The Old Tilers talks first published in 1925, by Carl Claudy, is a series of short anecdotal stories told in the setting of a new member asking an old tiler for his opinion on various masonic topics.
These short articles are still very relevant, 100 years on, and hopefully provide some insight to new members today.Â
“It seems to me,” began the New Brother, offering a cigar to the Old Tiler, “that we make unnecessary demands on a candidate.”
“Thanks,” answered the Old Tiler. “Such as what, for instance?”
“A candidate who has received the Entered Apprentice degree must perfect himself in it before he gets his Fellowcraft.
After he is a Fellowcraft he must learn that ritual before he can become a Master Mason. I can see the reason why all brethren must understand them and be able to tell about degrees, but I don’t see why we must learn word for word and letter for letter.
Last meeting we turned back a young fellow because he had not learned his Entered Apprentice degree.
If he didn’t learn it because he didn’t want to he wasn’t worth having, but it seems he just couldn’t. Refusing him was an injustice. He’s only one-third a Mason, and not likely to get any farther.”
“You sure think of a lot of things Masonic to find fault with!” countered the Old Tiler. “But we would get along faster if you didn’t mix your questions.”
“How do you mean, mix them?”
“In one breath you want to know why Masonry requires learning degrees by heart, and don’t I think it was an injustice to a certain young fellow because we wouldn’t admit him to full membership when he couldn’t or didn’t, only you don’t think it an injustice but a righteousness if he could and didn’t.
You agree that one of the safeguards of Masonry which keep it pure is what we call the ancient landmarks?”
​
“I agree.”
“And you know one of the landmarks is that Masonry is secret?”
“Of course.”
“If we printed the work would it be secret?”
“Certainly not. But you don’t have to print it.”
“No? But if we can’t print it and won’t learn it, how are we to give it to our sons?”
“Oh!” The New Brother saw a great light. “We all learn the work and so know when mistakes are made and correct them in the workers, and our sons hear the same work we did and learn it and transmit it.
But wouldn’t it be enough if only a few men learned the work- those well qualified and with good memories? How would that do?”
“It is good Masonry and good Americanism that the majority rules. Masonry is not a despotism but a democracy.
If a favored few were the custodians of the work would not the favored few soon become the rulers of Masonry, just as the favored few have always ruled the lazy, the ignorant, and the stupid?”
“If that happened we’d just put them out of office.”
“And put in men who didn’t know the work? Then what becomes of your landmark?”
“You are too many for me,” laughed the New Brother. “I guess there is a reason why we have to learn the work.
But I still think we might make an occasional exception when a man just can’t memorize.”
“If you read the Bible, you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. One bad egg will spoil an omelette.
The man who won’t learn is not fit to be a Mason, since he is not willing to tread the path all his brethren have trod.
The man who can’t learn the work hasn’t control enough of his brain to enable him to appreciate Masonic blessings.
This is no question of education. A brother of this lodge has had so little education that he barely reads and write. His grammar is fearful and his knowledge of science so full of things that are not so that it is funny when it isn’t pathetic.
But he is a good Mason for all that, and bright as a dollar at learning the work. It’s only the stupid, the lazy, the indifferent and dull-witted, the selfish and foolish man who can’t learn or won’t learn Masonry.
They add nothing to it; it is better they are kept out. To make an exception merely would be to leaven our lump with sour leaven.”
“But, Old Tiler, many who learned it once have forgotten it now.”
“Of course they have! You can’t do a quadratic equation or tell me the principle cities in Greenland, or bound Poland, or do a Latin declination. You learned it and forgot it. But you had the mental training.
If I told you a quadratic was worked with an adding machine, that Poland was in china, or that hocus-pocus meant Caesar’s lives, you’d know I was wrong. Same way with ritual; leaning it is Masonic training, and though we often forget it we never lose it entirely, and through the whole of us it is preserved to posterity.”
“Oh, all right! I learned mine, any way. Have another cigar, won’t you?”
“Thanks,” answered the Old Tiler. “You have learned rather well, I’ll admit, that I like your cigars!”
Article by: Carl H. Claudy
Carl Harry Claudy (1879 – 1957) was an American author, magazine writer, and journalist for the New York Herald.
His association with Freemasonry began in 1908, when, at the age of 29, he was raised a master Mason in lodge Harmony No. 17 in Washington, DC. He served as its master in 1932 and eventually served as Grand Master of Masons in the District of Colombia in 1943.
His Masonic writing career began in earnest when he became associated with the Masonic service Association in 1923, serving as associate editor of its magazine, The master mason, until 1931.
Under his leadership the service Association was brought to a place of predominance through his authorship and distribution of the short talk bulletin which made his name familiar to virtually every lodge in the country.
Recent Articles: by Carl Claudy
Old Tiler Talks - Masonic Libraries
The Old Tilers talks first published in 1925, by Carl Claudy, is a series of short anecdotal stories told in the setting of a new member asking an old tiler for his opinion on various masonic topics. These short articles are still very relevant, 100 years on, and hopefully provide some insight to new members today.
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Old Tiler Talks - So Many Rascals
"Why are there so many rascals in the Fraternity, and why don't we turn them out?" a new member voiced to the old tiler for his opinion. These short articles are still very relevant, 100 years on, and hopefully provide some insight to new members today.
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Old Tiler Talks - The Greatest Work
The Old Tiler asked, "what is the greatest work of Masonry?" The New Brother sat by the guardian of the door and pulled out his cigar case. - Another instalment of wisdom by Carl Claudy, The Greatest Work
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Old Tiler Talks - Why Men Love Freemasonry
The 'Old Tiler Talks' first published in 1925, by Carl Claudy, is a series of short anecdotal stories told in the setting of a new member asking an old Tiler for his opinion on various Masonic topics. These short articles are still very relevant, 100 years on, and hopefully provide some insight to new members today.
more....
Old Tiler Talks - Seeking a Little Light
The Old Tilers talks first published in 1925, by Carl Claudy, is a series of short anecdotal stories told in the setting of a new member asking an old tiler for his opinion on various masonic topics. These short articles are still very relevant, 100 years on, and hopefully provide some insight to new members today.
more....
Old Tiler Talks - Failure
The new mason laments that practically speaking, Masonry is a failure, and it depresses me … Masonry cannot be a failure, because men fail as Masons. The Old Tilers talk by Carl ClaudyÂ
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Old Tiler Talks - Country Lodge
A lesson in the importance of an open mindset to observe, not to judge, but to learn and accept that we can achieve the desired outcome employing a different process. by Carl Claudy
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Old Tiler Talks - The Ideal Mason
"What's your ideal of Freemasonry?" asked the Younger Mason - A short anecdotal story told in the setting of a new member asking an old tiler for his opinion on various masonic topics by Carl Claudy
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Old Tiler Talks - Learning the Work
A short anecdotal story told in the setting of a new member asking an old tiler for his opinion on various masonic topics by Carl Claudy
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Old Tiler Talks - Promotion
Masonic first appointments and promotions might appear to be inequitable for one point a view, but some times, one point does not show the whole picture. A perfectly articulated story by Claudy, we should not compare one persons abilities with another.
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Old Tiler Talks - Masonry's "Failure"
Masonry fails because it doesn’t interest men sufficiently to make them practice what they preach. A perfectly articulated story by Claudy Masonry does not fail men. Men fail Masonry. Masonry has the teachings.
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Old Tiler Talks - Judge Not!
A perfectly articulated story by Claudy reminds us of a lesson from the Second Degree Charge; in the decision of every trespass against our rules, judge with candour, admonish with friendship, and reprehend with mercy.
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Old Tiler Talks - A Masonic Speech
A Masonic Speech - I can tell you the essence of appeal. It is drama. If you want your hearers to hang on your words, dramatize your subject
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Old Tiler Talks - A Mason's Christmas
A Mason's Christmas - Do you believe in Christmas celebrations should be held by the lodge ? Should members be asked to contribute to one and engage in Christmas festivities ? What is the old tilers take on this ?Â
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Old Tiler Talks - Advertising
Advertising - We would do more good in the world if we advertised ourselves more… Why ?
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The All Seeing Eye
Uncover the mystery behind one of the oldest and most widespread symbols denoting God.
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The Five Points of Fellowship
Do you want to discover the originals of the five points of fellowship ?
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The Two Pillars
The mystery behind the two great pillars that stood at the porchway entrance of King Solomon Temple
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Three Five Seven
Three numbers, what are their masonic significance? Pythagoras has something to say about them
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Three Grand Pillars
What are the Three Grand Pillars ?, wisdom, strength, and beauty - then later we hear of the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns
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The 47th problem of Euclid
This emblem contains more real food for thought than any other in the lecture of the Sublime Degree.
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The Hiramic Legend
The Hiramic Legend is the glory of Freemasonry; the search for that which was lost is the glory of life
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The Five Senses
How are the Fellowcraft's five steps connected the five senses of human nature
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The Principal Tenets
How to explain the principle tents of the craft to a newly made brother
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The Lesser Lights
What are the lesser lights and where are they placed on our Lodges
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The Winding Stairs
Like so much else in Freemasonry the Middle Chamber is wholly symbolic
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Secrecy
In the true sense of the words Freemasonry is not a secret society but a society with secrets.
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Three Great Lights
Three Great Lights – the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square, and the Compasses
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Lambskin Apron
Introduction to Freemasonry – Entered Apprentice Lambskin Apron
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Penalties
To the initiate, the penalty in his obligation comes with a shock of surprise and sometimes consternation.
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Point Within A Circle
What is a point within a circle
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Meet the Author
This month in 'Meet the Author' we look at the life and work of Carl H. Claudy, a prolific Masonic author who believed that Masonic education is the foundation for the Fraternity.
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