In Search of Light: A Masonic Journey

Akram R. Elias

Deputy Grand Master

The Initiation My interest in Freemasonry goes back to the time ation that made me stay and become resilient in my when I was fifteen years old. I was fascinated by this quest. What Potomac Lodge instilled in me was the mysterious institution that had attracted some of the uniqueness of the Initiation experience and the paragreatest people from around the world, including mount importance of Masonic ritual, which I was some of my personal heroes. My work as a contracprivileged to teach for a number of years. The tor with the U.S. Department of State prevented me “Sacred Art” was my first and most important discovfrom seeking membership in the Fraternity due to my ery in searching for the essence and true nature of heavy travel schedule. Upon leaving that work to Freemasonry. I owe that discovery to my Mother start my own government consulting business and at Lodge and its members, especially Brother Dean the first opportunity, I “knocked at the door” of Clatterbuck. Freemasonry in Washington, DC. I will never forget the night of my initiation at Potomac Lodge No. 5. I felt the warmth, intimacy and mysteriousness of a Lodge The “Sacred Art” was my first and most important It was at a meeting of the Pythagoras Lodge of Research that I heard for the first time a very interesting and intellectually room in the presence of dozens of Brothers performdiscovery in searching for challenging paper presented by Brother Andre ing a beautiful, solemn and rich ceremony. The chivalric the essence and true Kesteloot. Having expressed to him the nature motto “one for all, all for one” became my reality that nature of Freemasonry. of my quest, he invited me to join Benjamin B. French evening; it was a true comLodge No. 15, a Lodge that munion of Brotherhood. The was being restructured date of my initiation was along the lines of traditional equally special and symbolic to me: June 18th – the Freemasonry under the leadership of Brother Kenanniversary of the famous “June 18th Call” of General neth Gibala. The quarries of BBF shaped much of my Charles De Gaulle to the people of France to take a intellectual thinking about Freemasonry and taught stand and resist Nazi occupation. What a feeling—to me that being a Mason is a privilege, not a right. I owe be initiated into the Fraternity of Light while celeso much to that Lodge and its members who honored brating the call of a beacon of light to stand up to the evil forces of darkness! me in 2001 by electing me as their Worshipful Master. I also was honored to befriend Brother Robert B. Seeking the Essence of Freemasonry Heyat, an extraordinary Brother who became our Steve Trevino, the friend who sponsored my petition Grand Master in 2007. I was struck by his vision and to Potomac Lodge, warned me, prior to signing my determination for he understood the unique role of petition, that the state of the Fraternity had drifted our Grand Lodge as a bridge to Universal Freemaaway from its core mission and had become more of sonry. I was deeply impressed by his hard work, a social club which may cause my disappointment. humility and readiness to sacrifice for the cause of His warning was very accurate. I was thirsty for the making our Grand Lodge open to building bridges of knowledge, philosophical debates, fellowship experiunderstanding around the world by forging closer ences, and opportunities to make myself a better ties with sister Grand Jurisdictions. He invited me to person in order to make a positive difference in this world. The more I searched for what made Freemasonry unique in this world, the more frustrated I became. I must admit that, at one point, I thought about leaving the Fraternity, but it was that powerful initial sense of joy and mystery that I felt on my initijoin La France Lodge No. 93 where I developed my interest in Universal Freemasonry and learned about the meaning of fellowship. I owe so much to this Lodge and its members who also honored me in 1999 by electing me as their Worshipful Master.

The Grand Line • I also felt that I could not accomplish much for the It was Brother Heyat who first approached me and Grand Lodge if my energies were dispersed allover encouraged me to run for the bottom of the line of the the place. Grand Lodge. I weighed that decision very seriously and discussed it with my wife Lou who has always been a true partner and friend. Why should I do it? Was it the prestige, the purple collar, another feather in my hat? In all honesty, these were not satisfactory • Finally, one cannot accomplish much in the year he is Grand Master unless he has been working hard along with others on building the Grand Lodge over the preceding seven years. Believe me Brethren, we reasons and very unappealing to me. What made me have a lot of building to do. decide to go further was a very personal reason: The “journey” to the Grand East rather than the desFreemasonry had made me a better Man and a better tination itself became the focus of my Masonic American and I therefore felt indebted to the Craft endeavors. Year after year, I worked hard with our and had to give something back! The deeper I dug succeeding Grand Masters supporting them on projinto the teachings of Masonic symbolism, the greater appreciation I gained for the Great American Experiment. The tighter the fellowship ties I forged, the stronger was my belief in the Universality of Man and the unique role of ects and ideas that would benefit the long term development of the Fraternity. What has guided me in deciding where to employ and invest my energies was a fundamental question that I Having discovered the true essence of the Brotherhood in helping a Man become Sovereign. Freemasonry, I felt the always asked myself: what can we do together to graduWhere else but in a Masonic Lodge can an Arab and Jew, obligation to work for ally build our Craft, bring in quality members, increase Christian and Moslem, Armenian and Turk, come the strengthening, the effectiveness of our Lodge operations, inspire our together in a spirit of fellowgrowth and development members to become leaders ship, drink from the same cup of fraternity, and take upon of this Noble Society. in their own communities, and give our Fraternity the themselves binding oaths of respect and stature it is due brotherhood for the benefit of in our society? The journey humanity? Having discovered the true essence of has been great to me and quite exciting. I have disFreemasonry, I felt the obligation to work for the covered so many points of light in our midst and have strengthening, growth and development of this Noble worked closely with them over the years to help enerSociety. gize our Fraternity in Washington, DC. I will never It was the Grand Master in 2000, Brother Mansour forget the numerous discussions, planning sessions, Hatefi, who afforded me the opportunity to be his and strategy development exercises with those Grand Marshal. What an extraordinary experience! Brethren whose names require a separate page with Being Grand Marshal was a great honor and a privithe aim of reinvigorating and energizing Lodges such lege; it has also been considered historically as a as Justice-Columbia Lodge No. 3, Naval Lodge No. 4, stepping stone for running for the bottom of the line. and Albert Pike Lodge No. 33. I will also forever cherI will forever be indebted to Brother Hatefi for ish the strategy sessions held at the Melrose appointing me to that office. restaurant (now operating as the Blue Duck Tavern) with members of Cincinnatus Lodge No. 76, espeThe Grand Journey cially Brother Curtin Winsor, developing together The decision to run for the bottom of the line led me national and international initiatives that could make to resign my several offices in the various appendant a positive difference in people’s lives. I am also gratebodies . There were several reasons behind that deciful to the wise guidance of Past Grand Masters such sion: as Robert F. Drechsler, Charles S. Iversen, Theodore • Lodges make Masons; no other body in the family of Freemasonry does. I decided to focus my energies on M. Kahn, Raymond F. McMullen, and Stewart W. Miner. the Lodges that needed a lot of support and assisA Moment of Reflection tance. There is one important lesson that I have drawn over the years and would like to share with you. Weak