DEPUTY GRAND MASTER’S MESSAGE
From the Deputy Grand Master
What’s It All About? month shy of thirteen years ago, I left my home a Mister and returned a Brother. On entering my abode, I called out in my usual manner, “Honey, I’m home”, and received the standard reply “Hello, Home.” “And, by the way… how did it go?” My wife Pat, was, of course, referring to my initiation as an Entered Apprentice Mason. In reviewing the evening’s events, I related to her that my qualifications for joining were four in number, i.e., being a man, free born, sound in mind and under the tongue of good report. She chuckled and said, “Well three out of four isn’t bad.” I will leave it to the reader to decide which qualification she felt I lacked.
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Great Lights of Masonry and familiarized with the three Lesser Lights both as to what and who they represented. Upon being shown the working tools of our noble Craft and what in speculative Masonry they should call to mind, I was well on my way to an enlightened awareness of my new state of being. Yes, I was still me, but the “me” in me was subtly changing to a greater understanding of self, my fellow man, and the Deity we Masons refer to as the Great Architect of the Universe.
Yes, I was still me, but the “me” in me was subtly changing to a greater understanding of self, my fellow man, and … the Great Architect of the Universe.
During the process of initiation, I was called upon to answer several questions. Most importantly, in whom did I put my trust? I chose the first letter of some quality stock I owned (starts with a G and ends with an M) and added a couple of letters of what some young people do and, lo and behold, it was the correct answer. After walking around (I later learned what we did was circumambulation), kneeling and being placed in the proper position, I took upon myself the binding obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason. I was still trying to assimilate all that I swore to do when I was asked in my present condition what did I desire most. I was about ready to answer “a cold Bud” when something more luminescent was whispered in my ear.
On a much more serious note, during my initiation, passing and raising, I was informed about the three
Paul D. Gleason Deputy Grand Master
Since I was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, I have joined many other Masonic Bodies—York Rite, Scottish Rite, Rosicrucians, Royal Order of Scotland, the Shrine and National Sojourners (outside of Masonry I also belong to the VFW and American Legion) to name a few. And while each group, in its own way, is slightly different, all basically build on the Masonic philosophy as set forth in the EA, FC and MM Degrees.
Brethren, we are all familiar with those teachings. To name a few—brotherly love, relief and truth, the immortality of our spirit, the separation of church and state, prudence, temperance, and mercy, the quest for and love of knowledge. While familiarity with these qualities of Masonic life makes us “better men” it doesn’t guarantee success. What we frequently forget are the necessary prayers to the GAOTU for the strength and tenacity to live up to all the obligations we took during our initiative process and the responsibilities we incur as we rise up in lodge leadership to the position of Master. continued on page 22
The Voice of Freemasonry
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