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VWB Bob Jensen Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for 2001-2002 |
My First Important Title (July-August 2001)
As I begin this year as Deputy of the Grand Master in District Number Four, I think about all the great men who have preceded me in this position. Some have gone on to become Grand Masters and leaders in other branches of Masonry. I intend to follow the wishes of our new Grand Master and work with the Lodges to help them become the Lodge they want to be. I think we have an exciting year ahead of us in District Four.Titles and awards have never been very important to me. They have come with work and effort in various phases of my Masonic life. Now having completed 40 years as a Master Mason, I look back on dozens of Brothers who have helped me become a better Mason through their interest and time spent with me. I have said many times before that I would not know most of the men that I associate with today, if I have not become a Mason. How poor my life would have been without those associations.
No matter what my title might be, I still consider the best and most important title I will ever receive came when the Worshipful Master said during my First Degree "Brother Senior Deacon, remove the cable-tow. Our BROTHER is now bound to us by a stronger tie." Before that I had been Mister, even though I knew a number of the members of the Lodge quite well.
Now I was a BROTHER and the other Brothers did a great job of taking a 21 year old and making him one of them. From the beginning, I was treated well, encouraged in my Masonic journey, helped with my ritual, and in general, made to feel welcome and important to the Lodge.
While I was made an officer shortly after joining, I was always treated with respect and my ideas and thoughts were both encouraged and listened to by the older and more experienced Brothers. They often gave me good advice and assisted me in programs I proposed or discussed. Many of the events and meetings of the past have become blurred with time, but that first time of being called "Brother" will never leave me.
When I attend a Lodge, I love the feeling that I get when I put out my hand to a Brother. We don't always use the term, but in my mind I am always thinking Brother Ken, Brother Gene, Brother Brian, etc. no matter what their Grand Lodge title might be. These friendships that have developed are lasting. I feel joy, sorrow, and compassion with my Brothers at their changes in fortune and life. When one passes to the Celestial Lodge above, I feel the sorrow and know that I will greatly miss seeing him in Lodge here in the future. No matter what title they may have achieved, they are still "Brother" and in my mind they will always be important to me.
Upcoming events in our District include the District Four picnic at Nile Shrine Area "C" on August 5th. Bring some food for your family and the District will provide a hot grill, hot-dogs for kids, pop etc. We will arrive about lOa.m., get the grill going and plan on eating about 11:30 a.m. Talking, swimming, eating, talking, walking, more eating and talking will make for a fun day. If you have not attended before, this is the year to do so. My first promise as Deputy, is that the weather will be great. If I am wrong, I will bring my own rope and I am sure you can find a tree handy.
Thanks to both the Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4, and the Masonic Monitor which publishes his articles for allowing us to reprint them. The Masonic Monitor is published monthly (except August) under approval of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. The Masonic Monitor can be contacted at: 6619 132nd Avenue NE, PMB 237, Kirkland, WA, 98033-8627, USA. Phone: (425) 822-4605 - FAX: (425) 822-2535 - Email: masonicmonitor@earthlink.net.