THE KANSAS MASON June/July 2020
An electronic publication for Kansas Freemasons published by the Grand Lodge of Kansas A.F. & A.M. Anthony W. “Tony� Borum, Grand Master of Masons 2020-2021
The Sweet Sounds of Fellowship The sound of the Master’s gavel and the knock on the lodge room door reverberated in many of our Masonic lodges across Kansas on July first. For myself, and many Kansas Masons, the sounds meant welcome relief from the trials and tribulations of the last several months. For some Kansas Masons, the long-awaited re-opening of our lodges brought back the warm masonic fellowship that sustains us in good times and bad. We dearly missed our masonic gatherings, public and private. For others, especially our families and friends, it brought mixed feelings and trepidation as we reconnected with brothers, not knowing for sure where they had been or if they had been practicing all the precautions recommended by our health experts. One could argue that Masons are connected emotionally, spiritually, and socially. One could also say that we are forever dependent on each other for support and welfare. The closing of our lodge buildings and many parts of our society made it very difficult for Masons to stay connected with their families, friends, and neighbors. We used technology and computers as a means of communication, but it was not the same. According to statistics, a high percentage of Americans live in or close to the city where they grew up to stay close to their family. In our cities and counties that had and are still having, a high number of Covid-19 cases, the choice to stay home was clear. Those who live in towns and counties with minimal to no instances of the coronavirus it was and is hard to accept. When the decision was made to close our lodges temporarily, we all naturally felt that a part of our family was shielded from us. A wall seemed to be between us. We were saddened because we have learned to love our masonic brothers and their families as our own. We need each other. Everyone realized that the risk was too significant to jeopardize our health or the health of those masons that travel often and visit other counties and other lodges. Our health professionals are still trying to learn effective ways to treat and minimize the suffering
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