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Diamond Thistle DDGM visit
Nov. 11, 2009
Imperfect Timing
Worshipful Master, Right Worshipfuls, Very
Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren All: I
bring you the most heartfelt fraternal
greetings of our Grand Master, The Most
Worshipful Edward G. Gilbert. Brother
Secretary, I ask that this copy of the Grand
Master’s Address, which he gave on St.
John’s Day, June 27th, 2009 in
the Daniel D. Tompkins Memorial Chapel, be
spread upon the minutes of our present
Communication.
As
some of you know, today is Veteran’s Day.
Also referred to as Remembrance Day or Poppy
Day (because of the use of red poppys in
memorial wreaths and lapel pins), it was
first called Armistice Day. This is because
it commemorated the signing of a cessation
of hostilities to World War I on November
11, 1918. And while this armistice took
effect ‘on the eleventh hour, of the
eleventh day, of the eleventh month”, the
actual document was signed at 5AM, Paris
time in order to allow time for the message
to filter to all participants. The ensuing
peace would hold until the official end of
The Great War; the signing of the Treaty of
Versailles, on June 28, 1919.
Sadly,
the 6 ½ months between the signings of the
armistice and the treaty was not a time used
to reconstruct a new paradigm where everyone
followed the same rules and all parties grew
and benefited. Rather, the stronger victors
practiced a course of self-interest and
advancement in fashioning the new world. It
seemed that all of the restrictions were
placed on those least likely to be able to
meet them. Even though the treaty of
Versailles signified the end of one war, it
is no surprise to most historians that World
War II followed so closely.
It is
this missed opportunity to correct an
incorrect structure that I am caused to
reflect upon this evening. By no means is
our Fraternity at war, and, certainly, human
life is not at stake. But there are a
number of events that lead me to believe a
correction in structure is in order for
Masonry. For most of his term, our Grand
Master has faced health issues that have
hampered him furthering an ambitious agenda
of bringing Masonry “back to basics”. In
addition, in less than 6 months, a new Grand
Master will be elected and a new vision will
be communicated. In addition to this,
Masonry is seeing another growth in
membership, due in no small part to a new
book that extols its virtues, written by a
non-Mason. Since we are so aware of the
fleeting nature of fame, it would be too
easy for us to just focus on gathering new
members for the time being. But could this
short-term shot-in-the-arm of new interest,
combined with the knowledge of an upcoming
refocus in our State, cause us to neglect
our use of the level and plumb? Are we
using our time and resources to build the
body Masonic to its fullest? These are
questions worth examining.
It
would be easy to use our energies to just
gather as many petitions as possible and
focus on the numbers admitted. It is less
glamorous, and much harder to work on the
infrastructure necessary to properly educate
our newest members. What about continuing
education? Even after two “Road to the
East” sessions, one held on Sundays and the
other on Saturdays, we had less than a dozen
graduates. If such little participation is
shown in the desire of becoming educated
leaders by our most motivated members, I am
left to speculate at what smaller numbers
there may be of members seeking the basics
of our Brotherhood.
Time does not stand still for any man. It
is often said that you have only one chance
to make a first impression. We must be
imbuing our newest Brothers with a sense of
our Craft now in order to ensure that they
will value it enough to devote the necessary
time to its future tending. Yes, we all
want to have fun. Dances and fishing trips
and picnics are all great examples of times
to enjoy the fruits of our labors. But are
we putting as much time into our labor as we
are to planning our refreshment?
Our
regular meetings should be focused on the
furtherance of our labors and our core
values. Historically, societies have fallen
when they are unable to communicate their
core values to a new generation. For
Masons, those values, as well as their
communication, are present in both our
ritual and in our etiquette.
It is
to be expected that our newest Brothers will
need help in learning our rituals.
Certainly that education will be less than
ideal if open ritual books are a regular
occurrence in the Lodge or if Past Masters
themselves do not possess an adequate
fluency. If we communicate an improper
message, even the most well-intentioned
Brother cannot help but find his
understanding to be lacking. As leaders in
the Craft, we must demand more of ourselves
in this arena.
What
about etiquette? Are we demonstrating
respect to each other? What about the Great
Light? We all remember a charge given to us
as new members about the perils that befall
us if anyone where able to even obscure the
Great Light. Yet practices persist where
brothers cross between the East and the
Great Lights because we are not technically
at work, or other items are placed on the
Altar on top of them. Do we really need
specific Laws to order our actions when we
know the correct behavior in our hearts?
My
Brothers we are at a very exciting time for
Masonry. A time of growth. A time of
change. A time where great things are
possible if we only refocus on that work
which we know must be done. Let it not be
said of our generation that they catered
only to the strongest among them. Let it
not be said that our years or titles caused
us to fear correcting ourselves. Let it not
be said that, when the light of publicity
and attention was focused upon us, that
reflected it to blind the world with the
brilliance of our exterior. Rather, let it
be said that we took that light and turned
it upon ourselves, as a beacon to illuminate
and remind us of what lies at our very core:
the fact that we are a society of
never-ending improvement. Let us not waste
our opportunity to set a firmer foundation
for a brighter future.
Worshipful Master, I thank you for the
courtesies extended to myself, our Grand
Sword Bearer, and the Brothers in
attendance. My Brothers, today we remember
those who put themselves in harm’s way every
day that we might enjoy the lives we lead
and the Craft that we practice. In
September of 1914, barely 2 months into
World War I, Laurence Binyon reflected upon
the sacrifice that so many brave English
soldiers would make.
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her
children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of
her
flesh they were, spirit of spirit, Fallen in
the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and
royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they
were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and
aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds
uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left
grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years
condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the
morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with laughing comrades
again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the
day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes
profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from
sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land
they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we
are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of
our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
My
Brothers, may the Great Architect protect
all of all of our servicemen and women, at
home
and abroad, this night and
always. As you put your head on the pillow
for sleep tonight, I ask that you say a
silent prayer for their safe travels and a
silent thanks for their sacrifice.
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