Introduction

Freemasonry holds harmony among its highest ideals—both as a spiritual principle and as a practical necessity for communal labor. Yet even within our sacred assemblies, disharmony can and does arise. It may begin as a subtle undercurrent: a disagreement left unspoken, a Brother overlooked, a moment of ego unchecked. But left unaddressed, these small fractures can grow into deep divisions that erode the very essence of the Craft.

This article explores the full cost of disharmony in Freemasonry—not only its emotional toll on individual Brethren, but also its corrosive impact on the vitality of lodges, the strength of Grand Lodges, and the public image of the fraternity itself. When Freemasonry fails to reflect the harmony it preaches, it risks becoming a contradiction—a shell of noble phrases masking internal discontent.

Drawing upon both Masonic teachings and contemporary research in psychology and organizational leadership, this reflection offers more than diagnosis. It seeks to provide direction. The aim is not to point fingers, but to hold up a working tool: to help us see where we have fallen short, and how—together—we may restore the integrity of the Temple.

Impact on the Individual

For the individual Mason, disharmony in the lodge can become deeply personal and profoundly disillusioning. Freemasonry is not merely a social organization—it is a philosophical and moral journey. Many men enter the Craft with the hope of finding peace, fraternity, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. The lodge is intended to be a sacred space, a microcosm of order amidst the chaos of the outside world. When that space becomes infected by disharmony—be it through personal animosity, political infighting, or passive-aggressive neglect—the effect can be akin to spiritual betrayal.

Masonic meetings, which should be moments of reflection, unity, and ritual dignity, can instead become sources of anxiety and internal conflict. This divergence between expectation and reality creates cognitive dissonance, a psychological state in which one’s values are misaligned with their lived experience. For the conscientious Mason, this dissonance can feel like a failure not only of the organization but of their own moral aspirations. The teachings of the Craft—to be a better man, to subdue passions, to seek harmony—ring hollow in the face of open contempt, veiled hostility, or dismissive apathy among the Brethren.

Psychological research has consistently shown that unresolved interpersonal conflict in values-based or mission-driven organizations is especially toxic. According to Rahim (2017), such conflict often results in emotional exhaustion, moral injury, depersonalization, and withdrawal. These effects are magnified in contexts where members hold strong ideological or spiritual commitments, as is often the case in Freemasonry. When a Brother feels excluded, attacked, or ignored, he is not simply reacting to bad behavior—he is confronting a violation of trust at the core of his identity.

This emotional toll does not remain confined to the lodge. The stress and emotional fatigue carried home from Masonic discord can ripple outward, affecting relationships with spouses, children, and friends. The psychological strain may manifest as irritability, depression, or self-doubt. Masons who once found joy and purpose in their fraternal involvement may begin to question their judgment, their values, and even their self-worth. For some, the emotional damage can be so severe that they leave the Craft entirely, carrying with them a sense of failure, bitterness, or grief.

Moreover, for military veterans, trauma survivors, or individuals who have come to the Craft seeking healing or community, the effects can be even more acute. These men may have viewed the lodge as a place of refuge—a sanctuary of meaning and brotherhood. When that promise is broken, it can retraumatize old wounds or open new ones. In these cases, the psychological impact of disharmony is not merely disappointing—it is destabilizing.

The individual consequences of lodge disharmony therefore transcend mere frustration. They strike at the heart of why men join the Craft: to become part of something greater, more noble, and more uplifting than themselves. When Freemasonry fails to embody its own ideals, it becomes not a light in darkness, but another source of disillusionment in a world already full of it.

Impact on the Lodge and the Craft

Disharmony at the individual level inevitably radiates outward, affecting the collective health and culture of the lodge. Freemasonry thrives on a delicate balance of ritual, fellowship, and shared purpose. When disharmony seeps into a lodge—whether through unchecked egos, interpersonal disputes, or power struggles—the very fabric of the Craft begins to fray. A lodge that once exemplified unity and dignity can quickly deteriorate into a fractured association of isolated men merely going through the motions of ritual without genuine connection or meaning.

In such lodges, ritual work suffers first. Precision in delivery fades, enthusiasm diminishes, and the sacredness of the degrees becomes diluted. Degrees that should be transformative experiences for candidates become stale performances. The candidate—often eager and idealistic—is robbed of the spiritual depth and symbolic richness that Freemasonry offers at its best. The breach of solemnity in the work mirrors the interpersonal breaches among the Brethren, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of disengagement.

Moreover, the effects of disharmony extend into governance and leadership. Officers, instead of operating as a team, may fall into cliques or factions. Decisions are made out of spite or self-interest rather than in the best interest of the Craft. In lodges with weak or passive leadership, disorder festers unchecked, while in those with domineering leadership, dissent is silenced rather than resolved. Both extremes foster resentment, and both drive committed members away.

The long-term result is stagnation. Brothers stop volunteering. The pool of capable officers shrinks. Traditions are abandoned not out of reform, but neglect. The vibrancy of the lodge dims, and it becomes what Freemasonry was never meant to be—a fraternal shell devoid of spiritual fire. As Robert Putnam (2000) observed in his work on declining civic engagement, when mutual trust and participation break down, institutions decay not with a bang but a whisper.

At the jurisdictional level, a pattern of disharmony across lodges can result in broader systemic dysfunction. Lodges that once supported one another become islands. Grand Lodge leaders may spend more time managing internal disputes than pursuing innovation or public service. Programs meant to foster unity—education, charitable work, and inter-lodge visitation—suffer from lack of buy-in. The Craft’s mission to improve society becomes sidelined by the struggle to merely hold itself together.

Freemasonry, at its core, is built on the idea that transformation happens through shared labor, ritual, and fellowship. When disharmony takes hold, that labor becomes burdened, the ritual becomes hollow, and the fellowship becomes fractured. The damage to the institution is both spiritual and practical—and without intervention, often irreversible.

External Optics and Membership Consequences

Freemasonry has always been mindful of its public reputation. As a centuries-old institution wrapped in symbolism and tradition, it has long captured the imagination of the outside world—sometimes with admiration, sometimes with suspicion. But in today’s information-saturated and socially connected environment, the internal conduct of Masons is no longer hidden behind the Tyler’s door. The optics of how Masons treat one another—within lodges, on social media, and in public life—directly shape how the Craft is perceived by non-Masons.

Disharmony within the lodge, when witnessed by outsiders, sends a dangerous message: that the brotherhood Freemasonry proclaims is not practiced. Potential candidates—many of whom are already skeptical or uncertain—can be profoundly dissuaded when they encounter discord, petty arguments, or a lack of authentic fraternity. Whether they observe bickering on a Facebook group, disengaged lodge officers at a public event, or former Masons speaking bitterly about their experiences, the impression is lasting: Why join a group that appears no better than the rest of the world?

This is especially troubling in the modern age, where many young men seek deeper meaning, stability, and community. Studies show that millennials and Gen Z prioritize authenticity, inclusion, and purpose in the organizations they choose to join (Twenge, 2017). If Freemasonry fails to project and embody those values, it will continue to see declining interest and shrinking lodges. The contrast between the ideals of the Craft—brotherly love, relief, and truth—and the visible conduct of its members must not be so great that it breeds cynicism instead of curiosity.

Worse still is the perception of hypocrisy. When Masons profess moral rectitude but engage in political posturing, gossip, exclusion, or arrogance, it reinforces the stereotype that fraternal organizations are out of touch or performative. Even within the walls of a lodge, when guests or newly initiated Brethren witness hostility or coldness, they may begin to question whether the Craft truly lives up to its lofty rhetoric. In such an environment, a man may walk away from his first degree not inspired, but disheartened.

References

Covey, S. R. (2004). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change (Rev. ed.). Free Press.

Deutsch, M., Coleman, P. T., & Marcus, E. C. (2011). The handbook of conflict resolution: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Greenleaf, R. K. (2002). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Paulist Press.

Hamill, J. M. (2014). The Craft: A history of English Freemasonry. Crucible.

Hodapp, C. (2005). Freemasons for dummies. Wiley.

Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.

Rahim, M. A. (2017). Managing conflict in organizations (4th ed.). Routledge.

Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational culture and leadership (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy—and completely unprepared for adulthood—and what that means for the rest of us. Atria Books.

The Valley of Columbus is establishing a paver garden in front of the Scottish Rite Center. It will start at the bottom of the steps on both sides of the front porch and extend to the end of each side of the building. It will be similar to the pavers at the Masonic Children's Home in Macon. This is a great opportunity to support the Valley of Columbus Building Fund by purchasing a paver, and to honor those people or organizations that have a special meaning to you (to include yourself!). Complete the order form in this issues of The Ashlar or open in a new window HERE.