Random Thoughts

It's been too long since I've posted anything. Given that business is booming, finally, it's a little tough to do much research. However, there are a couple of things that seem to be running through my head as of late.

Although in 2012 the Grand Lodge of Michigan for the first time in 50+ years had positive growth in membership, yet there is still grumblings about how the fraternity is shrinking and on the verge of becoming non existent.

My reply to that is one word which has become very popular as of late---REALLY????

In my own lodge we are normally dark during July and August...but this year we've had a regular in July and degree work on most of the subsequent lodge nights for the whole month of July.

Again, rumblings....we've always had the summer off.....we've never done it this way before....really?

So, we complain that we're not growing and when we do have an opportunity to grow we complain because we've never done work in July. This brings up the old cliche of having one's cake and eating it too.

Our latest EA is a young man in his twenties....he got interested in Freemasonry through research on the internet.....seems his grandfather was a Mason, his father is not, but he has a very strong interest....hmmmm....where have I heard this before....hmmmmmm

Another thing which is constantly on my mind lately is the discussion regarding the fabric of our nation....what our nation has evolved into, in comparison to the principles it was founded upon. We are somewhat privileged in knowing that the country was founded on the same principles that our fraternity was founded upon.

It's pretty neat to know that our nation and our fraternity started with the same core foundational principles.....of course our fraternity had the opportunity to grow for about 60 years before forming this great nation of the Unite States of America.

Again.....there are plenty of dooms-sayers that claim our country is in it's last days and that we will cease to exist......but our country being founded on the same principles as our craft can and will be tested and stretched to the limits....but....our country and our fraternity are things larger than us...both having been created on such strong foundations that they will not meet their demise, although both will be tested to the limit....I believe both will survive and become stronger than ever.