Have you ever had a plan, something you were going to do, maybe a task within a larger project? Let’s say for the sake of discussion you were cleaning and rearranging your house (since that’s the scenario that actually drove this blog post) and part of your plan was to throw away a lot of junk, including boxes and old items that had out-existed their usefulness.
When time comes to throw these things away, you begin with a large box. You think to yourself, time to go! You think the box has been in this particular closet for over 20 years and, in fact, you don’t even know what’s in it, so it obviously has no value and you’ve lived without whatever it is for at least the last two decades.
You pick up the box to cart it out to the trash and a nagging voice says “open it”. You mentally counter with “if it was important I would have opened and used whatever’s in it years ago”. The nagging voice repeats “open it”.
Frustrated, you think about opening the box. Over the last several weeks you’ve thrown out many boxes of “stuff” you no longer needed and no longer cared about, this one should be no different. It sat in a closet, unopened, still wrapped in postal packing tape for 20 years, it defies reason that there would be anything in it of value.
So, reality now takes over. I took this box into my kitchen and grabbed my box opener. I cut the seams and pulled off the wrapping paper and sealing tape. I opened the end flap and saw a box full of packing peanuts. Rats. I hate packing peanuts.
I pulled out a long, black leather case that was zippered shut. It seemed to be alligator skinned leather or maybe faux alligator leather, not sure. I laid the case on my counter and unzipped it. Low and behold, the case held something I thought had disappeared more than 50 years ago.
Inside this leather case was my father’s Past Master apron, presented to him in 1958 by his lodge, Chillum Castle Lodge No. 186 in Chillum (Adelphi), Maryland. I thought this apron had disappeared decades ago. My family sent me my father’s “box” about 17 or 18 years ago; this is the famous “masonic box” that held all of his dues cards, mark pennies, and other masonic trinkets and baubles. When I received that box, I asked my family if there were any other masonic items waiting to be mailed and my sister said no, that’s it. So from that point forward I was sure his apron was gone and I never thought about it again.
Then I noticed a leather pocket jewel case wrapped in some packing/tissue paper. I unsnapped and opened the case and it was his Past Master Jewel, in beautiful condition. It too was presented to my father in 1958.
So my instincts intervened while I was in the process of throwing away this box. I very nearly ignored these nagging “second thoughts”. I was within mere minutes of losing these prized masonic treasures forever. But I gave in to the unrelenting internal voice. Brethren, I was being taken care of by a greater power. I was being nudged – ever so gently – in the correct direction and thankfully I yielded in the end.
The set is now complete. I’ve had my father’s gavel for 17 or 18 years and in fact, I used it
when I presided in the East in 2015-2016, and I’m using it again now as I preside a second time. The apron and jewel are now safe and forever retired, and when I finish my term again in the East, the gavel will join them in retirement.
Yes, I have learned (yet again) to trust my instincts and this time it was quite a valuable lesson! Brethren, go forth and listen for that internal voice!
S&F
Bro. Bill Boyd, PM
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