From the Worshipful Master

Why We Travel

One of the biggest benefits to being a Master Mason is the ability to travel.

Why? By travelling to other lodges, we get to collect lapel pins. OK, pins might be an added benefit to travelling, but that’s not the real reason we travel.

Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternity that binds men together of all different races, creeds, languages and economic status. Because of freemasonry, we have Brothers that we would otherwise not know or have any reason to run into.

We can sit in a Lodge with Brothers who speak an entirely different language, and even if you do not speak, or understand, a word of the language they are speaking, yet you understand the ritual because you know every word they’re speaking.

By travelling, we meet friends and Brothers from outside our own home lodge. We can take ideas from them to strengthen our lodge. We learn what other lodge’s do that work for them. We also can share what our lodge is doing to help them.

By travelling, we spread Freemasonry by assisting other lodges with degrees. We fill in positions for them so they can bring in new members. We show those important tenets of Freemasonry of Brotherly Love by offering relief to lodges that need our help. Recently, Wayfarers has assisted Brother lodges with two or three of our members filling in roles for other lodges.

By travelling, we learn how we can improve. Although the ritual is virtually the same all over, we see differences in delivery. We learn how tweaking different things here and there can make an impact to our candidates and others watching.

By travelling out of state or even the country, we learn that although we may be totally different, we are treated as family, because we are family. I find, that no matter where I go, I am welcome with open arms, and treated as if I’ve always belonged.

And not least of all, by travelling, we collect pins. Some of the pins I’ve collected are really cool, and if for no other reason than getting these, we all should be travelling more. They are the most sought after pins in Masonry!

Fraternally,
Stephen Liguori
PM/Worshipful Master

From the Senior Warden

Why We Travel

While there’s no Grand Lodge at the national level, Blue Lodge Masonry generally follows the same format from state to state, governed of course by their individual Grand Lodges and constitutions.

However, even within one’s own state, there can be quite drastic variations in the customs and, to a certain extent, ritual, between lodges.

By visiting other lodges, the traveler is exposed to those differences, and perhaps different lessons or improvements suggested by them.

Travel can also be an excellent way to get exposed to better ritual; if one’s home lodge struggles with a certain degree, or even if not, one may see better ways to do something, or at the least methods they may not have thought of.

Additionally, one of the preeminent calls of Freemasonry is bringing together men from all walks of life, that may never have crossed paths otherwise. This applies to travel just as much as one’s home lodge.

By traveling, one is exposed to far more brothers, other perspectives, and ways of life than if they had only attended their home lodge.

Furthermore, this also applies to appendant bodies; travelling to, and participating in, other facets of the Masonic family only furthers one’s learning and progressive journey.

Fraternally,
Cameron Smith
Senior Warden

From the Junior Warden

Why We Travel

Remember the words, “It will be necessary for you to travel”? And the condition of the road we would have to travel?

Traveling is simply moving. You can travel the world over and never move a foot, such as reading a book. But actually traveling to another Masonic place (a lodge in your jurisdiction or a foreign one) can and does expand Masonry.

In Masonry we are told to seek the light. Light in Masonry is knowledge and from that knowledge comes information and understanding. Understanding how another lodge conducts their business expands the possibilities on changes and improvements in your home lodge. Sometimes this change is just something fresh and new.

To be part of this fraternity, we all have this same thing in common. It’s the brotherhood. It feels more inviting to walk in and relax knowing I am among brothers. I see traveling, as us building and progressing ourselves with knowledge, morals, and virtues, and spreading brotherly love wherever we go and whenever possible.

You never stop learning and will always be travelling and striving to better yourself and help others. To me this is traveling.

Fraternally,
Christopher Britt
Junior Warden