Greetings from the East:
  Let the world observe how masons love one another.  Yes it’s a catchy phrase and a proclamation of a hope that we as the world’s largest fraternal organization can live up to one of our orders tenets and not succumb to the frail vices of human nature.  We often talk about what it means to be a mason, we hear it in lodge in our opening and closing charges but do we really listen to those fateful words and more importantly do we apply them to the way we behave.  Can a mason really be singled out by the way he acts or has our fraternity gone the way of so many organizations by merely going through the motions without following through with actions inspired by its teachings?  At our visitation I read a charge from the 19th century that strictly forbidding masons from engaging in backbiting behavior or talking behind each other’s backs, because I believe that those elements, although implied in modern ritual, somehow gets lost in translation to most.   I did this because I not only wanted my fellow brothers to hear what others may have heard several hundreds of years ago, but also to reinforce certain key elements that must be present in all good masons.  Is every mason treating his fellow man with the dignity and respect he deserves?  Does he give good consul to his brothers who may have shortcomings or does he let loose with critical speech behind his back when he is not there to hear it.  It takes great courage to practice what we preach and confront someone directly when we have a problem.  It takes great courage to be a good mason.  I would ask all to look deep within themselves and ask, have I criticized my fellow man when he was not present to defend himself?  Have I spoken ill of another in cruel and harsh terms instead of gently aiding those who are failing?  I believe that we as masons became masons because we believe in the tenets of the fraternity and would never willing act inappropriately.  I believe that all masons possess the courage to walk and act as a mason should.  If you read these words and know that you have subdued your humanity to not speak ill of others I applaud you for your achievements.  If you still struggle with the concept, I hope that you will re-apply yourself to fulfilling your Masonic duty.  The rewards for its success are immeasurable and will bless you for the remainder of your time here on earth.
Fraternally,
James H. Lawrence III
Worshipful Master



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