Page 4 - MFM Aug Sept 2019

T he Office Of T he

Gr and M aster of M ontana

Brothers,

How many times have you used the word have not done an adequate job of enabling
“Brother or Brothers” have you used it or our Brothers to be “Brothers” to be Masons.
heard it so many times that the value and We need to do and be better.
impact of the word has little meaning? Is the
title of Brother the most important title you We often hear members state that they
have? Are you more concerned or consumed joined and belong to the various Masonic
by an offi ce or station that you insist that you related organizations because they receive
are called Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful more “Light in Masonry” by belonging to
or Master? In our fraternity and throughout them. And certainly, there are attributes
Masonry in general and all the plethora of within these various organizational bodies
Masonic related organizations you see and that are of value to individual growth. But
know and have met those who have come to Lewie Fletcher, Grand Master many of us have also seen that it is often only
believe that their “title” is who they are and insist or are because some seek individual self-gratifi cation and “glory”
off ended when not addressed by their Title and given the for the sake of new title, honor, color of hat, or a string
honors associated with that title. These same individuals of letters to write after your name. Leading us to believe
have forgotten that the most important and meaningful that perhaps being called Brother and wearing a White
title they have been bestowed is that of Brother! They Leather Apron has become passe and mundane, that some
have become accustomed to wearing a Grand Lodge of us have lost or failed to see all that blue Lodge Masonry
collar and jewel and an apron with lots of gold and glitter, has to off er; and that the individual Lodge off ers a lifetime
and have forsaken the precious white leather apron of a of Light to seek and hold. To truly achieve more light in
Master Mason. Yes, my Brothers they are out there - they an unselfi sh manner, one where you probably will not
are among us - many of us are them. receive an ostentatious title or jewel, but one where you
will defi antly receive more light and make a signifi cant
There are many important truths found in ancient craft diff erence and potentially contribute to membership
Masonry are, and among them is what our relationship in the long term - get involved with our Masonic Youth
with each other is supposed to be. How we interact with groups: DeMolay, Job’s Daughters and Rainbow Girls.
each other and how we treat each other ... are we Brothers?
Or has the value and importance of being called Brother Many of you have overheard me and others calling each
and of wearing a white leather apron lost its appeal and other “Shipmate,” those of us who served in the U.S. Navy
signifi cance, is being a Mason no longer enough? or U.S. Coast Guard use this term very much the same
way that as Masons we should use the term “Brother.”
Perhaps if the world and more importantly our individual We use the term shipmate most often as friends with a
communities saw us displaying Brotherly Love we might common experience and who have learned to work as
actually interest more men in becoming a Mason, a team. Onboard a ship the ship’s strength comes from
maybe we would actually strengthen the membership, its sailors just like the teammates make up the team.
attendance, and quality of our individual Lodges and Everyone plays a part in the success of anything we do and
Grand Lodge. accomplish. Our responsibility as shipmates is to do our
best at our assigned tasks and contribute to the readiness
They are so many things - so many teachings - so much of the ship. Together, as shipmates we achieve more, and
at an individual can gain from being a Freemason, yet if we are able accomplish incredible results. We achieve
we are honest with ourselves, we know that we are not operational readiness through proper training, unity, and
and have not been doing a very good job at keeping our cooperation. Yet the term shipmate means more than
fraternity safe and secure and on a solid foundation. We teamwork, we live and work together, regardless if we like
each other.
Montana Freemason Page 4 Aug/Sept 2019 Volume 95 No .6