Most Worshipful Grand Master, fellow Grand Lodge Officers, visitors from other Grand Jurisdictions, members of the Grand Lodge, Brethren all.

Transcription

1 Most Worshipful Grand Master, fellow Grand Lodge Officers, visitors from other Grand Jurisdictions, members of the Grand Lodge, Brethren all. When I made the decision to become a mason, the first thing I did was order a Masonic ring. I was so excited. When it arrived I looked at it and tried to decide: do I wear it so the square and compass faces towards me or away from me. At first it didn't matter...but as a learned more about the craft and the amazing things we do for each other and our neighbors, I decided the square and compass should face me...so that - at a glance - I would be reminded that I am a mason, and as such, I have certain responsibilities. Because now more than ever, Masons are relevant. Webster defines RELEVANT as: having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matters at hand. So relevant means that we care about, are significant contributors to, and can affect what is happening around us. It s true: Freemasonry today is seeing one of the lowest ebbs ever in membership. And we have to realistically accept the possibility that it may be a long time before the principles of Freemasonry once again appeal to a large segment of our society. With the decline of the general moral tone that has taken place in our country over the last several decades, it has become popular to ridicule and regard as hypocrites those individuals who profess to believe in such principles as brotherly love, relief, and truth.

2 We have been opposed by religious groups, political groups and unknowing groups. And here we are.today still doing what we can to be the best men we can be. Sadly, our society has decided that it's easier to just settle. We ve learned to put on pedestals and, in fact, celebrate the least of us. We emulate thugs in behavior and dress. We allow criminals to be idolized. We tolerate nearly everything. Television programming has become unwatchable. And we don t remember what it s like to sit down together as a family for a meal. The trap we need to avoid is the one that tells us we need to make changes in Masonry to bring us into conformity with the standards and mores of society. The test which should be applied to any proposed changes, should always be the principles of Freemasonry, which are based on eternal truth. We should never, never, make changes in Masonry just to make us more attractive to our society. We are doing amazing work in our communities, and people are taking notice. Earlier, Our Grand Master mentioned our work with food shelves. A Grand total of $790, was provided! Let me add one thing to the Most Worshipful's comments. Its estimated that there s about a 10:1 ratio of dollars donated to what their buying power actually is. In other words they can buy $10 worth of food for every $1 donated. So that means nearly 8 million dollars worth of food will be made available to the hungry in Minnesota as a result of the efforts of Minnesota Masons. I challenge you

3 to name any other organization or institution which even approaches this level of giving. The hungry in Minnesota think we're relevant. The ongoing success of the Signature Scholarships was partnered in 2011 with a BRAND NEW scholarship offering: Heritage Scholarships awarding ten Minnesota high school seniors with a GPA between 3.00 and 3.79 with a $2,500 renewable scholarship. There are grateful young students in Minnesota colleges who think we're relevant. A joint presentation made by representatives of Grand Lodge and Minnesota Masonic Charities recognized the patriotic service of those Minnesota veterans in need with a gift of $20,000 to the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans. We also cosponsor honor flights...taking our WW2 veterans on a trip to Washington DC. As you will see tomorrow...they find us relevant. We continue to provide compassionate care for 1000 elderly folks daily through our two facilities in Bloomington and New Hope. Relevant.

4 In one northern town, the school band has uniforms thanks to the local lodge. Do those kids think we're relevant. Yes! When I hear stories like this our woes seem, for the moment, less troubling. I think we need to allow ourselves to be proud! When I hear stories like this I become less concerned about the men that are not yet Masons, and pretty darn proud of the ones that are. Each year many of our brothers move on to the celestial lodge. Nothing we can do about that. But what about those who walk out the back door, never to return, because there was nothing for them in Masonry. Let's spend less time worrying about getting men into Masonry and begin concentrating on getting Masonry into men! Because by doing that we have a better chance of keeping our new, young brothers engaged. And, over time, the numbers will grow. We hope the day will come when our society will return to the basic principles of morality that it once shared with Freemasonry. It may not

5 happen in our lifetime, but our job is to keep the principles of Masonry alive, not to compromise them away in a futile attempt to make the institution more popular. Yes, we do need members, but in the process let's not forget what originally got us here. And let s not forget to celebrate the present. Masonry has faced membership crises before in its history. In the aftermath of the Morgan affair, the number of Lodges in New York State dropped from 227 to 41, and in Vermont not a single Lodge remained in existence. In Nazi Germany, Masonry was ruthlessly suppressed, and its members persecuted, and Masonic communication totally ceased. Masonry recovered from these attacks. It recovered because those members who remained, adhered to the basic principles of Freemasonry, and by this individual adherence and unwavering drive to help others, continued to deserve the admiration and respect of their fellow citizens. Are we facing serious challenges? Yes we are. Let me tell you a story My wife and I enjoy watching bald eagles soar above the bluffs on the Mississippi. Late last fall we were on Lake Pepin doing just that. We spotted a particularly gregarious young eagle on the bluff above us. With the backdrop of blue sky and fall colors, it was a great shot and I rushed to get my camera. I m looking everywhere and, of course, can t find it! Meanwhile, one of those fast-moving fall storms is rolling in over the lake. I can feel the temperature dropping and the wind picking up. I was thinking to myself: He ll be gone for sure and I ll lose this shot. But then I recalled a truth my dad shared with me many years ago when I was growing up

6 alongside the river in Winona. He said, an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks. It will fly to a high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses what comes against him to lift him up." And sure enough I looked up and there he was. It's not the burdens of life and the challenges within the craft that weigh us down; it's how we handle them. Can we use what comes against us to lift us up. Oh...I decided to wear the ring with the square and compass facing me. To remind me of my obligations. To encourage me when I feel low or alone. And to remind me that I'm relevant. Minnesota Masonry will survive because we are caring for each other. Because we are helping the needy and troubled in our communities. And because our principles are eternal. So a tip o the hat to each of you. From Eveleth to Marshall to Hutchinson to Forest Lake. As long as there are a few good men, a few stout-hearted men, to fan the sparks the flame will not die out.

7 Thank you