Something that I continually try to get across, but always fail at communicating, is that Masonry is duty. I was thoroughly moved by the Masonic degrees and they drastically changed the person that I am. I feel that I owe a debt to Masonry for what it has given me and work to try and return the favor. However, I notice that a lot of men entering our fraternity don't appear to be moved as much as I was.
Now, I am not trying to judge anyone and many men who don't return to lodge may very well be great Masons at heart. However, there does seem to be an alarming number of men that don't see Masonry as more than a set of degrees so that you can be part of a charitable organization. Why is it that we all don't see Masonry as it is? Masonry, simply stated, is duty.
Masonry is the duty to serve your fellow man, your country, and mankind. It is the duty to always strive to stick to the highest moral code. It is the duty to promote it lessons and concepts. It is the duty to promote freedom, liberty, and equality. It is the duty to be a good father, brother, and husband. It is the duty to serve Deity. It is the duty to be industrious and a seeker of light.
Unfortunately, we commonly sit down and are content to just ignore the duty that we must attend to as Masons. This isn't intended preach about what makes a good Mason, my point is that we need to make sure we attend to our duties. At the end of each day, you should look at yourself in the mirror and ask "Have I been a Mason today?"
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Masonic Duty
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2 comments:
I agree with you, but sadly, I think we are in the minority. Many of the members on our books are never seen at meetings, which I suppose is the same situation in your lodge. We are told from on high to ignore that - that each Mason practices his craft in his own way, but sometimes it's hard for me to look at it that way.
When I put my ring on in the morning all the way until I take it off at night I keep in mind what the WM said to me that first time I stood in the North East corner "for the first time in your life you stand a just and upright Mason and I give it to you strictly in charge ever to walk and act as such". That rings in my head all of the time. Unfortunatly for men like us who lead by example is that too many men do not know how to follow by example.
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