MASONIC MATURITY

The following is taken from a speech delivered to Pyramid Lodge No. 
869, Vilseck, Germany, by Dr. (med) Hugo Thomas, Past Grand Master, 
American-Canadian Grand Lodge, within the United Grand Lodges of 
German Freemasons, on September 21, 1978. It contains inspirational 
and universal challenges which each of us must face. We thank 
"Brother Hugo" for permitting its use as our January
Short Talk Bulletin.

With my grateful appreciation I proudly salute the incoming and 
outgoing symbolic representatives of the trinity of Wisdom, Strength 
and Beauty, and all Officers and Brothers of this Lodge.

Brethren: I love our Lodges and at the end of the day it is good to 
feel that we have helped some Brother, that we have accomplished some 
Masonic groundwork. And I freely admit I don't have trouble sleeping 
at the end of my busy day. My biggest problem is trying to find time 
to sleep.

As always in Freemasonry, the election and subsequent installation of 
officers is a time for both acknowledgment and hope. The Brothers who 
have served deserve our deepest appreciation, for they have taken 
time and energy from their offices and their homes to apply their 
efforts toward the goals of Freemasonry. The friends and families of 
these dedicated Freemasons have witnessed their labors for the Craft 
and have encouraged them in their endeavors. They realize - as do the 
officers
themselves - that to serve self only, is to enter a prison of egotism 
and vanity. Only by giving of
ourselves can we better ourselves . . . Only by loving can we be 
loved. Such men, such officers become the very symbolic stone and 
mortar of our Order. They serve beyond the call of duty and set an 
example for those that follow in their footsteps. Our full 
acknowledgment and deepest gratitude go out to those who lay down 
their present tasks to go on to new responsibilities or who take a 
well deserved respite.

This sense of acknowledgment for past service is joined to a new hope 
for those who take up the work of the Fraternity and accept the 
duties attached to Masonic office. These new officers we greet with 
fraternal well wishes and confidence that they will sustain the 
drive, direction and accomplishment of those Brethren who have 
preceded them. This does not mean only those Brothers who have just 
held
the posts of authority, but also that long line of Brethren who have 
served since the Constitution of the Lodge was drafted and 
recognized.

These men and officers - past and present - represent Masonry at its 
finest. Each man is a leader among men. Each has a special talent, a 
special love of Freemasonry and a special ability to do his job well. 
They meet challenges that go far beyond simply serving as officers at 
Stated Meetings. They give guidance and inspiration. They make the 
wheels turn. They accomplish real benefits.

Our Masonic achievements do not end here, for out of this service 
comes a sense of personal
fulfillment, fine fellowship and mutual endeavor that improves and 
strengthens both leaders and workers. Here in the Craft, we build 
character in men. We make men better and thus build a better world. 
It is a goal and a challenge for all to share - family, friends, 
members, officers. Let each of us at every Election and Installation 
of Officers express gratitude for the accomplishments of past
officers, accept the leadership of the new Brethren and assume the 
full responsibility of our own important role in Freemasonry.

In unity and solidarity, let's continue the great work of Masonry, 
exemplify the principles we so heartily endorse, and do our utmost to 
promote the growth of our order in numbers and caliber, so it exerts 
its influence long after our own years on earth have ceased. Make it 
be true that Masonry "has grown in the years fulfilling-the highest 
hopes and inspirations of its early Brothers." Let us do our work in 
the new Masonic Year to "stand the test of time." We need builders 
not joiners; crewmen not
passengers; and the program of the Lodge should be so arranged that 
all Brothers are attracted to our meetings and given a chance to 
actively participate in and push forward our real objectives. We need 
the skill of them all; but do not expect perfection in a man just 
because he is a Mason. If you do, you will be disappointed. Masonry 
makes men better, but no human agency makes them perfect. If he is a
Mason, you have a right to presume he is a fairly good man, but do 
not condemn the Institution, even if a few Masons turn out bad. Even 
the great Teacher himself had a Judas. Our aim and purpose is to 
receive good men, keep them good and make them better. Judge the 
Order not by a few failures but by the average of its successes. The 
average is high and gives standards to its members, but it cannot be 
an infallible guide. Each of us must be a working and acting 
instrument within our society of Brothers, which will enable us so to 
live, that men might better understand who we are and whom we serve. 
Masonry can form us into a stronghold and landmark for goodness and 
nobility in the middle of evil, and enlighten us to show the way out 
of darkness. It can and does serve as a peaceful pacemaker in the 
midst of turbulence, a magnetic force influencing mankind by its pure 
principles. In our
profession as Masons we must have the boldness to speak and act as 
such. It should be so obvious from the things we say and do, that we 
have been inspired "with the symbolic purity and perfection of our 
institution." Our responsiveness to these noble gifts should be with 
humble gratitude, but also a willingness to achieve perfection in our 
weakness and to regulate our lives accordingly. Paraphrasing
Brother Goethe: "Only he deserves his Freedom, his Life, and his 
Light, who daily earns it anew." Truly, only in this manner may
we grow in knowledge, faith and contemplation; in understanding and 
experience; in hope and charity; in brotherly love, and in the 
boundless joy of eternal salvation through Light in Masonry.

Our daily work in Freemasonry should be distinguished by enthusiasm 
and excellence. We are obligated to minister each according to the 
best of his ability; while we "volunteer" our daily services, we are 
simultaneously "drafted" by those same obligations, and solemnly 
charged to preserve the purity of the Fraternity unsullied. We are 
forever reminded and encouraged in doing so by the writer of 
Ecclesiastes: "Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might. 
Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required." This 
is true of all tasks assigned to us, minor or important: that we be 
true and faithful custodians of our Masonic heritage. When we combine 
fidelity with faith, we know we shall succeed, and only then can we 
truly hope the LORD will bless our decisions and actions.

When thus spiritually prepared, I believe I can truthfully state, 
that Germans, Americans or Canadians or any other nationality should 
not be elected Master of a Lodge or to any Lodge Office.

We are summoned to elect only Free and Accepted masons.

If we distinguish in any other way how we select our leaders, on 
Lodge or Grand Lodge level, we violate the teachings of the LEVEL . . 
In Lodge all men are equal and in the sacred walls of the Temple we 
are constantly reminded to forget the division or existence of 
different creeds, professions or nationalities.

I believe that the attainment of Master of a Lodge is not and was 
never the ultimate goal of our great Order. Our great purpose and s 
objective is to seek admission into a Lodge and 'I become as great a 
mason as humanly possible, to receive Light, more Light and further 
Light, allowing the Mystic Tie to weave its wonderful message into 
our lives. I even sometimes think, there are certain advantages to 
keeping in office for more than one year that rare Master or officer 
who has been touched with the tender message of Masonry and who has 
those qualities of administration and leadership so badly needed for 
all well-governed organizations.

The purpose of Masonry is to bring men from darkness to Light. 
Therefore, may we set aside the quest for any single honor of office, 
and search for more Light in Masonry. So if we can find this great 
Light through capable leadership through a Brother, especially 
gifted, - who loses? Certainly not a seeking Brother or a Lodge. The 
office must and should seek the man; not the man the office. It 
really only matters that our leaders be Masons capable of leading and 
will never promote their own
advancement to any office other than that highest of all offices--
serving his Brothers!

I, therefore, believe: Germans, Americans, Canadians or other 
nationalities should not be Master of Lodges or Grand Master; only 
Masons, who have seen Light, have allowed it to brighten the pathway 
and can spread it to others, should serve in this position. So if by 
accident of birth the selected Brother is of some nationality other 
than the most common in our midst, it should only be noted to 
strengthen our chain of Universal Brotherhood. Inspired leaders are 
what we need in our Mystic Circle.
You, Worshipful Master, have exemplified this tenet during your term, 
as so many have done who have gone this way before you. Some may 
think of leadership in terms of political or business prominence, or 
some other obvious position of prominence. I'll not use the word in 
such a narrow sense. One meaning given in the dictionary is: a leader 
is one who acts as a guiding force. A great need of our society is 
that every Mason when qualified as a leader be an example of honor, 
morality, zeal and charity, compassion and aggressive willingness: 
Honor, that we not only refrain from doing ill, but that we extend 
ourselves to do good. Morality, that every facet of our lives could 
be a worthy example for the guidance of others, because the world 
needs active examples as much as it needs to be preached to. Zeal, 
that we not only are committed to doing much that is constructive, 
but discreetly letting our enthusiasm mark our behavior that others 
may be attracted to this way of life. Charity, for
every created being that he may fulfill his destiny as designated by 
the Supreme Architect. Compassion, for the unfortunate, whether high 
or low, rich or poor; taking no pleasure in the
misfortune of any. Aggressive willingness, to help meet any worthy 
need by giving a helping hand, a word of encouragement, an under-
standing hand on the shoulder, helping others to have hope and to 
believe in themselves. The list is limitless. We do not always 
perceive the opportunities for this kind of service, but as we use 
the opportunities, we learn to recognize them.

Quality of character automatically makes the possessor a leader by 
virtue of his example. Masonry's task is to produce that quality. 
Further acclaim and prominence are not Masonry's objective, though we 
take satisfaction when these things come to a Brother who merits 
them. Our prayer then, is that he will always be a Mason, in the most 
profound sense.

Masonic leadership, as I understand it, means consistently exercising 
those qualities which are inculcated in our lectures, so that each 
Mason is an example for good, wherever he goes; leadership through 
example and with truth.

I have no doubts that this Masonic maturity will continue to be the 
guideline of all Masters who govern this good Lodge.

Before closing this presentation, I will leave you with a few 
personal remarks to the outgoing Master:

Worshipful Sir, how swiftly the year has passed and we are fast 
approaching the end of a wonderful journey. Among our most valuable 
possessions are our friendship and our happy memories that you have 
given to us this year, and for the Brothers and friends who have 
proven themselves so faithful and true. We thank you for your many 
acts of kindness and for the courtesies; and as we bow in a prayer of  
thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father we thank Him for the gift of your 
friendship and
enthusiasm. It is only through the spirit of giving that we are able 
to accomplish the objectives of our Order, that of extending 
Brotherly Love, Truth and Masonic Charity. We are most grateful for 
these contributions you have made to your Lodge, and we hope the 
Brothers will take renewed pride in their
membership.

Brother William Preston expressed it well: "Virtue is true nobility, 
and Wisdom is the channel by which it is directed and conveyed. 
Wisdom with humility and virtue alone distinguish Masons."

May our Heavenly Father bless your lives in the same bountiful 
measure in which He has blessed ours and may He supply your every 
need. And late, very late in life, you may be transmitted from the 
fading honors of an earthly Lodge to the mansion prepared for the 
faithful, in another and a better world


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