Address of R.W. Bro. Hermann Waxl
on His Official Visit to Unity Lodge No. 376, Feb. 9, 2000

It's More Than Just Winning

This is an exciting time to be alive!

There is awesome advancement in the world of technology, things like e-mail, faxes, pagers and cellular phones are taking communication to an unprecedented level.

The world of science also undergoes almost perpetual change, as scientists and chemists continue research on updating and improving medicines, procedures and theories.

And now,  they are cloning sheep:

It is exciting and frightening at the same time!

I overheard someone say that he thought we will someday clone people! "Why would anyone want to?" I suppose the real answer would be that very few people would be interested in cloning someone else, but there might be several that would b e interested in cloning themselves!

We have all heard it said that "the more things change, the more they stay the same" ...That only gets truer as time rolls on. Things everywhere seem to be advancing at an incredible pace and it can be overwhelming to try to comprehend it all.

But even with all the rapid pace of advancement throughout the world, there are basic principles and values that still ring true.

Things like: Relationships, caring, trust, honour, decency.

We also value a sense of community, of family and of being and doing good. I don't believe that will ever change.

Regardless of all the truths science unveils, we will continue to value these things that are deepest in our hearts. No exciting announcement or new discovery will ever replace these values.

I also believe that a sense of belonging is important to all of us. We want to be a part of something that is good. I believe that sports are popular because they speak to a certain part of us that wants to belong. We identify with "our team".

When our team wins, it means we have won. And, to varying degrees, we follow that team, cheering when they are up .. disappointed when they are down. It is amazing how the team or group we affiliate ourselves with, affects us.

I believe it is an honour to all of us, that each day, men decide to join the Masonic Team. What an opportunity to be something good for them! We want to be something that they can be proud to be affiliated with, and to be a part of. No individual can make that happen. It is a team effort all the way.

In the Masonic Brotherhood, we believe in having respect for everyone, regardless of: education, background, race, religion, colour, or  country of origin. We believe in equal opportunity. We believe when someone falls down, we should help them back up.

We believe Masonry to be a team where everyone is welcome, and we want to be a positive influence on their lives. This gives us all a responsibility. We want everyone to be able to say: I am sure glad I joined Masonry! It is one of the best things I have ever done!!

We discovered a long time ago, that we are far from perfect. Every time we look back and recognize mistakes that we have made along the way, we are encouraged to rectify them.

I think we have been blessed with so much success already. I cannot imagine how good it is going to get, as soon as we get everything right. That is why I believe in getting better.

As each year passes, it is rewarding to see how many improvements we have been able to make along the way. Of course, someone will have to take over after we are gone, but we are confident that there are those who will be ready when the time comes. All the advancements in technology and science bring us new opportunities to be in the forefront, for example: computers, websites and email.

It is a fun time to be alive!

If there is anything that is good, beneficial and effective, you can count on Masonry to be involved with it.

But even more important than that, we should do every thing within our means of influence to assure that the Brotherhood will remain a team that you can always be proud to be part of.

We want to always be able to feel good -not only about the fact that we are winning the game, but we want tot feel good about how we won.

Thank you.

R.W.Bro. Hermann Waxl, DDGM