical every day interactions with others, how exactly does one pick up on and apply the Light this organization offers and do it in such a way as to be able to deal effectively with a Cowan should one cross our path?

Here's a typical example of a Cowan interacting with a Brother.  The Cowan's behavior drips with shoddy work, slipshod thinking, and heartless justifications.

In other words, their very behavior betrays them.

 Sound familiar?

 Enjoy!

 Coach Nagy

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Cowan (sharing this statement in a meme):  Freemasonry is a completely tolerant organization.

Coach:  hmm... not really... Freemasonry does not tolerate the following:

1. Immorality

2. Unmasonic behavior

3. Evesdroppers

4. Cowans

5. Ruffians (Remember what KS ordered be done to them?)

6. NPDs

7. Disrespect to or ignoring of its traditions & etiquette

8. Atheists!

9. Libertines!

10. Nonage!

11. Fools!

12. Non-believers!

And this doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface on having illicit intercourse.

So, go ahead, change my mind...

Cowan:  Well, opinions among Freemasons are divided. [1]

Coach: That’s a red herring. The issue is not about opinions among Freemasons. The issue is the statement that you yourself made about Freemasonry as an organization. It is clearly wrong.

Cowan: But some would consider the phrase "Freemasonry is a completely tolerant organization" to be true.  For example, the Dallas Freemasons. [2]

Coach: “Some”?!  That’s a purposefully vague claim offered in an effort to divert attention from the point. Your statement is clearly false and any offered logical fallacy based excuse used to justify your original statement is bogus specifics. The statement that you originally made is clearly wrong on far too many levels and points.

Furthermore, it’s clear now from your shared website link that you have actually stolen the statement from someone else’s  website and have presented it out of context as an ideal, with no attribution, as your own, and unsupported by its original surrounding text.

This action is both misleading to those who were not privy to the source material and is an example of plagiarism since you have presented the statement as your own and have not given credit where it is actually due.

That would also make it a clear violation of at least one of Freemasonry’s many obligations.

Cowan: I guess this is about a possible lack of tolerance towards those who think differently, not towards those who act unethically. [3]

Coach: No. Your “guess” is not even in the ballpark. You’re offering up yet another red herring to excuse your unethical behavior.  It is NOT about those who think differently.  It is clearly about those who think and act unethically; much as you have done here by your posted comment.

Freemasonic organizations clearly DO NOT tolerate unethical behavior; at least, not the legitimate ones.

Cowan:  The big question is how to wisely distinguish between the two, with distance from the limited nature of our power to judge... [4]

Coach: Strike four... "The big question"?!?!? Yet another red herring put forth to distract from the fact that you reposted a stolen and clearly wrong generalization out of context as you own.  

Perhaps “the big question” is offered up from you to distract rather than address your behavior and character. Grand Lodges, and those members who are part of them, would disagree with your claim and your subsequent behavior!   

Thinking differently is not the issue; thinking and acting unethically is.   

And if you truly believe that our power to judge is somehow too limited, then you missed the entire point of one of Freemasonry’s  most important Charges. We ARE to judge our Brothers. those pre-masons who would knock upon our doors, and those who would pretend to be one of the Craft!

It’s pretty clear you got caught with your pants down on this one and have tried unsuccessfully to justify your bad behavior and cover the fact that you clearly do not know what you are talking about.  

Moreover, your comments would embarrass even a sophist, had they been your trainer. Your justifications are poorly constructed excuses that have noting to do with what you did, what you are doing, and who you are at your core.

Furthermore, if you are indeed a Fellow of the Craft, your behavior is an embarrassment to your Brothers.

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Coach's Notes:

How did I know this poster is a Cowan?

1. He (re)posted things he didn't understand.
2. He didn't square his work.
3. He didn't use cement in what he built.
4. He had holes in all his arguments.
5. He did much to avoid addressing items 1 through 4. 
   

It really isn't about these people getting into the lodge. It's about these people getting into your life!

 [1] Offering an issue-redirection strategy. (Red Herring)

[2] Logical Fallacy - Appeal to authority & stolen work

[3] Offering an issue-redirection strategy. (Red Herring)

[4] Offering an issue-redirection strategy. (Red Herring)

 

A Brother Asks: Freemasonry’s Truth

Either Or

A Brother Asks: Coach! I have a comparative question I’d like to run by you.

Coach: Sure. What is it?

Brother: Which one of these is true for Freemasonry?

a.       It trains a man to become a "much better version of himself” after a series of well-structured degrees.

b.      It educates a man to understand how he can find his own way to become a better variation of himself in a lifelong continues process.

Coach: Neither!

Brother: Why do you say this?

Coach: Thanks for wanting to know my thoughts on this. Let me tackle the first option.

Brother: Okay.

Coach: In most United States jurisdictions, there’s little to no training provided along these lines.

Brother: Little to no?

Coach: Yes. And when it is offered, most are uninterested much less prepared to take advantage of it.

Brother: I’d have to agree with your assessment.

Coach: Why?

Brother: I’ve seen the same lack of interest in my area as well.  What about the second options?

Coach: It’s closer.

Brother: What would you change to make it accurate?

Coach: I’d not use the word "educate".

Brother: What would you use instead?

Coach: I would use the word "inform" to indicate the information to improve himself was communicated toward him.

Brother: That’s it?

Coach: Yes.

Brother: Why?

Assessments

Coach: There’s no follow up process.

Brother: None?

Coach: None!

Brother: Would you please expand upon this?

Coach: Sure. There are no universal methods employed within the USA to assess whether candidates actually understand the basis, reasons and applications for what was conveyed to them before, during and after the degrees.

Brother: I’d have to agree. 

Coach: Why?

Brother: Most all of what I have seen being done by lodges has to do with assuring candidates can repeat back and act out what was provided to them. 

Coach: Like learning scripts and choreography?

Brother: Exactly!

Coach: Sadly, this is almost universal in the United States.

Brother: Why is it this way?

Coach: Primarily it’s due to those members who communicate this information being themselves ignorant of the meanings, concepts and applications intended by its conveyance…

Brother:  …coupled with their lack of interest in changing this reality?

Coach: Yes!

Brother: So, instead of providing a process which engages them in improving their person…

Coach: …it engages them in maintaining degree machines.

Brother: yeah…

Coach: yeah…

Playing Around

Brother: So Coach! What is true for Freemasonry?

Coach: Freemasonry within the United States is a morality play system…

Brother: ...Theater!?

Coach: Yes.

Brother: How so?

Coach: Patrons to it are trained to replace those who run the machine of making members.

Brother: So, all benefits provided by this focus are secondary.

Coach: Yes. Please understand that this is not a bad system.

Brother: I’ll say!  There are a lot of great perks!

Brother: Yep. But it’s just the reality of the system.

Brother: A morality play system?

Coach: Yes.  And it you know anything about morality plays, they are only performed for moral purposes.

Brother: Ah!  Their primary intent is to communicate morality!

Coach: Yes.  It’s a great way to communicate it too!

Brother: Why?

Coach: They’re structure pulls upon the audience’s imagination and are performed in such a way as to convey to patrons on multiple levels with the hope that some of what they offer will be understood by those experiencing them.

Brother: May I take liberty with your last statement?

Coach: Please do!

Brother: So, they are performed in faith, conveyed in hope and founded upon love?

Coach: Yes! I like that!

Brother: Wow! This is deep. 

Coach: Sure is.  And far too many members haven’t even begun to step into the oceans these plays offer much less thought to explore their depths.

Change

Brother: What do we do to change this?

Coach: Change what?

Brother: The system?

Coach: Why would you want to change it?

Brother: To better enable men to improve themselves.

Coach: A lofty goal my Brother. However, let me ask you a question or two first.

Brother: Okay, what are they?

Coach: How successful have you been in changing one thing about yourself?

Brother: Somewhat.

Coach: Why only somewhat?

Brother: Because it takes a lot of time, energies and commitment to bring about change.

Coach: I agree.

Brother: And your second question?

Coach: Knowing how difficult it is to change yourself, how much more difficult do you think it would be to change someone else?

Brother: That’s impossible!

Coach: Why?

Brother: Because you’re not in control!  And might I add, you’re hardly in control of yourself!

Coach: I agree.

Brother: So, the systems shouldn’t be change?

Coach: Yes. They shouldn’t be changed

Exemplification.

Brother: But what can we do then?

Coach: Change yourself.

Brother: Me?

Coach: Yes. Show the world what can be done when time, energies and commitment are put forth in an improving manner.

Brother: And lead by example?

Coach: Yes! Exemplify what Ritual directs us to do and do so with the zeal of a man whose hair set on fire for a bucket of water.

Brother: Wow!  That’s passion!

Coach: When you willing suffer to get what you want, your priorities become pretty clear.

Brother: And you accomplish things others can only dream of?

Coach: That’s the idea.

Brother: And when others who are like-minded and like-hearted see what can be done, they pursue the same course of actions, when they are so inclined.

Coach: What do you think the impact will be on the system?

Brother: Well, with more men improving themselves, the quality of system support will improve…

Coach: …and?

Brother: And candidates going through the system are more likely to see Brotherly examples of what the system offers…

Coach: …and?

Brother: By seeing exemplifications of what the system offers, they are likely to realize that they are not just going through a series of plays.

Coach: How so?

Brother: The improvements the plays point patrons toward will be on display for them before, during and afterward. It makes improvement possibilities real!

Where to Focus

Coach: So, what needs to change?

Brother: Me!

Coach: So, what’s true about Freemasonry?

Brother: It’s a system to points its members toward improvement only.  It’s up to the members to make that change happen!

Coach: And?

Brother: The more members change for the better, the more likely new members will do the same!

Coach: And the downside?

Brother: When members don’t take the time to improve themselves, their example sabotages the very reason for putting on these plays.

Coach: Yep. 

Brother: So, we can be our own worst enemies or our greatest marketing asset!

Coach: How so?

Brother: Why would you stick around when what you bought into was an improvement society that doesn’t support improvement beyond pointing out how you can improve?

Coach: Exactly!

Brother: But when there are shining examples of improvement, it’ll not only attract members who want to improve, it’ll provide incentive to each to continue the course of improvement actions.

Coach: Yes. So?

Brother: It’s back to me.  The truth of Freemasonry is it offers opportunities to improve.  And those opportunities rest squarely upon my shoulders. 

Coach: They sure do.  And the same goes for every other member.

Brother: Agreed!