Good evening ladies and gentlemen; brothers. On behalf of this year’s class I’d like to say that it is an honor and a privilege to be accepted into this fine and noble institution; to receive our caps and rings; and to stand before you tonight.
Yet, I stand before you with a question; something that’s been on my mind for a while now; one of such importance that it challenges my very presence here tonight.
Fortunately, it is a question with an answer.
Like you, I’ve received the degrees of the Blue Lodge, gone further and witnessed some of the degrees of the Scottish Rite. It has been an exciting, beautiful, and illumi-nating experience. However, there’s that question.
I find myself asking, now what? How does one move forward and continue the transformation that the secrets of Freemasonry promise to provide? Is Masonry now solely a procession of weekly dinners and stated meetings? Brotherhood is important, and these are enjoyable activities, to be sure; but are they all there is to Masonry? If one of Masonry’s goals is to make a good man better, how does the individual go about doing so?
How does one practice at being a Mason? That is the question I bring to you tonight.
Before I start, let me state the obvious by saying that I am no expert. I’m 41 years old: Old enough to know that what I’ve learned in life is absolutely dwarfed by the knowledge I do not possess. I’ve been a Mason for two short years, and I do not profess to have all the answers; nor do I claim the answers that I offer are correct. There are many here tonight possessing much greater wisdom and experience than I. I, like the rest of you, am a humble pilgrim making his way on the rough and rugged road of life.
Having said that, I have spent considerable time working at this puzzle. How does one progress through Masonry? A similar question may be asked about faith. How does one practice at becoming a better Christian, Jew, or Buddhist? How, for that matter, does the artist – someone who similarly endeavors to find enlightenment through self-expression – practice? How does he progress? Perhaps we can find instruction and inspiration in the works of others who take up similar life-long endeavors. I’d like to offer that there are three necessary components in order to experience this type of growth. They are: Discovery, commitment, and reflection.
Discovery is investigation; the study of the theory, history, and fundamental principles of the endeavor being undertaken. It is seeking the advice and mentorship of those whose wisdom and experience are greater than your own. It is the lessons to be learned and knowledge to be gained. Just as a Christian would study the Bible or a painter would learn the principles of color theory, a Mason must explore the writings of the Craft. He must seek counsel and guidance from his brothers; particularly those whose experience and wisdom exceed his own.
Commitment is perfection of technique. It is the persistence and daily effort that is required to progress. It is the patience and confidence that, with effort and the passage of time, progress is inevitable. Commitment is the dedication to the cause. It is the Buddhist’s daily meditations, the pianist’s relentless practicing of scales. It is showing up every day and giving your best effort. And so must the Mason chip away, bit by bit, day by day, to smooth the rough stone of his own soul into the perfect ashlar that is his potential.
Reflection is the guiding compass that ensures that we stay on the path. It is the measurement of progress. Reflection is seeing the forest for the proverbial trees. Just as Judaism admonishes its faithful to reflect during Rosh Hashana, and the sculptor must occasionally step back to view the gestalt of his work, the Mason must regularly reflect on his own actions to ensure that he is on the right path, and to correct his course as necessary.
Let me tell a quick story that exemplifies these three components and shows how they are the catalyst for transformation. When I was younger, about 17 years old, I became interested in the guitar. Actually, “obsessed with it” is probably a more accurate appraisal. So I saved up my money and bought one: a red electric guitar. It was incredible.
But I quickly discovered that I couldn’t play the thing at all. I was horrible. I could barely tune the thing, much less carry a tune. I remember taking it with me to spring break a couple of years later, and people actually leaving the room when I’d play.
But I didn’t care. I loved it. I played it every day, for hours at a time. I found some good teachers and took lessons. I read every book and magazine on the subject that I could find. I tried above all else to create my own vocabulary. To sound like myself, as it were. I practiced.
And at times it was so frustrating, because I didn’t feel like I was getting anywhere. In fact, that seemed to be the case most of the time. Ten-fingered futility, I called it. But there were breakthroughs as well.
Then, one day a couple years ago, I attended one of those open-mic jam sessions. The kind where they put you up on a stage with a bunch of strangers and you play a few songs to a bunch of other strangers who are impatiently awaiting their turn to get up and play. Perhaps you’ve seen these things before.
After I did my three songs and sat back down I was surprised that people came up and actually complemented me on my playing. Other players actually asked me for advice! It was shocking.
It was at that point that I stopped and re-flected. After roughly twenty years of playing, day-in and day-out. I had progressed; transformed into a capable musician. Incrementally. Imperceptibly, even.
And so I ask again, my original question: How does one practice the transformation of being a Mason? Simple answers are the best, and I have one to offer. I’ll lay it on you now. It is, simply:
BE A MASON
Every day. Bring the principles of masonry into your daily life. Just like that clumsy kid with the red guitar, do the work. Study. Seek the tutelage of your brothers. Practice.
Look for ways in your everyday life to employ the fundamental principles of Freemasonry: The principles of Brother-hood, Charity, Justice, Belief, Loyalty, Obedience, Morality, and so on. Be ever mindful of your Masonic obligations. Take time often to stop and reflect.
To my brothers in my class I would offer that admission into this honorable institution is not the final destination; not the end of the path. Indeed it is but the beginning. To all my brothers I assert that this transformation – becoming a better man through Masonry – is indeed possible, if you endeavor to work at it. It is an incremental, often imperceptible process; a process that takes, not days or weeks, not years, but an entire lifetime.
Thank you.
Andrew Todd 32°