Master’s Message

Brethren of Unity Lodge No.146 A.F.&A.M.,

I trust this message finds each of my brothers and your family well. I am truly excited about our Masonic educational programs we have lined up to be presented in Lodge this year. This month my message will address The Masonic Trowel.

The ceremony of being raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason is particularly specified, and other useful instructions are given in this Lecture. To a complete knowledge of the whole Lecture, few, indeed ever arrive; but it is an infallible truth, that he who acquires by merit the mark of pre-eminence which
this degree confers, receives a reward, which amply compensates for all his past diligence and assiduity.

In this degree the following passage of Scripture, from Ecclesiastes 12: 1-7 is introduced:

12 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; ²while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: ³In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, ⁴And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; ⁵Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: ⁶Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. ⁷Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Eccles. 12:1-7 (King James Version)

The working tools of a Master Mason are all the implements of Masonry indiscriminately, more especially the Trowel. The Trowel is an instrument used by operative Masons to spread the cement which unites a building into one common mass or whole; but it is used symbolically for the far more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly Love and Affection, which unites us into one sacred band or society of friends and Brothers – a Temple of living stones, among whom no contention should ever exist, save that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who can best work and best agree.

I ask that you reflect on these words and search for true meaning of brotherly love and affection. As you travel in foreign countries, work and receive Masters wages, my hope is that you will find riches far beyond your expectations.

S & F,

Dennis Mark Haas
Worshipful Master