Installation 2004

Worshipful Masters' Installation Address

Brethren, Friends, Family and Honored Guests;

MASONRY IS BELIEVED TO BE THE OLDEST FRATERNITY IN EXISTENCE. IT IS NON-PARTISAN, NON-SECTARIAN, AND DEDICATED TO IMPROVING MEN'S CHARACTERS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY. IT USES THE SYMBOLS OF STONE-CUTTING TO TEACH US TO PERFECT OUR LIVES, LIKE PERFECTLY CUT STONES, AND, TO CEMENT OUR RELATIONSHIPS. IT PROMOTES HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIFE, IN A TIME IN WHICH THOSE TRAITS ARE RARE.

OUR FOUNDING FATHERS ENTRENCHED IN THIS COUNTRY THE QUALITY OF FREEMASONRY, THE PATRIOTISM OF OUR CRAFT AND THE DEDICATION OF ALL BRETHREN TO OUR NATION'S IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND EXCELLENCE. FREEMASONRY IS AMERICA. THE TWO ARE INSEPARABLE. TODAY NO MASON WORKS ALONE. HE SHARES IN AND BENEFITS FROM A DUAL HERITAGE OF AMERICANISM AND FREEMASONRY ROOTED IN THE EARLIEST YEARS OF OUR COUNTRY.

THIS AFTERNOON YOU HAVE WITNESSED A CEREMONIAL RITUAL VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED SINCE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY TIMES. PATRIOTS SUCH AS JOHN HANCOCK; THOMAS PAINE, ; DR. JOSEPH WARREN WHO FELL AT BUNKER HILL; BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND PAUL REVERE KNELT AS I KNELT TODAY AND WILLINGLY TOOK UPON THEMSELVES THE SAME OBLIGATIONS I HAVE PLEDGED .

GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS WORSHIPFUL MASTER OF ALEXANDRIA LODGE WHEN HE WAS INAUGURATED OUR FIRST PRESIDENT. HIS GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT WAS THAT, ALMOST ALONE AMONG THE REVOLUTIONARIES OF THE MODERN ERA, HE RETURNED HIS POWER TO THE PEOPLE. HIS CHARACTER EXPLAINS HIS ACHIEVEMENT; HE HAD THE WILL AND THE CHARISMA TO WIN A WAR AND FOUND A STATE, WITH THE MORAL AND IDEOLOGICAL GUIDANCE THAT HELD HIM TO HIS PROPER ROLE. HIS LIFE IS AN ONGOING EXAMPLE OF THE HEIGHTS THAT HUMANS CAN REACH.

FREEMASONRY HAS THREE PARTICULAR PRINCIPLES OF IMPORTANCE, WHICH IT TEACHES TO EVERY MASON. THESE ARE BROTHERLY LOVE, RELIEF AND TRUTH. MASONS SHOW TOLERANCE AND RESPECT FOR THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS AND BEHAVE WITH KINDNESS, PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS THEIR FELLOW CREATURES. MASON ARE TAUGHT TO PRACTICE CHARITY AND TO CARE FOR FAMILY AND BRETHREN BUT ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THE MASON STRIVES FOR TRUTH CONTINUALLY. THIS REQUIRES HIGH MORAL STANDARDS AND A DESIRE TO ACHIEVE THEM IN HIS OWN LIFE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE LODGE ROOM.

AS THE NEWLY INSTALLED MASTER OF LOYAL LODGE #1007 IT IS MY GOAL TO EMULATE THOSE WHOM I FOLLOW; TO ENCOURAGE THE BRETHREN TO ACTIVELY LIVE THE TENETS OF BROTHERLY LOVE; RELIEF AND TRUTH; AND FINALLY, AS IS WRITTEN IN MICAH 6:8… TO DO JUSTLY, AND TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH MY GOD.