By: W. John Barling – Secretary of Hyde Park Lodge 370
While scrolling through Facebook recently, I came across a post from a Past Grand Master of Masons in Florida. He reminded his audience that politics and religion have no place in the Lodge room. His point was correct; they don’t. But it made me pause and reflect: Why these two topics specifically? Is their exclusion a reaction to our polarized times, or is it something deeper, something rooted in the foundational principles of our Craft?
Freemasonry is built on timeless ideals: brotherhood, moral development, and mutual respect. For centuries, our Lodges have brought together men from every country, sect, and opinion . That kind of unity doesn’t happen by chance. It’s made possible because we agree to set aside what divides us and focus instead on what unites us.
That’s why politics and religion are intentionally left outside the Lodge room door. Not because Masons don’t care about those subjects (we do) but because the peace and harmony of the Lodge matter more than any individual opinion. The Lodge is meant to be a sanctuary, a place where we can all meet on the level, regardless of what side of an issue we stand on in the world outside.
Avoiding political and religious debate in Lodge isn’t a sign of weakness or indifference. It’s a mark of wisdom. The early builders of our Fraternity understood that such topics, however important, can create rifts among even the best of men. Heated disagreements over ideology can turn Brothers into adversaries. That undermines everything Freemasonry is meant to be.
This principle goes back to the Ancient Charges, including Anderson’s Constitutions of 1723, which teach that while a Mason must believe in a Supreme Being, he is not to engage in theological disputes. (I am currently writing an article on the Ancient Charges and will posting that in a few days) Instead, we are encouraged to uphold the moral law and to preserve peace among Brethren by avoiding divisive topics. The same applies to political issues, matters that can fracture a Lodge as quickly as they divide society.
Picture a Lodge where men of all creeds and convictions: Democrats and Republicans, Christians and Muslims, Jews and others, sit side by side. They have taken the same obligation, wear the same apron, and labor together in pursuit of virtue. That harmony doesn’t require agreement in belief. It requires a shared commitment to respect and restraint.
Freemasonry doesn’t suppress thought. It promotes self-mastery. It teaches us that true Brotherhood is not found in uniformity of opinion but in unity of purpose.
And history offers clear warnings. Lodges that let political or sectarian disputes creep in often see their bonds weaken. Attendance drops, trust fades, and the Lodge ceases to be a place of refuge. Worse still, when Freemasonry is used to push a personal agenda, it damages the reputation of the entire Craft in the eyes of the public.
In a world often overwhelmed by noise and division, our traditions offer clarity. By keeping politics and religion out of our proceedings, we preserve the Lodge as a space for reflection, learning, and genuine Brotherhood. It is not a church or a campaign rally. It is something more sacred—a place where good men come to make themselves better.
Let us continue to uphold this tradition and guard the West Gate, not just against unworthy men, but against the passions and divisions that do not belong in our sacred space. If we do, our Lodges will remain what they were always intended to be: places where all good men can meet as equals, labor in peace, and part in love.