It is possible this is my final blog post. It is almost certainly one of my last few if not the last. I have considered the website and this blog from every conceivable angle and I have decided the time is approaching to wind it down. I knew going in that it would take a commitment of time and money, both of which I was perfectly happy to contribute to the masonic discourse. But I also know that every effort has a “return on investment” that establishes the relative value of the given effort. When I consider the time and dollars I have been investing in the website and blog compared to the audience reach and site traffic, the ROI value shows me that my efforts are unquestionably better spent elsewhere. So I have decided I will likely use the opportunity of the next billing cycle for the site as the time to bring it to a close. I believe the annual fee comes due in several weeks and so gives me time to begin removing content and deleting data. That means for any readers that if you intend to download any of my library documents, it’s probably a good time now to start.
There has been a theme that runs through most of my papers and posts. That theme in a
very broad sense is this: “masonry is system of three key relationships; masons’ relationships with their fellow man, their masonic relationships within the fraternity and with fellow masons, and their relationships with God”. These relationships are symbolized by the compass which is the public or visible expression of our relations with our fellow man, the square which represents our “covered” or masonic relationships within the fraternity and among our brothers, maintained out of the public view, symbolically covered by the compass, and of course The Letter G safely protected and contained within those relationships, denoting our ultimate and most critical relationship.
In my mind, anything we do that strengthens these relationships within the boundaries and according to our masonic obligations can and probably will extend and carry masonry into the future. Anything that weakens or breaks any of these relationships may ultimately relegate masonry to a historical footnote in the story of mankind.
I am somewhat disappointed it has come to this decision, but we all experience occasional disappointments and not everything works out the way we hope or envision. I would like to thank those who have encouraged me on this effort and those who have read and followed at least some of my work – I know my views and opinions are not necessarily keeping up with the times, but that is a discussion for another forum and another day. My themes and messages have apparently not found an audience among today’s brothers, and that’s okay. I feel I have at least shared my opinions and tried to help where I could.
I will publish final date and closure information as I figure it out the details. I have to research my billing cycle and then figure out how long it will take me to delete data and pages. Is it possible I will change my mind? Well, I am a scatterbrain of sorts and occasionally flip flop on my decisions, so I cannot honestly rule it out completely, but, I cannot imagine a growth in the audience or increase in traffic that would indicate a real interest among my brethren, or at least interest enough that the website and blog are providing value to the discourse; so while I cannot rule it out, I do not foresee it as likely.
Thank you again and I hope everyone has a joyous and happy 2022 and I pray we are all able to tend to and strengthen our three key relationships as we proceed along the paths of our respective journeys. May peace and harmony prevail, and may every moral and social virtue cement us.
S&F
Bro. Bill
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