St. John's Day is upon us and installation season is under way! Personally I am looking forward to July 2 when I will step aside and help install my successor. I am happy for him and his officers who are ready to take reins, and I am happy for me as I am ready to refocus much of my time and effort into my personal research and writing. But, some final business as I go out the door!
First, congratulations to our newest Worshipful Masters! You've reached what for many brothers is one of the most significant milestones in a masonic journey! Your brethren and lodge brothers have placed their trust in you to keep safe the lodge and the charter. A weighty obligation to be sure!
Many brothers, especially past masters will likely offer advice and suggestions - and I am no different. A key part of your job is to sift through the ideas and kindly recommendations, sort them, and see how they may or may not fit in your style and vision for your year. I will offer you not necessarily a "what to do" suggestion, but an approach to your duties and a way to maintain your composure throughout the coming trials and tribulations while improving your deliberative process.
To my brother Worshipful Masters and Worshipful Masters-elect, in addition to the coming times when you will invoke the aid of deity as we are all reminded to do, I recommend you adopt and practice the four cardinal virtues as your compass and your guardrails.
TEMPERANCE provides that restraint from excess necessary to control your thoughts and emotions. Yes, we tend to think in terms of restraining ourselves from vices and temptation, but for the master of the lodge, it will help you immensely to temper your emotions as you work through the challenges that lay ahead.
FORTITUDE provides you noble and steady purpose of mind and enables one to undergo pain, peril, or danger. It is that inner strength that can be outwardly displayed, comforting your brethren that they have a strong, steady hand at the helm. A Worshipful Master that consistently displays fortitude will be trusted to remain true to the good of the lodge as a whole, defending against the approach of cowans, eavesdroppers, and ill winds challenging harmony in and about the lodge.
PRUDENCE is that inner conscience or inner voice that bids us to regulate our lives and actions, keeping us within the bounds of reason as we ponder the demands on our time and good nature. Prudence is a necessary characteristic in projecting reason and thoughtfulness in our decision making. It will be your demonstrated prudence that will boost and strengthen the trust your brethren place in your deliberations and decisions.
JUSTICE is the standard or boundary of right and guides us to render to all of our brothers their just due. In times of unique or emotionally charged trials or disputes between brothers and members, your record of just and fair consideration in deliberations regarding the affairs of the brethren and the lodge will show you to be one who seeks justice amidst emotions and one whose judgement can be trusted.
Adoption and consistent demonstration of your commitment to these four cardinal virtues will serve you well in your term as leader of your lodge. Because every one of us is in a different situation, in lodges with different conditions and situations, it might be a challenge to provide standard "do this" or "do that" advice to a new master. But the four cardinal virtues are internal to the mason and should be common to us all and applicable in all situations.
To my brother Worshipful Master-elect, congratulations and please consider my offering as you begin this exciting leg of your masonic journey!
I now turn my attention to my current writing projects which include a paper discussing the state of the craft today, and my first-ever work of masonic fiction. I am excited about both and I look forward to sharing them as soon as I can get them finished!
Good luck to all the lodges and to all of the elected and appointive officers who are now in the process of being installed! Buckle up my brothers, the ride is about to start!
S&F
BroBill
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