2017
GRAND LODGE OF MISSOURI
25
Most Worshipful Brother Willis said that it is a very crucial time in the city of St. Louis, and he is very thankful he is a child of the most High, because he does not get caught up in the daily struggles of man. He stated that he is a praying man, that puts all his trust in Him and he further stated “I will not be caught up in the politics and the rigors of this daily life”. Most worshipful Brother Willis commented that he knows there is a better way and that he met with the Mayor and Police Chief of St. Louis, to say to them; As I look at what is going on within our city, this is a problem that must be solved internally, I would beg to say 95% of our first responders are all good, but we must look inside and get rid of that blue code, we must go inside our neighborhoods and get rid of the snitch policy and purge our divisions. If they are not right for us, if they’re not serving us and with the leadership let’s stop putting them in office, we have that right, we can change our communities, we must change our communities, this is a fraternal order that is predicated and based on the fact that we are all men, we came in this order and one of the sayings we often go by is; we take good men and make them better, but in the cause of justice we must stand and stand for what we truly believe in. We must stand because we have youth, and if we are to be role models for our youth, that are to continue to follow in our footsteps, we must set the tone, let us as Prince Hall Masons Accepted Free Masons, four letter Masons, let us raise the bar, we have professional business men within our organization, we have men from all walks of life within our organization, let’s not say that we’ve reached a pedestal of our organization. See with me, I believe that once one man makes it you go back to from whence you came and you go back and get someone and bring them back with you, let us not set on our laurels and say this is the way it is, I made it. No, because you know what there was one day when someone reached back and gave Henry Willis a hand, and I will forever be grateful to that individual. Most Worshipful Brother Willis then spoke of Brother Walt Sawiki, crediting him for being a good man and saying he learned a lot from him during the days they worked together at Chrysler Motors. He then continued I don’t see color, I see knowledge, I see respect, I see love and I see harmony, because as we say in our ritual, harmony being the strength of all institutions more especially this of ours. Let’s not just talk the talk, lets walk the walk. Let us know when we hit the streets, and everyone says, that there my brother is a Mason, let them say that when I see them coming I feel the love, I feel the respect. Within our homes, because a lot of things that are originating in the streets, begin within our homes. Let us also go back and put that Holy Script back into our daily lives, because you see, Prayer is the key. There is no Politician that can solve any issue that is going on today, but he who is the creator of all, he who is the giver of good gifts, is the one that lets us breathe this air that we breathe every day, so why not go to our creator and ask for his love and forgiveness, that we may all come together on one accord, that we all may come together as one and solve these social ills that are plaguing us. I know that this is a Grand Body here, and you probably didn’t come to hear all of this, but I am not one to script or write anything down, whatever he