A Message from the Grand Master of The Order of DeMolay C. Michael Watson
D
o you know what “leaven” is? No, it’s not what comes after ten and before twelve! It’s a substance or material such as baking powder or yeast, that when mixed with other ingredients, creates a gas. The gas in turn, lightens the batter or dough causing bread to rise as it’s being baked. What would our bakery products be without this substance?
Just as the appearance of leaven would seemingly have little effect on dough but produces amazing results, so it would appear that the influence of a few good men would be of little or no consequence in today’s world. The Marine Corps has a recruiting slogan, “Looking For A Few Good Men”. They are proud of their rich heritage and the fact that they are the smallest in number of any branch of our armed forces. And maybe you too, could be “One of the Few … the Proud” by enlisting. Freemasons, the “few good men” in our nation and around the world, applying the symbolic tools of the Mason’s trade, can be the men of good character who respond to the challenges of today’s society. They can allow the influence of their lives to become the redeeming factor that impacts human society to bring about positive change like leaven in dough which produces amazing results. Just as that dough rises, let’s “rise” to the occasion and demonstrate to the world that we Masons, “the Few … the Proud,” possess the strength of character that is necessary to influence positive change in the moral direction of our society. You have an incredible opportunity to be a positive influence on young men who represent our future. Your Commandery can sponsor a DeMolay Chapter, or you can become a DeMolay chapter advisor and be a redeeming and stabilizing influence in the lives of good young men. As leaven produces such a significant result, you can be like leaven by making a difference in a young man’s life. Will you “rise” to the occasion? 4
june 2009