~ The Silent Summons ~
Author Unknown
A member of a certain Lodge, who previously attended meetings regularly,
stopped going. After a few months, the Worshipful Master decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening, and the Worshipful Master found his brother at home
alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for the Worshipful Master's visit, the brother welcomed him,
led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The Worshipful
Master made himself comfortable, but said nothing.
In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning
logs. After several minutes, the Worshipful Master took the fire tongs,
carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the
hearth, all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
His host watched all of this in quiet contemplation. As the one, lone ember's
flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow, and its fire was no
more. Soon, it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Worshipful Master
glanced at his watch and chose this time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up
the cold, dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately,
it began to glow once more, with all the light and warmth of the burning coals
around it.
As the Worshipful Master reached the door to leave, his host said, with a tear
running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your fiery summons, my brother.
I'll be back in our Lodge next meeting."
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