Jr Warden Minute – June 2018

In looking for a topic for tonight’s Masonic Minute, I happened upon an article written over 100 years ago in the “The Gavel and Freemasonry’s Journal” entitled, What Freemasonry Teaches Me. In reflecting on the harsh comments that have received so much publicity recently, I was struck at how relevant the article is in today’s world.

Masonry teaches us the existence of a God as a being of Love, Light and Power.

It teaches us that alone we are powerless and as others help us over rough and dangerous places, so should we do unto others.

It teaches us to look up for that Light which will be an unerring guide and that no matter how we forget, there is a place where we can obtain information.

It teaches us to be kind of heart, to cultivate friendly feelings; to not tell all we know; to be circumspect and to realize that, others before us have walked the road we are on, and that others will follow after we are gone.

It teaches us to help the needy and to defend the deserving; to care for the children of brothers and to treat their wives with the same kind, gentlemanly respect we would have others show to those we love.

It teaches honesty, industry, frugality and liberality of thought.

It teaches us to be careful to preserve the good reputation of a brother as we should have him be careful to preserve ours.

It teaches us to look upon every Mason as a younger brother, to be watched over, helped, encouraged, protected, cared for in sickness and carefully laid away after life’s fitful trials are ended and he has been called to the land in the East.

It teaches us to defend virtue and to never tell a falsehood, to build up, protect and encourage the poor and laborious, no matter whether of our fraternity or not.

It teaches us virtue, sobriety, discretion, earnestness and charity to all, with a beautiful faith in God and his goodness.

It teaches us to be kind to all; to always befriend the poor, no matter who or where found; to forgive as we would be forgiven; and to speak not against a brother but kindly to him.

Finally, it teaches us lessons in harmonious brotherhood and to control ourselves, our tongue, our passions, and our lives and that the Lodge, like the Eternal, is one place where differences in politics, religion, and passion of riches or honor is unknown, for before the Beautiful light in the East we are all brothers.