What does Freemasonry mean to you?

Is it fellowship?

Or benevolence?

Charity?

Stop for a moment and ponder that question.

Why do you come to lodge every meeting night?

What drove you to get in line for the masters hat?

Each of us join and seek the friendship and fellowship of the fraternity for our own selfish reasons. Is it to complete a missing “something” in our lives or just plain curiosity as to the inner workings of the lodge?

But after that initial step, why do you return?

Why are you so giving of your time and energy and money to support the common cause of Faith, Hope and Charity?

What is so special about the Band of Brothers in your circle of the fraternity that draws your return?

 

I have to admit, I joined for my own selfish reason. I wanted to belong to something from my families past. My grand father who laid down the working tools of life before I was born, was a Master Mason. My mothers cousin who I think of as my grand dad, went with me to the lodge to turn in my petition. His pride at my decision to enter the Fraternity that he holds so dear, was evident in his face, his smile as wide as the continental divide. His kind and gentle words introducing me to the Brothers he never met but felt so comfortable around, his “grandson” wanted to join and he would be honored if these old friends of his took me into the inner sanctum sanctorum. I did not understand how he “knew” these men. He is from Virginia and this was his first visit to Oklahoma, but he and the other brothers shared something I did not comprehend at the time. They talked like old friends who were catching up on revelry’s of days long gone.

 

I understand that comfort now, the feeling of knowing that I could walk into any lodge and stand with brothers I have never met and not be a stranger. To stand in the crowd of masons and be treated as a long lost friend.

 

But even though we all join for many different reasons. I believe we all return for the same reasons. Comfort and fellowship, to go to lodge or a Masonic event, to know in our hearts we belong to such a great and grand fraternity. We know the lodge is a place where we can go and have unconditional support and friendship, it is a bastion of peace, and harmony. Yes, brothers I think we all return because it is a safe place to be. In this high stress world and with all the worries and pressures of life. The Lodge is the only place where we are free from the worries of living and can concentrate on the benevolence and acts of kindness that we come to crave. My Brothers, that calm feeling of just having harmony in one place, a stress free zone, is our addiction and craving. We return and help with the activities because we want the calm that cannot be found without the inner doors and the harmony that this brotherhood gives us in return for our efforts.

 

Fraternally

Terry Gardner

3-30-07

 

 

The Ring…

How many times when you were young did you stare at your Dad’s or Grand dad’s Masonic ring? Wondering at the meaning of the symbols, marveling at the secrets they must hold. Thinking your dad or grandfather was like James Bond and had “secrets” which he could not and would not talk about. It made them mysterious and powerful because of the unknown knowledge they held so close.

I never gave Masonry much thought or even knew of its existence until I was much older, I heard the term “the lodge” when growing up, but did not know what it meant. My grand dad laid down his working tools before my birth, so I was unaware of his Masonic connection. But Garnett my Mothers cousin is a Mason and joined the Fraternity with my grandfather in the 40’s. Garnett and Geneva (his wife) I have always considered as my grandparents. I don’t think I ever told them that, but when I think of them it is always with that reverence and love.

After I was initiated and passed but not quite raised to that sublime degree, my mom gave me something she never thought I could wear. Her dad’s Masonic ring, I never knew she even had it. It is a simple ruby in yellow gold with a gold inlaid square and compass. I paused and held it in my hands, for some reason some part of my families past came to me, I felt myself slipping back in time seeing my real grand dad putting it on for the first time. I was watching him in my mind’s eye kneeling at the altar, repeating his obligation, the handshakes and congratulations when the lodge was closed and everyone called him brother. Being raised from the dead not once but twice. Once we all know as Hiram Abiff, the other as a part of me that I did not know existed. A rush of something quite unexpected happened. I felt such strong emotion for a man I never met. I was suddenly proud and honored to be given the responsibility of caring for his ring.

Soon my son will take his first step into the light and on his raising he will be presented the honor of his great granddads ring to preserve and care for.  The feeling of one’s past comes rushing up out of the darkness of history into the light of day, when that ring is placed on your finger. I wear that ring with pride, I stand a little straighter and taller. I keep my finger in plain sight for all to see the history of our family tree and will gladly tell my story. As I have heard many of yours and seen that pause when you say this was my dads ring. I see that far off look, even if only for a instant, of memories rushing back into your thoughts and always the smile. I never met a Mason who did not smile when telling me of his ring, its history and the man who wore it before him. Like our lectures memorized and passed down as tradition from one generation to the next.

How can one ring, a simple band of gold make such a simple man, humble and proud as he remembers its history? How many of you wear your dad or grand dads ring? Do you feel closer to them when you look down at your hand? Are they standing next to you in your memory as you gaze upon that sacred object? What are your memories of the ring you held when you were young, thinking of the marvels and secrets it held? It is amazing how a simple ring, a symbol of one and unity, can move so many men to near tears as they fondly remember memories of long ago.

The rings we wear are full of memories, emotions and love, each a special symbol of history. Each unique to a history of ours, whether bought new or handed down. Each one holds not only symbols, but memories and brotherly love.

 

Fraternally

Terry Gardner 4-15-07

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BLANCHARD#395 MASONIC LODGE

BLANCHARD EASTERN STAR