Message from the East
The Iron Worker and King Solomon

“Behold I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work.” And when Solomon and his guests had arrived at the place of the feast, they beheld a man, clad in the garb and covered with the soil of labor, seated in the chair of honor not yet awarded. And the king waxed wroth, and said: “What manner of man art thou? Why comest thou thus unseemingly and unbidden to our feast, where none are invited save the chief workers on the Temple?” And when the man answered and said: “Please you, I come not unbidden. Was it not proclaimed that this day the chief workmen of the Temple dine with the king? Therefore am I come.” And when the man had thus spoken, the guests talked with each other and he who carved the cherubim spake aloud and said: “This fellow is no sculptor. I know him not.” And he who inlaid the roof with pure gold said: “Neither is he of those who work the refined metals. I know him not.” And he who wrought in raising the walls said: “He belongs not with those who are cutters of stone. He is not of us.” And one who labored in shaping the timbers for the roof said: “We who are cunning in cedar wood, and know the mystery of joining strange timbers together, know him not. He is not of us.” Then said King Solomon: “How sayest thou now? Wherefore should I not have thee plucked by the beard, scourged with a scourge, and stoned with stones, even unto death?” But the man was nowise daunted, and he arose from his seat and came to where the wine was set, and took a cup of the wine and raised it high and spake aloud, saying : “O king; live forever!” He then drank long until the cup was emptied.He now returned to the seat and spake to the guests who had rebuked him, and unto the chief of the carvers of stone, “Who made the instruments with which you carve?” And he answered, “The Iron Worker.” And to the chief of the workers in wood he said, “Who made the tools with which you felled the cedars of Lebanon and shaped them into pillars and roof for the Temple?” And he answered, “ The Iron Worker.” Then he spoke to the artificer in gold and ivory and precious stones, saying, “Who fashioned the instruments with which you wrought beautiful ornaments for my lord the king?” And he, too, made answer the same, “The Iron Worker.” Then said the man to King Solomon, “Behold, O king! I am he who, when deride, they call me smith, but when they would honor me, call me Son of the Forge. These craftsmen say truly that I am not one of them: I am their superior. Without my labor first their labor could not be.” “Son of the Forge,” said Solomon, “I, too, honor thee, thou worthy successor of the great master, Tubal Cain. Take thou this seat at my right hand prepared for the most worthy. It is thy due.”

Brothers, let us treat all of our guests and visitors as Tubal Cain should have been treated from the beginning when he attended King Solomon’s feast. No matter if a brother has traveled eight thousand miles or if he has come from over the pali to visit our lodge, let us spread the cement of brotherly love and affection that unites us. Let our sojourning brothers be first served refreshments, first seated and treated with the aloha and respect that we all enjoy. Always remember that good old fashioned Honolulu Lodge hospitality that we are famous for. That is all my brothers, aloha and peace be with you.

Respectfully Submitted,
George Theofanis
Worshipful Master