Footprints in the Snow

By: Wor. Jason Eddy

The snow was falling steadily as I pulled my car into the parking lot of my office building this morning.  Being one of the early arrivals, per my normal routine, the lot was largely vacant.  I pulled into my parking spot, sat for a minute or so to listen the end of Andrea Bocelli’s rendition of Ava Maria, and gathered my things to head into work for the day.  I should note that much to the amusement of my co-workers, I always park in the parking spot in the far corner of the lot.  No matter the availability of closer spots.  I do this so that I can enjoy quiet time on my lunch break for meditation and contemplation.  So as I walked across the new fallen snow, feeling the snow crunch softly beneath my shoes, I was struck with a thought.  To help solidify the thought, I stopped and looked back towards my car.  There in the snow, as clear as could be, were my footprints highlighting for all to see the path I had taken from my car to the door of the building.  With that, one word came to me.  Obligation.  So, what do footprints in the snow have to do with an obligation?  Perhaps nothing.  Perhaps Much.

Allow me to expound a bit on this epiphany and how it relates to Masonry.  As I trekked across the snow, I left an impression.  This impression could now serve as a map or guide to those behind me who were walking into the building.  Just by looking at my footprints, they would be able to tell if I had slipped, fallen, or stepped anywhere that was undesirable.  More generally, by looking at my footprints, those behind me could see a path.  Such is the way of Masonic Light.

Though disagreements abound concerning nearly every aspect of our Craft, one concept that all Masons can agree with is that we are all seeking “that which was lost”.  This lends itself to the belief that it was once “had”.  As with this parking lot that was once clearly marked and able to be navigated by all who wished to do so, “the Lost Word” was once within the reach of any who desired to know it.  To the modern Mason, we know only that what we seek has been lost since time immemorial.  How then do we find it?  Perhaps we never will, but those who truly seek it do one of two things.  They either travel the Path by following in the footsteps of those who have gone before them, or they step forward into the unknown and leave a Path for others to follow.  Yet we have still not connected to the word “obligation”.  Please continue to follow my footsteps.

As Speculative Masons, we are all seeking Light.  We seek Light because we are in darkness, lest we would never know when the Light was found.  So it is with all of society.  Society, since time immemorial, has been plunged into darkness, lost in the Forest of Errors.  Many Seekers find themselves close enough to the perimeter of that forest to see the Light.  For those, it is simply a matter of having the courage to emerge, much like Plato’s allegory of the Cave.  For others, the perimeter is far from view.  They can see nothing but darkness, despite having an internal desire for Light.  How then are those seeking Light from deep within the darkness able to find it?  Various Masonic monitors include some variant of the following text: “from a point to a line, from a line to a superficies and from a superficies to a solid".  So it is with traveling the Path from within the Forest of Errors towards that divine Light that we all seek.  One Seeker begins his journey, a point.  He travels as far towards that Light as he is able, creating a line.  This Brother’s line ends at the starting point of another Brother’s journey….and so the progression starts towards building a solid edifice.  That House not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.

How then does this pertain to the word “obligation”?  I remind you that “to relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent upon all man, but particularly Freemasons”.  I would suggest that all of humanity resides in a level of distress.  As not only Seekers of Light, but as Bearers of Light, we are obligated to not only carry the torch, but to ensure that we leave a trail that those who seek what we seek may follow.  This is a call to arms to those within our Gentle Craft who have found Light.  This is an admonishment to share that Light so that those behind you on the Path might find what you have found.   Though we must each walk our own Path, we can travel much further with the help of our Brothers.  Perhaps, as with the footsteps in the snow, your impression will disappear over time, but perhaps before doing so another Seeker may catch just a glimpse of it.  This glimpse may provide them with, at the very least, a direction to travel.  So, my Brother, as you leave your Masonic legacy, do so with the awareness that others can and will follow in your footsteps.  Ensure that the Path you forge is a Path worth following.

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To Live In Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die

BY: ROBERT G. DAVIS, 33*, GRAND CROSS

It is the custom of many fraternal societies to come together once each year to remember and honor those friends and brothers who have been called from their earthly labors. The winter and summer solstices are good times for this duty, as both are symbolic of death and re-birth and the cycle of life. In every true brotherhood of men, it is an act of fraternal courtesy to remember those we have lost whom we personally knew and most admired in life.  

But this comradely connection is true of many thoughtful men, even beyond the ceremonies of fraternity. Men remember the men who are no longer with them who made the biggest difference in their lives.

These were the men who showed us what integrity looks like. They taught us that our own transformation to an improved being, fully capable of making a difference in the lives of others, is up to us; and can be realized in the example we leave for others.   

In our fraternal society, those special few who have come before us and been an influence in our own life have always been the agents for this transmission. This is true in our Lodges and our Rites. But, on a broader scale, it is also true in occupations, communities, families and social relationships. The significance and meaning of social honor and integrity can only be carried forth in each generation by those honored men who have lived their life in such a way that the attributes of their good example seem right and compelling to the next generation. We should never forget that the kind of man we are will ultimately be the kind of man others see in us. Then, through us, to those who come after us. This is the chain of union in manhood. This is the legacy of good men.

And it is one reason we annually commemorate the memory of our forefathers. We do this to show manly respect; and we do it to check our own progress against the standards they bequeathed to us.

It is the way legacy works. The real ideals of heroism do not come from movies or comic books. Our heroes are found among those whom we have known and followed and admired to be the best models for our own life. They were once real live men with whom we could relate and touch and talk. They are the men we selected to best represent who we wanted to be like when we grew up. We craved their anointment. And, to a large degree, they now define us.

We face life with their kindness and honesty; their confidence and determination. We confront death with their faithfulness, courage and disinterestedness.

So, you see, if we have paid attention, the examples of the fathers, father-figures, brothers, companions and knights we once knew and most admired have prepared us to be worthy as men in our own time. Our task is to carry on the work which they have furthered so that it may also be said of us, as we can truly say of them, that the world is better because we have lived.

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.

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A Matter of Character

BY: ROBERT G. DAVIS, 33*, GRAND CROSS

“If you think about what you ought to do for other people, your character will take care of itself.” –Bro. Woodrow Wilson

Perhaps it is true that all institutions ultimately move away from their orthodoxy. Times change. People move through organizations; some affect them, some don’t. Over the long haul, it is hard to keep the original definition in focus.

I am sometimes amused at how hard we work at defining Freemasonry. Every Grand Jurisdiction has at least one brochure espousing what Freemasonry is and what Masons do. We attempt to tell the world what we are, and are not; what Masons believe; what we do in lodge, the kinds of charities we support, our importance in the world, why men should join us; and even how to join.  Every state and national Masonic organization I am acquainted with offers a number of printed materials about Masonry. Essentially all have websites.

Of course, we also suffer from our share of “not so informed” information about us; often distributed by non-masonic groups who delight in taking a published interest in us. This includes anti-masons, television evangelists, individuals who print hatred just because hatred sells; and weak fundamentalist sects with the wrong mission at heart.

I personally don’t mind any of this. Certainly, Grand Lodges should make as much available in the way of Masonic information and education as they can. It helps both our members and the larger public. The anti-masonic materials do little damage. We get attention, even when the information is bad. I hold to the premise that thoughtful people will generally give little credence to information which appears biased in its content. And I’ve never met a thoughtful anti-mason.

All of this really makes little difference anyway. What does make a real difference to everyone is that we hold to our orthodoxy. The creed of Masonry is moral action. Masonry to the world is the character of Masons. The character of Masons speaks more eloquently than all the books and pamphlets written about our fraternity.   

This means that in the community where Masons are seen as men of high integrity, the fraternity stands in high repute. In the community where Masons do not have the respect of the public, Masonry has little chance of being seen as an organization of men with a beautiful system of moral and ethical teaching.     

It is just that simple. The reputation of Freemasonry rests literally in the character of each Brother. It is in the power of every member to glorify or diminish the institution.

We must recognize that most people will never read a word about Masonry or know of its philanthropies. The public’s perception of the fraternity will never be well defined. The sole basis of judging it will be the character of the men who are known to be Masons.

People do not read books—people read men. Masonry is to them what they see in the temperament of Masons. While this places an awesome responsibility on every Mason in every community in the world; it is indeed the distinction of Masonry. It is its orthodoxy.

The sad fact is that one bad example can do us a lot of harm. When one of us is caught up in some public scandal, or unethical business dealing, or an immoral act, the public takes it for granted that Masonry, for all its beautiful system of morality, either condones such behavior, or is too weak to be of adequate influence by its teachings to prevent it.  

So it really is up to each of us. The bottom line is that the Mason who lives up to the teachings and obligations of Masonry will be a man above reproach—not only to his brethren; but among his neighbors, his family, his friends, his business partners, and his community. It would be wonderful to hear the merchant say, “I have been taken in by a good many scoundrels, but never have I had any trouble with a man who wore the square and compasses.” Or, to have the minister proclaim, “I know nothing of the religious or non-religious teachings of the Masonic fraternity, but I have never heard a Mason make a disparaging remark concerning the church.” Or to have the judge say, “Never in my experience as a judge have I had a case before me of two Masons going to law.” Or, to hear non-masons say, “I frequently attend social gatherings of Masons and while I don’t know anything about the inner side of Masonry, their exhibition of good mindedness and solid behavior impress me to think that their teachings must be good.”

In fact, I would be more than delighted if most people thought our most famous Masonic emblem, the letter G, stood for Gentleman. After all, every man who wears it is to be one.

You see, we are what other people say we are. The best argument for Masonry is a good man. Just as the best example of humanity is a good human being.

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