Greetings Brethren,
All of us have joined Freemasonry for different reasons. I was one of those brothers who had preconceived notions from books I read and movies I watched because I knew of no one that was a mason before I asked to join. I joined Freemasonry first and foremost to find like-minded people when my family moved to a new town where I didn’t know anyone. Secondly, I was curious about what I could learn from Freemasonry. Some of what we learn in the fellowcraft degree are the wages of an operative fellowcraft mason which we are taught are corn, wine, and oil. After we become master masons, we are taught we may travel and receive master’s wages which historically was coin or currency of the time. However, today’s speculative masons receive no such wages; rather our wages are that of knowledge, light, and personal gratification.
I read the short talk bulletin “To Give is to Receive” by Fred Kleinknecht, a 33-degree Scottish Rite mason. The importance of giving of yourself to all our brethren was a point of his focus. He stated “Death, illness and isolation are as much a part of existence as life. . . How can we appreciate the wholeness of life as taught by our beloved craft if we do not experience and relate to that unity in its totality?” Since joining Medford Lodge I have seen the passing of some of our great Past Masters and Distinguished brethren. As the thread of life continues to weaken within all of us and progress to the third and final stage of our lives (age), do we ever consider what we do for these brethren?
To this end, I encourage all brethren to reach out, reaffirm your obligations and extend a helping hand. Medford Lodge has plenty of opportunities available to assist our brethren: the masonic home wheelchair push; sick and distressed committees; offering rides to brethren unable to get to lodge, to name a few. I can almost guarantee if you offer aid to a brother, you will be paid a master’s wage in appreciation and gratitude.
Fraternally,
WM Rudy Hatala