~ Grand Master's August 2009 Article ~
By Barry A. Rickman
Grand Master
My Brethren,
It seems we are always bombarded by jingles, catchy phases and sayings. This
is what the advertising companies use to get and keep our attention about
their products. We hear them being used in almost all facets of life from
the food industry to what brand of gasoline to buy to what sleep aid we
should use. If a company is selling itself as being reliable, we hear the
saying, “24/7.” We are to interpret this as meaning they are always there,
always ready and always what they say they are.
Master Masons are no different – We Are 24/7. This means in all we do and
say, whether it is at lodge, home or work, whether we are in a crowd or
alone, we are to always be on our guard. This is not an easy task and it is
much easier to say than do. But we need not set out on this journey without
assistance.
First and foremost, we have our faith in God as our cornerstone. I wonder
how so many people go through life without faith. Their lives must be empty
and meaningless. They wander from one crisis to the next without any hope.
We as Freemasons know there is a Supreme power that is in control down to
the minutest of circumstances and because we have our faith our outlook of
life is meaningful even in the worst of times.
Next, we have the tenets, virtues and principles we are taught in
Freemasonry. These are the elements which we should be using in our everyday
life as we live and work with our fellowman. By keeping them in our heart,
we use them without thinking. They become a part of us and we a part of
them. They help to define who we are.
There is a Masonic saying, “Remember, you are someone’s impression of
Masonry.” No matter what station we are in life or how many awards we have
received or the company we keep or how many Masonic organizations of which
we are a member, we must always keep in mind we are Master Masons, 24/7 and
the eyes of the world are upon us. Most Worshipful Brother Stiles P. Dendy
in his GRAND MASTER’S ADDRESS, stated at the Annual Communication of Grand
Lodge on December 12, 1893 “…if the benefits of Craft Masonry are ever lost
to the world, and the Institution destroyed, it will be from internal, and
not from external causes. It will not be from defects in the organization
itself, but through the unfaithfulness of its members to the Order and to
themselves, in not living up to its teachings and principles.” He then goes
on to say, “Let us, then, my Brethren, be true to ourselves, true to each
other, and true and loyal to the tenets and sublime teachings of our Order.”
Quality in the way we live our lives is what we should be striving to
attain. We should always be growing as Master Masons. We should never reach
the end of our journey or ever forget that Freemasonry is universal. Our
theme “Our Focus is on Quality” is not mere words on a lapel pin but a way
to remind us of what we are here to do.
May God continue to bless America and our great fraternity and “may the
blessings of Heaven rest upon you and your families.”
Fraternally,
Barry A. Rickman
Grand Master
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