|
When a new Master Mason is raised,
the Worshipful Master grants the Senior Warden the authority
to invest the newly Raised brother with the "distinguishing
badge of a Master Mason." Taking pride in his duty,
the Senior Warden makes sure that the new apron fits
the invested brother just right. It is snug, square
and neat.
The Brethren of the Lodge stand in
admiration of this newly raised Brother among Masons
who is standing there proudly donned in his perfect
fitting "badge of honour." The newly raised
Master mason takes pride in putting away that apron
as he heads home, elated and happy, if not somewhat
overwhelmed by the lessons he has learned about his
new apron and the craft. Then what happens?
For some the study of Freemasonry,
the practice of its rituals, and the contemplation of
the lessons learned become a lifelong pursuit. The badge
of honour with which they were invested is but the beginning
of a long and wonderful Masonic Journey for them.
Some Brethren keep the same apron for
the rest of their lives doing their bestHo make sure
they always fit the apron. By helping whenever needed,
being good men and upright citizens, exemplary husbands
and fathers' their conduct as men and Masons ensures
that they always fit the apron.
Some truly dedicated craftsmen seem
to fit the apron so well that other, more colorful aprons
start to seek them out. These are the Masons that other
Masons revere as our leaders and who, by following their
example, all Masons become better men. This type of
dedicated Mason fits every apron they will ever wear.
For some however that "Badge of
honour" once so proudly worn and carefully put
away after each meeting, begins to get a little loose
on them. They stop attending the Lodge for any number
of reasons or they do not want to do the duties they
were charged to fulfill when they were first given their
apron.
Perhaps they only joined for the apron,!Qr
the right to say they belong to the Masonic Fraternity.
This type of Brother will pay his dues to keep up his
membership thinking he is doing his part, but sadly
will do nothing more is often said, "we get more
out of Masonry than we put into it," which is obvious
to those many members who get so much out of Freemasonry
and yet put little or nothing back. One cannot continuously
make withdrawals from the Bank of Freemasonry without
being willing to make atleast the occasional deposit.
These members do not fit their aprons;
Most of us know how well our apron
fits when we put it on. Sometimes the apron belt needs
to be stretched but sometimes, we need to stretch too.
The question should not be how well does our apron fit
us, but how do we fit our Masonic apron.
Brethren, how do you fit your apron?
If you are finding it a little too
Ioose these days then change what you have to so you
may fit the apron once again. Stretch yourself a bit
instead of stretching the belt. As we all learned as
apprentices, "being the badge of innocence and
the bond of friendship. I strongly recommend you ever
to wear and consider it as such; and be assured that
if you never disgrace that badge it will never disgrace
you."
Courtesy - Lodge Jyothi No.253
|
