The Masonic Memorial has spurred me to write numerous entries on this blog in regards to the final tribute we pay to a deceased brother.
Last night we had the privilege and honor to pay those respects to one of the elders of our lodge. WB Keith Hilliker served as Worshipful Master in 1961.....which was a very good year.
I can remember when acting as the Master of Ceremonies for our annual installation of officers, I made note that on the back of the program was a list of Past Masters. The left column of Past Masters had asterisks by all of the names except one; the asterisk denotes that those Masters had answered the summons of their God. The one name in the left column belonged to Keith, in my remarks I informed the attendees that it was not a typo and that WB Keith was with us that evening.
Unfortunately for us WB Keith earned his asterisk. Fortunately for the Master's bouquet Keith is a shining fresh flower.
Truly the measure of a Masons contribution to the craft over the years is demonstrated by the affection that the brethren show at his memorial. WB Lenzy read the history with the dates of Keith's advancement through the degrees and his year as Worshipful Master. One thing that WB Lenzy added was that Keith was a Masons Mason, a very true fact.
WB Keith was probably a Mason before taking his various obligations. He was definitely a fixture in our lodge and in latter years as a resident at the Masonic Home in Alma. Professionally Keith was a local insurance man, and everybody knew him. One of the qualities that Keith possessed was the skill of listening. He always had a warm greeting for everyone he met.
I remember shortly after he moved to the Masonic Home, we had a board meeting there in the conference room on the lower level. When I arrived about 15 minutes early, there was WB Keith in the lobby looking at his watch and after greeting me he said, "I was wondering when you were going to get here." He knew that there was a board meeting and that I would be attending and there he was waiting to greet me, that's brotherly love and affection in action.
As with most cases, the brothers who attend Masonic Memorials always seem to reconnect with brothers they haven't seen in a while. This was true last night for me and for others as well. WB Roger Kaufman was in attendance, Roger has had some health issues and hasn't been travelling the last couple of years, but he was there for Keith's memorial. They may not come out for a degree but if they can in any way make the memorial, they make it. Now that's brotherly love and affection in action as well.
One brother who was slated to assist with the memorial discovered after taking off his winter coat that he had neglected to put his suit coat on. Out of respect for Keith he gave his part to another brother in attendance. Too often in today's society, respect is seldom shown....it makes me proud to be a part of a fraternity that still offers up respect to one another.
It truly is a breathtaking sight to see a multitude of Masons gathered together to honor a deceased brother, and what a joyous sight it is for one's family and friends to witness the brotherly love bestowed upon their dearly departed.
The Masonic Memorial is designed to pay respect and honor to a fallen brother, but one of the hidden jewels of the service is the impact it has on the surviving brothers. One can't help but to reflect on their own life and service to the craft; to remember those brothers who have gone before us and the influence those brothers had on the craft and us as individual brothers. Fare thee well brother Keith and may we live up to the shining example you have set for all of us.
