Unless you've read the Scottish Rite's "Strategic Plan," you may not realize that the use of "celebrities" who are Scottish Rite members is a part of the overall plan to "build a positive public image of Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite." A key strategy of Strategic Objective II is to "establish means to utilize well-known members to accomplish the objective."
I've noticed that the SR has in recent years promoted to the public the fact that country music stars Roy Clark and Brad Paisley, NASCAR driver Brian Conz, actor Ernest Borgnine, and comedian/actor Michael Richards are Scottish Rite brothers.
In the case of Bro. Richards, I think the Scottish Rite got a little egg on its face after his racist stage-rage last fall. Richards had been featured prominently on at least two AASR magazine covers, and was well known to be a Freemason.
Do you think celebrity endorsements of Freemasonry is a good idea? Given that the objective is to "build a positive image," do you think the risk that any given celebrity may one day become a liability rather than an asset is worth taking? Do you think that promoting celebrities as being Masons will attract new members? Do you think that elevating certain individuals to a "higher status" goes against the Masonic ideal that all Masons are equal, or "on the level"?
Image: Roy Clark
Masons | Masonic Celebrities | Brian Conz | Freemasonry | BurningTaper.com | Roy Clark | Ernest Borgnine | Brad Paisley | Michael Richards | Burning Taper
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