Page 6 - 2018 Summer

My mentor was also my first Worshipful
Masonic T r i bune Master. He took to heart the charge given
Masonic Tribune
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at his installation. Among other things, he
was directed to spread and communicate
light and instruction to the brethren of his
Lodge. Essentially, the charge to the Mas-
What is Freemasonry? ter directs him to mentor his Lodge.
Lastly, our closing charge provides a short,
re we a Fraternity that exists so we but succinct, summary of Masonry. It
Acan enjoy a dinner once a month and states you are to remind a Brother, in the
occasionally donate to charity? Or is the most friendly manner, of his faults, endeav-
preparatory lecture accurate when it says or to aid in his reformation, and defend his
Masonry is a course of moral and philo- character. Thus, we are reminded to men-
sophical instruction illustrated by hiero- tor our Brothers. But our duties are much
glyphics, and taught, according to ancient broader, because every human being has
usage, by types, emblems and allegorical a claim on your kind offices. We are en-
figures. I believe that the preparatory lec- joined to mentor every person we interact
with and hopefully improve society as a
ture definition is why Freemasonry has
whole.
existed for over 300 years.
RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Brother
So how do we provide that education? I
In so many ways my mentor was the per-
fect example of a Mason’s Mason. In
am reminded of Most Worshipful Brother
ARDEN Christopher J. Coffman John McNabb’s theme for his year – Men- May of this year, my mentor would have
celebrated his 90th birthday. Sadly, he is
toring. Mentoring is more than coach-
received a call from the Grand Warden of
ing a candidate through his proficiency.
Heaven two years ago and is missed by
While the initial Masonic education comes
those who knew him. It is my hope that all
through the ceremonies of our degrees,
Masons live like he did and provide good
the degrees are just the start of the life-
long symbolic journey from the rough
mentorship to our Brothers and our com-
ashler toward the perfect ashler. There
munities.
is much more. Mentoring is a long-term
commitment of providing advice and edu-
Chris Coffman
JUNIOR Grand W
cation to a Brother. Fraternally,
Junior Grand Warden
I can’t help but think of my Mentor. He ex-
plained the subtle distinctions in Masonry
like orders versus messages, stations ver-
sus places, and many, many other Mason-
ic truths. He taught me to remember that
words in our ritual are not always intended
to be applied literally. Rather, the words
have symbolic meanings. For example, (Continued from Page 5)
the penalty for violating our obligations is
not taken literally. tion of the Masonic Tribune. I urge you to
read it, especially the content about mem-
Another example, our ritual says the Wor- bership experience and Masonic educa-
shipful Master gives orders. In some cas- tion. I support this long-range plan and be-
es, this is true. The Worshipful Master lieve we, as a Fraternity, are headed in the
may order the Secretary to issue a dimit. right direction. We have some heavy lifting
But in other cases, a Worshipful Master to do and it will take time to turn the current
is better served by asking a Brother to membership trend around.
do sometime. For example, a Worship-
ful Master may want his officers to wear We have the ability and the know-how
tuxedos to every meeting. If this is to get it done and we can no longer kick
not a tradition of the Lodge, ordering the can down the road expecting things to
officers to wear (purchase) a tuxedo change. To paraphrase a former President,
could easily drive those officers away “Ask not what Masonry can do for you but
from the Lodge. A better approach what you can do for Masonry.”
would be to raise the idea at an of-
ficers meeting, develop consensus, RWB Charles E. Wood
and move forward. Senior Grand Warden
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