Entered Apprentice

For as long as I can remember, I have taken issue with a line in the Address to the Brethren: ‘Hence we learn to be meek, humble, and resigned;’. Like many others, I had the common idea of “meek” meaning weakness or passivity. Succumbing to my confirmation bias, I found resonance with the comments and opinions of Jordan Peterson that I watched some time ago, and I quietly kept my dissonance to myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYtb6PXy6CA&t=14s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cct98wRv3SY

Jordan Peterson interprets the term “Meek” in the context of the phrase from the New Testament, “the meek shall inherit the Earth,” as referring to those who are familiar with their dark side and have learned to control it. He suggests that “meek” in this context means “civilized” or “acting in accordance with pragmatic pacifism”.

I did not want to write about my concern until I found a Masonic Paper on the topic. The paper, an address by the Worshipful Master at the Installation Meeting of the Berkshire Lodge of Enlightenment in June 2018, discusses the terms “Meek, Humble, and Resigned” in the context of Masonic teachings. The paper suggests that these terms, when understood in their original context, represent virtues of spiritual and mental robustness, humility, and surrendering oneself to another’s guidance.

In summary, both sources emphasize the importance of self-control and humility, but they approach the concept of “meek” from different perspectives. The Masonic address views it in the context of spiritual and moral guidance, while Peterson interprets it as a psychological state of being aware and in control of one’s darker impulses." How have you interpreted the word Meek??