5th Masonic District MWPHGL State of New Jersey M.W. Thomas R. Hughes, Sr. Grand Master

Home  |   Newsletter  |   Calendar  |  Events and Past Event Photos  |  Grand Lodge Site |  Contact

The 5th District Monthly   January 2010 M.W. Thomas R. Hughes, Sr 33º., Grand Master “No Cross, No Crown” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction Proverbs 1:7 Professional Masons In every Lodge there is a handful of brothers you can count on for leadership and to lend a hand when the chips are down.  They are intimate with the mechanics of the lodge and the fraternity and do not hesitate to step forward when needed, and help mentor younger and less experienced brothers so they may grow and take their place in the Lodge hierarchy.  The Professional Mason is not a zealous control freak with a huge ego, but rather is unselfish and appreciates the power of teamwork and the tenets of Freemasonry.  He rightfully understands that Freemasonry is more about the overall brotherhood as opposed to the glory of a single individual. Unfortunately, the same 80/20 rule that applies in business, applies in Masonry.  In the lodge, 80% of the work is performed by Professional Masons, and the remaining 20% is squeezed out of Amateur and Anonymous Masons.  If this continues to be true, the Lodge is always in danger if Professional Masons are eliminated. So, the question arises, what kind of Mason are you?  Are you an Anonymous Mason who loyally pays his dues but is never seen in the Lodge? Are you an Amateur or casual Mason, occasionally appearing but always complaining and never participating, or are you a Professional Mason, true to your craft, always seeking more light.  To truly find the answer, may I recommend when you wake up tomorrow morning, you ask the same question to man staring at you in the mirror.