Does Charcter Still Matter?

 Does Character Still Matter?

By Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Editor Note:  These remarks were given by Greg Knott at the 106th Memorial Day Observance at the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Homer, Illinois on May 26, 2025. 

Good morning everyone. Today, as we gather to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, I want to talk about something deeply intertwined with their service: character. And I want to ask a simple, but profound question: Does character still matter?

Why do I ask this question today, on Memorial Day? 

Memorial Day is more than just a day off; it's a time to reflect. It's a time to remember those who stood tall in the face of adversity, who displayed courage when fear was overwhelming, and who held onto integrity when it would have been easier to compromise. Their actions speak of a character forged in commitment and fueled by a sense of duty.

Let me tell the story of one such individual who displayed character and has a cenotaph marker here in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery.  William Louis Slayton was born October 6, 1922 in Fithian the son of James Calvin Slayton and Flora McClellan Slayton.  After graduating from Homer high school in 1940, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in October 1940, about a year before the attack on Pearl Harbour.  He was first stationed in Iceland and in 1942 was transferred to the south Pacific.   There he fought in the ferocious battles at Guadalcanal and Tarawa. 

While serving with Company F, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division he took part in the Battle of Mariana Islands.  The Battle of the Mariana Islands was a significant campaign during World War II, occurring from June to November 1944, where U.S. forces aimed to capture the Mariana Islands, including Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, from Japanese control. This campaign was crucial as it allowed the U.S. to establish air bases for strategic bombing missions against Japan, ultimately contributing to the Allied victory in the Pacific.

Sgt. Slayton’s parents received a letter from their son dated June 6, 1944, where he wrote that he was on a ship headed to a location he could not disclose.  A few weeks later, his parents received a telegram that no one wanted to receive.  On June 14, 1944, Sgt. Slayton was killed in action in Marianas Islands in Saipan. He was temporarily buried in the 2nd Division Marine Cemetery and was later moved to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and laid to rest on June 15, 1949.

So what does the sacrifice of Sgt. Slayton and thousands of others mean as we observe Memorial Day 2025?  We often think of courage as facing bullets on a battlefield, but it’s also the courage to stand up for what’s right, the courage to be honest, and the courage to care for others. Integrity means upholding our values even when no one is watching. Resilience is about getting back up when we fall. And compassion? It’s about seeing the humanity in everyone around us. These are the building blocks of strong character.

So, does it still matter? Absolutely. Perhaps now more than ever. In our world of rapid change and complex challenges, character provides a steady anchor. It builds trust within our communities, it inspires ethical leadership, and it fosters a sense of stability. On a personal level, strong character leads to fulfillment, stronger relationships, and the resilience we need to overcome life's hurdles.

In today’s world, character manifests as ethical decision-making, active civic responsibility, and empathy. When we honor those who served, we’re not just remembering their sacrifice; we’re acknowledging the values they lived by. We can honor their memory by striving to embody those same virtues in our own lives. By being better people, we honor the best in them.

Philippians 4:8-9 (CSB)says -

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable ​— ​if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy ​— ​dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. 

In closing, let me affirm that character mattered deeply to those we honor today, and it matters just as much now. As we reflect on their sacrifices, let us also recommit ourselves to cultivating strong character, both for our own sake and for the sake of the nation they served. Thank you.

~GJK

Greg Knott is a Senior Contributor to the Midnight Freemasons and has been a Freemason since 2007.

Why Are We Here Again?

 by The Midnight Freemason

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Do you remember the very first time you walked through the doors of your lodge?  Do you remember that feeling? That feeling that this place, these people, were doing something that actually mattered.

Maybe someone personally invited you. Maybe you showed up on your own because you'd heard about the work they were doing in the community. But whatever brought you there, something made you stay. Something clicked with you.

You found a place where you belonged.  And that feeling wasn't an accident. It was the result of an organization operating with a clear, compelling sense of purpose. They knew who they were. They knew why they existed. And that clarity of purpose is what made them strong. 

I want to talk today about what happens when that clarity starts to fade. When we drift from our original purpose.  And more importantly, what we can do together to get it back.

Here's the thing nobody wants to say out loud—most organizations don't drift on purpose. Nobody says in a meeting, "You know what, let's slowly abandon everything that made us great."

It happens gradually. Quietly. One small compromise at a time.  I’m a pastor, and I’ve seen churches make this mistake.  A church (or even a whole denomination) starts to notice the seats getting a little emptier. So they soften the message, just a little bit at first, to make it more comfortable for visitors. Then a little more. Then a little more after that. Before long, the people in the pews are hearing something that feels less like the gospel and more like a motivational seminar. The message that once changed lives has been watered down so it can't offend anyone — but it can't truly transform anyone either. 

Or take a fraternal organization — a lodge, a civic club, a brotherhood built around a specific mission of service and community. Somewhere along the way, they get pulled into a heated internal debate. And suddenly, every meeting, every newsletter, every conversation is about that one issue. The original mission sits quietly on the back burner while everyone argues about everything except the reason they exist. 

So focused on being relevant and current that they miss they’re destroying the very thing they’re trying to build.  And the energy fades.  Members are going through the motions, but the passion was gone. Membership starts to decline. Volunteers are harder and harder to recruit. You have fewer and fewer people involved.  You may even notice the people who've been around the longest start to quietly step back. 

And why?  What brought them to begin with is gone.

And here's the sad truth: when an organization drifts away from it’s purpose, it doesn't just lose members. It loses its voice. It loses its impact. It loses the very thing that made it strong in the first place. 

But here's the good news! That purpose doesn't disappear. That need doesn’t go away.  It just gets buried. And anything that's buried can be uncovered.

Think about a house that's been renovated one too many times. Layer after layer of paint, wallpaper, and new flooring have been added as each generation has tried to modernize it.  But underneath all of that? The original foundation is still solid. The bones are still good. 

That's what I genuinely believe about most organizations that have drifted. The foundation isn't broken. It's just been covered up.  The path back starts with something almost embarrassingly simple: go back and discover the original intent.

Now, I'm not talking about being stuck in the past. I'm not saying every organization needs to do things exactly the way they did them fifty years ago. Times change, and how you fulfill your mission absolutely can, and should, evolve.

But what you're called to do, your core purpose, your reason for existing, that doesn't change with the times. That's your compass. Not your map.  Returning to your purpose isn't nostalgia. It's courage. It takes real courage to look honestly at where you are, compare it to where you started, and say, "We've drifted — and we need to find our way back." That's not weakness. That's leadership. And that kind of honesty is exactly where transformation begins.  Go back to the blueprint. Reclaim your why. And watch what happens when an organization finally remembers who it is.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and is a regular contributor. He is the award-winning author of the Famous American Freemasons series.  He is a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) and Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL). He is also a member of St. Joseph-Ogden Lodge No. 970 (IL).  He is a Past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research. (FMLR). He is a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282 and a Past EHP.  You can contact him at webmaster@toddcreason.org