“Your Cable Tow”

“Your Cable Tow”

By Bro. Wm. B. Wojtas

SW Wayfarers Lodge #1001

That I will answer and obey a summons from my Lodge or given to me by a Brother, if within the length of my cable tow.  While those may not be the exact words, the meaning is still the same.  It is something that those of us who are a part of this Ancient Craft are obligated to do.

I might be old fashioned, but when I place my hands on a Book of Light and swear to keep and perform, I take that very seriously.  It is a contract with God that I will do what I promised while holding his sacred scripture, asking him to keep me steadfast in my resolve. 

Why do we take that obligation?  Everyone has different reasons for making that promise.  I did it to make myself a better man and to find the meaning of relief and charity which was missing in my life.  To feel a sense of community and accomplishment, what we like to call Fraternity.  To experience Brotherly Love as only this Most Ancient Craft can provide.  To find Truth in myself,  how I lead my life and interact with others.    The three tenants of Freemasonry;  Relief, Brotherly Love and Truth.

How we execute that obligation is most important.  It is evident that many people in today’s modern and busy society don’t take an obligation very seriously.  Obligations mean different things to people today than they did in the early twentieth century, we are a more secular society and the fear of the wrath of God, doesn’t reside in our hearts as much as it did a hundred years ago.  Do we attend regular meetings?  Do we attend fellowship or charity events?  Is that a summons from the Lodge or a Brother?  Remember, Masons speak in allegory, a symbolic expression of a deeper meaning. 

That I will answer and obey a summons from my Lodge or given to me by a Brother…  that is a simple clarification.  It is found in the closing of a Lodge by the phrase … notice will be given by summons or otherwise.  This makes it clear that the closing of the Lodge is a summons to return, but by the Length of my Cable Tow, what does that mean? 

The Cable Tow is thus a symbol of the cord of bond of Love, which should unite the whole fraternity. Its length or the length of your Cable Tow is the sacrifice you are willing to make on behalf of your brethren. It is in your heart, not to be measured by miles. It is not gauged by distances, but by deed. It should correspond to the immensity of the monitorial lodge, and to do so should span the earth, touching wherever there is sorrow or distress.

In Masonry we have many symbols for the few grand principles upon which it is founded - Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. As we get away from the letter and discern the spirit, which lies behind, we have unfolded to us a new and intensely interesting science, and as we mold our lives upon our new understanding of Masonry, we become better Masons, and as a consequence better men.

- Source: Wm. W. Vickers - The Canadian Craftsman, June 1898

In short, according to the Baltimore convention of 1842, the length of your cable tow is a reasonable scope of your own ability.  It is the covenant by which we are all tied to as fraternal brothers.  Its length is as far as your own moral principles go and your material conditions will allow, without causing harm to yourself.  Each Mason must be his own judge as to how long that length is, but that depends on how you define your obligation and how seriously you take those words, “I do most solemnly and sincerely swear…”

Your Lodge is giving you that summons to once again be a part of our great Fraternity.  How long is your cable tow?