From the Worshipful Master
This month’s topic for our articles in on brotherly love, in honor of Valentine’s day. The three tenets of Freemasonry are brotherly love, relieve, and truth. Freemasonry can be considered the original “social media.†Even back 300 years ago, one could travel all over Scotland and England and find a lodge or brother and recognized them with certain grips or words which one could say acted like a ‘log in,’ or ‘passwords.’ Today, part of magic of Freemasonry happens BECAUSE the organization still has old fashioned qualities. While our society becomes more internet dependent and detached from personal contact, Freemasonry emphasizes personal contact. Instead of more Facebook, Freemasonry emphasizes real face time. It is not uncommon for people nowadays to feel more connected online, but less connected to their fellow man. There are not many places to find good men of different religions, social classes, professions, races, creeds, and nationalities and call each other brother. We all may hold many titles outside of the Lodge, but inside of the Lodge we meet upon the Level, act by the Plumb, part upon the Square, and call each other brother. When someone is sick, or a family member is sick, a brother has an immediate support system to assist them if need be. We meet in person, we share meals with each other, study, converse, offer advice and counsel, and lend a helping hand when one is needed.
My brothers, I want to express my love and admiration to you all for your support of each other and the Lodge. I hope you all have an outstanding February.
Christopher Huson
Worshipful Master
From the Senior Warden
What is Brotherly Love, and how do we express it in and out of Lodge? How do we explain this broad concept to a newly initiated Mason, to our family and friends outside of Lodge? I would say that many of us could communicate the concepts of “Relief and Truth†as it relates to masonic conduct.
Brotherly Love is broader in scope than simple definition, as Masonry is a progressive moral science, as Entered Apprentice we do not yet fully understand its meaning. Its definition becomes whole for us after the fact of completion of the Master Mason’s degree and time spent with the senior brothers in Lodge. By the exercise of Brotherly Love, we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family, the high and low, the rich or poor, as being created by one Almighty parent, and the inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support, and protect each other. On this basis, Masonry unities men of every country, sect, and opinion who might otherwise have remained at a defined distance.
Ken Olsen
Senior Warden
From the Junior Warden
Our ritual teaches us that one of the principle tenants of Freemasonry is “Brotherly Love.” But what does it mean? The ritual teaches us that we are all part of one great big family with one almighty parent. And if that is the case, as Masonic Tradition informs us, then we are indeed all Brothers in the Craft. Brotherly love means unconditional love. It does not mean you can’t disagree with a fellow Mason, but it does mean that you accept them for who they are and trust that the Great Creator guides him as he guides ourselves.
It also means that you come to another brother’s aid It is important to remember that one of the duties required of all Masons is to relieve the distressed and to soothe the afflicted. But this is true particularly for brother Masons. So far as we may do so without serious injury to self or family, we must strive to help those in need, and brothers even more so, because we are all bound together in the endless bonds of Fraternity.
Think of your relationships with your siblings if you have any. You may not always like each other, but you always love each other. And Masons are no different. We are not family by blood. We are family by choice. And as such we should always remember to love and respect one another. No matter what.
Jason Michlowitz
Junior Warden
Our ritual teaches us that one of the principle tenants of Freemasonry is “Brotherly Love.” But what does it mean? The ritual teaches us that we are all part of one great big family with one almighty parent. And if that is the case, as Masonic Tradition informs us, then we are indeed all Brothers in the Craft. Brotherly love means unconditional love. It does not mean you can’t disagree with a fellow Mason, but it does mean that you accept them for who they are and trust that the Great Creator guides him as he guides ourselves.
It also means that you come to another brother’s aid It is important to remember that one of the duties required of all Masons is to relieve the distressed and to soothe the afflicted. But this is true particularly for brother Masons. So far as we may do so without serious injury to self or family, we must strive to help those in need, and brothers even more so, because we are all bound together in the endless bonds of Fraternity.
Think of your relationships with your siblings if you have any. You may not always like each other, but you always love each other. And Masons are no different. We are not family by blood. We are family by choice. And as such we should always remember to love and respect one another. No matter what.
Jason Michlowitz
Junior Warden