Page 14 - MFM Nov 2014

The Crossroads of a Mason
Brian Bezner, Grand Orator, Grand Lodge of California 2013-2014
In my travels throughout this year, which has included
conversations with many of you, I have discovered
something that is fundamentally important: each
Mason comes to a crossroads in Freemasonry. Does
he casually take the obligation and maintain his current was to use to govern my actions on a regular basis. I
status quo or does he strive to truly understand and
apply the exceptional components of our craft? Our
teachings provide a foundation for each Mason’s life,
which guides his overall conduct. The foundations of
our ritual – our Masonic teachings – are having the
impact that they were intended to have. Our members
are more aware that their words and actions impact
how we are viewed as individuals and as members of
Freemasonry.
Our members are committing to our craft and have a
growing desire for education to understand the ritual
on a deeper level. Our candidates are seeking a deeper
connection to what it means to be a Freemason today.
There is a thirst for more scholarly works on the
history of Masonry. There is a surge in understanding
the subtle points of our ritual that are more profound
than we might think, such as the geometric shape
that is formed with the rods of the Senior and
Junior Deacons at the altar. Focusing on all parts of
our ritual and how they fit together is paramount to
understanding our heritage from operative Masons
and our connection to a Supreme Being. As is set forth
in our first degree lecture, “When the whole building
was completed its several parts fitted together with
such exact nicety that it had more the appearance of
the work of the Supreme Architect of the Universe
than that of Human Hands.” Our needs are the same
as those of our earliest brothers—they were seeking
something that was not found in their daily lives –
beyond the church, their career, and their status in
society. They were looking for something that would
lead them on a path of completeness. There was a
need to be part of something that would allow them
to be with like-minded individuals. We all come to the
fraternity looking for similar things.
Our first experience in the Lodge is our initiation.
Each of us must understand that, although we have
advanced through the degrees, the lessons imparted
during the first degree are to remain with us. Once we
have been passed to the degree of Fellow Craft and are
raised to the degree of Master Mason, we tend to forget
what we have learned in preceding degrees. We must
be mindful that no matter how long we have been part
of this fraternity we are continually striving to meet
the guidelines given to us as an Entered Apprentice
MPagaeso1n4 .
The lessons, obligation, and duties of the first degree
might seem the easiest to meet, but they seem to be
the hardest for us to practice on a daily basis. As a
DeMolay, I was given a set of seven precepts that I
might not have been the best at consistently practicing
all of them. But, I would tell myself, “It’s okay, I am
just a kid.” We are men. As Masons, we are not allowed
to pick and choose the virtues we practice. We all took
the same obligation and, although it might be hard,
we must practice Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. We
must govern our actions agreeably to the dictates of
Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice.
The best way to apply that which you have learned is to
internalize those teachings rather than just regurgitating
them. Memorizing ritual is something that all of us
have done and, for some, it comes easier than others,
but do we understand it? I recall that my eighth grade
English teacher, Mrs. Davis, made us memorize the
poem, Oh Captain, My Captain by Walt Whitman.
Once we memorized it, we were to recite it to the
class for a grade. It was a very easy task for me. It was
not until four years later, when I was a senior in High
School that I learned the poem was about Abraham
Lincoln and appreciated the meaning. Even if we are
able to memorize and recite our ritual, it is important
that we understand what we are saying. Also, when
we internalize our ritual it becomes a part of us. As a
result, it is much easier to apply and practice.
Internalizing the ritual requires each one of us to
practice our virtues on a daily basis with Masons
and Non-Masons. Practicing our virtues with other
Masons should not be difficult because we are well
aware that we cannot fake our way through a fraternal
interaction the way we might on a job interview or
first date. Unfortunately, we are not always mindful
of practicing our virtues with all Masons. We often
fall into the trap of catering more to those holding
leadership positions within our fraternity, because
human instinct dictates that we should be looking to
improve our own positions. We might ask ourselves,
“What can this person do for me in the future?” and/
or “How can they help me to gain such notoriety and
distinction?” The truth is that we are all here for each
other. The actions of one Mason, good or bad, reflect
on every single one of us. Just as we don’t get to pick
and choose which tenets and virtues we practice, we
don’t get to pick and choose which Masons we practice
them with. The same holds true for those who are
not Masons. We must practice our tenets and virtues
with all people. We may never get a second chance to