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 Members of the Masonic Light E-Group, Freemasons, both men and women. A Temple which never sleeps: E-Masonry Gerald Reilly meets with Josh Heller, Founder Moderator of the Masonic Light E-Group
It was so pleasing when the Editor of Freemasonry Today kindly invited me to travel to Pennsylvania to meet a person - Josh Heller - with whom I had been in communication for over seven years: also, to meet and be royally entertained by his lovely family and other members of the E-group. Josh began by explaining how he had first become interested in Freemasonry.
The continuation of the masonic journey was to be a solo process‘I was now looking for furtherance but the lodge had moved on to the next candidate, the implication being that the continuation of the masonic journey was to be a solo process – there was really no help. I went to the Temple’s library, rented purchased and borrowed as many books as I could and fell in love with the Craft. There are so many concepts: powerful, simple and profound that made so great an impact, inspiring me with awe in terms of humanity and shared ideals.’ Josh was radiating, it seemed wrong to move on but I had to ask about the breakthrough. ‘Shortly after initiation I joined an E-mail based discussion group, or E-group that was centred on the study of Rosslyn Chapel. It was open to non-masons and from time to time masonic topics would come up on the list but as soon as they began to run and get interesting the Moderator would step in and say, lets get back to the Chapel and kill the masonic connection. But I didn’t know where those other masonic conversations were to take place. So, I decided to form a masonic E-group in which masonic conversations of any type could occur. I called it Allthingsmasonic and invited some of the interesting contributors from the Rosslyn list to join. I knew from this list that there was out there, a world-wide audience of merit, a goldmine of people, with so much masonic learning and experience to share.’ The light of Freemasonry’s diversity was dawning on us… Then a female applied for membership!‘In the first few weeks we were excited by what we had created but so many of the discussion topics seemed to subsume into politics or religion: but, we were real masons in the real world and this could not be avoided. So many on the list had a deep respect for the contemplative and spiritual side of masonry, we learned and respected that there could be masonic spirituality outside the orbit of organised religion. We were providing an equal ground for every one on the E-group to express their views about matters, that as Freemasons, we should be thinking about. Men were accepted on the list simply by providing their lodge and jurisdiction; thereafter it was trial by peers. I didn’t have a perception of the socio-political machinations of official recognition or of so-called ‘clandestine’ Freemasonry.’ ‘Yet, the light of Freemasonry’s diversity was dawning on all of us – it was beautiful to see. Discussions were not following on jurisdiction lines, they were cutting across them. Then a female applied for membership. The lodge and jurisdiction checked out, after consulting with some of the group co-founders and finding them supportive, the female mason was admitted. There were over 100 men on the group and I was fearful of losing a half or more of then. Only three left: the lady mason was an outstanding contributor to the group, a kind, smart, caring and wonderful human being. Freemasonry is too important to be restricted to one gender and the working tools do not discriminate in the hands of the worker. Shortly after this progress we changed the name of the group to Masonic Light. This brought us onto the nature of the masonic relationship that can be achieved through E-masonry. It took a world tragedy to bring it home.’ ‘9/11 taught us all that E-masonry was about flesh and blood people. There was a world-wide concern for the members, and their families, who lived and worked in the New York Metropolitan area. Tony, Rashid, Steve, Jay, and others were asked to make contact with the list and confirm their safety. We had not met each other but by daily communication, even though through cyber, we had got to know each other and feelings for each other had been created as real as could emanate from any relationship on earth. Since then, members have travelled between continents to meet each other. If a member says that they are going to any location in the world in seconds there can be lodges waiting to welcome them.’ E-masonry is a temple that never sleepsI then asked Josh to suggest some of the advantages of e-masonry. ‘First and foremost is the incredible extent of masonic knowledge and education that is available. No lodge or jurisdiction could have the expertise or capacity to compete against the masonic citizens of the world. Sometimes a hundred and more e-mails a day arrive, (over 68,000 to date) many from learned people with years of academic experience or specialist areas of interest and study. The book lists, quotations, links and of course the discussion, all provided daily knowledge and education, in the convenience of one’s own home, or wherever one is travelling, via the World Wide Web. We have access to any library, bookstore or public search engine in the world no masonic subject is excluded except, as matter of respect, signs of recognition and pass-words; even though they are all in the public domain.’ ‘Secondly, E-masonry provides the opportunity for daily masonic advancement members can be encouraged and stimulated along their personal masonic journey at any time they wish to log on. Many members have told me that the group is there for them, either between lodge meetings or if because of work or home duties attendance at lodge is not possible. E-masonry is 24/7, a temple that never sleeps enabling critical thinking and practising Freemasonry when and where ever it is wanted and all at just the click of a mouse.’ ‘Thirdly, it has taught us the superficiality of some official Grand Lodge positions on recognition and visitation. Lodge A recognises Lodges B and C; Lodge B recognises Lodge A but not C! – a chaos of confusion – something incoherent and unsustainable. E-masonry is a trial by peers, if your contributions are of interest to serious Freemasons around the world, you will be read, recognised and esteemed. If the contributions are not, then you will die the death of a thousand (well 740 actually) delete keys. So many of our members are basking in the light and breadth of masonic diversity that the term, ‘cross-jurisdictional’, has no significant meaning for us. Once on the group, your masonry plus my masonry equals our masonry. No Grand Lodge is regarded as superior or inferior to another, we learn from them all. The recognition and celebration of the Freemasonry of the group members is a condition of continued membership, we will tolerate anything except intolerance.’ E-masonry may not be a matter of choiceAnd so the interview could only be concluded by asking Josh, what of the future? ‘Who knows? E-masonry is in its infancy it may extend to every jurisdiction and lodge. Official education on-line, pre-recorded web cast masonic speeches, demonstrations of the ritual, video-conferencing private or business meetings. the possibilities are infinite. Yet, it is still Freemasonry and the values of Freemasonry can be perpetuated using the technologies of the present and future. It enables Freemasonry to be there when it is needed and convenient. Perhaps the view can be taken that E-masonry may not be a matter of choice if masonic values are to survive and thrive in the future. It may well be necessary to seize the advantages of technology, to recognise and embrace flexibility and diversity and look to a Freemasonry that is truly universal.’ Gerald Reilly is a member of St. Osyth’s Priory Lodge 2063. Through an entry in an early issue of Freemasonry Today Gerald Reilly joined the Rosslyn Chapel E-group and was a founder member of Allthingsmasonic and Masonic Light. He and Josh Heller will shortly be completing a book on E-masonry which will be reviewed in Freemasonry Today.
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