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What Came You
Here To Do?
by James S. Peterson, MPS

'What came you here to do? " Each new
Mason learns to answer that question ac-
cording to the ritual practiced in his
Lodge. The precise wording may vary
from one Lodge to the next, or even from
one instructor to another. The essential
meaning, however, remains the same
today as it was in Preston's time: "To
learn, to subdue my passions, and im-
prove myself in Masonry. "

My father first taught me those words
while driving home from my Entered Ap-
prentice degree. He knew the entire Ma-
sonic ritual by heart, and held an esoteric
certificate from the Grand Lodge of Texas
to prove it. More importantly, though, he
has always been very meticulous about
teaching the meaning behind the ritual,
and not just the words alone. He was
careful to point out the pause following the
word 'learn, " yielding a threefold answer
to the question, 'What came you here to
do? "

Masonry has always had a love affair
with the number three, it seems, but the
reason for the comma after 'learn" is far
more important than mere numerology.
Our purpose as Masons, the reason we
are here today, is first and foremost to
learn. Brother Henry Ford knew that. He
said "Anyone who stops learning is old,
whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who
keeps learning stays young. The greatest
thing in life is to keep your mind young. "

Notice that we say "to learn," not "to
teach. " Masonry reveals itself to the in-
dividual who applies himself to his stu-
dies. Our goal as Masons is to educate
ourselves. The successful student of
Freemasonry transforms himself from a
rough ashlar to a polished stone by study
and application of what he learns. The
symbolism of the rough and perfect ash-
lars holds great meaning for Masons.
They teach us that we, like the rough stone
straight from the quarry, contain within
us a smooth and polished stone. All that is
required to discover that polished stone
inside is to remove the rough and
unneeded parts which hide it.

The early framers of our ritual knew
there is more to success in life than educa-
tion alone. They added a second injunc-
tion, that we subdue our passions. How
important this was in Masonry's early
days, when the fellowship of the festive
board played a much larger role than it
does today. Lodges would meet around
the table, with the fellowship of the meal
forming the backdrop for instruction and
ritual. When Anderson reworked the Old
Charges into a "new and better method "
he gave great emphasis to those dealing
with a Mason's conduct.

Each Mason must learn to control his
own passions. Freemasonry was never in-
tended to be a sterile organization, devoid
of humor, emotion, or warmth. Our an-
cient brethren relished the time they could
spend in fellowship together, yet each man
was enjoined to curb his appetites and
keep a rem on his conduct.

Finally, we are taught that we came here
to improve ourselves in Masonry. This is
reminiscent of the oft repeated statement
that Freemasonry's purpose is to take
good men and make them better. Once
again, though, notice that it is the in-
dividual who is to do the improving, and
he is to be the object of his own efforts . We
came here as Masons not primarily to
change the world, but to improve our-
selves. Each of us take the lessons of
Freemasonry, the knowledge of the ages,
and applies it to his own life to make of
himself the best man he can. That is what
Freemasonry expects of us -- that each of
us strive to build the temple within the
heart of man. No one has ever suggested
that building human character is a quick
or easy task.

What should we be doing, as members
of a society dedicated to Masonic re-
search, education and knowledge, to assist
our brethren in meeting the challenge of
the question 'What came you here to do? "
Should we concentrate our efforts in
building great libraries? Should we hire
publicity agents to tell the world about
Masonry's good works? Or can we make
a greater impact upon those around us by
furnishing them an example of one who
makes a daily advancement in his per-
sonal knowledge and understanding of
Masonic ritual, history, philosophy, and
symbolism. Your study of Masonry will
reveal great discoveries and new insights.
Share them with your less informed
brethren, but never forget that the ashlar
you are polishing is your own.
