One of the new directions that I plan to take this blog in is talking about how Freemasonry truly brings people together. Never have I seen an organization that allows men of all walks of life to come together, labor with each other and become much more than mere acquaintances. Our brothers are brought together regardless of politics, religion, creed, race, profession or class. Within the walls of the Masonic Lodge, you can meet men that you would never have had the opportunity to meet in their regular lives. This post will be one example of the new direction of this blog focusing on this concept.Earlier this year, Carl Ek, a Past Master of my lodge and past District Deputy (and my chaplain during my two years as master) spoke to the members of our lodge about a great opportunity. His chapter of the Rotary club is funding a group study and exchange program to Australia, where non-Rotarians are chosen to travel to Australia for a month with all expenses paid. While in Australia, the members of the program will be required to make presentations about their profession to other professionals in their field and to learn more about their industry abroad. Additionally, they will be given the opportunity to explore the country and meet new people.
Our Worshipful Master, Dan Hawthorne, who was currently serving in his second year as master, applied for the program and was accepted. About two weeks ago, he and his other companions traveled to Australia and began their mission. Dan has been reporting on his adventures on his blog and the full details can be found here: http://theeverblog.theeverwar.com/
Dan and I have been close friends since high school and I am excited that he will have this opportunity to explore the land down under. But what does this have to do with Freemasonry and bringing different people together?
If it was not for our Masonic Lodge, Dan and I would probably never have met Brother Carl and gotten to know him. Carl is a Yale Graduate, in the advertising profession and is thirty years our senior. The typical social circles that Dan and I run in rarely intersect with the circles that Carl would frequent. However, our lodge bridged this gap and allowed us all to become friends and brothers. This is just one of the countless examples of brothers who we would probably not have known and become close with. Dan's friendship with Carl led the way to Carl recommending him for this group exchange, which is now allowing Dan to explore another continent on the other side of the world and to meet even more people. Freemasonry is a far more powerful than any social networking site and far more diverse than any typical social club.
Let us never forget that the most important part of Freemasonry is bringing men from different stations in life together upon the level of equality.
5 comments:
That's because Carl is a really nice guy who mixes with decent people.
Very true, Carl is a really nice guy and easy to get along with. But, Freemasonry has lot's of people who are friendly that we probably would never have met.
Take you and me for example. I consider anything five miles north of Long Island Sound to be the Great White North, mainly because I immediately get lost unless I have a body of water directly south of me. I believe it's a genetic flaw for anyone born in New Haven, but others disagree ;) However, because of Freemasonry, we've gotten to talk and become friends, even though you live in the arctic tundra that is central Connecticut.
Whilst in Australia I had the opportunity to attend Kiama Lodge in New South Wales. One of the options that I sought to take advantage of was extending the bonds of Masonic Fellowship across the ocean and to kindle a cord of communication to the other side of the world.
One of the benefits of increased digital communication and access is that ... Read MoreAdelphi-Momauguin and Kiama can exchange ideas and information in real time, something that would have been much more difficult years ago.
Masonry has provided both my lodge and Kiama Lodge an opportunity to forge a lasting relationship regardless of distance, and it is a chance we do not intend to let slip by.
Ah, I was missing something which would have put my statement in a better context:
The typical social circles that Dan and I run in rarely intersect with the circles that Carl would frequent.
That's because Carl is a nice guy who mixes with decent people.
:ahem:
And bro, Southington is not the arctic. For us, that would be anything north of Farmington. Trust me - I have three lodges that I can't visit in the winter without a dog sled.
hehe, I was confused, because I thought you were calling me decent, which I knew had to be a mistake ;)
I've seen too many weather maps that look too much like this (http://img.skitch.com/20091010-gehdxi6i2xt7yq4wt4nrpguedg.jpg) to convince me that Southington is not the arctic tundra :P
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