As the fall season escorts in the colder weather, simultaneously the Masonic season begins to warm up! As Mother Nature takes a sudden and stark turn towards dormancy, we as Freemasons rush toward our work, and gather momentum in the Lodge. Imagine our forefathers in Freemasonry in the late 18th century, slogging through the deep snow drifts of a New England winter for the privilege of spending a few short hours amongst like minded brothers. Picture the steam rising from the nostrils of those majestic horses laden with harness, pulling carriages and brothers through the brisk night to distant lodges, there to gather and pass on the secrets to a worthy candidate. These wonderful images are the life’s blood of the craft.
Today’s Masons are thirsty for the same fraternalism and spirit of action that men like, Thomas Paine, Ephraim Mower, Clark Chandler, John Stanton and Samuel Flagg brought to Morning Star Lodge when they petitioned for the charter which created this legacy we now enjoy; These Brothers knew the value of honor, service and commitment. These names, these men, endure as icons of this community. One needs only to take a short jaunt down the byways of Worcester, and you will undoubtedly traverse, Chandler, Mower, Paine, Thomas, Stanton and Flagg streets; testaments to these Brother’s impact on our community. Today’s brothers; our men, yearn to be as influential in their day, and in their own way, as those men were in theirs.
There is a great renaissance occurring in our world. Freemasonry, as it did in centuries past, can and will be at the forefront, developing and inspiring the impassioned leaders of tomorrow. The recipe for this resolve in Masonry is long-standing and elegantly simple; trust in God, trust in your fellow man and trust in yourself. The mission of Morning Star lodge for this Masonic year is to build momentum for the future, by building the personal capacity of the men of today.
What does Morning Star Lodge offer the next generation of Freemasons? History and tradition are wonderful foundational elements, but these alone to do promote growth and innovation. The wages of Masonry are timeless; self fulfillment through service to others is the great reward which every Mason desires as his path to a favorable admission to the Celestial Lodge above. The youngest Mason, standing in the Northeast corner of the lodge, must be inspired, must be set to work for his wages. The trestle board must be reborn with new designs which keep sacred and inviolate the fundamentals of the Craft, but address the reality of today world.
As Master of the lodge, it is my obligation to draw the designs and set the Craft at work. But even our ancient Grand Master Solomon, knew he needed help to make his vision a reality I look well to the West, to the South and to all corners of our lodge for your guidance, inspiration and assistance to help renovate and repoint the foundational stones of our lodge, and thus Freemasonry. . The various committees are formed and we are prepared to commence the work at hand. I charge each of you to craft your piece as a living stone. Shape it with your own gavel, and fit it to the Master’s design. Make your work meaningful at this very moment assurring that your mark in Masonry will last for the next generation to appreciate and gain inspiration from, as we have been inspired from those who built greatness before us.