Louisiana Scottish Rite Trestleboard April-May ORIENT OF LOUISIANA Volume 9 Issue 2 Scottish Rite OBLIGATED-COMMITTED said Rousseau, with inevitable comparisons, creating envy, pride, Enlightenment Lite and contempt. So, while Locke viewed the protection of private V-Locke, Rousseau, Beccaria property as the sole justification for the existence of The Social byLawrence C. Wade, MD-32° Contract, Rousseau saw that same private property as the root of Valley of Baton Rouge envy, contempt, and conflict and thus a regrettable cause of Among others, John Locke (1632-1704) — the most influen- humanity’s fall from the blissful State of Nature. Governments, tial philosopher of his time — did not agree with Thomas Hobbes. he argued, evolved for the purpose of protecting “the haves” from Locke argued for the right of citizens to revolt against their king. the “the have-nots”. Locke’s ideas were widely influential, contributing to many demo- He did, later, have a change of heart (probably when his suc- cratic revolutions, including The American Revolution. Contrary cess converted him from “have-not” status to “have” status). In a to Hobbes, Locke argued that “The State of Nature” is an ideal second publication on “The Social Contract”, he reasoned that, state of complete individual freedom, in which “The Law of Na- having been created to protect the property rights of “the haves”, ture” is understood by all and prevents each from harming others governments could, once created, facilitate the freedoms of “the with respect to, “…life, health, liberty or possessions.” War is have-nots”. That is, governments could serve a very useful pur- possible, but only due to property disputes. Thus, the principal pose in protecting those with less wealth and power from exploi- reason for humankind to forsake The State of Nature and adopt tation at the hands of those with more wealth and power – not just The Social Contract is that of establishing a civil authority whose protecting the strong from the weak, but protecting the weak from purpose is to enforce property rights. By acquiescing to The the strong, as well. Social Contract, each individual, in Locke’s view, gains three Rousseau advocated very small political states (decentrali- things that are lacking in The State of Nature — 1) laws; 2) judges zation), such that universal participation — which he regarded to adjudicate these laws; and 3) executive bodies empowered to as absolutely essential — would be possible. He recognized enforce the laws. that in huge, centralized governmental bodies, voter turnout Locke explicitly advocated that if and when the king exceeds would be low. (So, we established this country as a 200-year his proper role and devolves into despotism, he has at that point experiment, to prove that the French are not always wrong.) reverted to The State of Nature, in which state — by failing to The Italian attorney, Cesare Bonesana Beccaria (1738-1794), respect their property rights – he is, further, at war with his people. applied Social Contract Theory to the issue of Criminal Justice It is then the right, nay, duty of his subjects to overthrow him and and is said to have, “…created the modern social science of Crimi- begin the process of instituting a new Social Contract, replacing nology.” He denounced, “…torture, secret trial, corrupt judges, the old governing body with a better one. (Do we have a volun- and degrading punishments.” In Sweden, in Austria, and in Rus- teer to hand the King his pink slip?) sia, systems of criminal justice were promptly reformed to comply For Locke and for Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), The with the principles expounded by Beccaria. The Eighth Amend- Social Contract involved the voluntary but limited surrender ment to the U. S. Constitution — prohibiting “cruel and unusual of some rights, freedoms, and privileges in exchange for secu- punishment” — is derived directly from Beccaria’s thoughts. By rity and — in the case of Locke — for society’s protection of way of Jeremy Bentham, Beccaria’s book was very influential in private property rights. (Interestingly, a man’s body was rec- England, too. It can be truthfully stated that the fundamental sys- ognized as his property, and it thus enjoyed the same protec- tem of jurisprudence of all modern civilized societies originated tion as, for example, his wheelbarrow.) with the ideas of Beccaria. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a central public figure and “one of But we have now gotten well ahead of ourselves. the bright lights” of intellectual activity, during what has been We began our discussion of The Social Contract with the men- called, “…the headiest period in the intellectual history of mod- tion of Thomas Hobbes, who published Leviathan in 1651. We ern France — The Enlightenment.” In Rousseau’s view, the pur- then “leap-frogged” to John Locke, to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and pose of politics — of the civic organization created by The Social finally to Cesare Bonecana Beccaria, which puts us about a cen- Contract — is, “…to restore freedom.” He, in common with Locke, tury off course. We must return next time to 1666, to pick up the held that The State of Nature was a peaceful and idyllic state, in thread of The Enlightenment with the one man most responsible which people led solitary and uncomplicated lives, their needs for finally and forever toppling the old intellectual order, embod- easily met by Nature, herself. Competition was non-existent. ied in “Aristotelian Scholasticism”. This was not Sir Francis Ba- People had no inclination to harm one another. (Makes you won- con, author of “The New Organon”, but Sir Isaac Newton, author der about Hobbes, doesn’t it?) of…well, lets talk about that later. Population increases led to communal experiences, though, Fraternally, Larry Wade, 32° 1 Scottish Rite OBLIGATED-COMMITTED Orient Jewels Louisiana Scottish Rite Trestleboard Endowed Memberships With much thanks to Ill. William J. Published bimonthly by the The Valleys offer a great way to suport Mollere, 33°, Deputy in Louisiana and Louisiana Scottish Rite Foundation the mission and legacy of the Scottish Ill. Roy McDuffie, PGM 33°, our Orient P. O. Box 64 Shreveport, LA 71161 Rite while at the same time providing a and all of its Valleys have commissioned benefit to its members. Any brother with the production of beautifully detailed Editor a current dues card may obtain a per- Consistory jewels for wear by the breth- Steve Pence, 32°-KCCH 105 Bay Hills Drive petual membership in their respective ren at Scottish Rite events. These lim- Benton, LA 71006 Valley. The cost, varying between Val- ited production jewels are available for Tel: H: 318-965-9977 leys, is a one time payment. However, sale for $25.00. The jewel comes with a E-mail: [email protected] those desiring perpetual membership may stylish black leather-like hanger for wear also choose to participate in a payment with a suit or sports coat. For more in- Louisiana Scottish Rite Trestleboard is published bi- plan while continuing to pay their dues. formation about purchasing a jewel, monthly by the Louisiana Scottish Rite Foundation. Any article or views expressed in this publication are those Please see your Valley Secretary for more please contact your Secretary. Please re- only of the writer and do not reflect the official position information and details. This would serve your jewel quickly because supplies of the Louisiana Scottish Rite. The editorial policy of make a great gift for a Scottish Rite are limited. this publication grants free reign to the Editor, within the Brother. lines of Masonic principles and teachings. Articles and pictures submitted become the property of this publica- tion. Permission is granted to use contents of this Trestle- board for Masonic purposes, as long as credit is given to the source. Editorial Staff Editor: Steven A. Pence, 32° KCCH Valley of Baton Rouge: C. Daniel Smith, Jr. 32° KCCH Valley of New Orleans: Marc H. Conrad, 32° KStA Valley of Shreveport: 2007 Calendar of Events John L. Atkinson, 33° Valley of Lake Charles: Supreme Council John C. Butterick, 32° Supreme Council Session Valley of Monroe: Washington, D C August 25-28 Beryl C. Franklin, Ph.D., 33 ° Grand Lodge Allegiance New Orient Web Page Grand Lodge Board Meetings The bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Alexandria April 21 of Freemasonry, sitting in the Orient of Louisiana, ac- http://www.la-scottishrite.org Warden’s Retreat knowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council Woodworth, La August 18 of the Thirty-third degree for the Southern Jurisdiction It is a pleasure to announce the Louisiana Orient of Louisiana of the United States of America (Mother Supreme Coun- Scottish Rite’s website - “The Orient Ex- cil of the World) whose See is at Charleston in the State Conference of the Orient press”. Our website is intended to have of South Carolina, and House of the Temple, Washing- New Orleans May 5 ton, D.C., of which state-wide information for all who visit. Valleys Each Valley has a site that is linked to this Spring Reunions Ill. Ronald A. Seale, 33° Orient Express and can be accessed by go- Lake Charles April 14-15 Sovereign Grand Commander ing to “Valleys”. Contact information – Monroe April 28 and addresses, telephone numbers and names Ill. William J. Mollere, 33 , New Orleans April 28 ° of principal offers are listed – is contained Deputy in the Shreveport April 28-29 on each location. We all hope that you en- Orient of Louisiana Royal Arch Masons joy using this means of communication and Ill. Charles L. McCarty, 33° Grand Chapter Grand Council the good work conducted through our Personal Representative for Valley of New Orleans Alexandria March 10-13 Childhood Learning Centers.