5th Masonic District
MWPHGL
State of New Jersey
M.W. Thomas R. Hughes, Sr. Grand Master
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The
5th District Monthly
Summer 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
AGREE TO DISAGREE
When
we don’t “AGREE TO DISAGREE”, this creates an atmosphere that doesn’t
promote the tenants of freemasonry and distracts us from the true
purpose of what this fraternity is truly all about, sacrifice and
service to GOD and man. What do I mean by A2D you
ask? Well, I’ve observed that too many times, because
a brother doesn’t agree with something that is done or said, decides if
he can’t have it his way, or if it’s not done as he says, then nothing
gets done. He stops participating.
If we both have the same greater aim in view, we could A2D and still
effectively get the job done. By not A2D, it directly
contributes to some brothers not following some of those “furthermore”
in our Oath and Obligation and this helps contribute to the
demise of this great fraternity. Let me expound
further:
We know that Freemasonry is a progressive science and that a proper knowledge of it can only be acquired with time, patience, and application. Truth is its center, and wisdom is the way to obtain it. We know that the 3 principle supports of Masonry are Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. So important did our biblical fathers consider the need for wisdom, it is mentioned 244 times in the Holy Bible. And of all the wise men of past ages, none were considered wiser than King Solomon. Except from GOD almighty, wisdom can only come from knowledge, which comes from study and experience. I believe that by continued study of Masonic philosophy, symbolism, and its history, we can continue to travel toward the ultimate goal of Freemasonry-Wisdom in all things and sacrifice and service to God and man. Many men are knowledgeable, good and bad. Few men are wise. And no man who is really wise can be anything but good. And through the improvement and strengthening of the character of the individual man, we can become better fathers, husbands, uncles, brothers, and improve our community. But we have to agree to disagree. We have to have more respect for our brothers and the fraternity. We have to remember the WM’s charge that reminds us to remind an erring brother of his failings, aid in his reformation, vindicate his character when traduced, and suggest in his behalf, the most charitable judgment. Do we brothers? Do we really befriend and relieve every brother who should need our assistance? Do we really aid in his reformation? Webster’s definition of reformation is “advocating change. A reform. A correction or improvement. To correct or improve. Do you give a brother a chance to change? When he’s wronged you and now wants to repent. Did we not learn that this is a “PROGRSSIVE SCIENCE” and that all fall short and that perfection on earth have never yet been attained?
Brothers, let
me remind you of this scripture Matthew 7:1-5. “Judge not, that ye be
not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall
be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you
again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brothers eye, but considers not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother. Let me pull out the mote out
of thine eye, and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam in thine own eye, and
then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother
eye.”
To many times
my brothers, we rush to judgment, and try and convict a brother without
a fair trial. Does it not say, to suggest in his
behalf, the most charitable judgment? What happened
to the man that is supposed to have sound integrity and strong moral
fiber.? We must continue to reach forth our hands to keep a brother from
falling. To never look down on woman nor man unless
extending a helping hand. We promised and swore our
strength and ability, and our knowledge when it’s needed.
There are no reservations. It matters not
whether the aid they need is mental, physical, or monetary.
Your promise contains no “butts”. When a
brother is in danger of any kind, it is our duty to advise him of his
impending peril. And in doing so, we must remember
that it is not our plumb line that you judge him, but by his.
We should always defend our brother against attacks by others,
verbal and physical. We should guard his good name as
our own. DO we brothers? Do we
really vindicate his character when traduced? Or do we add
to the madness. Maybe if we agreed to disagree and
treat our fellow brothers with more respect, we might stop speaking evil
behind a brother's back, we might stop violating that brother’s family
chastity, Maybe we might stop not holding his secrets in our breast as
we promised we would. Maybe, just maybe, we might stop cheating and
defrauding our lodges, this fraternity, and our fellow brothers.
Maybe, we might really help, aid and assist a brother who’s in
need. Maybe, we might answer and obey all due signs
and summons, without equivocation or reservation.
Maybe, we will my brother’s…If we don’t then we are frauds.
In closing,
let us always remember the pot of incense is symbolic of Sacrifice.
This means giving up of selfishness and working for others.
Purity of heart cannot be achieved without sincerity.
Along with sincerity there must be love. Where
there is love there must be high ideals. We need to
constantly examine ourselves. We should never be
content to stand still. We must never believe that we
have reached the pinnacle of goodness, knowledge, or intelligence.
We must never be satisfied with our accomplishments.
As masons, we have to continue to sacrifice our pleasures, time
and material possessions for the betterment of our fellowman.
We must agree to disagree. Then and only then
can we come together as one, on one accord, serving God and serving man,
selflessly, to make ourselves better men, thereby making our community
and the world better.
May we always
meet on the level, never looking down unless to extending a helping
hand.
May we always
act by the plumb, upright and righteous.
And may we
always part on the square, true to ourselves and God
Speech given at
King David Lodge #15,
RW Russell B.
Jordan, Sr
DDGM, Fifth Masonic District