Everyone has had their own reasons for becoming a mason, and many more reasons for staying one. We all reap the benefits of the fraternity, working hard on ritual or even enjoying a drink at the banquet table. It may not be what you expected when you joined, but you’ve grown accustomed to the lodge, and may even be an active member. But think back to the men who stand to order with you, and keep them in mind.

Before I joined I heard about the great freemasons of the past. I’ve wrote about them before here. But the point I want make now, almost a follow-up to that last article is that, even though we may not have many famous freemasons now, it was never about them being famous. It was about them making a difference, in the world and in people’s lives. They became famous because they contributed to art, science, philosophy, and many great range of subjects. Now remember those men with whom you stand to order, and then look at yourself. Is anyone striving to make a difference? Are we as masons now contributing to society? Charity is always great, but I think it’s time that we lived up to the reputations of our predecessors and really try to make a difference in the world. If anyone of the men that stand beside you or even you yourself are striving to try and make that difference, I congratulate you. You are truly are a Mason (with a capital ‘M’).

However, to those that aren’t, I implore you to look within yourself, and to provoke others to do the same, to find someway that you can make the world we live in a better place. It is quite a difficult thing in today’s world to make an impact like Benjamin Franklin or Winston Churchill, but the important thing is that we try. It’s time for us to stop being masons, and start being Masons.

Fraternally yours,

Flynn Francisco

W.M. Swastik Lodge 771 I.C., Mumbai

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