D4 Deputy - May., 2006

VWB C. Blair Leckie
Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4
of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington
for
2005-2007

Mailto: cblairl@excite.com

Most of us involved in the Craft take pride in being a Mason. We bask in the virtues of Masonry feeling confident that we have discovered a venerable and tested path to the improvement of our selves as men and spiritual beings. We laud ourselves for our diversity of creed, color and opinion, for being a group who values harmony over discord. We believe in its worth.

While I can never really know what goes on in the depths and hearts of another, and can only hold myself accountable, instances occur when we completely forget that as Masons we have made obligations to others and to ourselves. In the complacency of our pride, we forget being human subjects us to all of the shortcomings of a man.

Recently, I have observed anger, resentment, judgment and distrust. My Brothers, I see these villains of our passions at work in our lodges, in our district but most notably between lodges and our Grand Lodge. I am not immune. I fall prey to every one of these disasters of character. Yet, I cannot help but be struck by the hypocrisy. When anger, distrust, resentment and judgment prevail, where does Masonry fit in? What do we really believe and how justified is our pride in being a Mason?

We are, all of us, a work in progress. No one of us holds the patent on being right or superior to anyone. With humility, I offer the challenge to all of us to live and to act like Masons. Certainly, we must acknowledge that we are human and subject to stumbling. But, when we do stumble, let us all pick ourselves up like good Masons and aspire to our higher selves. Where there is anger, it is possible to practice forbearance. When distrust shows up, perhaps we can remember that we are dealing with a Brother Mason. Where there is resentment, we can work to let go and when we are judging another, it might provide perspective to remember our own imperfections.

In short my Brothers, let’s all get along in harmony and mutual respect. To do anything else hurts our credibility. Let’s be Masons.

Thanks to both the District 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.