One Day + Three Degrees = Some Great Masons

by Midnight Freemason Contributor
WB Robert E. Jackson

*Editors Note*
The following article comes out of the Trowel, the publication of the Grand Lodge of the State of Massachusetts and was written by WB. Robert E. Jackson. It was published in the Summer 2018 Issue and a link to the entire issue is HERE.

Every man has their own journey, not just in Masonry, but in life. Our individuality is what makes us unique, by definition. We see that in the music we enjoy, the foods we find appetizing, what we find attractive or funny, and how we learn. Just last night, I had a conversation with some Brothers, and we were talking about how we learn ritual. Each of us had our own solution, but none of us were 'wrong.' Thinking back to when I took my degrees, I'm amazed at how much I didn't learn during those months. A spark was ignited for sure, but the fire was far from burning. It wasn't until years later that the spark was fanned by a dear Brother, and the passion grew into a bonfire.

Where were you first prepared to be made for Mason? What does the answer to that question really mean? Think about your spouse, or your family. There is an inherent Love in your heart. I don't have to think about if I Love my kids…I just do. Even if they do something I’m not happy with, I still, and will always, Love them. It's the same for my spouse. Regardless of our disagreements, we would rather work and find a way to preserve our relationship, because a life together, regardless of how difficult, is better than a life apart. How much time it takes to kindle that Love, is another point of individuality within ourselves. For some, it takes years to foster that Love, but for others, that Love is instantaneous.

WB Robert E. Jackson (right) presents "pin #1" to the Grand Master  of MA.
In your own journey, how long did it really take you to grow that Love for Masonry? Today, I'm amazed at how easy it is for some men to walk away from the Craft. They allow their status to go into suspension, or they demit. When I think back, however, I was almost one of them. If it wasn't for my family connections, and a very dear Brother, I probably would have found myself an inactive Mason. It took years for that fire to build for me, how long did it take for you? It doesn't matter whether you received the degrees in a single day, or over the course of years, what matters is how that Love and passion for the Craft sparked and grew into a shining beacon across a sea of darkness.

Today's modern man is vastly different from that of my father's younger life. Today's man is working at least one full time job, helping cook dinner and cleanup, volunteering with their kid's activities, and assisting with general household tasks. A good man's life, is a busy one. Yes there are some that work the bare minimum, and spend more time in front of a screen than they do in front of their family. However, is that the man that will step forward and volunteer to help? Is that the man that will constantly work towards a better version of themselves? The one-day class enables today's busy man to ignite that flame of Freemasonry. You could argue that if they are that busy, how will they find time for the Craft? However, that argument stands regardless of the method in which they were raised.

My Brothers, look for that spark within your fellow Man. Does he truly wish to improve himself through hard work and study? Does he truly want to be of service to his fellow man? Does he truly wish to continue searching for more Light? Don't let that spark die. There are many ways that spark can be initiated…from flint and steel to a butane torch. Our job is to fan those flames, and never let that flame die out.

~REJ

Robert Edward Jackson is a Past and presiding Master of Montgomery Lodge located in Milford, MA. His Masonic lineage includes his Father (Robert Maitland), Grandfather (Maitland Garrecht), and Great Grandfather (Edward Henry Jackson), a founding member of Scarsdale Lodge #1094 in Scarsdale, NY. When not studying ritual, he's busy being a father to his three kids, a husband, Boy Scout Leader, and a network engineer to pay for it all. He can be reached at info@montgomerylodge.org

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