Edgar A. Guest.....Masonic Poet

Enjoy my brothers.

   By Edgar A. Guest

 It is not ornamental, the

cost is not great,
There are other things far more useful, yet truly I state,
Tho of all my possesions, there's none can compare,
With that white leather apron, which all Masons wear.

As a young lad I wondered just what it all meant,
When Dad hustled around, and so much time was spent
On shaving and dressing and looking just right,
Until Mother would say: "It's the Masons tonight."

And some winter nights she said: "What makes you go,
Way up there tonight thru the sleet and the snow,
You see the same things every month of the year."
Then Dad would reply: "Yes, I know it, my dear."

Forty years I have seen the same things, it is true.
And though they are old, they always seem new,
For the hands that I clasp, and the friends that I greet,
Seem a little bit closer each time that we meet."

Years later I stood at that very same door,
With good men and true who had entered before,
I knelt at the alter, and there I was taught
That virtue and honor can never be bought.

That the spotless white lambskin all Masons revere,
If worthily worn grows more precious each year,
That service to others brings blessings untold,
That man may be poor tho surrounded by gold.

I learned that true brotherhood flourishes there,
That enmities fade 'neath the compass and square,
That wealth and position are all thrust aside,
As there on the level men meet and abide.

So, honor the lambskin, may it always remain
Forever unblemished, and free from all stain,
And when we are called to the Great Father's love,
May we all take our place in that Lodge up above. 

thanks to WB Mark Taylor for sending to me

.....the strength and SUPPORT.....

It never ceases to amaze me as to the choice of words that the author(s) of our ritual used. They certainly maximized the use of choice words and phrases to communicate their points and teachings. We hear the words over and over again and too often we take those for granted. Therefore delving into the meanings behind the words sheds a whole new light on the ritual.

Light....that reminds me of a story. A year or so ago I picked up a cap at a flea market with a nice square and compass on it. Shortly after getting the hat I stopped in a gas station, and a gentleman in line saw my hat. He said, " You a Mason?", to which I replied "Yes." "What you lookin' for?" was his next question and my reply was, "Nothing really."......his comeback was stellar......"You a Mason, you supposed to be lookin' for light.....you supposed to be always lookin' for light!"

That really has nothing to do with the focus of support as it's used in conjunction with harmony and strength......but my point is that it's true....we should always be searching for more light.....the ritual is a source of light and enlightenment....but it has a dimmer switch.....if you leave it closed it's off....if you read it....then it's dimly lit.....the more you read and study and get into the meaning behind the words then the dimmer switch continually increases the light.....at this point I am willing to concede that the max setting of that dimmer switch is infinity.

Harmony being the strength and support of all institutions but especially this of ours

Looking at the word support we find that it is defined in the physical sense as something which bears a load, to sustain and withstand weights, pressures, strains, etc. Support can also be defined in the emotional or mental angle; to sustain a person, institution, policy or theory.

So we know that harmony according to the ritual performs two tremendous tasks for the craft. Harmony is not only the strength but the support of our fraternity. Anything that bears or displays great strength has to have an equal or greater amount of support.

All things which endure, start with a firm foundation capable of bearing predicted loads at a minimum and hopefully increased unpredictable loads.

Further, support is necessary to maintain principles and theories. Coupled with strength, support is an integral part of our craft. While pure strength can endure for the present, to have longevity it must be supported.

Unfortunately most of us have seen the results when there is a lack of harmony. Disharmony can be a terrible disease which can totally destroy a lodge. When disharmony is prevalent in a lodge, surely there is a serious lack of strength and support in that lodge. For the good of the whole, if a lodge fails for whatever reason....the craft survives.....although weakened, the craft rebuilds and continues on. This was proven in the dark ages of Masonry....when the Fraternity nearly folded due to the "Anti-Masonic Movement".....however harmony among the few and tremendous amounts of strength and support, the craft survived.

Well WB Carl Davis was correct in his idea that the word harmony plays a major role in our fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. We are very blessed in AD20 to see harmony's true definition alive and at work....not always...but most generally. However, we are also keenly aware of when that harmony is challenged.

Freemasonry notwithstanding has still survived.

...being the Strength and Support

Happy New Year !!

Harmony being the strength and support of all institutions, but more especially this of ours.....


As I mentioned in the piece on harmony, I was challenged by WB Carl Davis about the use of harmony in our ritual and the meaning of the word. Since writing that, the words strength and support have been running through my head constantly. Little did I know the depth of the definition I would find.

Strength is one those words that can be used in a variety of ways yet have a continuity of meaning.
In researching the word, there are anywhere from 8-12+ definitions or uses of the word...strength.

Obviously it the quality or state of being strong. This can apply to raw physical strength, mental strength, and moral strength. Power of moral firmness, vigor, and courage.

We've always heard that there is strength in numbers which is also another definition or usage. Strength can be measured in the moral potency such as in the effective force of argument. As we continue, the term strength can be used to describe one's ability to resist force or wear.

Strength can define the effectiveness or essential characteristic of certain chemical bodies or in our case the effectiveness and essential characteristics of the fraternity. Going further, strength alludes to a particular proportion of light, color, intensity, sound, etc.

My favorite is that it is something or someone that gives one strength or sustenance....a source of power and or encouragement.

The above is paraphrased and in some cases plagiarized from Dictionary.com

We can draw many parallels from the meanings in the dictionary to the craft. The fraternity of Freemasonry teaches lessons from many symbols, but also words. Harmony being the strength indicates that the very fiber that holds this great institution together is the strength we need to survive and is the reason we have survived all of these years.

Recently we have seen the effects of weakening standards.....by being weak we were not able to resist the wearing away of our moral teachings.....thus we allowed some to join our ranks, only to learn that they were less than honest and began to eat away at the fiber of our being.....we have to be strong in whom we allow to join our ranks. To regain the strength that we once had, I'm certainly not suggesting that the fraternity as a whole is weak, just certain aspects need to be tightened up.

Freemasonry can provide power and encouragement to those brothers that seek it. If you have talked to a brother that is "strong" in the craft who has experienced an illness.....he will testify to the strength of the brothers of the craft who visited, prayed for, and encouraged that brother during his illness.

I know for myself that when I attend a degree, I draw a feeling of being rejuvenated, something that I gain much strength from.......the warmth of the fellowship of my brothers.

From the Fellowcraft lecture think about the five pillars.....the way in which their different components work together to provide strength, unity, and beauty. The five senses of human nature that work in harmony with each other and how one strengthens the other. The seven liberal arts and sciences that also work in harmony, in fact the part concerning music illustrates that composing delightful harmony by a mathematical and proportional arrangement.......mathematics work in conjunction with music, astronomy, geometry, logic....and grammar and rhetoric leads into logic and the circle continues in.....you guessed it.....harmony.

At this point I am going to let support be the next topic.....stay tuned

Harmony

Recently I was talking with WB Carl Davis, and he said he had been doing some studying on the word, harmony. He mentioned that the word, harmony is used several times in the ritual, he also noted that it must be a very important word to the fraternity. In his usual Seargent manner he said, "Check it out." So here goes.

The word harmony is used in all three degrees in both the opening and closing. More importantly it is used in the opening prayer of all three degrees as well.

Harmony being the strength and support of all institutions, but more especially this of ours......may it be conducted in order and closed in harmony.

As I have mentioned numerous times before, the authors of our ritual were very wise and used words to the utmost of their meaning. It is our challenge to decipher the meaning packed into those words or in this case, one single word.

Harmony

a. An orderly or pleasing combination of elements in a whole: color harmony; the order and harmony of the universe.

b. A relationship in which various components exist together without destroying one another: different kinds of fish living in harmony.

c. A relationship characterized by a lack of conflict or by agreement, as of opinion or interest: family harmony.

 

When applying this word to our lodges we can easily draw many correlations. First the lodge, any lodge is a combination of elements working together as one common unit. Of course there are differences of opinions, differences of dedication, and many other differences. Somehow when the chips are down we manage to come together, especially when conferring degrees.

 

The second element of the definition almost brings a chuckle to mind, but we really need to reflect on this part of the definition and think about what we are doing to our lodges, and more importantly to each other.

 

Somehow for the most part we do exist together without destroying one another.....sadly not in all cases, but in most we do......and we should strive to do this 100% of the time. 

 

The lesson taught by the word harmony is that there should be a lack of conflict or disagreement. Too often we let petty differences interfere with the greater good of the fraternity, thereby restricting our ability to impart brotherly, relief, and truth.

 

Our opening prayer mentions harmony but also charges us to conduct our business in order and to close the meeting in harmony. I remember having a boss who used to say in our staff meetings, "We can disagree on everything we talk about, but when we leave this meeting we will all agree, and the message delivered to the associates will be one and the same." This was very sage advice whether in a business setting or a fraternal setting such as ours.

We need to remember our purpose is to bring light to our members new and old. Also to impart the knowledge found in our various degrees, rituals, and ceremonies. However, if we do nothing beyond merely listening to the words of the ritual we are missing some very valuable lessons. I know that by being challenged by others as to the meaning of certain words or phrases, and also through my own curiosity, I have learned many valuable and useful lessons.

 

Harmony being the strength and support of all institutions but more especially this of ours

Ancient District 20 in the future

These are MY opinions and in no way, shape, or form an official position.
 
I suppose to look at the future, one has to reflect on the past, survey the present, and plan for the future.

My Masonic travels began in 1974 at the ripe old age of 13. Through joining the Order of DeMolay in Flint, I also became acquainted with the Flint Masonic Temple. At that time there were 5 Blue Lodges, 2-3 OES, 2 Jobs Bethels, all of the York Rite bodies with an enormous Commandery, and many other appendent Masonic bodies as well.

The DeMolay and Jobs were called upon numerous times to help at various Masonic functions. The Flint Masonic Temple was bustling at least 6 nights per week. It was amazing to see all of the people in the Temple going in different directions for different reasons. Friday evenings were truly spectacular, the amount of activity was startling as I look back on it.

In the heat of the moment in my young mind, this is how it had been for years, and would of course continue on in years to come........ or would it?

If I remember right around 1976, one of the lodges in the building seemed to have problems with attracting members and getting the ones that they did have to participate. That lodge was CA Durand lodge. As DeMolay boys we were always recruited to "pull chairs" for all of the installations. Despite our youth we were able to "see" that CA Durand was in trouble and treading water at best. Eventually in the early 2000s CA Durand ceased to exist and merged with Flint 23.

Being born and raised in Flint, I remember when Genesee county was a growing concern. If I recall correctly at one time during the hay-day GM employed somewhere around 80,000 people in our area. This does not take into account all of the small businesses that were created and thrived for years because of GM. Today I've heard that today GM employs about 8,000 in our area.

Through the years GM downsized dramatically, which in turn caused the closing of many other small businesses in the area that depended on GM and it's workforce. The population of Genesee county was about 450,000 in the 70s into the early 80s.....that population today is roughly 425,000.

By looking at lodge numbers we can ascertain that the oldest lodge in the area is Flint 23 and the newest lodge is 571.....I look forward to hearing from some of the old timers about consolidations, or moving which caused a higher number to be assigned.

Going from the Millington/Vassar down through the east and Welfare Lodge to the south by Linden over to the west by Byron up north to Montrose and over to Mt.Morris we take in over 20 lodges. Flint, Byron, and Fenton being the oldest, next are Genesee, Davison, Flushing, and closing out with Otisville, Fellowship, and Morning Star......remember brothers strictly by lodge number.

As we survey present day situations several things are different than in the past. First, although the population numbers for the county are less dramatic than I thought, we have 25,000 less people in the county but about 72,000 less people employed by GM. People still live here but work in other areas of the state and commute farther than before.

Second, the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons missed out on an entire generation of men for the most part. We are seeing an influx of men becoming members in the 24-35 age bracket. The interesting thing is that these brothers are joining because their grandfathers were Masons. With the age of information they are researching the fraternity that their grandfathers belonged to and they want to become a part of that. In some cases these brothers are bringing their fathers in who missed out on the opportunity because they didn't want to do what their dads were doing.

Third, we have lost Masonic population throughout the entire state of Michigan. Our numbers have shrunk dramatically, due in a large part to death of those "joiners" largely comprised of WW2 vets.  This is affecting a big majority of lodges throughout the state and particularly our area because of the large number of lodges we enjoy in our neck of the woods.

Fourth, expenses are killing our local Masonic lodges. There are three primary expenses which continually increase regardless of membership. Property taxes, insurance, and utilities. We came very close during the Granholm administration in getting relief on the property tax issue. The bill got to her desk and she promptly vetoed it in favor of keeping that tax base. Insurance only guarantees one thing rate increases, seems that every year this expense rises. Most of our buildings are older and poorly insulated and the utility bills continually go up, never down. These three costs can put a lodge out of business very quickly. One lodge in the area which sold their building figured that it cost the lodge about $36,000 per year just to unlock the doors. Take that $36,000 and divide it out by 10 regular meetings....comes to $3600 and 10 members for a business meeting is $360 per member for the business meeting. Naturally those numbers go down as the number of meetings go up, but let's assume they only held their 10 monthly business meetings.........those are the figures.

Let me relate something that WB Carl Davis said that makes the most sense of all of this. His synopsis goes something like this; We have all of these lodges that meet the first or second week of the month for their business meeting to read the communications, pay the bills, and determine how to raise the funds for taxes, insurance, and utilities. Then they spend the next 2-3 weeks traveling around the county to do degrees.....then they go back to their buildings and have their business meeting, then they disperse throughout the county for 2-3 weeks doing degrees and back again to their individual buildings....this gets repeated at least 10 times per year..........WHY?

Some wise man said, "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity."

There seems to be a lot of talk these days about this lodge is struggling or that lodge is struggling. The fact is that the majority of our local lodges are struggling in one form or another. Their challenges can be quite varied. First and foremost are finances....taxes, insurance, and utilities. Second is membership or the lack thereof. Third is member retention and participation...are we meeting the needs of our members?

The 800lb gorilla in the room is the number of lodges in our area. Are they truly needed ? When this discussion arises suddenly members come out of the woodwork. Many argue that their lodge "building" represents their heritage and that their grandfather did the brick work on the west side of the building or that their uncle installed the cabinets. Others make the claim that the lodge needs to stay in that particular community to continue the work in that community.....more often than not when challenged about what contribution that lodge has made to the community......the answer is usually vague and there is no true community project at work present, past, or future.

We have 20+ lodges in our area...AD20 and others....but basically in our travels there are 20+ lodges that pay taxes, insurance, and utilities. Granted some lodges currently share buildings with other lodges so the number of actual buildings are right around 15. The lodges that share facilities also share expenses for the building, but sometimes one lodge may be more solvent than the other and carries more of the weight.

Do we need 15 Masonic Lodge buildings? Could we be stronger and leaner if we had say 6-8 lodge buildings? Could we make more of an impact on new members if the number of lodges were reduced and the membership combined? Would the frequency of recycled line officers and WMs be reduced?
One thing is certain the combined expenses of 15 buildings is much greater than 6-8 buildings....and what affect would this have on dues?

I'm going to use the Flint Masonic Temple as an example. First let me say that to lose that building would be hurtful to me because I grew up there. The sad reality is how can 3 lodges and a few appendent bodies handle the burden of the expenses of just keeping that building going. Taxes are high, insurance is high because of the age of the building, and the utilities are out of this world. The building needs an electrical update which would be $500,000-$750,000 maybe.....there is no air conditioning.....it needs new windows but by it being a "historical" building certain guidelines have to be met to replace the windows which makes it cost prohibitive.....turns out the historical designation did one thing tie the hands of the temple association in relation to updates.

Now if that building was home to say 7-8 lodges as opposed to only 3(which by the way all have their own individual struggles) could those 7-8 lodges support that building adequately? My guess is no. If 7-8 lodges occupied that building their combined membership numbers would equal the membership numbers of about 1.5 lodges during the heyday of that building.

There are some great examples of what a Masonic building needs to be. On one level, with adequate kitchen equipment, and a dining/social hall....much like Swartz Creek, Vienna, Mt.Morris, and Otisville.

Let's look at Millington/Vassar both lodges are working hard and share the same building. The building is in good repair but challenging for those with infirmities. Also, Otisville is a few miles away and on one level. The argument can be made that Millington and Vassar take part in their communities, but Vassar is several miles from Millington and they had to give up their building in Vassar a number of years ago.

As we travel down we have Welfare Lodge on Genesee Rd. very nice facility but again a challenge for those with infirmities. They have a wonderful new kitchen, but how is membership?

Goodrich owns a building and they occupy the upstairs with emphasis on stairs.....a lot of them to get to the lodge. This building needs some freshening up and I'm sure taxes, and utilities present a financial burden. Moving on over to Grand Blanc, a very nice facility with plenty of stairs but they do have stair-lifts in place which make it easier to maneuver. Again, taxes are sure to be substantial given the area.....and can the waning membership afford it on their own. The good thing is that they seem to be involved in some community projects.

Continuing on south to Holly/Fenton.....an extremely old building which I'm sure is very expensive to heat, could use some updates, and has no parking. It seems that these two lodges could join forces and become much more effective and probably in a newer building on one level instead of multiple levels.

Linden lodge in my opinion is a model lodge. The activity level is high, dues are low and the building is in good repair. Like many of the older buildings it has more than it's fair share of stairs but does have a stair-lift I believe.

Moving over to Swartz Creek which is also home to Morning Star is housed in a terrific building on one level. The location of the building makes it a prime place to become involved in the Swartz Creek community. Morning Star serves many of the retired Masons in the area and a large part of the membership of this lodge is plural members from other lodges. Swartz Creek seems to be challenged lately with retaining officers in the moving line. Perhaps this building could accommodate at least one other lodge.

Traveling on northward we have Flushing Masonic Temple which is home to Flushing Lodge and Genesee Lodge. A very nice building plagued with stairs. The situation of this lodge also makes it a prime candidate for community involvement. The two lodges which occupy this building seem to be having their own individual struggles with Flushing Lodge coming along nicely and Genesee Lodge trying to find it's way. Genesee 174 was once the policeman and fireman lodge in the days of old at the Flint Masonic Temple. There have been rumors that these two lodges are thinking of joining forces. Again, this is a building that could serve the needs of another lodge or perhaps instead of two lodges joining forces, three lodges could join together.

Moving along we come to Vienna in Clio...again another fantastic example of the building which serves all. This is a very active lodge...however they work tirelessly at fish dinners and such to keep things going....they take an active part in the community.

Now on over to Mt.Morris.....thanks to the forefathers of this building for keeping it all on one level. We are maintaining and keeping our head above water as far as finances, but it is always a challenge. We try to stay busy with monthly breakfasts and some community fund raising breakfasts throughout the year. We would very much like to do more.  I'm sure we could accommodate another lodge.

The time is nearing for the Masons of this area to make some tough decisions. All of the challenges in the above paragraphs could be easily overcome with an overwhelming influx of new members, but then we have learned the lesson of quantity over quality. WB John A. Arnould, God rest his soul, was always fond of saying nothing that 10-12 new members could make better. Those words speak volumes but when we do get those new members are we vibrant enough and active enough to keep their attention?

What will Masonry in our area look like in 5 years? My guess is much different than it appears today. With the erosion of population and the workforce in our area....contraction takes place everyday whether we realize it or not.

In my mind(which is the size of a pea) Masonry will be downsized as far as physical buildings go. Remember the lodge is the lodge whether they meet in a dedicated building, a rented facility, in a tent or in the woods. The brothers are the lodge.

I feel that by downsizing, the membership becomes concentrated and more powerful thus meeting the needs of the brothers coming into the fraternity. Who knows after consolidating and concentrating there may be a need once again for more lodge buildings to accommodate the growth.

To Sit in Lodge with a Brother

One of the most difficult things about blogging is taking the time to write one's thoughts in a meaningful manner. I must confess I've been very lax lately in regards to writing. Plenty of excuses and perhaps a few reasons but here we go.

I've said it a hundred times but it bears repeating; the words of WB Mike Burt from Vienna #205, he stated that "Traveling is one of the hidden jewels of Masonry." Those words will echo with me forever, and I always try to give him the credit because that may well have been one of the most powerful statements I've ever heard in my short 30 years with the fraternity.

A while back now I traveled to Byron Lodge #80 along with my traveling brother Paul Garrard. As usual there were a number of brothers in attendance and we enjoyed a fine meal before heading up to the lodge room for the degree.

One of the brothers there was WB Bob Harding. WB Bob the example of gentleman, brother, and friend. During dinner we were talking about a few brothers who were under the weather and Bob's name came up. We later learned in lodge that WB Bob would be facing some pretty serious cancer surgery a week from that day.

In his usual humble manner WB Bob was very appreciative of all the brother's support and well wishing. The degree went on in it's usual fine manner, and when there was a break in the work different brothers went over to Bob and wished him well and let him know that he was in their prayers.

The next few days came and went and eventually it was time for Bob's surgery. The operation was more entailed that anticipated. He came through the surgery but was very weak. A couple of different brothers went to see him and he requested no other visitors. The two brothers just wanted him to know that he was being thought of and prayed for.

WB Bob never fully recovered and moved on to the celestial lodge above where the Supreme Architect resides.

That was the story of how this event touched my life. We sometimes begrudgingly go to a degree or Masonic activity, but once we get there it seems to be worth the effort. I am so grateful that I made the effort to travel to Byron that night, to have the pleasure of sitting in lodge with WB Bob one last time. Knowing Bob he probably made it to another one that I didn't before leaving this earth.

My point is that we need to cherish all of our brothers. When you travel to a lodge it may be your last time to sit in lodge with a brother. As traveling is one of the hidden gems of the fraternity, the true jewel is for men to dwell together as brothers and enjoy the company and fellowship of those around us. One never knows when the opportunity may come again. Value your brothers and the time you have with them.

Herbie

I had the honor of attending the Masonic Memorial service for a dear brother and friend Worshipful Brother Herbert "Herbie" Jacques last evening. Without a doubt one of the largest and most well done memorials I've ever attended.

WB Jerry Graham mentioned that Herbie was a Marine, a Marine's Marine. In talking with some friends and brothers a couple of days before the memorial I had referred to Herbie as a Mason's Mason.

While attending the memorial I couldn't help but to recall the passion that WB Herbie put into the apron presentation and the MM prayer when playing King of Tyre. Also, I fondly remember that he also played a villager in the 32nd degree in Bay City. The 32nd degree has a cast of about 50 brothers and you could always count on Herbie to show up in the crowd with a non speaking role of a simple villager....but he had a passion about that as well.

I've touched on this before and it gets brought up among certain circles of brothers.....there are legends of Freemasonry in our area and in other areas around the state and throughout the country.
Herbie was definitely a legend in his "own" time.....we jokingly say that certain people are legends in their own mind......but not Herbie.....he was truly a legend in his own time.

Having been in this great fraternity for thirty years I've come to know a few brothers like Herbie who in my mind were legends of Freemasonry. I wonder, will they ever be replaced by those in the ranks who are approaching that level of longevity and meaningful contributions to the craft.

Herbie and others who have gone before him can not be replaced....but it is my thought, hope, and prayer that there are brothers among us who will unwittingly and unknowingly slide into those roles and be an inspiration to all of us brothers.

One common thread which runs through these legendary brothers is a true passion and a strong love for the fraternity and the craft. Another thing common among those brothers was a genuine interest in the newly made brothers and praising those who take on new parts and responsibilities....their praise was usually done in a quiet manner, in private, and one on one. That praise from the legends goes a long way in building a brothers confidence in his new role.

If you were to ask Herbie and the others if they realized that they were legends in the fraternity.....they would all humbly disagree with you and point out that they were just doing their job and encouraging those taking on new responsibilities. They would say that Masonry is just one of the passions and loves of their life and seeing a brother grow brings them tremendous joy.

To Herbie and all the others who have gone before.....fare thee well my dear brother.....fare thee well