Here are words from one of our Famous Masonic Brothers Red Skelton
Sometime during past three years while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance I
began to wonder if we truly know the meaning behind the words that
Brother Frances Bellamy wrote in 1892. So in the words of Red
Skelton I will recite the pledge for you with some definition.
I—-me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge—-dedicate all of my worldly goods including myself to give without self-pity.
Allegiance—-my loyalty, my love and my devotion.
To the Flag—-our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of
freedom. Wherever she waves, there is respect because your loyalty
has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody’s job.
Of the United—-that means that we have all come together.
States Of America. —-individual communities that have united into 50
great states. 50 individual communities with pride and dignity and
purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a
common purpose, and that’s love for country.
And to the Republic—-a republic, a state in which
sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people
to govern. And government is the people and it’s from the people to
the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands! One nation—-meaning, so blessed by the Great Architect of the Universe.
Indivisible—-incapable of being divided.
With Liberty—-which is freedom and the right to live one’s
life without threats or fear or any sort of retaliation.
And justice—-The principle and quality of dealing fairly with others.
For all.—-which means, gentlemen, it’s as much your country as it is mine.”
“Under God” was added 1954 in response to the Communist
threat. Today we face the opposite threat, the threat of those
words being taken out of the pledge. We have a duty to protect
what our fore fathers created. It doesn’t matter if you
are a new mason or old mason; it doesn’t matter if you are a
Past Master, Warden or Deacon because we are all Stewards of this
great nation. OUR work has just begun.