2024 State of the Craft

November 21st , 2024

Members of Arts &amp Sciences Lodge, Fellow Masons,

My Brothers: This year finds the lodge in good stead. Relationships have flourished, new members have joined our ancient order, the lodge’s finances are sound, and we have seen another year of growth, success, and change, as well as a few challenges to keep us honest, both about our lodge, its nature, and ourselves. This is the time to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we are going.

This year saw strong advances in many areas of our lodge. I took such an immense delight and no small amount of pride in seeing the tremendous growth of our officers and brothers who have stepped up to the challenge of assuming the sometimes - monumental task of learning new parts of the ritual – and doing it well. So well in fact, that we won best degree at last year’s inspection. Given the quality of the competition from the other lodges in the district, this was no small feat. While we don’t work towards the winning of such awards in and of themselves, it doesn’t mean that we can’t delight in them if we happen to trip over one along the way to offering high quality work. We’ve adopted once-familiar elements of our degree rituals that had fallen by the wayside, such as the repeated and enhanced use of light and shadow, music and silence, adding another layer of depth to an already rich and heady moment for a brother stepping into the light of freemasonry, either for the first time or in furtherance of more.

Our discussions and educational presentations have been nothing short of profound. The thoughtful, challenging, and altogether excellent quality of our education this year has been nothing short of incredible, and often times, completely astounding. It is easy to forget how fortunate we are. Familiarity often breeds a lack of awareness in the embarrassment of riches that we hold in our hands. We have been well served and incredibly fortunate to have such a learned and inquisitive lodge education officer who has offered his vision, erudition, and deeply philosophical and introspective questions for the lodge’s consideration – and its ultimate benefit. We don’t always recognize how truly spoiled we are. In this regard, as words fall utterly short, I will simply say thank you, Brother LEO.

We have seen brothers step forward to offer themselves as master craftsmen for the first time, offering their insight, wisdom and knowledge in the furtherance of our apprentices’ education as they climb their way through the degrees. This is the lifeblood of the lodge, and has been its purpose since its inception. To intentionally pass on our knowledge, our wisdom and our insight to newer brothers, so that they may develop the same, and it turn, pass it on to others. The bonds in our lodge are stronger than ever. Social events, St. Johns’ Feasts, lodge meetings, all culminating in the Brothers’ Retreat, have forged relationships that defy description in the profane world. There is a reason we call each other “Brother”. Not only is it a title of distinction, but it underlines the closeness of the bonds that we share in this room. Outsiders don’t get it. The profane world can’t or won’t understand it. They don’t have to. Because we in this room know. I cannot put into words that which is indescribable. If you know, you know.

We have challenges that are still with us, and the same challenges lie ahead. The biggest dangers to our craft and our lodge are not low numbers. It isn’t lack of engagement. It isn’t even inferior work. No, the biggest threat that we face is something far more mundane. And that is complacency and apathy. Phrases like “others will take of it, I don’t need to be there” or “I’m too tired to go to lodge, I think I’ll just stay home and watch TV” or “I forgot we had a meeting” are the real enemies that we face. I think of those brothers that jpin other lodges, and pretty soon they disappear, never to be seen again. And I pity those men. I pity them them for their ignorance of what their going to miss. Ancient wisdom and hidden knowledge, bonds that run deeper than otherwise found, and the self-awareness to know that we aren’t perfect, and that we’ve been given the tools to get better every day. And the inherent knowledge that we will never truly be alone. Our brothers are there for us, in so many different ways.

As for our lodge, we are strong. And we will get stronger still. As long as the bonds among these brothers foster brotherly love, relief and truth, then we will have the courage of our convictions, and the vision to grow, to change, to continually evolve into the best version of ourselves. Good ideas come from everywhere. We will not ignore them because they did not originate here. We will continue to take those best practices, and make them uniquely our own. As Pericles said of Athens. “We seek not to imitate, but rather to serve as a model for others to follow”. Arts & Sciences will continue to blaze its own path, we will continue to do what we know works, and we will continue to share this light with the world.

It has been the distinct honor of my life to have served as the Worshipful Master of Arts & Sciences Lodge. I may not have always done it well, and there simply wasn’t enough time to do all the things I wanted to do for this lodge, but I have always done it with a full heart and humble heart, while sitting in the oriental Chair. And for that honor, brethren, you have my deepest thanks.