Do I appreciate Masonry? Masonry is all I do. I know that I am a far better man for having joined Masonry than I would have been had I chosen another path. Yet, I struggled with the title, “Appreciation of Masonry” until I consulted with Brother Webster in his famous Dictionary. There I found such synonyms

as “Appraisal, estimation, full recognition of worth.” Also there were “Recognition through senses w/ delicacy of perception” and “Expression of gratitude and approval of gratitude of esthetic satisfaction“ Favorable critical estimate—yes, indeed, I am a better man for having joined the Masonic Fraternity. My life is now “Grounded” in Masonic teachings and principles—Masonry is a constant in the virtues it teach its members, and therefore a stabilizing truth for me.

My “job” or rather labor of love in this fraternity is to remind us all that it is our Ritual in Masonry that binds us together as Brothers, and at the same time sets us apart from other organizations. Brethren, keep sacred and inviolable the mysteries of our Craft as set forth in our ritual. Strict adherence to and uniformity in the floorwork and the proper use of The Clear Text Key are necessary if we are to maintain our stature as a Fraternal Order. By adhering to the ritual we avoid being known as a Club or another Men’s Group. After all, the words and the movements on the floors of our Lodges establish and confirm our identity.

Our Ceremonies—both public and private—are intended to be meaningful and impressive. We are a Fraternal Order which by its very nature makes us all brothers. I urge you to recall daily the Obligations you have taken —and learn the modern interpretations of their penalties. But, who are we Masons and what do we do? Perhaps we ought to remind all our members of our Philosophos—our Belief in a Supreme Being. We ought to teach and re-teach all our Brethren frequently that the Volume of Sacred Law is the Great Light in Masonry—because it is the rule and guide of our faith and practice. Remind them that that one of our Landmarks must surely be that the spirit of man is immortal. Repeat often to one another that Love of mankind, next to a love of God, is a Mason’s first duty.

Recall daily that Prayer is helpful. God can supply endless amounts of comfort and wisdom to those who seek.

Our BASICS are unchangeable: We have a moral code; we believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man; we practice charity; we value free public education; we are religious, but we are not a religion; we strive always to inculcate social responsibility; we are nonpolitical and nonsectarian; we are admonished to practice equality among our members.

Reiterate in your Lodges, Brethren, that Ritual work performed in our Lodges is serious in nature; there is to be no horseplay. All parts presented are from memory. Tools and implements of stone masons are used to teach valuable lessons: the Spiritual nature of man, the Importance of honor and integrity, the Necessity of being trustworthy and trusting; the Imperative of self control; Keeping the promise of maintaining confidentiality; and Remembering always to shun coldness and apathy.

Let us review what we’ve learned about our Great Fraternity. What are Masons about? They confidently trust fellow members and trust their families with members, also. They believe in free thought, free speaking, and the spiritual growth of men. They enjoy opportunities to meet outstanding individuals from all walks of life. They believe in and practice Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. They are exposed to opportunities for self-development, leadership training and experience, and improving public speaking skills. This is a Fraternity where men can go to offer support as well as receive it. Here moral virtues are taught and practiced. Here is a place to spend time with Brothers who by acting as good men, help others become better men. Often they become better equipped to serve their own religious houses of worship as well as becoming active members of their communities.

Further, discussion of Religion in the Lodge is prohibited. Going to Lodge was never intended to replace going to church. There is no Masonic god—nor any masonic devil for that matter. There is no one Masonic Bible revered above other religious books. There is no plan for spiritual salvation in Masonry.

Freemasonry is an invention of mankind. Masonry is relevant now more than ever. It is making good men better than other ones. It projects a sense of the timelessness of being a good man, while it reinvents the future by drawing from our past.

Then, too, it is something ancient, something mythical, and something legendary. It is a fraternity that has survived more than three centuries; it has a worldwide scope of welcoming. It consists of helping the family next door, and the school down the street. It answers the cry of the orphan and aides the grieving widow. It is a group that once forged this country and, arguably, was the catalyst that gave birth to the revolution. It is a Fraternity that claims as its members the most imaginative of minds and the most successful of men.

We are all reinforced by the lessons we learn from The Three Great Lights of Masonry and the Geometric symbology they demonstrate for us regarding our faith and our duties to each other and to our God. I’m ever mindful of the reinforcement they provide in my religious training and beliefs. A serious study of them is hereby referred to you as you continue to grow in Freemasonry. Is this an Appreciation of Masonry? It is most certainly an affirmation that Never will I ever be able to give back to Masonry all it has given me.

David L. Salberg, Grand Lecturer