Leave a Legacy

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
Number 147 – May 20, 2009

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
Anthony J. D'Angelo

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

Masonic education and mentoring: Learning for the pure enjoyment of it!

Leave a Legacy

Mentoring a Brother is one of the acts of Brotherly Love we as Masons are in a position to offer, and by so doing we can help our Lodge and Freemasonry in general.

Mentoring is extremely important; it is something that is done fraternity-wide by many masons. Mentors don’t need to be only those who are officially appointed. In the strictest sense, masons who mentor their brethren are masonic educators; just as all masons are, in the strictest sense, masonic students.

When you think of it every mason is interested in masonic education to one degree or another, and every mason has the ability to be a mentor to another mason. Mentoring is a great way to help a brother attain the hopes he had when he petitioned the lodge for the degrees of Masonry. Masons love learning about freemasonry. Masonic study and research is pure joy for those of us who are engaged in this lifelong pursuit of learning.

A masonic mentor can mentor more than one mason at a time, but even if he mentors only one at a time there is no telling how many masons his mentoring will influence through his student as the years go by. Through one young mason his efforts can influence the mentoring of dozens of new masons over the years because, there is no telling how many masons the one you mentor today will mentor over his masonic career.

Mentoring is important; it helps with member satisfaction. Nothing can replace one-on-one mentoring, which is the developing friendship of one brother helping another learn about Freemasonry.

The mason, who is a mentor, or a lodge education officer, should understand and never underestimate the importance of his role to his lodge, grand lodge, and to the craft in general. He should know that his efforts will impact his lodge and those he mentors, and that the lasting effects could very well continue long after he has gone to the celestial lodge above. Countless masons have benefited from one-on-one mentoring from a dear friend and brother; just the thought of this brother will bring a smile to the face of the mason he mentored so many years ago. Countless masons have also benefited from the mentoring of masonic educators through their delivery of masonic information over the years. Mentors and educators teach us what we need to know to enjoy our journey into freemasonry, and our life as a freemason.

Those who have led and encouraged us to pursue the study of freemasonry have given us a great gift; a gift of immense enjoyment, which is available to every Mason: This gift is one we can enjoy anytime we have time to engage in study, and it lasts a lifetime.

I mention this to you because, to help - and thus see our fraternity grow, to see our fellows enjoy masonry to its fullest, is one of the great legacies we can leave behind for our individual lodges and grand lodges. I mention mentoring and education because we who are involved in this great love of learning about freemasonry have a duty, an obligation, to pass on what we have learned to others who either are or might become an active masonic student, and who will also carry forward the tradition through mentoring and teaching in the future.

Masons who become great family men, bosses, employees, leaders, relatives, friends, and fraternity brothers, find ways to pass on to others what they have learned and found interesting. Many advertisements we see in various places echo what we all know to be true; they tell us to be mentors, to teach others.

January of each year is National Mentoring Month here in the U.S., but a lodge, grand lodge, or even a brother, could designate any month or even a year to mentoring. The master of a lodge could say this is the year of the mentor for his lodge. An individual mason could make a resolution that he will mentor one mason a year for the next so many years. Many new masons are not assigned mentors – all it takes is to ask a new brother if he has a mentor to talk with. Mentoring, like the beginning of a friendship, does not need to be a formal arrangement.

We all know about tithing, why not tithe our talents to help our brethren learn more about freemasonry. Who was it who dedicated some of his time to mentor each of us, who are now established masons? Was it one mason or was it more than one who helped each of us become interested in studying freemasonry? We can carry on the tradition; we can each help lead another into this fascinating part of masonic life. As my good friend and brother R.W. Brother Tom Hendrickson says; “Freemasonry Is a Way of Life! And it is a great life.

Words to live by: “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”
Chinese Proverb

“That's what learning is. You suddenly understand something you understood all your life, but in a new way.” Doris Lessing

From the Great Light of Masonry: “Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the Masonic Monday Question for the week of 05/25/09 is: According to M.W. Brother E. Dean Osborn, PGM of the Grand Lodge of Kansas - What are the Masonic Beliefs?

“That one is learned who has reduced his learning to practice.” Hitopadesa

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

“By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn.” Latin Proverb

To read some past issues of Ed’s publications on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Seek to mentor a Brother Mason:
It’s good for him, it’s good for you, and it’s good for Freemasonry!

Masonic Vision and Mission Statements

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 142 – March 01, 2009

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.” Carl Jung

Masonic Vision and Mission Statements
By Ed Halpaus

“Do not miss a day’s enjoyment or forgo your share of innocent pleasure.”
Ecclesiasticus 14:14

The above quote, from the Apocrypha, is good advice for a happy life. A truism is that a happy life doesn’t happen by accident; it comes about because of a person’s values, life-goals, and choices; knowing and acting on what is important in life. Having a personal vision and mission statement is very helpful in planning for a happy personal and family life.

One very active Freemason, years ago, became disenchanted with his activities in Freemasonry; this caused him to evaluate what was important to him in his Masonic life. He secluded himself for this process of evaluation, so he could write out what made him happy in Freemasonry and what did not. The result was he wrote out his personal Masonic vision and mission statements.

Personal statements such as these are worthwhile to construct in many areas of life: A Personal Masonic vision statement answers the questions, ‘Where do I want to go?’ ‘What can I do to enjoy Freemasonry more?’ It talks about the future, and helps clarify hopes and plans; it’s a reminder of what one is trying to accomplish: A personal Masonic mission statement answers the questions, ‘Why am I a Freemason?’ ‘What is it that I enjoy in and about Freemasonry?’

Personal statements like these differ from statements for groups; a group vision statement is never shared with the public, while a group mission statement is. Personal vision and mission statements are just that; personal, so they are never shared. A vision statement focuses on the future; a mission statement focuses on the present.

Writing a personal Masonic vision and mission statement helps us focus on values and priorities as they apply to us as Freemasons, and how Freemasonry affects our personal life. Since writing his, our friend says he enjoys his Masonic life more now than he did decades ago.

Do you have a personal vision and mission statement for your Masonic life, as it relates to your personal life? These statements are a good way to determine what really matters to an individual in his life. Knowing what matters makes it easier to answer yes or no to the various opportunities that arise in Freemasonry, and its appendant and concordant bodies; based on their relationship to a Mason’s vision and values.

These statements should represent a person’s basic and true values: To be most effective a vision / mission statement should deal with four basic human needs: Economic; Social; psychological; and spiritual.

Economic: This involves the amount of money one is willing to commit to all areas of the Masonic Fraternity. The cause of stress for some people has been called the ‘3 T’s of membership; time, talent, and treasure. A Mason may want to consider how much he is willing to commit in dues, (and in what Masonic groups,) so they will bring him the most enjoyment, (fulfillment,) in his various Masonic involvements.


Social: The social aspect involves the tithing of time, not just for the Mason but also for his immediate family. A Mason might consider where he and his wife feel the most welcome and enjoy themselves the most. He also might consider social activities that include his children; are there social activities that include them as well? Do they have a good time in a safe environment?

Psychological: This is where growth comes in. Growth involves learning the lessons Masonry has for its votaries, so they can be wiser, better, and happier. A question more and more Masons ask themselves is; does my Lodge teach them to those who want to know?

A motto, (or favorite saying) of Freemasonry is; ‘We take in good men and make them better.’ One Brother maintains that some Lodges, struggling with membership, attendance, and finances, aren’t doing that; there are Lodges that don’t do what they advertise and claim to do.

Spiritual: This involves being involved; being able to contribute our talents. Freemasons tend to be men who like meaningful participation; being able to use their talents in a way that will be helpful to the groups they are members of.

Some groups, both within and without Freemasonry, are very closed in the operations of the group: Such a group might like the member’s treasure, and not be interested in his time and talent. Some Masons, when in such a group, will eventually find a group that is more open to involving all of the 3 T’s of membership.

Vision and mission statements, with the principles and values (the compass and constitution) a person holds as valuable, are essential to happiness in the involvements in so many areas of life, because it helps him clarify what really matters. It’s easier to say ‘no’ when there is a bigger ‘yes’ waiting in the future.

“A personal mission and vision statement does help a Mason in the enjoyment of his Masonic life.” ERH

Words to live by: Vision without action is a daydream. Action with without vision is a nightmare.

“In the light of his vision he has found his freedom: his thoughts are peace, his words are peace and his work is peace.” Dhammapada

From the Great Light of Masonry: “For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say to him, ‘read this, please,’ he will answer, ‘I can’t; it is sealed.’

“Leaders must invoke an alchemy of great vision.” Henry Kissinger

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the Masonic Monday Question for the week of 03/02/09 is: “What was the name of the Master Mason who was shot and killed in a shoot-out with terrorists in front of ‘Blair House’ in Washington D.C.?”

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

To read some past issues of Ed’s publications on the web go to: http://www.halpaus.net and click on the publication you would like to read.

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

Seek to mentor a Brother Mason:
It’s good for him, it’s good for you, and it’s good for Freemasonry!

Masonic Code of Conduct

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 117 – February 20, 2008

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“All men have their frailties, and whoever looks for a friend without imperfections will never find what he seeks.”’ Cyrus the Elder

A fine Mason I am associated with, (the Master of my Lodge,) refers to the Book of Constitutions, which is better known as ‘the Masonic Code,’ in our jurisdiction, as the Code of Conduct: (His choice of words for the Code caused me to think, and I’m glad they did; thanks Worshipful.) On reflection it is an apt name to use because the Masonic Code certainly contains information a Mason should become familiar with, and those who have will attest that there is valuable information in it that will direct a Mason to proper action: A Code of Conduct.

Another part of Freemasonry that could be referred to as a Code of Conduct would be our degrees. The degrees I am primarily referring to are the three degrees of the Blue Lodge, but all the degrees of Freemasonry, (i.e. the Scottish and York Rite degrees,) are also lessons in proper conduct for a Freemason. For those who may not be aware; the degrees of the Rites are all built (more information, if you will) on the degrees of the Blue Lodge. It is important to study the three degrees of the Blue Lodge, but it is also important to become familiar with and study the other degrees, (of the Rites,) as well. Masonic Study is truly a productive hobby that will last and be enjoyable for a Mason’s entire lifetime.

The way to study a degree is to take a part of it and learn about all the symbolism and the meaning of any allegory that is contained in that part; doing it this way is much more interesting and effective that trying to learn about the entire degree, and if it is done in, and by, parts of the degree, before you know it you will have studied and learned a great deal about the entire degree. Studying Freemasonry can be done in small amounts of time when the time is available. I began to study in this way was when I was put into a position in my company where I needed to do some traveling: Business travel might seem exciting to some younger men, but I’m here to tell you that is isn’t all that much fun being away from your family to be somewhere to do a job. Spending time in a hotel or motel, no matter how nice it is, does not compare to being in your own home with your family close at hand. After my first day and night of business travel, with hotel/motel life, which consisted of constant business, a strait back chair, a desk, and a TV; I learned I needed something better to do with my small amount of free time. I went out to my car and got my Masonic Bible, luckily I had the habit of always having it in my car, also luckily since I was going to be on the road for a while I had also tossed a Masonic book into the car, ‘just in case.’ Sharon always kids me about how I pack for any emergency. This is how and when I began to become a Masonic Student; I found I really loved studying Freemasonry and I still do.

I have always maintained that the first place to go and look for the lessons of Freemasonry is in our degree work, that doesn’t mean one needs to become a ritualist; you can learn about the degrees of Masonry without becoming expert at the memorization of them.

When it comes to a Code of Conduct one of the best places in ritual to look is at the Ashlars, especially the Perfect Ashlar. Most of us, when we go into our Lodge Rooms, don’t seem to pay much attention to the Ashlars, much less ponder about them. Thankfully some Masons have, and we can learn from them. One such Mason is our late Brother Charles C. Hunt, who was the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Iowa from 1924 to 1945; he was also quite a Masonic scholar, many Masons are familiar with his work. One of the books he wrote/edited is the Masonic Concordance of the Holy Bible: this book was reprinted in 1984 by the Masonic Book Club; this is a good book club to be a member of.[i]

Another good book to have is a good dictionary; you can find information on the Ashlars in a dictionary; not the perfect and rough as such, but ashlars, and if you read in a Masonic book about the Perfect Ashlar you’ll find another name for it is - Perpend Ashlar, and Perpend is in the dictionary:[ii] “Perpend: In Masonry, a large stone passing through the entire thickness of a wall so as to show on both sides, and forming a bonder.” Brother Hunt tells us that the word ‘Perfect’ is not used in the early Masonic lectures, as it is today, but that the word ‘Perpend’ is, so the Perpend Ashlar is worth knowing about. Since it is a binding stone the Operative Mason needs to know the nature of the building and the wall it is to be placed in, so he can prepare it properly;[iii] i.e. all the exposed surfaces need to be finished properly and the stone needs to be plumb, square, and level.

Speaking of the Ashlar and Operative Masonry I remember the first time I heard part of a talk on it from a Grand Lodge line officer years ago when he mentioned that Speculative Masonry, like Operative Masonry, cannot make a Perfect Ashlar out of an imperfect specimen: Speculative Masonry admits only good men; just as the Operative Mason will work only with good stone; flawed material cannot be made perfect. ‘A rough stone can be made smooth, but it must be capable of taking the polish or the work will be in vain.’[iv] Making a stone perfect, much like perfecting a man, or carving a statue, is not done by adding something; it is done by taking away: Removing the superfluous, brings out what is within and thus is found what is closer to perfection; this takes time and patience. Mentoring a Masonic Brother takes our time and patience too.

I don’t know if you’ve attended many Masonic Cornerstone Ceremonies. When we’re attending one it’s easy to just enjoy it, but it does pay to learn about it. When we think about it, and what we are told in the degree about the Perfect Ashlar, we will recall that the ‘Perfect’ is made ready by the hands of the workman to be adjusted by the tools of the Fellowcraft. The cornerstone ceremony is partly to verify that the stone has been prepared properly. In fact, one of the lines repeated by the Masons in the positions of the Grand Senior Warden, Grand Junior Warden, and the Deputy Grand Master, when they make their report to the Grand Master[v] regarding the stone and the tools they have and use on the stone, (the Level, Plumb, and Square, respectively,) say: “The Craftsmen have done their duty.” It is after the cornerstone ceremony is completed that the Perfect Ashlar is symbolically and sometimes actually, placed in the corner. Brother Hunt says that it is when the Perpend Ashlar is finally made ready to be placed in the building that it gains the name of the ‘Perfect Ashlar.’

A Bible reference to the Perfect Ashlar as a Cornerstone can be found in the different translations of the Holy Bible; of the translations I have the one I like better is found in the New King James version where in Isaiah 28:16 it says: “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.” The verse that follows says in part: “Also I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet;” etc. The rest of that verse and the rest that follow are worth reading as well. One Bible commentary tells us that one of the meanings of Isaiah 28:14-22 is that a man of faith will not be alarmed and that God will test men’s response by the standard of justice and righteousness.[vi] Brother Hunt, Masonically, describes this passage of scripture in this way: “The plumb, square and level try it; the working tools fashion it; the checkered pavement illustrates it; the Great Architect calls for it. When the craft has fashioned it, it is complete, perfect.” Now that description gives the Masonic Student much to study, and think about.

To understand the Masonic symbolism of the Perfect Ashlar we need to keep in mind the original term as it came to the Speculative from the Operative; the Perpend Ashlar becomes Perfect “only because it is completely adapted to its purpose, namely to exactly fit into [its] place in the building and act as a binder for the other stones.”[vii] To become perfect it must posses certain attributes and “through these attributes we are reminded ‘of that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous education, our own endeavors, and the blessing of God.”[viii]

The Perfect Ashlar since it extends through the wall has two faces exposed, and both need to be perfect: “It does not have one standard for the world and another for the home.” This symbolically teaches the Mason that our same ‘fair face’ with our same ‘square and true’ attitude and actions is presented in all areas of our life; our home, our work and business life, as well as to the rest of the world. The lesson of the Perfect Ashlar teaches us that ‘we should not have one code of conduct (morals) for one place and another for another.’[ix]

The symbols of Freemasonry are tools by which we can learn as we, with the help of our brethren, strive to become better men than before we entered the Lodge for our first degree; by becoming the better men we are capable of becoming we help to fulfill the purpose of Freemasonry. The purpose of Freemasonry is striving towards perfection so that we can fit our bodies as living stones for that spiritual building not made with hands eternal in the heavens, ‘which is to be our eternal home.’[x]

As Brother Hunt says: “we are concerned with our Brother’s welfare as well as our own, and only when we perform this function well can it be said that our work is good work, true work, square work.”[xi] Being concerned about our Brethren we should be mentoring each other. I think that is what Brother Hunt is talking about when he says that ‘only when we perform this function well can it be said our work is then good, true, and square.

“A man would do nothing, if he waited until he could do it so well that no one at all would find fault with what he has done.” Cardinal Newman

From the Great Light of Masonry: “From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler.” Zechariah 10:4 NIV

Lapis philosophorum = [Latin] = The Philosopher’s stone.

“When a man imagines, even after years of striving, that he has attained perfection, his decline begins.” Theodore Martin

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the Masonic Monday question for the week of 02/18/08 is: "When was the use of gloves by Masons confirmed by documentary evidence?"

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by Email at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

Some past issues of Ed’s publications can be read on the Web at: http://www.halpaus.net some past issues of T.F.S. can be viewed on the web site for the Grand Lodge of Minnesota at: http://www.mn-masons.org

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer

“Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.” Yoda
[i] Masonic Book Club P.O. Box 1563 Bloomington, IL 61702-1563 - $20. annual dues Robin Carr Secretary rlcarr1@msn.com 309-452-4769
[ii] New Century Dictionary
[iii] Masonic Concordance of the Holy Bible
[iv] Ibid
[v] Cornerstone Ceremony – Masonic Manual of Minnesota
[vi] Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary
[vii] Masonic Concordance of the Holy Bible
[viii] Ibid
[ix] Ibid
[x] Ibid
[xi] Ibid

Time and Freemasonry - May 01, 2006

T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 74 – May 01, 2006

This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.”
Brother Benjamin Franklin

A number of years ago, at one of the Education Lodge Communications I had attended, there was a Brother who presented a paper about computers and how he thought they might affect Freemasonry in the future. It was his belief that one day Masons would not need to leave their home to practice Freemasonry. He suggested that in the future, except for degree work, it might be possible to have electronic Lodge meetings, where Masons of a Lodge could all log on to their computers and be able to communicate through what we now know as instant messaging.

A few years after that a couple of surveys were done by different groups: There were some things that came out of those surveys that to me were quite interesting: One of those things was that if a Lodge didn’t get a new Mason involved with something to do he would soon loose interest in attending his Lodge, and the other thing was that some Masons didn’t feel the need to attend Lodge in order to enjoy being a Freemason. That to me was extremely interesting, and at that time was hard for me to understand.

While all this was coming to light for me, there were many Masons who were already on the Internet participating in what are called List Servers and Forums, and they were discussing Masonic subjects with other Masons from across the United States and Canada as well as from around the world. Today there are quite a number of Masonic List Servers, Forums and other computer communications that a Mason can use to be involved with Freemasonry every day of the year at any hour of the day or night he would have time to be on the computer.

Our late Brother Duane E. Anderson is quoted as saying that Masonic discussions over some coffee after the Lodge meeting are “where Masonry happens.” To me Masonic discussions are good things to participate in. I think it is good to be able to sit with other interested and knowledgeable Brethren to have a good discussion, and I think it is good to use the computer for this type of thing as well.

Our Grand Lodge Education Committee, through the help of our good Brother Tom Jackson, our Senior Grand Warden, now has a Lodge Education Discussion Forum on Brother Tom’s Web Site called Lodge Builder Discussion Forums, at: http://www.lodgebuilder.org/

If the site is not up when you go there don’t be discouraged, that’s just something that happens on the Internet from time to time. Going to a web address that isn’t working when you get there can be aggravating; I look at it as a timing thing. When one Mason goes to a site it’s always up, while another Mason will go there when it’s always down. It’s not always down, but then it’s not always up either, it’s just the timing. I remember phoning a friend who was always by the phone when I called, but another friend rarely could catch our friend at home – he would swear our friend was gone all the time, it’s just the timing – so don’t let it get to you, if it’s down check back later.

The Lodge Education Forum is the place for those of us who are Masonic Students, or for those of us who have an interest in the many different aspects of Masonic Education, to be able to ask a question and to get an answer from the brethren who frequent this forum. This is an electronic way for us to have a Masonic Discussion with other Masons who we might not have the chance to sit and talk with because of time or distance limitations. We can still have our personal Masonic conversations and discussions and we can have the electronic one too.

Recently there was a book written about E-Masonry called “The Temple that Never Sleeps,” by Brothers Josh Heller and Gerald Reilly. It’s a good book, and I recommend it. In their book they stress that using the computer to practice Freemasonry with Brethren from around the world should not be a replacement for Masons attending Lodge. It shouldn’t. However, while they say this they also say that through the computer the average Mason can access more ideas, learn more about Freemasonry, converse electronically with Masons from other parts of the world, and consequently be able to learn more about world-wide Freemasonry than he ever could in his Lodge. This is especially true if his Lodge communications are concentrated on the business of the Lodge and having a very small part if any about Masonic Education and on practicing Freemasonry.

Many Masonic Lodges today, it seems to me, do not know who their competition really is. For decades my Lodge thought it was Monday Night Football. Others thought it was meetings of other groups, or television, movies, family time demands, sports, and work schedules plus many others. They may have been the kind of things that kept Masons from Lodges in the past, but I think a Masonic Lodge needs to refocus on what they are competing with today; and I agree with Brothers Heller and Reilly that it is the productive use of the time a man has to devote to Freemasonic activities a Masonic Lodge is competing with.

If productive use of time is important to a man, the vehicle he uses to accomplish the goal of using his time wisely might be to him a tool, not an end. In other words the Lodge Communication, the Internet, books and Masonic magazines are tools to accomplish learning about Freemasonry, and what it has to teach us as Freemasons. Many times it comes down to which tool can best be used to help a Mason learn and enjoy his Masonic affiliation; so that he doesn’t waste the precious time he has available.

In a month’s time, is having a Lodge supper with a fellow Mason adequate fellowship? Is sitting in a Lodge communication either close to a Masonic friend or across the Lodge room from him Masonic fellowship? Is having 5 to 15 minutes of Masonic education given by the Lodge Education Officer worth the two or three hours spent in the Lodge building plus the time to commute there and back home again? What if there is nothing for Masonic education, or no supper, is it worth it then? These questions might be the kind of questions a Mason might ask himself. However, if we look at the number of Masons who are attending Lodge, as opposed to the number of Masons who are members of the Lodge, that might be an indication of what they think is a productive use of their time.

“Time: That which man is always trying to kill, but which ends in killing him.”
Herbert Spencer

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.

Tempus edax rerum = [Latin] = Time the devourer of all things

From the Great Light of Masonry: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 NIV

With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer