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Montana Freemason April 2017 Volume 93 Number 1 Montana Freemason April 2017 Volume 93 Number 1
Greetings from the Grand East
Lewis K. Smith, Grand Master

Rudyard Kipling stated, “Words tender to the young, compassionate with the aged,
are the most powerful drug used by sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the
mankind.” This phrase intrigued weak and strong. Because someday in your life you
me on several levels. As Masons, will have been all of these.” It is often easy to take
we work with some of the most stands and draw lines in the sand when we are judging
beautifully turned phrases in our others actions. It is more important to understand why
ritual and lectures. These words others may be acting and saying things. This brought
are designed to inspire us to live to mind the adage never to judge a man until you have
better lives, assist and protect the walked a mile in his shoes. Words that hopefully will
weak among us and to structure bring understanding and compassion into our lives
our thoughts and actions so as to to extend the hand of friendship and aid a Brother or
make us worthy of ascension into that afterlife from person in need.
whom no traveler returns. They lay out the path to truly
lead a good life. So where are these words taking the Grand Master
this time? One of the things that makes our fraternity
Today we find ourselves challenged on so many great is our devotion to help, aid and assist our poor
fronts to deviate from that path. Our news media has distressed Brother Masons, their widows and orphans.
devolved into a battle of sound bites where competing This sets us apart from those who go through their lives
interests seek to emasculate their opponents with words thinking only of their own wants, success and desires.
that are confrontational and demeaning. Social media Taking care of our Brothers, sisters and people we don’t
is a hideout for trolls who appear incapable of rational know who are in need made us the greatest fraternity
thought or a positive contribution. Many in our society in the world. I challenge all of us to walk the walk
are afflicted with addictions that dull the senses and the of what we say by reaching out to our Brothers and
mind, seeking escape rather than to tackle the challenges their families who are in ill health, who may have had
that life places before us to test us and make us stronger a reversal of fortune in their lives and to help children
by persevering. beset by misfortune. Doing these things make us better
men, help us to feel better about ourselves, and show
An unknown author brought a little of life’s challenges the world the value of our Fraternity. All it takes is a
into perspective when I recently came across this phrase, little time and few kind words.
“Learn by others mistakes, because you do not live
long enough to make them all yourself.” These words
caused me to stop and think about the twists and turns
our lives present to us and how limited our time is in
the larger picture. We all make mistakes and even learn
from some of them before we find ourselves repeating
our folly. But, it is as thinking men and women who
are capable of observing the actions of our neighbors
and associates that allow us to avoid the pain of those
same mistakes ourselves. We are never free of making
mistakes in our lives, some small and some life changing,
but we usually have choices we can make through life
that shape and define who we are and who we will be.
We have the ability to grab the reins and make changes
in our lives and do the right things to make our lives
better. Masonry was developed by men over centuries
who were thoughtful and developed a system for living
their lives after observing the mistakes of others and
themselves. They laid down on their trestle-boards
words and thoughts which would help all of us avoid a
lifetime of mistakes.

George Washington Carver summed up many
of the secrets to a well-lived life when he penned
this, “How far you go in life depends on your being
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