It's your last time

Once again I was able to enjoy a tremendous night in Masonry at Lapeer Lodge #54. Another unusually large crowd of brethren including 2 Grand Lodge Officers and 6 Grand Lodge Representatives. The purpose of the evening was to raise two brothers to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

Outside of the Lodge room I was putting on my apron and collar while listening to a "mature" Past Master talking with one of the brothers who was about to be raised. The Past Master said to this soon to be Master Mason, "Well, it's your last time, huh?"

I'm convinced that this Past Master didn't mean what it sounded like he was saying.He surely meant that this is the last time he would receive a degree in the Blue Lodge. However, when I heard the small talk it was one of those moments that sparks one to think about words and how we choose them.

It made me think that so many of the new Masons that join the fraternity, their Master Mason degree is their last time in lodge. Too often when these new brothers receive their degrees, they are left to flounder on their own. This is where our mentoring program becomes so important.

Somehow these brothers need to be taken under a brother's wing and encouraged to participate in their lodge activities and travel to other lodges. As evidenced by the unusually large turn outs at Lapeer's degrees this year, traveling is one of the hidden gems of the fraternity. To me travelling and interacting with other brothers at other lodges is what our fraternity is all about.

Then as a means of contrast to the above thoughts, a young Mason from Vienna lodge who had traveled to Lapeer gave the working tools nearly flawlessly, a fine example of young man who is eager to learn and to share that knowledge with others.

Another thought that ran through my mind(a very small journey) was that the phrase I overheard illustrates the feeling of so many of our brothers.....that the glass is half empty." Masonry is dying". is bemoaned often....yet there is always plenty of degree work to be done, help me understand.

For the first time in many years we may just see a positive number in growth over loss of members. Our Grand Master Mark Manning has said many times these are historic Masonic times we are living in.

Many of the younger brothers are extremely hungry for knowledge concerning the esoteric meanings of the craft. The challenge is that too many of our senior members are lacking in this knowledge as well. Wouldn't it be amazing to have a resurgence of knowledge within our craft.

Wouldn't it be terrific to over hear this conversation, "So, you're getting your Master Mason degree, my brother you are just beginning the journey of a lifetime, your very own Masonic journey!"