Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes

My favorite Country singer, George Jones, had a great hit called "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?"
It talks of his wondering, just who is going to fill the shoes of all the great stars who had blazed a trail and went on to the great stage in the sky.

In Masonry if we've learned anything at all, we should be aware of the symbolism all around us. In songs, written word, and everyday life experiences.

One can make the case that this song parallels our Masonic life. Just who is going to fill the shoes of the great leaders and legends in their own time in this great fraternity. There will never be another WB Bennie King as just one example. Bennie in his humble manner would never own up to the fact that he is a living legend in this world of Masonry.

I've had the pleasure of knowing many of the fine brothers through the years that were what brothers consider to be a Mason's Mason.

WB Howard Durbin is one that comes to mind whenever this subject comes up along with WB Bob McClellan and a whole host of others.

The challenge to those who are now active in the fraternity is, who is actually going to fill the shoes of the greats who have gone before us. Not that any of us could ever dream of replacing them, but to carry on the tradition and legacy that greats prepared for us. It is incumbent on all of us to carry on that tradition and to ensure that the legacy continues.

As I've mentioned many times before the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons is far greater than any of us would ever dream of being. Freemasonry has endured through all the years because it, the fraternity, is far greater and more complex that any man, now or ever since the inception of the fraternity.

Currently we are blessed with a number of what I consider to be Living Legends in our Masonic world. However, as we are taught....we are all born to die. This presents a huge to challenge to those younger brothers.....who is going to do the FC lectures......who is going to present the apron.....who is going to do the history of the MM degree.....I wonder....who's gonna fill their shoes.

Who's gonna fill their shoes....Who's gonna stand that tall.......Who's gonna give their heart and soul to get to me and you....Lord I wonder....who's gonna fill their shoes?????