Author Unknown.
Editing performed by V.W.Bro. Norman McEvoy
“I have been a Master Mason for a year now” remarked the Young Brother to the Old Past Master. “While I find a great deal in Masonry to enjoy and like the fellows and all that, I am more or less in the dark as to what good Masonry really is in the world.
I don’t mean I can’t appreciate its charity or its fellowship, but it seems to me that I don’t get much out of it. I can’t really see why it has any function outside of the relationship we enjoy in the Lodge and the charitable acts we do.”
“I think I could win an argument about you,” smiled the Past Master.
“You say you have been a Master Mason for a year.”
“I think I could prove to the satisfaction of a jury of your peers, who would not need to be Master Masons, that while you are a Lodge member in good standing, you are not a Master Mason.”
“I don’t think I quite understand” puzzled the Young Mason. “I was quite surely initiated, passed, and raised. I have my certificate and my dues card. I attend Lodge regularly. I do what work I am assigned. If that isn’t being a Master Mason, what is?”
“You have the body but not the spirit,” retorted the Old Past Master.
“You eat the husks and disregard the kernel.
“You know the ritual and fail to understand its meaning.
“You carry the documents, but, for you. they attest but an empty form.
“You do not understand the first underlying principle which makes Masonry the great force that she is.
And yet, in spite of it, you enjoy her blessings, which is one of her miracles. A man may love and profit by what he does not comprehend.”
“I just don’t understand you at all, I am sure I am a good Mason.”
“No man is a good Mason who thinks the Fraternity has no function beyond pleasant association in the Lodge and charity.
There are thousands of Masons who seldom see the inside of a Lodge and, therefore, miss the fellowship.
There are thousands who never need or support her charity and so never come in contact with one of its many features.
Yet these may take freely and largely from the treasure house which is Masonry.
Masonry, my young friend, is an opportunity.
It gives a man a chance to do and to be among the world of men, something he otherwise could not attain. No man keels at the altar of Masonry and raises again the same man.
At the altar something is taken from him, never to return, his feelings of living for himself alone. Be he ever so selfish, ever so self centered, ever so much an individualist, at the altar he leaves behind him some of the dross of his purely profane make-up.
No man kneels at the altar of Masonry and rises the same man because, in the place where the dross and selfish were, is put a Divine spark for all men to see.
Where there was self-interest, is put an interest in others?
Where there was egotism, is put love for one’s fellow man.?
You say that the ‘Fraternity has no real function!!
Man, the Fraternity performs the greatest function of any institution at work among men in that it provides a common meeting ground where all of us, be our creed, our social position, our wealth, our ideas, our station in life what may meet and share with one another & by doing same create Brothers
Question ====What caused the Great War?
Class hatred.
What is the greatest leveler of class in the world? Freemasonry.
Where is the only place in which a capitalist and laborer, socialist and democrat, fundamentalist and modernist, Jew and Gentile, sophisticated and simple alike meet and forget their difference? Answer == in a Masonic Lodge.
Through the influence of Masonry, which opens her portals to men because they seek the brotherhood only she can give.
It is said Masonry has no function?
Why, son, the function of charity, great as it is, is one of the least of the things Masonry does. The fellowship in the Lodge, beautiful as it is, is, at best, not much more than one can get in any good club, association, or organization.
The great fundamental beauty of Masonry is all her own.
She, and only she, stretches a kindly and loving hand around the world, uniting millions in a bond too strong for jealousy and fear.
The worst of men have used the strongest of means and have but pushed Masonry to one side for the moment, not all their efforts have broken her, or ever will.
Masonry gives us all a chance to do and to be, to do a little, however humble the part, in making the world better, to be a little larger, a little fuller in our lives, a little nearer to the G.A.O.T.U.
Unless a man understands this, believes it, takes it to his heart, and lives it in his daily life, and strives to show it in practice to others by his every act.
Unless he live and love and labor in his Masonry.
I say he is not truly a Master Mason!!!
Agreed; though he may belong to all Rites and carry all cards, though he be hung like a Christmas tree with jewels and pins, though he be an officer in all Bodies.
But the man who has it in his heart and sees in Masonry the chance to be, in reality. what he has sworn he would be – a brother to his fellow Masons – is a Master Mason
The Young Brother, looking down, unfastened the emblem from his coat lapel and handed it to the Old Past Master.
“Of course, you are right,” he said, lowly. “Here is my pin”
Please don’t give it back to me until you think I am worthy to wear it.”
The Old Past Master smiled. “I think you better put it back on now,” he answered gently.
“None are more fit to wear the Square and Compasses than those who know themselves unworthy, for they are those who strive ever harder to perfect their own personal Masonry.”
Comment
I have read this paper many times and felt it could be seen as being a little cruel to many Brethren, then I recalled Brotherly Love Relief and Truth and started to get a better picture as to what the Older Brother was trying to convey.
I believe the Question being posed to us all as Brethren has to do with our own SELF interest, and, is it possible that we could/should be more aware of those much more dependent than ourselves & is there a possibility that we, in any way, could be of additional service.
Food For Thought
Have a wonderful Day & God Bless
Norm