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. Over the past several months I have had the opportunity to speak to numerous brothers in our Lodge that I have never met. Several brothers have moved to distances that make it difficult to attend our stated or called communications. Others have told me that they work and trying to make it home in time to change clothes makes it difficult to make it to stated/called communications. Reflecting on this, I want to share with you the following story.

His name is Brother. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, shorts and tennis shoes, no socks. This was literally his wardrobe every day. He graduated at the top of his collage class, kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He recently became a Virginia Mason. After moving to his new town, he finds that down the street from his new apartment is a very attractive and conservative Masonic Temple that meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm. Brother decides to visit that Lodge and walks there after work. He walks in wearing his tennis shoes, dirty jeans and work shirt, and wild long hair. The Lodge has already opened. Brother is examined and shows his current dues card. He enters the Lodge room, approaches the alter, and starts looking for a seat.

The Lodge is completely packed and he can’t find a seat. By now the Brethren are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Brother gets closer and closer to the East and, when he realizes there are no available seats, he squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this Lodge before!) By now the Brethren are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the Secretary realizes that from way at the back of the Lodge, a Past Master is slowly making his way toward Brother. Now the Past Master is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and wearing a three piece suit. A good man, very elegant, very dignified, and very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this Brother, everyone is saying to themselves that you can’t blame him for what he’s going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand a Brother attending Lodge dressed like this? It takes a long time for the man to reach the Brother.

The Lodge is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can’t even hear anyone breathing. The Secretary can’t even continue with the “Minutes” until the Past Master does what he has to do. And now the Lodge watches as this elderly Brother drops his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to the Brother and welcomes him so he won’t be alone.

When the Secretary regains his emotions, he says, “What I’m about to say, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget!

As always Brethren, let us Meet on the Level, Act by the Plum and Part upon the Square. This is our Lodge… Your Lodge. Be the change you wish to see in the world… it all begins where you were first made a Mason. Until we meet again brethren, may the God of Peace and Love delight to dwell with and bless you.

S & F,

Dennis Mark Haas
Worshipful Master