Page 16 - MFM July 2019 W

Which Masonic Degree Has Most Impacted My Life?

James S. Rose
Junior Warden of the St. omas Talbot Lodge No. 44

It is the entered apprentice degree that has had the sat in the East together. ey shared a similar type
largest personal impact on my life. I hold it dear to my of pride in my initiation that night as well, but this is
heart but not for the obvious reasons. also not the reason.

I am a legacy Mason. My late father was a 32nd degree I looked to the North, and in my mind, I saw
Mason, Past Master twice, DDGM and Shriner. His my father’s uncle who was one of my sponsors for
father was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner. My late membership sitting in the Chaplain’s chair just as
mother was a Rainbow Girl. Her father was a Master he had that night when he stood up and presented
Mason registered with the Grand Lodge of Scotland. me with the working tools of an entered apprentice
My father’s Uncle was a Mason and a Shriner too. Mason.

A couple of years ago, after a rather signi cant hiatus Returning after that long absence, I met my other
from any engagement with the craft beyond paying sponsor for membership from so long ago. He was a
my annual dues and with the support of my wife I former work colleague. I recalled perambulating the
decided to become more than just a card-carrying Lodge with my escort and seeing the brethren for
Mason and began attending and engaging with my the rst time and slowly realizing the Lodge room
Lodge once more. It was a rebirth for my Masonic was full of people I recognized from work. He had
career, and the event that triggered my return to the arranged it that way.
light seemed very appropriate. It was the rebirth of
my Lodge. I returned to the craft on the rst meeting Like many Masons that join at a young age, life
of the newly amalgamated St. omas Talbot Lodge has a tendency to get in the way. Marriage, children,
No. 44 which had combined Talbot Lodge No. 546 (my careers, money, relocations, all conspire against your
mother Lodge) with St. omas Lodge No. 44. Masonic journey. ere is another memory I have that
comes out of that river of time while I was absent. It is
I was very nervous walking into a new, unfamiliar a conversation with my father.
building full of new, unfamiliar faces after a twenty
plus year absence. I felt like a new candidate full of “You going to Lodge?” he asked.
nervous energy and trepidation, wondering if this I shrugged and said, “No not really…just don’t seem to
was a good idea all over again. is time I knew I was have the time with kids and shift work.”
with my brothers, and I would be welcomed back.
As I looked around the lobby, I was relieved to see a “Happens to all of us at some point” he said and then
couple of familiar faces that recognized me, so it was asked, “Are you all paid up?”
handshakes and smiles all around! “No.” I said sheepishly, “I am a year behind actually…
I’m thinking of taking a demit.”
I saw the same altar and familiar furnishings, and it He got that look on his face. “No you won’t.” he said.
brought back a ood of memories of my initiation so “Stay in Lodge. I’ll get you paid up and if you can’t pay
long ago. I poignantly recalled being brought into the your dues again let me know. Your Grandfather did
light and seeing my father’s face beaming back at me the same for me. Stay in Lodge. You are my son and
as he stood before me from across the altar. My father my brother and we will support each other.”
was the rst brother to take my hand as a Mason, but
this is not the reason I hold the entered apprentice I simply nodded in reply, and he hugged me the
degree dear to my heart. way Masons do. No further discussion was needed;
nothing more was ever said.
I also recalled at that same moment being surprised
to see a man standing beside him wearing very I stayed in. I paid my dues.
impressive regalia and white gloves. He was one of my Time passed.
former college instructors. He was visiting the Lodge He passed.
that night and had no idea I was to be initiated. He
and my father shared a few stories about me as they
Montana Freemason Page 16 July 2019 Volume 95 No. 5