The second half ?

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 was delivered on his behalf on St. John’s Day, June 27^st, 2009 in the Daniel D. Tompkins Memorial Chapel, be spread upon the minutes of our present Communication.

My Brothers, this year the Grand Master has reaffirmed his emphasis on getting “Back to Basics” by focusing on six attributes found in the six-letter acronym of BASICS.  They are: Brotherhood, Action, Service, Integrity, Commitment, and Strength.  Tonight, I would like to highlight the importance of “Commitment”.

As all of you know, this is the second year in our Grand Master’s two-year term.  That means it is also the final year of my term as your District Deputy Grand Master.  Because of this reality, it is commonly accepted that the second year of one’s term is less strident, less ambitious.  Even at the District Deputy Grand Masters’ training session held on June 26^th, we were encouraged to “glide in for a successful landing”.

I appreciate that this practice has arisen from Grand Lodge’s regular two-year cycle.  However, this timing is not universally shared throughout our jurisdiction.  Some of our Masters serve one-year terms and some serve two.  Some have even served a few more terms than that.  Regardless of whether a Master is in their first year, their second year, their seventh year, or their only year; should he just “phone it in” for this year, since it is the second half of Grand Lodge’s term?  How would you like to be the Master who is told that your term doesn’t matter because it is a “lame duck” year for Grand Lodge?  Do we not owe the Masters of our Lodges more than that?  Let us take the Master of Solomon’s Lodge as an example.

Just as every Brother before him, he has participated on and chaired committees, planned and cooked collations, and helped each meeting be successful.  Just as every Master has before him, he has worked his way up through the various Stations and Places of a Lodge room, met and listened to his Officers, and planned a trestleboard for his Lodge’s growth.  Are all of these preparations to be wasted because someone else is getting ready to retire?

Well, what about when this Master’s term is completed?  Is his journey in Masonry finished?  No.  There is a reason that the term “Past Master” is so honored in our midst, and it is not solely because of what occurs during a Master’s term.  As I look around the room this evening, I see many Past Masters of many Lodges.  All of them are continuing to provide good counsel and constant support for their Masters.  Some of them are even still laboring in important Stations and Places for their Lodge, including working as the Master.

Since I am fairly certain that I will never know what it is like to be a Past Grand Master, I will not comment on their activities.  However, you do not need to look far to see Past District Deputy Grand Masters of our District continuing to work hard for the success of their Lodges.  In addition, I am lucky to be able to call upon them, either singularly or collectively, when occasion warrants the input of their unique perspectives on a District level.  Rest assured that while I know that my term of office expires on May 4^th, 2010, when the new Grand Master announces the name of our newest District Deputy Grand Master, I look forward to offering my help to my successors for as long as they ask.

Isn’t that what we are always taught about Masonry?  That it is a timeless and eternal pursuit of the betterment of ourselves and mankind?  How can that kind of work have an end?  Well, it doesn’t.  I challenge anyone to show me a Grand Lodge certificate or official pin that proclaims “You’re Done!” or celebrates one becoming a “retired Mason”.  None exist, because we recognize that our individual labors are only part of the eternal work of our great Fraternity.  How often we speak with pride of the forefathers of our Lodge or a current “gray beard” who continues to lead by example.  Do we say that the Brother in question toiled for our benefit only every other year, when a Grand Lodge, and a Grand Master’s term was fresh? Each of us knows the answer to that question, whether we have been in the Craft two years or twenty years.

As men of good character, we know that those accolades are only earned through consistent dedication and commitment.  While not all of us will become Masters or other official leaders of the Craft, we all know that time spent in the quarries, while hard at work, will pay dividends for our future.  While the present Brothers of Solomon’s Lodge work to keep this building as a living meeting place for Masonic works, they will still speak in reverence of those who came before them who envisioned and made this building a reality.

You might wonder where there is time for rest or celebration in this busy schedule.  We have barely started our new year of work and I have already been to a picnic, a table lodge and half a dozen collations, where Brothers enjoy the company of one another.  I know that there will be more than a few opportunities to recognize Brothers for specific service, as well as to share in marking their milestones for various years of service to our Lodges.   Even as this is an official visit of mine where I confirm that Solomon’s Lodge is operating correctly, I am more focused on it as an opportunity for the Brothers of the various Lodges to meet and mingle together.  It seems laughable to call that kind of enjoyment “work”, but it is vital to the success of our Craft just the same.

 So let this year not be disposable. Let us commit to starting another year successfully.  Let us contribute to the works of our Lodges, our District, and our Grand Lodge; ensuring that the unbroken line of worthy labors continues, because our time is too valuable to do otherwise.  However, in a few minutes from now, let us join in the collation room for some celebration.

Worshipful Master, I thank you and the Brothers of Solomon’s Lodge #196 for the courtesies extended this evening to all the visiting Brethren present.  My Brothers, beside being the resumption of our Masonic labors, tomorrow is also the official beginning of the Jewish New Year 5770.  If you so celebrate this joyous occasion, please excuse what is surely a mispronunciation, as I wish you; “L’shona tova, tee-con say ven, la say how, say new”.  And to all here, who meet to recommit to another year working together, on the level, and with brotherly love in your hearts; I say “Glad to have you here my Brother.  Happy New Year, and Thank you!