MasonicMinute.com
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Posted at: 10:21 pm Just a moment ago, I saw a video on Youtube. Slilly and stupid as it may seem, it literally brought tears to my eyes and I laughed at the same time. My cheeks are still wet. It was not a video about patriotism or starving children. I can’t say that I am especially vulnerable to emotions right now either…no deaths in the family…no huge changes in my life…and I am not on my period. It was just a four minute long video that I watched. We never fully understand the beauty of humanity…the human event…the joy of song and dance… Then, one day, while sitting at a computer alone in the office (avoiding the real work that ought to be done), something amazing happens. I just cried tears of joy. It was a performance, you see. A performance in the train station in Antwerp. A performance to a song from “The Sound of Music”. The people at the station did not expect it. It was sort-of like guerilla marketing. Folks just started walking out of the crowd, began singing and dancing in unison, till the performers outnumbered the audience. It was miraculous. Now, many of you are probably so steeped in testosterone and denial of your entire range of human emotions that you think I’m some kind of girl. That’s ok. Fools often laugh at what they do not understand. In fact, I happen to be human. I have been known to love and hate, care and despise, and give and be jealous. It’s what makes me an entire human. Judge me and laugh…it’s ok. But I just watched a video and I am frankly glad that it made me cry tears of joy. I feel. Being whole is a lot of fun. Allowing yourself to be comfortable in your own skin…to connect with what is inside you…to feel…well…it’s kind of comfortable and satisfying. Those who know me know that I really don’t care what others may think about this experience. Those who know me will know that this is just one in a long line of stories that AEdifico is going to probably be telling in Lodge (actually, after Lodge is over…at the bullshit sessions out in the parking-lot) on Tuesday after degree practice. So, there you have it. The brief story and experience I had watching Youtube…being whole. Thanks for taking a peek into my soul. I hope each of you can take the time to connect to yourself and be good enough to yourself in that same way. Go ahead. Feel. It’s interesting. |
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May 8, 2009
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Posted at: 5:39 pm Time after time we hear critics of this idea or that idea whine about the mistakes or shortcomings of this or that idea. We know that something is not working, but we find ourselves participating in that same system…knowing that it does not work. “Be less cryptic…” I hear you screaming from the back-row. Ok, I will. Remember the instructions you got when you first became a Master Mason…”sit down, shut up and learn”. I remember them well. Then, as time went on, I sort-of did just what I was told, and I got along real nicely. In fact, I ended-up becoming Master of my Lodge, and occasionally other Lodges get crazy and ask me to come speak about this or that. Pretty cool stuff. But I know that there ought to be something different in that plan of action. How do I know? Well…although I started with the whole “sit-down, shut-up…” thing for a while, it was unsatisfactory. The body politic of my Lodge had worked itself into petrification by practicing the exact same method of teaching and learning…and they expected different results. Remember the definition of insanity? -Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Remember that? Well, I look back now (based on a conversation I had last night) and I think…I didn’t really “sit-down…etc.”…did I? No, I didn’t. In fact, I stood-up, I barked and hollered and bellowed and fought and scraped and …well…things changed. I don’t take all the credit for the change in Lodge’s culture (or, philosophy, methods whatever) at my Lodge. I had lots of help. But what has happened is pretty darn clear. We look at our roles (as members of our Lodge) differently. Shifting our philosophy at the most basic level is what allowed change to occur. We just had to Man-Up and break with the norm. An example: The purpose of membership. In times past, nobody ever told you what you were supposed to do. Nobody ever answered the “why am I here?” question. Nobody took the time to establish solid expectations…assuming that the new member would just figure-it-out on his own. This method is lazy at best, and a clear violation of Masonic behavioral expectations at worst. It does not allow for any guideance from the older members, removing any of their individual personal responsibility from Lodge members for Lodge continuity and preservation. The new method was a shift to a different attitude…we answered the question. “Why are you here?”…”well, you are here to help us re-build this temple and re-build Freemasonry”. This is an honest and clear definition of the role of the individual new member…while allowing for enough individual choice that that new man can be part of something huge, but do it in his own way. This new philosophical approach (method?) allows ownership of the new member, and a buy-in by the older, more established members. Everyone wins. It is no suprise that Lodges transform based on the ideas and efforts of a few members. What is interesting is watching a Lodge (or any other organization for that matter) perpetuate the same basic attitudes, rules and/or expectations…and expecting a different result. It is insanity. So…what? (always a good question) When the bulk of our complaints focus on a specific method for doing things, and we continue to perpetuate that same methods…we will fail. The failure, however, is not unavoidable. What we need to do is to shift our philosophy…our method for “executing Freemasonry”…for “doing the Craft”…for “practicing Brotherhood” - call it whatever you want - in order to have legitimate expectations, clearly defined for everyone to achieve better results. The challenge is: we must first recognize that we are still promoting the same methods (and philosophies) that we would complain about. (it’s silly, really, but it’s true) Then we must shift away from the tried and tired method. Shifting is change. Change is difficult. Change requires new thinking. Whether you call it Philosophy, Method or whatever…continuing the same behavior for tradition’s sake dooms us to the same result. Fundamental shifts can and are occurring. New thinking is happening in all aspects of Freemasonry. Don’t get left behind. (better yet…don’t let your Lodge get left behind.) |
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Posted at: 11:49 am The most recent addition to our personal library, “Esoterika”, by Albert Pike (transcribed and annotated by Arturo de Hoyos) is now the top book on our list of Masonic must reads. The Introduction (to the original by Pike) ought to be read in every Lodge in the nation and in the world. We know, we know…most of you refuse to read Pike. But when all you know about him is “Morals and Dogma”, that becomes a reasonable position to take. That notwithstanding, this book is not only written in easily approachable language, but it lays-out some of the most basic concepts of the Blue Degrees. Again, this is not a book for the faint of heart. Pike takes direct aim at the “traditional” interpretations of the symbols of the Blue Degrees and in no easy way, slams them to the carpet. Pike can be unforgiving. To be sure, Pike never intended that this book be published beyond the original 100 copies. de Hoyos discusses this, and we will leave the justification up to the Supreme Council. But as inheritors of this little nugget of Masonic information, we must applaud their decision. The book itself solves no real problems, and is just Pike’s personal interpretation of what others had interpreted. de Hoyos does a great job focusing on Pike’s frame of reference and the resources Pike had available during his time. This gives today’s reader an unique peek at the way Pike might have seen the world during his own day, instead of ignoring the context within which Pike existed (which too many of us do when reading other Pike stuff). This book is not (didn’t we already say this?) for everyone. It blows the doors off of many of the attitudes we have today about our basic three degrees. It remains to be seen whether or not the prevailing attitudes about really studying Freemasonry will create the buzz that this book should stir. In fact, we will repeat the compliment and cry above: the introduction (by Pike) to “Esoterika” should be read in every Lodge in the world…twice. We highly recommend this book (available through the Scottish Rite Research Society, Lewis Masonic and Amazon) for recently raised Master Masons and anyone else who gives a hoot about the first three degrees of the Craft. Happy thinking (after, of course, you read the book)! |
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Posted at: 3:54 pm One achieves a point in his Masonic career when the discussions he wants to have no longer seem fit for public display. In fact, it stands to reason that once a Man has acheived a certain level of Initiation, he probably does not want to spend any more time discussing the passing fancies and surface issues that are the typical subjects one might read, for example, online. The public discourse (something you’d find, let’s say, here at MasonicMinute) is like the stone skipping across the pond…sometimes informative, a peek into the truth, but never really the deep discussions Freemasons have in private. By ‘level of Initiation’, I obviously do not speak of each Man who has achieved the EA degree. What I speak of is the Man who has truly been Initiated into the mysteries of the Craft. A Man who can handle himself with grace and poise even among the deepest philosophical topics. Real Initiates are few and far between in our Craft. Many of them don’t even know they have achieved that status. Sadly, most Masons will never become Initiates. If, however, you know you are there…you have already passed the basics, and have achieved that ‘certain level of Initiation’ that I speak of. But I seriously doubt that too many of you reading this are there yet. (I say yet, because after 14 years in Freemasonry, I still wonder sometimes whther I am ‘Initiated’!) In any event, ‘where you are’ usually dictates what you want to talk about. It is no secret that my often juvenile and sophomoric quips reflect a bit of immaturity (like my dear-old Dad always says…”we all get old, but we don’t have to mature”.). Yet the stone has occasionally dipped below the surface, and I like to think that we are not strangers on this site, to the deeper meanings that fill the voids which exist in a profane life. That being said…there is still almost always room for fun. But the Initiate will sometimes find this type of discussion too trite and banal for his liking. He is a bit of a Masonic snob, and rightly so, without apology. His Masonic work has advanced far beyond mere parroting of ritual and knowledge of history. His Initiation was the result of long and deep meditation and contemplation, active and passive communication and a continuing vigilance regarding his own virtuous education. He is what some would call a REAL Freemason. Again, there are not too many of these Men out there. And it is worth repeating that few if any of this online Masonic community are probably true Initiates. But what must it be like? Where do we find this kind of Light? Who are the mentors (guides, really) who are of such a skill that they can help steer their brothers to this place, hidden in plain sight? Methinks knowing about true Initiation is the first step in advancing thereto. In any event, true Masonic Initiation, as rare as it is, is slightly less elusive when you know it’s there. |
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Posted at: 11:55 am It is very sad that so many Masons fear political discussions. It is as if somebody is going to get their feelings hurt. Frankly, I have no need for those with such eggshell sensitivities. If you’re not Man enough to speak politely about our society, and you fear making others angry…well…you’re a pansy. (reckless name-calling is so much fun! wouldn’t you agree?!) Ok, that’s a bit harsh. But Men, especially Masons, should be able to discuss those things which divide the rest of the world, right? We are better than they are; are we not? We are better equipped to deal with our differences because of the teachings of the Craft…no? We have an honest to goodness duty to listen respectfully and disagree without being disagreeable…don’t we? Politics has become a bad word because our society now makes it profitable to fight about politics. Pundits have come to dominate the airwaves and the blogosphere and the internet. The prize fight is no longer about fists…it’s about yelling over each other and making the other guy look stupid. No wonder we would want to steer clear of that type of activity. What Mason WANTS to fight with his brother? What Mason WANTS to make his brother look stupid? However (here it comes), the question of Citizenship REQUIRES us to have a conversation about our government! We, after-all, ARE the government (at least here in the U.S.A.). We are responsible for everything from the Constable and the School Board to the President of the United States! Why would we limit our discussion of all things political to passive listening, watching and reading? What about asking questions of each other in order to discover unique perspectives? What about active learning, which can only be accomplished with a two-way (or more) discourse on the issue of the day? What about Civilized Citizenship? Lest we forget, though, we are not talking about conversations in a tiled Lodge room. That’s a No-No, and in some jurisdictions, it is a codified No-No. But really guys…are we that far away from maturity that we cannot discuss our own county commissioners without getting into a fist-fight? Do we surrender to the insanity of talk radio and cable news networks and let their interpretation of political discourse rule our world? Are we so weak in our own personal discipline that we have to revert to animal instincts when working-through an issue of importance to everyone in our community? WHO are we? Who ARE we? Who are WE? Really. Think about this question… Who are we if we can’t just sit and chat with a friend about politics? IF it is true that we cannot…then we are either afraid that we are wrong…or we are afraid that we are immature…or worse yet, we are no different than anybody else. There is no way to get around this conclusion. At the end of the day, we - Freemasons - should be better equipped to deal with this topic than any other members of our society. We love each other, we respect each other, and as Men, we respect the fact that we may disagree. Who better to find agreement where the rest of the world is just yelling and screaming? And oh…by the way…we are also residents and citizens responsible for the society we live in. It is our DUTY to make certain that we are well informed. It is our DUTY to know about the world around us and to make positive impacts in that world. It is our DUTY to respectfully challenge each other and engage in active citizenship…not just at the voting booth. How can we do this, among ourselves, if we avoid the best people in the world to learn from (when it comes to these issues)? How can we claim to be good citizens when we avoid at all costs the discussion that we OUGHT to be having among those we trust the most? It is incumbent on us to grow-up. When Bill Clinton and George Bush (the elder) got together for disaster relief, and worked on many other policy issues, they were acting as mature men. They disagreed on politics, (and you can bet they talked about it) but they had the maturity and self-discipline to disagree without being disagreeable. Why can’t we? |
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Posted at: 1:32 pm
A few months ago I was at another Scottish Rite Reunion happily enjoying the degrees and taking in the beauty of an amazing Temple that I had never been to before. After the candidates were presented their 14th Degree ring one of them came up to me and asked how he should wear his new ring. I told him that it is his ring and that he can wear it anyway he wants to, but for uniformity’s sake he may want to face it the same way as his Blue Lodge ring. He showed me his other hand and he had his BL ring with the compasses facing out, I showed him that I wear mine in the same fashion. Then some 33rd who I was sitting next to, who never said a word to me during the half hour or so while I was sitting next to him belts out “You’re wearing it the wrong way.” I roll my eyes and said “Is that right? I didn’t know there was an official way to wear my Masonic ring.” I later nonchalantly got up and moved to a different part of the Temple half laughling at his comment and wondering what his problem was. When I got back home I tried to logically find reasoning in wearing my Masonic ring a certain way. I went over all of the explanations I have heard over the years: Compasses In: That’s how the S&C’s appeared to you when you took your obligation so that’s how you should wear it. It signifies a Mason in distress. The compasses stay in until you are a Past Master, the Master Mason needing to retain light, the Past Master dispensing it. Freemasonry is an inward expression, not an outward expression. Compasses Out: You are a Past Master. It looks better. It shows the world that you are a Freemason. A Mason not in distress. I went over these for a while and then I took out a polo shirt I had with a S&C’s on it. I put it on. I looked down. The S&C’s appeared upsided down to me. I pulled the part of the shirt with the S&C’s on it outward as if it were on the same plane as my extended hand. The S&C’s were pointed out. I then put on my funeral service armband with a S&C’s on it. I then looked down and saw that the S&C’s on the armband and my ring were facing the same direction, out. In completion of my makeshift experiment I concluded that if the purpose of a polo shirt or armband with a S&C’s on it is to signify membership to others, then the ring serves the same purpose and should face the same direction, outwards. If you feel that the S&C’s should point inward to remind you of your obligations, then the S&C’s on shirts, armbands and other clothing should be upside down, which makes little sense to me. Final Summation: WHO CARES!!! Who cares which direction, which finger, which material, which stone, G or no G, IT DOESN’T MATTER. The minutia that some Masons are concerned with is laughable, so much so that one will tell another that he is WRONG for wearing a piece of jewelry when there is no logical reason to his opinion or any official point in etiquette regarding the matter. I was most dissapointed that the 33rd told this young Mason, both in age and in membership that he was wrong right off the bat. I can brush crap like that off, but this guy had a simple question (for me by the way, not him) and he gets interjected with a “YOU’RE WEARING IT WRONG!” This 33rd could have brought to this man’s attention the many theories about wearing your ring a certain way and provided a bit of insight and anecdotal experience, but no. The candidate placed his 14th degree ring on his finger in the same manner as his Blue Lodge ring, which had the S&C’s pointing outward. |
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Posted at: 3:45 pm Whenever I come into contact with walk-up Christian fundamentalists, I usually humor them for a couple of minutes and then go on my merry way without giving the person much thought, but the other day was different for me. I was sick, exhausted, late and not in the mood to humor anybody. As I was walking out of a gas station I saw two young men hanging around my car. My first thoughts were 1.) My car is about to be stolen/broken into, or 2.) crappy salesmen. Thankfully they weren’t trying to steal my car, unfortunately they were crappy salesmen. They had the usual uniform of the young Christian ministers. Khaki pants, “Livestrong” bracelets, some other arts n’ crafts pledge of fidelity on their other wrists, a clean haircut and that annoying Ryan Seacrest demeanor and of course, a polo with their church’s logo on it (the one with all the commercials on TV, yes apparently religions are now into advertising). I figured these guys were just too easy, so I humored myself. Abridged conversation went something like this: BT (Bible thumper) - Hey Bro, can I talk to you? Me - Sure. BT - Are you a Freemason (pointing at my car badge)? Me - Obviously. BT - Cool, Bro. Say, are you a Christian? Me - Yes. BT - How can you be a Christian and a Mason? They aren’t compatible. Me - *Takes deep breath, puts gas pump back on handle* How so? BT - *Here he goes into this tirade about serving two masters, accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, pagan rituals, praying with non-believers, a seperate Masonic God, and lastly God’s will.* (at this I interrupt) Me - Wait a second. God’s will? How do you know God’s will? BT - Well… Me - Are you a creature of God? BT - Yes. Me - Do you serve God? BT - Yes Me - Did God create you? BT - Yes Me - Are you psychic? BT - No Me - Are you God? BT - No Me - Then how could you, one of God’s creatures, presume to have any ability to know God’s will? BT - Well, uh… Me - So, what does God want me to do? BT - Um… Me - Be tolerant to my fellow man? BT - Yes. Me - Forgive my enemies? BT - Yes. Me - Learn to enhance my communion with Him? BT - Yes. Me - Support the fatherless, feed the hungry, clothe the poor? BT - Yes. Me - I do all of that, as a Freemason. BT - But in the Bible… Me - Take out your New Testament. BT - What? Me - I know you have one of those little pocket NT’s to carry around with you everywhere you go, so pull it out and let’s read it. BT - I don’t have one. Me - Okay, so tell me where in the Bible it says that I cannot be a Freemason and serve Jesus Christ. Tell me the book and chapter. BT - I don’t know it off the top of my head. Me - Why not? BT - I don’t know. Me - Then why try to act like you do? BT - The Bible says…. Me - How about this, do you know James 1:27? (I had just recenlty been shown James 1:27 so I knew it, but otherwise I can’t recite much scripture. I guess it was just good timing.) BT - No. Me - Why not? BT - I dunno, what does it say? Me - “Pure Religion and undefiled by God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” BT - That’s a nice verse. Me - Indeed it is. Where does it say that to serve God you must bother random Freemasons at the gas station? BT - It doesn’t. Me - Then why do it? BT - I’m just trying to spread the word. Me - Word? What word? BT - The word of God. Me - See, there you go again assuming you understand the will of God. BT - Well… Me - How about this, why don’t you worry about yourself and how God speaks to YOU, and not worry about everybody else’s relationship with God. How about instead of trying to spread the word of God, you try to understand the word of God yourself and for God’s sake stop with the whole “I’m the cool, edgy youth minister who calls everybody Bro like I just got back from catching a wave at Huntington Beach” look. It’s annoying, stupid, unoriginal and a total giveaway, more so than the Mormon bicyclists. BT - Cool, Bro. So is it okay if we pray with you? Me - What for? BT - I dunno. Me - Since Freemasons are incompatible with Christianity, and given the fact that I regularly pray with non-believers, that makes me somewhat out of grace with God, right? BT - I guess. Me - So why would you want to pray with me, a heretic? BT - Uh… Me - You want me to go back to your super-church and tell the quasi-rock band playing the hymns that you pray with heretics? How would the soccer-mom crowd feel about that? BT - Well… Me - Pray all you want to, but I’m running a bit late, I have to go do heretical things with the rest of my unGodly Brethren. BT - Cool, Bro. God bless you. Me - I’m here aren’t I? He already has! *I then drive away happily blasting the devil’s music from my stereo.* I think I’ve just found something fun to do when I’m bored. |
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Posted at: 10:48 pm I was disturbed recently to hear about the following conversation (all of this, by the way is hearsay from an incredibly reliable source)… Then Mason #3 steps-in and answers the question… Mason 3: The “Obama is a Mason” myth comes from a photo in a popular weekly news magazine which showed a pair of African American hands holding the seal of the President of the United States. The hands had on them a ring. The ring had a Square and Compasses. Nobody knows whether or not it was Obama’s hands, or if the man holding the Seal is even a Mason…it doesn’t matter. I mean…don’t you think we would be hearing from his Lodge if he WAS a Mason? What a shot in the arm for the fraternity! Yet another Mason in the White House! Ok…Snap. Back to reality. The question had nothing to do with Obama or the Masonic Presidency. It was about bigotry. The way the question was asked betrays the attitude behind the question. Instead of asking “Can we…” the questioner asked “Must we…” It was as if hanging that photo would be a chore…worse yet, an eyesore he wanted to avoid. To be certain…the “Can we…” would be asked and answered if the election results were different…especially in Arizona! Alas, we still have bigotry and racism in our Craft. Those “Brothers” need not extend their hand to me or any Man in my Lodge. I am not shy about telling bigots where to get-off…especially those who hide their bigotry in my Freemasonry. The problem we have is the preception that we are still mostly bigots, and that Freemasonry is a White association. I just laugh when I see the faces on some of these people when they walk-into our Lodge and see the diversity. We reflect our community with pride…not with apprehension. To be certain, there are those who choose to remain separate from ‘Mainstream’ Freemasonry. Our Brothers of the Prince Hall tradition will probably never surrender their independence…neither will they ever discourage a white man to join. What I am getting-at is simple. Just because most Americans feel a certain way, does not mean that all Americans do. And don’t pretend that I am saying that a disagreement with policy or ideals means you are a bigot…it is never that simple. We each vote our own way for our own reasons. I know plenty of fair-minded Republicans, and I’ve known a few idiot-bigot Democrats. But let’s be honest, shall we? We all know men who are stupid enough to vote against a man just because of his race…political bent be damned. We, however, should be better than that. We are bigger than that. We must be strong enough to not let the side comments and whispered ugliness survive. Tell them what you think when you hear the jokes or the innuendo. Race is still an important part of our culture because we have yet to get past it as a society. We are part of that world, no matter how much higher our Masonic Teachings would elevate us. Attack the problem by attacking the attitude head-on. Who knows…perhaps one day we will elect another Mason to the White House. I just hope he’s as good as we’d expect him to be…and that each of us is at least as good as we’d expect him to be before we judge him. |
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Posted at: 5:35 pm When I was initiated, the Master of the Lodge referred to me as the Youngest Entered Apprentice. Indeed I was. I went on to become the youngest Fellowcraft and Master Mason as well. Now, roughly six years later I am not only the youngest Master Mason in my Lodge, but will also be the youngest Worshipful Master in my Lodge’s history. Granted, there are a few that I narrowly beat out for the double-edge title of “youngest”. The next youngest Master in my Lodge’s history went on to become Grand Master, the only one we’ve had from my Lodge so far. I know that I will be able to run my Lodge poorly. I have enough confidence to know that I will be able to do a mediocre job as well. I hope I will do a good job, but I will strive and work for nothing less than excellence. I have the fortunate position of inheriting a Lodge that is on the right track in many ways, and the bigger picture is realistically observable and more importantly, achievable. I have the full support of the membership and of the many, many mentors that have helped me along the way since I was a JD. However, I am cognizant of the stigma that comes with being a very young Master. I dealt with it when I was Chairman of the Trustees, an Academy Instructor and more recently, a Scottish Rite Degree Director. From one end of the spectrum I get praise for my dedication and willingness to work. On the other I get looks of caution and remarks of apprehension. I can understand both, however I can only appreciate the former, not because it is complimentary but because they come from Brothers that know me and that have worked with me when the latter sees only youth. The mild irritation of having my ability questioned every once in a while notwithstanding, I know that in my jurisdiction I am not alone. This year will see many new Worshipful Masters in their late 20’s and early 30’s, many of whom I have been good friends with since we first began our Masonic journey and it is comforting to know that we have all worked so hard to get where we are at. From comparing rod work, to the hurdles of conferring our first degrees, to voting for the first time in Grand Lodge and learning our first lecture I feel a strong bond between these young men who I see only sporadically outside of State-wide functions. It is indeed a new dawn in my jurisdiction. The “Young Turks” are at the helm, trying their best to do what is right and learn from the mistakes of the past. To our mentors and senior members who have taught us the ways of the craft, we are forever grateful and will continue to seek counsel and strive to emulate the good character and qualities that keep this Fraternity in it’s place of honor and integrity. To the doubters, I recommend you allow us young Brethren to learn, to succeed and to fail on our own. Our abilities must first be demonstrated before criticized, so practice patience and do not judge harshly for we may just dig up the records of your tenures and do the same. And to the contentious I say that it would behoove you to not hinder our progress out of spite. Change is inevitable, and any lack of adaptation is futile and will serve to do nothing more than tarnish your character and create unnecessary conflict which neither supports or maintains the progress of this venerable institution. Remember, men our age are fighting our wars, teaching our children, policing our streets and prescribing our medications and if our abilities merit the opportunity to contribute to society in these respects, then holding the office of Worshipful Master should not be excluded. |
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Posted at: 12:07 am This is not a blog. It is a story. Not a work of fiction but rather an amalgamation of things I have experienced in my short time in Masonry. I am of the “New Generation”, one of the “Young Turks”, full of “piss and vinegar” ready to jump in with both feet. Quick to learn, quick to lead, quick to live Masonically, quick to judge. I still have a lot to learn. Enjoy: The Old Side-Liner stands in front of his mirror, tying his plain black tie. Due to his arthritis the knot is not tight and it is a bit uneven, but he is satisfied. He runs a slim comb once more through his hair. Since his last stroke, it is hard for him to reach the top of the back of his head. He has a small cowlick. He puts on his blue suit coat and takes one more look at himself in the mirror before he goes to say goodbye to his wife. She stands up when he walks out, goes over and giggles at his tie knot. She fixes it and brushes a little bit of lint off of his coat. She leaves the cowlick. “You look so handsome.” she says. “I’ll be back in a while.” He kisses his wife and heads to lodge. As he walks in he sees the usual bunch. About twenty men under the age of 40, a couple of people he doesn’t recognize. They might be visitors or candidates. He makes his way back to the Secretary’s office. His old friend is nose deep in some random document, but upon the Side-Liner’s arrival he stops to greet him. Most of the men he knew from lodge had passed away. Only a few of his original lodge buddies were left. They talk briefly before the Master calls the Brethren to assemble in the lodge.The Old Side-Liner puts on an old cloth apron, signs the registry and sits solitary in the lodge. A seat he has sat in since people can remember. He is a WWII veteran; his hearing was damaged during the war so he sits close to the East. He looks over and sees all the young men getting clothed for lodge. They are cocky, proud, young men who have taken the reigns from the men of his generation. He hears them talk about how the craft has lost track of the esoteric element and philosophy of Freemasonry, implying that they might have all the answers about the fraternity, or at least what should be emphasized. The meeting illustrates the changing of times in the fraternity with these new, young men railing for this and that; all but implying that whatever follies the lodge has come upon is a product of the men from his generation. He votes when necessary, but doesn’t add any commentary to the discussions. He sits simply and humbly in his seat until the meeting is adjourned. He says good night to all and then heads back home. This was his lodge routine, and routine it was. “I like that guy.” says the 23 years old JD. “Who?” asks a MM of two years. “The Old Side-Liner, he never has anything bad to say about anything, he almost always has a smile on his face and he seems very genuine” says the JD. “I don’t know much about him except that he been around a long time” says the MM. The SW who is 26 years old walks up hearing their conversation. “Are you guys talking about the Old Side-Liner? He’s a great guy. He really helps out with our BBQ whenever he can. He comes to our work parties even though he can’t really help because he’s so frail, but I think he really loves this place. You know he helped build this building back in the 50’s?” “And not much since then I imagine.” says the MM sarcastically. “That’s not exactly fair.” says the SW. “I don’t see these old guys doing much for the lodge.” says the MM. “They come to the meetings and degrees sure, but I mean look at this place. It’s horrible. Look at all the things we have done lately. We rebuilt the lodge; we introduced the esoteric studies to the lodge members and not to mention that all the young guys regularly travel out of town together for Masonic functions while the old grey hairs stay behind. Without us this place would fold.” “You’re going to be old one day, too” says the JD. “True, but hopefully I’ll have a little to show for it. I mean really, he’s from that older generation that wants nothing more than coffee and doughnuts at lodge.” replied the very young MM. The next week the Master enters to see all the new young men of his lodge laughing, conversing and relaxing around the dining hall. “The Old Side-Liner has passed away.” he says. Silence filled the room. “We are performing the service on Saturday.” The young men ask the usual questions about how, when and if his widow was in need of anything. “He had another stroke a few nights ago, Jenny will talk to us at the funeral.” the Master answers. Just then the SW enters the hall, “Have you heard about the Old Side-Liner?” “Yes, the service is Saturday” says the young JS. “So who is going to perform the service?” asks the SD. “We are.” replies the Master. “I know we are but I mean who?” the SD asks again. “We, us, and those that run this lodge that’s who, so get to learning the parts and be ready on Saturday.” the Master says a bit irritated and leaves to his office. At the funeral the young Brothers from the lodge look at a large collage of pictures of the Old Side-Liner. One picture is of him getting installed as the SS. The handwritten caption reads “My first office!!” He was 22 years old. There is another one of him and the current Secretary with their wives at the beach drinking martinis. They must have been in their late 20’s. There is one with him in a custom roadster dressed like he was cast in a James Dean movie, his Masonic ring clearly visible. There were some old military photos of him, donning the Screaming Eagle of his unit. There was a photo of him breaking ground for the lodge building, he was 25. There were wedding photos as well. The guys were commenting on how beautiful Jenny was when she was young. The funeral service went well. The Secretary was really broken up. He now had one less buddy. It was learned that a few years after the lodge was finished the Old Side-Liner had relocated to another state only to return a few years ago to retire. Some of the Brothers remember him coming back and how much the old guys celebrated his return. After the funeral Jenny came up to the Master and told him that next week she and her daughter will bring by his Masonic paraphernalia because they had no one else to give it to. He said they would be happy to have it. The next week Jenny and her daughter enter the lodge and the Master goes to greet them. “You might want to get another person to help you with this stuff.” she says. The Master calls for the Secretary to help and they both go out to Jenny’s van. They bring in three brief cases and a few boxes into the dining hall. “He has a lot of papers, too. I don’t know if you can use them.” she says. “I’m sure we can, Jenny.” replies the Secretary. The young Brethren are still talking about the Old-Sideliner’s passing. They express sadness, surprise and regret. “I wish I could’ve known more about him.” says a young Brother. “Now’s your chance to.” says the Secretary as they begin to rummage through the Masonic life of the Old Side-Liner. Within the first case the young men of this lodge found a PM gavel, gloves, PM apron and jewel. They found three Distinguish Service Medals from the Grand Lodge. They also found PHP, PIM and PEC jewels. Their eyes begin to widen with every discovery. In the second case they find his PHP and PIM aprons. They also find PDDGM and PDDGL aprons. They find his certificates for the Order of High Priesthood and Order of the Silver Trowel. Among these were several certificates of achievement from various Masonic bodies. The young Brethren continue to sift through the Old Side-Liners things eagerly and attentively. In the third case they find his 32nd Degree Patent, and his 32nd Degree Cap. They find his KCCH jewel. They find more pictures, jewelry and a thick stack of papers. The SS, being an eager Masonic academic grabs them, sits down and starts reading intently. The others open the first box. They pull out a Templar coat. It has purple shoulder boards. “Jesus” one Brother says under his breath. They find his belt, sword, chapppeau and assorted breast jewels. His KCCH cap is also found. “Anything interesting in those papers?” a Brother asks the SS.“This man must have authored over 50 resolutions in his life.” he says as he is thumbing through the stack and counting. The others open the second box as the SS continues to look through the stack of papers. The SS says aloud to no one “A Biography of the Comte St. Germain; Christian Mysticism and Masonic Philosophy; The Scottish Rite and the Hindu Religion; A Contemporary Study of Prince Hall Masonry…”“Are those books?” asks a Brother. “No, they’re research papers he wrote.” the SS replies as they all pause and look in the SS’s direction. “Are you serious?” asks the JW. “There has to be at least twenty more here, I’m still looking through them.” the SS answers. In the second box the Brothers find his KCCH Patent, his white 33rd Degree cap, his 33rd Degree Patent, some rituals and a massive stack of dues cards. One Brother picks them up and reads aloud as if he is looking through baseball cards. “Blue Lodge, Royal Arch, Cryptic, Commandery, Scottish Rite, SRRS, KYCH, Royal Order of Scotland, QCCC, RCC, AMD, GCR, Knight Masons, Templar Priests …what is SRICF?” he asks. “You know all that esoteric stuff you guys talk about?” the Secretary says as he gives a look to the young Brother. “Is there anything this guy didn’t do?” asks one of the EA’s. At that question they all stop rummaging and in silence look at their lodge, reflecting on the work that they have done and thinking about the work they will do. They contemplate their own efforts while trying to grasp the testament of the Masonic life scattered in front of them. They look at the Old Side-Liners things and realize that in more ways than one, there is a lot more work to be done. My father always told me “Nothing is as it seems.” I also seem to remember another quote “Judge not, lest….”
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