Page 22 - MFM Aug Sept 2019

Keynote Address from 130th Annual Communication, 1996

MWPGM Larry T. Lund

This morning I had the pleasure to have breakfast with Those energetic with youth, energy and ambition willing
a group of Masons and some of the Grand Lodge Offi cers to try the untried, testing this age of change, willing to
and we were talking about the importance of personal challenge the new, while standing beside the old and
growth and emulating some of the people that you and I comparing the openly. Adding their energy to the search..
have met and admired in our Masonic Life. yet...with some fear, but thank God...with more hope! And
through their vision recognizing the rich possibilities of
I stand before you with a sense of deep humility and a new era.
great pride. Humility in the wake of those great Past
Grand Masters and Masons of our Masonic heritage who If we are to appeal to the generations of men in the
have stood here before me; pride in the refl ection that this twenty-fi rst century and beyond, then we must appeal
home of Grand Lodge represents human liberty in the to them in ways of the times. We cannot change our
purest form, yet devised - the opportunity to practice and message, for the truth is what it is. But we can change the
teach brotherly love , relief and truth. way in which we pass the message if we are wise enough
to fi nd the means.
Sir Isaac Newton, perhaps the prototype of the modern
0
scientist, certainly a man of accomplishments far beyond Judge David B. Sentell, 33 , United States Court of
those of ordinary men said, “If I have seen farther than Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit said, “We cannot let
others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of our failure to grow or our fear to display our growth cause
Giants.” That is how I feel. us to fail in carrying the light.” This fraternity has brought
together men from every culture, religion and race. All
Here within this Grand Lodge are centered the hopes, have sought that which we practice and teach.
aspirations and faith of Montana Freemasonry.
Our age old traditions and noble ideals enrich our
I do not stand here as an advocate for any but Masonic lives with new horizons of personal achievements. Being
causes. Our cause is for issues that are Masonically elected offi cers of constituent lodge and serving as Grand
fundamental and reach beyond the realm of any partisan Lodge Offi cers we have been off ered the opportunity for
consideration. Our issues must be resolved on the highest leadership in our lodge, our communities , our State.
plan of Grand Lodge if our course is to prove sound and
our future protected. The great book of Proverbs 14:34 tells us: “righteousness
exalteth a nation.” The men who receive the distinguished
When resolving our issues we, as Masons all agree on honors of elected leadership have fed and fueled the
the basic principles yet, we all have the right to disagree divine fl ame of man’s moral potential, a spirit of the Great
on policy. This is such an exciting time to be a leader and Architect of the Universe places in each of us. This act is
offi cer in our Masonic fraternity, the possibilities for you essentially selfl ess. It seeks to serve others rather than
as leaders are limitless. self and it seeks not its betterment of mankind. In this
profound sense, you the elected leaders are building a
I look upon some pessimists in our fraternity as a mere better America. You are citizens in a practical civic sense
announcement of the fact that they fi nd themselves not in as well as leaders of moral character. You have the ultimate
the state of mind as their fathers and regret the coming notion of right that tends to universal good.
state as untried..as a child dreads the water before he
learns to swim. If there is any period on would desire to Your acts, like compass direction, point us all to the
be born in...is it not the age of change and transaction? polestar of responsible freedom. At liberty to act as you
When the old and the new stand side by side and can will, you have chosen to act responsibly, you have selected
be openly compared; when the energies of all men are the narrow street of right conduct in a good course. Your
searched by fear and hope; when the historic glories of membership appropriately honors your acts as you have
the old can be compensated by the rich possibilities of the honored this grand jurisdiction of Freemasonry and
new era? This time...like all times, is a very good one, if America with your lives. In them, honor and life are one.
we but know what to do with it. As the immortal Shakespeare wrote in Richard II, so each
honored Mason can say:
Our Grand Lodge leadership has been blessed by having
the mixture of the outspoken, the quiet, the reserved.
Montana Freemason Page 22 Aug/Sept 2019 Volume 95 No .6