The Lost Symbol is released in less than a week now, and given Dan Brown's track record with 'secret' societies the chances are looking pretty high that Freemasonry is about to get accused of many different things in relation to the formation of the United States of America.
Just what those things are we're still not sure, but we can almost be certain that many elements of the new pulp-adventure novel from Dan Brown won't look upon our fraternity too highly. There is even a possibility that brethren in the USA will be demonised, depending on the content of the The Lost Symbol's plot and whether or not Freemasonry is shown as an enemy to American patriotism.
So the question that remains: is Freemasonry ready for the Dan Brown effect?
There are a few facets to this question that I want to go over briefly here. The first one is the effect that any fictional allegations are going to have. Everybody knows that Dan Brown's books are fiction - and yet most people who read them act as if they aren't. His (or rather in many cases, his wife's) historical research is well-known for being lacking in many regards - and previous influences have included questionable sources chosen purely for sensational effect rather than rigorous historical accuracy. So we must take it as given that a large proportion of The Lost Symbol's readers are going to take any historical references in it as truth, and that many of those references are going to be fiction (whether intentionally or not).
Now, it is this facet that I think Freemasonry as an organisation (in all jurisdictions) will be able to handle. We have more than enough well-respected historians and experts to dispell any unfounded information in The Lost Symbol. Given that the setting is the USA and will likely have a patriotic component to it, there will also be a lot of American historians who aren't brethren who will jump at the chance to talk about how wrong Dan Brown gets it (and he will get it wrong in many places!). I think the Masonic PR machine is already well-honed to deal with such criticism, particularly about anything from our historical past. We've heard it all before, and nothing will be a surprise.
It isn't really this that I'm worried about. In the next few months we can expect to see Freemasonry's supposed history repeated ad nauseum throughout the global press. Details about Masonic myths and fact will be handed around, our rituals will be explained in great detail (indeed, I kind of expect this to happen in the book itself), Albert Pike will be quoted and examined even more than usual, and then everything will go back to normal in about 12 months - press wise.
No, what I'm worried about comes from the fact that there are many Masonic jurisdictions that are seeing this as an opportunity for a recruitment drive. With so much worry going around about the need to attract new, younger, members I am very concerned that this might prove to be the tipping point where many of the great things about Freemasonry become eroded in the hunt for new candidates.
To those of this mentality, I want to pose one simple question: do we really want people to join with thoughts of conspiracy in their minds?
The worst kind of prospective Mason, in my eyes, is one who joins because they want to 'rise to the top'. Tales of the Illuminati and secret back-room deals are appealing to many men...and if one can become a part of such a thing many would gladly do so. The thirst for power and influence is an unfortunate product of our egotistical mindset, and one that I do believe Freemasonry - when approached properly - can help one to overcome. The problem being that it is up to the individual to approach Freemasonry in such a manner, not for Freemasonry to change the individual.
Although we cannot be certain, as the book hasn't yet been released, I am worried that there will be a large element of Masonic conspiracy in The Lost Symbol that attracts the wrong kind of candidates. Now, many of these will join only to disappear a few months later disillusioned (which is in itself not a desireable use of our time and efforts when other, more worthy, candidates may be waiting) - but others will hang around, waiting to find the conspiracy that they are looking for.
This might at first seem harmless and a way to fill the coffers (for the more cynical), but consider this. If a dozen such men join Freemasonry there will be little effect, and nothing of concern. But if 100,000 - or even a million - people join with such visions in their minds they can create within Freemasonry what they were seeking. Even if it was never there to begin with. So we must remain vigilant, and remember that we are looking for Good men - not just Any men.
If The Lost Symbol attracts anywhere near as much attention as Dan Brown's last book did (the verdict is certainly out on that one...his novelty factor has definitely worn off), then we must prepare ourselves not only for a great media onslaught - but also a potential onslaught of wrongly motivated candidates. I may have spoken too soon in this regard, and indeed we must give every good man the opportunity to gain from our fraternity if they so desire, but it is definitely something that is worth further consideration from all brethren.
It deserves a lot more thought simply because this could be the true challenge that will emerge from this, and I'm not sure that enough of us within Freemasonry are considering the possible long-term implications if it does.
Of course, we might all have gotten this completely wrong and the book instead portrays Freemasonry in a positive light. Although this may not seem likely,given that we don't know the plot yet, it is still at this stage a possibility. If that is the case, then I think there will be far less to worry about and those concerned with numbers can bask in the reflected glory of increased membership for a year or two.
However, something tells me that it won't be quite as easy as that...
Just what those things are we're still not sure, but we can almost be certain that many elements of the new pulp-adventure novel from Dan Brown won't look upon our fraternity too highly. There is even a possibility that brethren in the USA will be demonised, depending on the content of the The Lost Symbol's plot and whether or not Freemasonry is shown as an enemy to American patriotism.
So the question that remains: is Freemasonry ready for the Dan Brown effect?
There are a few facets to this question that I want to go over briefly here. The first one is the effect that any fictional allegations are going to have. Everybody knows that Dan Brown's books are fiction - and yet most people who read them act as if they aren't. His (or rather in many cases, his wife's) historical research is well-known for being lacking in many regards - and previous influences have included questionable sources chosen purely for sensational effect rather than rigorous historical accuracy. So we must take it as given that a large proportion of The Lost Symbol's readers are going to take any historical references in it as truth, and that many of those references are going to be fiction (whether intentionally or not).
Now, it is this facet that I think Freemasonry as an organisation (in all jurisdictions) will be able to handle. We have more than enough well-respected historians and experts to dispell any unfounded information in The Lost Symbol. Given that the setting is the USA and will likely have a patriotic component to it, there will also be a lot of American historians who aren't brethren who will jump at the chance to talk about how wrong Dan Brown gets it (and he will get it wrong in many places!). I think the Masonic PR machine is already well-honed to deal with such criticism, particularly about anything from our historical past. We've heard it all before, and nothing will be a surprise.
It isn't really this that I'm worried about. In the next few months we can expect to see Freemasonry's supposed history repeated ad nauseum throughout the global press. Details about Masonic myths and fact will be handed around, our rituals will be explained in great detail (indeed, I kind of expect this to happen in the book itself), Albert Pike will be quoted and examined even more than usual, and then everything will go back to normal in about 12 months - press wise.
No, what I'm worried about comes from the fact that there are many Masonic jurisdictions that are seeing this as an opportunity for a recruitment drive. With so much worry going around about the need to attract new, younger, members I am very concerned that this might prove to be the tipping point where many of the great things about Freemasonry become eroded in the hunt for new candidates.
To those of this mentality, I want to pose one simple question: do we really want people to join with thoughts of conspiracy in their minds?
The worst kind of prospective Mason, in my eyes, is one who joins because they want to 'rise to the top'. Tales of the Illuminati and secret back-room deals are appealing to many men...and if one can become a part of such a thing many would gladly do so. The thirst for power and influence is an unfortunate product of our egotistical mindset, and one that I do believe Freemasonry - when approached properly - can help one to overcome. The problem being that it is up to the individual to approach Freemasonry in such a manner, not for Freemasonry to change the individual.
Although we cannot be certain, as the book hasn't yet been released, I am worried that there will be a large element of Masonic conspiracy in The Lost Symbol that attracts the wrong kind of candidates. Now, many of these will join only to disappear a few months later disillusioned (which is in itself not a desireable use of our time and efforts when other, more worthy, candidates may be waiting) - but others will hang around, waiting to find the conspiracy that they are looking for.
This might at first seem harmless and a way to fill the coffers (for the more cynical), but consider this. If a dozen such men join Freemasonry there will be little effect, and nothing of concern. But if 100,000 - or even a million - people join with such visions in their minds they can create within Freemasonry what they were seeking. Even if it was never there to begin with. So we must remain vigilant, and remember that we are looking for Good men - not just Any men.
If The Lost Symbol attracts anywhere near as much attention as Dan Brown's last book did (the verdict is certainly out on that one...his novelty factor has definitely worn off), then we must prepare ourselves not only for a great media onslaught - but also a potential onslaught of wrongly motivated candidates. I may have spoken too soon in this regard, and indeed we must give every good man the opportunity to gain from our fraternity if they so desire, but it is definitely something that is worth further consideration from all brethren.
It deserves a lot more thought simply because this could be the true challenge that will emerge from this, and I'm not sure that enough of us within Freemasonry are considering the possible long-term implications if it does.
Of course, we might all have gotten this completely wrong and the book instead portrays Freemasonry in a positive light. Although this may not seem likely,given that we don't know the plot yet, it is still at this stage a possibility. If that is the case, then I think there will be far less to worry about and those concerned with numbers can bask in the reflected glory of increased membership for a year or two.
However, something tells me that it won't be quite as easy as that...
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