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Address of R.W.Bro. Jeffrey
L. Froud Leadership As I mentioned in my Official Visit address last month, I believe that our Masonic ritual, besides teaching useful lessons of morality, also serves as a kind of shorthand by which we can more effectively and efficiently communicate to our Brethren. Human interaction is greatly encouraged when it is based on shared experiences - in our Craft, in our careers and in current events. Undoubtedly, the most significant event that we have shared in the past month is the passing of our former Prime Minister, the Honourable Pierre Elliot Trudeau. As Masons, we recognize the role he played, as its long-time leader, in the development of our country. Masonry is, first and foremost, a fraternity. However, it is far more than a mere private club. Our brotherhood is founded on the highest principles of truth and justice. We do not wish the strong differences of opinion that can exist between men of good will over matters of partisan politics or sectarian religion to disrupt the harmony of our Lodge. This does not mean that we must discard our political or religious passions. A Mason is entitled to enjoy the serenity of the tyled recesses of the Lodge without the persistent importuning of his friends - in matters of politics, religion, business or otherwise. However, Masons are patriotic and faithful. We honour our flag and we sing the anthem at our assemblies. We are charged to pay due obedience to the laws of our country and to personify the good citizen. The period when Pierre Elliot Trudeau dominated our political landscape was, in many respects, a tumultuous one - the FLQ crisis and repatriation of the constitution, the first Quebec referendum, wage and price controls, the war in Vietnam and the persistent fear that the Cold War would heat up dominated much of our lives. To see Fidel Castro at the funeral, an old dictator, representative of a discredited economic system, reminded me of an anecdote of Rich Little at the celebration of Trudeau’s retirement as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party - a Cuban pilot, Juan Valdez, as his plane was departing from Ottawa, buzzed the parliament buildings. The headline in the next days paper was "Juan flew over the cuckoo’s nest!" Since Trudeau left the political stage, we have had Free Trade, GST, faxes, personal computers, cell phones and another Quebec referendum. Still, we were all affected by his death. The recurring comment I heard about Trudeau in the past few weeks, ‘though, was on the strength of his passion. He was a man who was not afraid to take a stand, who fought for what he believed in. This applied not only to his political career, but to his personal life. No one ever doubted his sincere devotion to his children. Whether his political career was a success or not, will be argued over by historians. The balance is constantly changing and will continue to change for some time as the ramifications of his actions are played out. Of significance to us as Masons is the way we look at the man and his times in terms of our values. From that, we can gain a greater appreciation of what our Craft has to offer us in coping with the world in which we live and finding our proper perspective on political affairs. After all, in spite of the scorn often heaped on politics and politicians, the proper functioning of the political process is crucial to the good government of our nation. We are therefore duty bound to uphold that process if we are to provide an example for others to emulate. We are leaders. That is what Masonry prepares us for - to speak in front of a crowd, to work with committees, budgets and rules of order, to understand the importance of a management hierarchy. And, we are men who are not afraid to stand up for what is right. As we say farewell to Pierre Trudeau, we would do well to recall that death has no terrors equal to the stain of falsehood and dishonour. R.W.Bro. Jeffrey L. Froud, DDGM |
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