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Address of R.W.Bro. Jeffrey L. Froud Teamwork A well-known saying goes, "Never criticize a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes." They tell me this is so you have a good head start before he can react - and you have his shoes! As Masons, we look at criticism a little differently. Early in our Masonic careers we are encouraged to afford assistance and instruction to our Brethren in the inferior degrees. We are charged to admonish with friendship and reprehend with mercy. It is very much a question of attitude. No Mason needs to be browbeaten, yet our landmarks offer a challenge deserving of constant study and examination. Those Brethren called on to afford assistance and instruction must be ready to respond to this need. Yet they must do so with a degree of tact. We not want to offer offence. Still, as Brothers, we can probably tolerate a certain amount of criticism. The man so sensitive as to consider every admonition a rebuke will not easily improve his command of our traditions. In a society so widely extended as that of Masonry, whose branches are spread over the four divisions of the globe, it cannot be denied that we have many members of rank and affluence. Nor can it be concealed that we have many members who enjoy neither. It is essential that we recognize that our Brethren possess differing talents and interests and varying resources to put at the disposal of Masonry. Whether wealth, time or skill, no two men have the ability or indeed, the inclination, to contribute to Masonry in the same way. The important thing is that we each participate. We are all part of a team and we ought to work together, with that peace and harmony which should ever characterize Freemasonry. If we see a Brother who may be falling short, we should offer him assistance, not condemnation. Those of us who have had occasion to browse the materials on Masonry available on the Internet have all been impressed with the large number of eminent citizens who have been members of the Craft. Six former Canadian Prime Ministers, many American presidents, judges, entertainers, athletes and artists have been and continue to be members of our fraternity. However, name-dropping is seldom a profitable pursuit. The impact which they have had on the Craft, or that Masonry has had on their careers, is what can enlighten us. Nevertheless, it is heartening to share a bond of fellowship with some very distinguished personalities, past and present. One Mason who stands out on the historical list is Henry Clay, known as the "Great Compromiser." He was a Kentucky politician, federal Senator, Secretary of State and presidential candidate and is credited with holding the United States together for much of the 40-year period preceding their civil war. In 1820, he was both Worshipful Master of Lexington Lodge No. 1 and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. His claim to lasting fame was his ability to hold together, through compromise, two strongly opposed groups. I believe that this is a very Masonic aptitude. Masons should always endeavour to put aside any differences between us. We should recognize and tolerate the needs of our Brethren and try to accommodate them as we strive to satisfy our own. In this way, we can continue with the great work which our fraternity promotes, namely the development of every social and moral virtue. The greatest of these virtues is charity. Masonry teaches us the importance of this quality in many ways. First, in the First Degree it instructs us in the proper practice of this attribute. As well, we learn in the Third Degree to go to the aid of a brother in distress. Masons share a unique bond of Brotherhood. When we band together in a common cause, the strength of that fraternal link magnifies our ability to accomplish our goals through the underlying trust and commitment to teamwork acknowledged to be at work. The Masonic Foundation and especially the Help-2-Hear Project is an attempt to harness our Masonic fellowship "For the Cause of Good." We are attempting a variety of approaches to achieve our goal - personal donations, collective appeals, special-purpose fund-raising events and the sale of the Cook Books are just some of them. It is hoped that one or more of these approaches will meet the charitable needs of each of our Brethren. At the same time, the Brethren must recognize that their particular effort may not appeal to everyone and be alert to avoid being too pushy. Everyone is probably aware by now that the sum committed to this project amounts to $30.00 per Mason. However, the objective is not to convince you to donate $30.00 each - if that is all we do, we will surely fail. Rather, we are encouraged to attempt, on a Lodge-by-Lodge, District-by-District basis, to work toward that target. Masons are asked to be good, to do good, to be charitable. This project gives us a rare opportunity to demonstrate to ourselves, in a measurable fashion, how well we are doing. My message this evening is that, by working together as Masons, we can achieve these objectives. Good luck to all of us. Thank you, Brethren R.W.Bro. Jeffrey L. Froud, DDGM |
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