~ An Act once done, its Effect goes on forever ~

By Gerald (Jerry) L. Carver
Senior Grand Warden
April 2005

In the long form of the Master Mason’s working tools presentation, which was adopted in the 2003 Ahiman Rezon, we as Masons, are reminded that our actions will have either a good or an evil effect, forever. 

When visiting Lodges and fellowshipping with the Brethren, our conversations have occasionally touched on two questions, “Why does a man become a Mason?” and “Why have so many Brothers dropped from our Masonic ranks as NPD?”  In listening to the different Brother’s reasons for becoming a Mason, I have heard of a Brother admiring his father, his grandfather, his brother, a friend, an acquaintance, or someone else whose actions as a Mason impressed him and /or impacted his life.  Throughout the ages, a Mason’s acts of benevolence, charity, brotherly love and concern for other men, women, and children have influenced good men looking for a greater friendship with a group of men than that which is available in society.  As a non Mason with a good heart witnesses these good acts by the Brethren, his heart has already begun to be prepared to be a Mason.  The acts, which we as Masons do today, will not only affect our Fraternity during our lifetime, but will continue to impact our Fraternity in the generations to come.

When I was a young boy growing up in the Bush River community of Newberry County, my father would tell me a story of another young boy about my age.  This young boy had lived with his family on a farm in the rural Blue Ridge mountain section of Georgia.  His family, which included seven children, would have been considered very poor by most standards.  In order to have enough food for the family, all of the children had to help in the fields when they got old enough to hold a hoe.  One day when the young Georgia boy was out in the field, he fell and broke his right elbow.   His father carried him to the nearest doctor in the town of Blue Ridge, Georgia. The town’s doctor with his limited facilities set the boys arm and elbow in a cast.  Several weeks later when the doctor removed the cast, the boy’s elbow had grown together crooked and the boy could not move or use his arm at all.  The parents were distraught and feared the worst for the little boy’s future life with a crippled arm.  Then my father told me about a man, who lived in the town of Blue Ridge and who was a Mason. He was also a Scottish Rite Mason.  This Brother Mason provided for the transportation of the little boy and his father to the Scottish Rite Charity Hospital for Children many miles away in Decatur, Georgia.  This Brother also sponsored the boy to be admitted to the hospital.   This sponsorship provided for the boy’s extensive surgeries, hospital stay, and rehabilitation free of charge.  After the little boy underwent several surgeries and stayed in the hospital for several months, he returned home with his arm in perfect working order.  As a result of the kind act of this one Mason, whose name I do not even know, and the charity of the Scottish Rite Brothers, that little boy, who was my father, grew up to have a family and was able to provide for his family with a career at General Motors.

Due to the actions of that unknown Brother, my Dad became a Mason and was a Life member of the Fraternity and the Scottish Rite until his death.  When he passed away two years ago, he was the Tiler of my Lodge, Prosperity No. 115 A.F.M.   As a result of my hearing this story and the impact this one act by a Mason had on my father and my family, I knew in my heart that I wanted to become a Mason.

Since becoming a Mason first in my heart and then with the support, love, and assistance of my Brethren, I could not imagine my life without being a Mason.  I can only conclude that a Brother who chooses to withdraw from our Fraternity and fellowship must have never been a Mason where it counts in his heart.

The effect of the acts that we the Brethren do today will last for generations to come and throughout the ages.  May the Great Architect of the Universe help us to follow the lessons that we receive as Masons to always strive to do that which is good, charitable, and honorable.