Public Perception #1
Provo Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Lorenzo E. Tibbitts, Grand Orator
Friday, February 21, 2014

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

At the beginning of the popular CBS Crime Drama, Person of Interest, and in the voice of the character called "Finch," we hear, "They're watching you!" "They" is a government surveillance system, developed to watch out for terrorists which sees everything, and which has grown a mind of its own and uses its creator and a small circle of people recruited to protect regular citizens from harm. Now the idea of a government system that is more benevolently watching over ordinary citizens than the government itself may make good TV, but in some ways it's not too far from the world we live in.

On your way here this evening, you passed through the observation radius of many more video cameras than you noticed. In September 1968, Olean, New York became the first city in the US to install video cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime.¹ In the decade following 9/11 more than 30 million security cameras were purchased and installed.²

But security cameras are not the only - or even the most important - eyes on you. It may be very hard for you to fathom, because you know and are known to hundreds and perhaps even thousands of Masons, but you may be the only Mason that some people may ever meet. The truth of the matter is that many of those we know nothing about The Craft, and many others know only what they have read on the internet, seen on TV, or learned from us.

In his address at the Grand Lodge Communication less than a month ago, our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Drew C. Sanders said, "Brethren, whether you think so or not as a general rule people around you know you are a Freemason… Therefore, each of us is someone's impression of Utah Freemasonry… I strongly urge each of you to uphold the ideals of the fraternity before the world, whether it be in our online presence, driving habits, or in our personal interactions with others."³

At the Conference of Grand Masters in 1966, Worshipful Brother Alexander Duff, Grand Master of Manitoba, said, "The Profane world has no criteria by which to judge Freemasonry other than the fruits produced by the Masonic lives of those who are members of our beloved craft."⁴

In his Oration at the 2008 Visitation in Tooele, MW Bro. Allen W. Record taught, "Ultimately, Masons and Non-Masons alike observe everything we do and say. They look to see if we 'practice what we preach'. Do we practice Brotherly Love, do we work with others on the Level, and do we square our actions toward all mankind. When we do these things, then it's seen that we not only speak, but also live the Truth of what Freemasonry Offers… This, Brethren is our Truth in Action."⁵

What Most Worshipful Brother Sanders calls "the ideals of the fraternity," Most Worshipful Brother Record refers to as "Truth in Action," and Most Worshipful Brother Duff calls the "fruit produced by… Masonic lives," are nothing more or less than the principles we agreed to uphold in our obligations.

I was a stranger who saw The Fraternity in the lives of Masons. As a child and teenager, I was a military brat and as my family traveled the world I got to see Freemasonry up close and personal. I came to see that many of the most professional, most successful and capable officers and NCOs were masons. I saw the rings. And I saw their behavior. They were the very definition of the title "gentleman." From these men I developed a favorable impression of The Craft.

Brethren, sometimes it's our family that is watching. My wife, Lana, did not grow up with a favorable opinion of Freemasonry. She was not that thrilled when I petitioned a lodge. She trusted me but remained worried for several months. All of that changed for her the night that we attended a Scottish Rite Open House at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple and heard Most Worshipful Brother Curtis N. Lancaster speak about the purpose and principles of Masonry. She relaxed and gave me her full - unworried - support from then on.

Later the same year she heard Brother Lancaster speak, Lana attended my lodge BBQ, where she witnessed some outrageous behavior from one of our members. He was boorish and obnoxious. She leaned over and whispered to me, "How do guys like that get into Masonry?" While I had an opportunity to address her question, sometimes those who see our behavior don't look any farther and don't ask any questions or give us an opportunity to respond.

Recently I sat in a meeting in my office with a circle of colleagues that I'd only worked with by phone. One of them noticed my ring and after the meeting and when we reached the hall, she asked me many questions. She told me that her Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were important Masons but her own Father had never joined. She told me she had always wanted to be a member of the Eastern Star.

When I asked her about her husband - whether he had an interest - she told me that her husband had no interest. She said he had been adopted as a young child and his step-father was a mason. She told me a little about his upbringing and without dwelling on the ugly details, let's just say his experiences with this mason were less than exemplary.

Many men in our jurisdiction fill the official position of Grand Representative to another Grand Jurisdiction. Well my brothers, you are the Grand Representative to your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, fellow congregants, and, as I have noted today, complete strangers we encounter.

As you can see, there are many people watching you. But Most Worshipful Brother Sanders also asked us to take a look at ourselves. I believe he did so for two reasons. First, he, like Plato, is well aware that the examined life is the only one worth living. Introspection and self-examination are necessary for personal growth. Second, we may be able to fool others, but we can't fool ourselves. Peter Wimbrow said this so well when he wrote:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please - never mind all the rest
For he's with you, clear to the end
And you've passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass.⁶

When I consider the men I've come to know in this fraternity, I find that the impression I had of the fraternity in my youth has been largely correct. I've been disappointed when I've seen otherwise, but I am wise enough to know that some slip through the West Gate without our knowledge, and it is rare. When I've seen the damage these men have done to our lodges, our brothers, and even the public perception, I'm dismayed. And when we fail to take action I am just confused.

Just as you have no idea how often you are being filmed by Closed Circuit TV (CCTV), you have no idea how often others are judging the fraternity through your behavior. Please join me tonight in recommitting ourselves to principles of brotherhood, relief and truth that would lead us to showing the world that masonry has made us better men.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I thank you for the opportunity to share these few thoughts, and pray you will enjoy the rest of your visitation.

¹ Robb, Gary C. (1979) "Police Use of CCTV Surveillance: Constitutional Implications and Proposed Regulations" University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, pg. 572
²"Post 9/11, surveillance cameras everywhere" by Allison Linn, MSNBC.com, September 11, 2011
³Remarks of the Deputy Grand Master, Rt. Worshipful Drew C. Sanders, Proceedings of the 142nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in Utah.
⁴"What if anything can be done about the lack of interest in Masonry by non-masons?" Alexander Duff, Proceedings of the Conference of Grand Masters, 1966, Feb. 23-24, 1966 85-103.
⁵"Why Masonry Survives - The Truth," Tooele 2008 Visitation Oration by Allen W. Record, Grand Orator; http://www.utahgrandlodge.org/gl-orations/allen-record/oration-2008-12.html
⁶"The Man in the Glass," Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr., 1934

Imagine A World
Grand Lodge Oration
By Worshipful Brother Clay G. Hamblen, Grand Orator
Saturday, February 4, 2017

Most Worshipful Sirs, Right Worshipful Sirs, Worshipful Sirs, Brethren all;

It has been my privilege and honor to serve Most Worshipful Brother Wes and the Grand Lodge of Utah this year as Grand Orator and I would like to publicly thank you Most Worshipful Wes for entrusting me with this responsibility. I am truly humbled to be able to speak to you today. When the Grand Master asked me to accept this position, his only request was that I try to make it interesting. I hope I have been able to do that.

Have you ever wondered how the world, mine, or your own life, might be without Freemasonry in it? How different the world would be, if three hundred years ago, the Grand Lodge of England had not been formed? Imagine, if you will, the Christmas movie "It's a Wonderful Life". When George Baily was able to see how different Bedford Falls would be had the Savings and Loan not come into existence to help the common man. You may recall in that movie, how different the lives of all his friends and family became without the savings and loan. George was given a unique gift, that of seeing how he made a difference in the lives of people around him.

I suspect that many of you have heard statements that Masonry is fast becoming antiquated lodges of old men with white beards, something similar to my own premature graying.

That lodges will be closing and merging as the membership continues to decline. That the teachings and values of Freemasonry is outdated and obsolete. That the value of living an upright and charitable life, a life of integrity, a life in which we strive to learn to subdue our passions and improve ourselves in Masonry, has lost its meaning in today's world of the internet, Facebook, twitter and the like. Are these the grumblings of disgruntled members or the predictions of the uninformed?

Can you imagine a world without Freemasonry in it?

It is my belief that Masonry is NOT dying, quite the opposite, it has survived all of the opposition it has faced down through the ages. Regimes have brutally persecuted our Craft and fought hard to wipe it from existence. Our craft found protection among kings and princes. Yet the greatest protection was found in the hearts of ordinary men, the indispensable teachings during the time of Solomon and Jesus are just as relevant today. Freemasonry, now finds this protection within the hearts of men that join us. Especially the young men, who knock at our door, yearning for something of greater substance than what can be found on Facebook or some other shallow substitute for human contact, care and concern. Freemasonry teaches men how to better themselves, how to live a life of respect, of growth, of caring and of concern. Our lodges give men a place to meet other men of integrity who possess higher ideals than ordinary society presents at large. It is in the hearts of these men, where they first became Masons, that the flame of Freemasonry burns the most brightly. A flame that burns from within and is impossible to extinguish.

As most of us know, many of the Founding Fathers of our own nation where also our brothers. Men such as Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and our first president, George Washington. I wonder, would we still belong to Great Britain if not for the ideals of these men and the men that followed who were inspired by the example they demonstrated? I wonder if Worshipful Brother George Washington would have been the man he became without the influence of his Masonic brothers and the teachings of our fraternity. Our nation is a Republic, the documents that bind us as a nation certainly contain Masonic influences that help to establish our country. A country governed by those we elect, for a period of time, just as a worshipful master is elected to govern for a period of time.

What would the world be like without Freemasonry in it?

In light of current events today throughout the world and even our own country where hate filled rhetoric occupies the news, it is more important now, more than ever, for us, as Masons, to practice the values that we esteem. To practice in our daily lives those lessons learned in Masonry. This is our foundation, our heritage and our obligation. One of the primary reasons I became a Mason was because of the men I met and who live and practiced Masonry in their daily lives. Men of integrity, wisdom and compassion. Believing always in their responsibility to improve the lives of all with whom they came into contact.

It is our obligation as Masons, to share the light that burns within each of us. We have a moral obligation to live lives that reflect the principles of Freemasonry, that demonstrate the tenets of brotherly love for all mankind, and that exhibits a charitable life, not only in our hearts and minds but in our daily interactions with all we chance to meet. We are continually reminded of this obligation every time we hear these words from the Closing Charge:

"Be diligent, prudent, temperate, discreet.
Remember that around this altar you have promised to befriend and relieve
every brother who shall need your kind assistance. Remember that you have
promised to remind him in the most tender manner, of his failings and to aid
in his reformation as well as vindicate his character when wrongfully traduced.
These generous principles are to extend even further. EVERY human being has a
claim on your kind offices. Do good unto all."

My brothers, as Masons, we have an obligation to share the light of charity and hope in all our walks of life. We cannot be one man in lodge and be someone different outside the lodge. We must demonstrate the brotherly love, affection, and temperance, whether sitting amongst our brothers or conversing in public or on social media. We are forever reminded in the Master Mason charge:

"Duty and honor now alike bind you to be faithful
to every trust; to support the dignity of your character on all occasions;
and strenuously by precept and example, to enforce the obedience to the
tenets of Freemasonry. Exemplary conduct on your part will convince the world
that merit is the just title to privileges, and that on you, our favors
have not been undeservedly bestowed."

We have an obligation to let the light that is extended to us and through us, from the Eternal Flame of the Supreme Architect, to shine and illuminate the darkness.

Imagine a world without Freemasonry in it.

One of the perpetual struggles we face is in the growth and preservation of the Fraternity. One obstacle to this growth is the voluntary manner in which a man is introduced to Masonry. Men must seek us out, to inquire, to ask to have their questions answered. And then, to decide of their own free will and accord to join. We do not invite good men to join. Whether this is in conformity to some ancient custom or regulation or simply a tradition that has been passed down through the ages, the question still remains the same, "How can we introduce men to Masonry and how can we promote its influences throughout the world at large?". Why did each of you decide to petition a lodge? What do each of you do, to plant the seed of interest, so that other men want to learn about Masonry and become a Mason?

As for myself, my Masonic journey had its beginnings as a boy who was influenced by the examples of my pop and my grandpa, two men and Masons who were the most influential figures in shaping the man I would become. I learned the lessons of integrity, honesty, and truthfulness and the value of confidence. I was taught that a man is only as good as his word and his word was his bond. When you shook hands, it signified a personal agreement that was more binding than a legal contract.

When I was of age, I joined Ogden Chapter Order of DeMolay. There I was exposed to other young men, learning and growing in the values that extended from our Masonic sponsors. Forming friendships, I still cherish today. I met men of integrity, of character and of value, DeMolay Advisors, whom I looked up too and wanted to emulate. Men who mentored me and taught me. To this day, I recall one of my first ritual practices, in my first ever office, Third Preceptor. Brother, Dr. Ben Noid was there. He said to me, "Make sure the deaf guy, in the back of the lodge, can hear your mistake. Speak up, slow down and don't mumble". Still good advice today. I think about him and his coaching every time I participate in a degree in blue lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite or Shrine. Just think of the millions of young men who have been touched and made better throughout the world because of Freemasonry's influence through DeMolay. Let us not forget the young women through Job's Daughters and Rainbow Girls who are helped to discover the importance of self-esteem along with a strong foundation from our order.

Imagine a world without Freemasonry in it.

At eighteen I was initiated into Weber Lodge #6, which is now Golden Spike #6. I was raised by Most Worshipful Jim Murphy, who was serving as Worshipful Master at the time. I knew him from my DeMolay activities as well as my friendship with his daughter. He befriended me in my youth and was always supportive of our youth activities. Here was a man who represented the type of person I wanted to become. I have had the privilege of being mentored and befriended by men I dearly respect and admire. Many of them are here today, like Worshipful brother Mel Walker who always has a joke to share, who has taught me what respect, hard work and dedication can achieve, or Most Worshipful Brother Duane Carpenter who always offered me an idea or a thought with a different angle on an issue that ought to be considered. Sadly, some of my Masonic mentors are no longer here to guide and counsel me, pillars of our Craft in Utah, men like Most Worshipful Brother Bill Baker always the gentleman, or Illustrious Brother Curtis Lancaster who taught me never to speak ill of a brother and who always had a word of encouragement and a smile. All of them have taught me respect and to live a life of humility, of care and of concern for others. These are but only a few of the many men in Freemasonry, both living and dead, that have touched my life in a meaningful and influential way and made me want to be a better man, a better father, and a better Mason.

I recently visited Wasatch Lodge and heard a very interesting presentation where Right Worshipful Lon Tibbetts asked, "Why did you (I) become a Mason?". Two brothers, Brother Darren Doman and Worshipful Brother Jason Allred answered along with Right Worshipful Brother Lon, that it was due to the men that they had met and who wore a Masonic ring. Men who embodied the ideals of our Craft as found in the Senior steward's lecture at the beginning of the Entered Apprentice degree, they demonstrated:

"Brotherly love, relief or charity and truth. It is built upon the abiding foundation of an unfeigned belief in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man and the Immortality of the soul." All three shared that they are better men today because of Freemasonry in their lives. Where might they be today, had it not been for good men who set the example of what it means to be a Mason? And where might all the men be today whom they have influenced, knowingly or unknowingly, by the lives they live and the actions they exhibit as Masons. Imagine, what would the world be like without Freemasonry in it? Imagine, a world without Shriners or Shriners Hospitals. Millions of children would never have received the medical care for orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lips and palates nor have received all of the services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patient's' ability to pay. How many parents would have wept for the lack of resources to help their son or daughter to walk, to run, to go to prom, or simply be able to stand.

Imagine a world without Masonry.

How many people would not have glasses or cataract surgery or other care to improve or even save their vision. Since its inception in 1956, the Knights Templar Foundation has contributed over $140 million on research, patient care and education. Grants have been awarded in pediatric ophthalmology and ophthalmic research to improve sight for children. What would the quality of life be for these individual had Masonry not touched their lives? Imagine a world without Masonry?

Tens of thousands of children would never receive the help that they need for speech and language disorders, the very foundation for learning and success in school and life. Children lacking the ability to communicate or express themselves to others. The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States initiated a program to help children with speech and language disorders. The results obtained from this program led to the establishment of Rite Care Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program (SRCLP) clinics to provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders, as well as learning disabilities. We have a clinic right downstairs in this very building. Last year, Rite Care of Utah, between the Ogden facility and the clinic downstairs, saw 640 children, in 3797 visits. Where would these children and their families turn for help if Masonry did not exist?

Imagine a world without Masonry?

How many students would struggle financially, how many clinics would be without supplies, how many food pantries would run short of resources, how many disaster victims would have less aid, how many agencies would cease to exist, and how many lives would not be improved for lack of funding for services? These are just a few of the services and charitable causes that your Masonic Foundation of Utah, founded in 1929, funds and supports. Annually the foundation awards approximately $250,000.00 in scholarships and grants to worthy individuals and organizations around the State of Utah. Imagine now, a world with Freemasonry.

The world is a better place because of Freemasonry and the incredible and amazing impact it has on our society. It is not because of some building, even a grand jewel such as this building, but because of the convictions, courage and strength of men, like all of you here today, to make a difference. Each of us have the privilege of belonging to the greatest organization in the world. We have assumed the mantle of responsibility to continue to promote the ideals of Freemasonry and to introduce other men to the Light and teachings of the craft. Men whom I call my friends, my mentors, my brothers, my family. Freemasonry is alive and well because it lives in each of us, the future of our fraternity is in our capable hands. Let all of our actions demonstrate to everyone we meet, and to the world, our dedication to the ideals of brotherhood and the betterment of mankind.

Most Worshipful sir, honored guests and brethren all. Thank you for your kind attention. May the blessing of the Supreme Architect be upon us and all mankind.

Public Perception #1
Provo Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Lorenzo E. Tibbitts, Grand Orator
Friday, February 21, 2014

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

At the beginning of the popular CBS Crime Drama, Person of Interest, and in the voice of the character called "Finch," we hear, "They're watching you!" "They" is a government surveillance system, developed to watch out for terrorists which sees everything, and which has grown a mind of its own and uses its creator and a small circle of people recruited to protect regular citizens from harm. Now the idea of a government system that is more benevolently watching over ordinary citizens than the government itself may make good TV, but in some ways it's not too far from the world we live in.

On your way here this evening, you passed through the observation radius of many more video cameras than you noticed. In September 1968, Olean, New York became the first city in the US to install video cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime.¹ In the decade following 9/11 more than 30 million security cameras were purchased and installed.²

But security cameras are not the only - or even the most important - eyes on you. It may be very hard for you to fathom, because you know and are known to hundreds and perhaps even thousands of Masons, but you may be the only Mason that some people may ever meet. The truth of the matter is that many of those we know nothing about The Craft, and many others know only what they have read on the internet, seen on TV, or learned from us.

In his address at the Grand Lodge Communication less than a month ago, our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Drew C. Sanders said, "Brethren, whether you think so or not as a general rule people around you know you are a Freemason… Therefore, each of us is someone's impression of Utah Freemasonry… I strongly urge each of you to uphold the ideals of the fraternity before the world, whether it be in our online presence, driving habits, or in our personal interactions with others."³

At the Conference of Grand Masters in 1966, Worshipful Brother Alexander Duff, Grand Master of Manitoba, said, "The Profane world has no criteria by which to judge Freemasonry other than the fruits produced by the Masonic lives of those who are members of our beloved craft."⁴

In his Oration at the 2008 Visitation in Tooele, MW Bro. Allen W. Record taught, "Ultimately, Masons and Non-Masons alike observe everything we do and say. They look to see if we 'practice what we preach'. Do we practice Brotherly Love, do we work with others on the Level, and do we square our actions toward all mankind. When we do these things, then it's seen that we not only speak, but also live the Truth of what Freemasonry Offers… This, Brethren is our Truth in Action."⁵

What Most Worshipful Brother Sanders calls "the ideals of the fraternity," Most Worshipful Brother Record refers to as "Truth in Action," and Most Worshipful Brother Duff calls the "fruit produced by… Masonic lives," are nothing more or less than the principles we agreed to uphold in our obligations.

I was a stranger who saw The Fraternity in the lives of Masons. As a child and teenager, I was a military brat and as my family traveled the world I got to see Freemasonry up close and personal. I came to see that many of the most professional, most successful and capable officers and NCOs were masons. I saw the rings. And I saw their behavior. They were the very definition of the title "gentleman." From these men I developed a favorable impression of The Craft.

Brethren, sometimes it's our family that is watching. My wife, Lana, did not grow up with a favorable opinion of Freemasonry. She was not that thrilled when I petitioned a lodge. She trusted me but remained worried for several months. All of that changed for her the night that we attended a Scottish Rite Open House at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple and heard Most Worshipful Brother Curtis N. Lancaster speak about the purpose and principles of Masonry. She relaxed and gave me her full - unworried - support from then on.

Later the same year she heard Brother Lancaster speak, Lana attended my lodge BBQ, where she witnessed some outrageous behavior from one of our members. He was boorish and obnoxious. She leaned over and whispered to me, "How do guys like that get into Masonry?" While I had an opportunity to address her question, sometimes those who see our behavior don't look any farther and don't ask any questions or give us an opportunity to respond.

Recently I sat in a meeting in my office with a circle of colleagues that I'd only worked with by phone. One of them noticed my ring and after the meeting and when we reached the hall, she asked me many questions. She told me that her Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were important Masons but her own Father had never joined. She told me she had always wanted to be a member of the Eastern Star.

When I asked her about her husband - whether he had an interest - she told me that her husband had no interest. She said he had been adopted as a young child and his step-father was a mason. She told me a little about his upbringing and without dwelling on the ugly details, let's just say his experiences with this mason were less than exemplary.

Many men in our jurisdiction fill the official position of Grand Representative to another Grand Jurisdiction. Well my brothers, you are the Grand Representative to your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, fellow congregants, and, as I have noted today, complete strangers we encounter.

As you can see, there are many people watching you. But Most Worshipful Brother Sanders also asked us to take a look at ourselves. I believe he did so for two reasons. First, he, like Plato, is well aware that the examined life is the only one worth living. Introspection and self-examination are necessary for personal growth. Second, we may be able to fool others, but we can't fool ourselves. Peter Wimbrow said this so well when he wrote:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please - never mind all the rest
For he's with you, clear to the end
And you've passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass.⁶

When I consider the men I've come to know in this fraternity, I find that the impression I had of the fraternity in my youth has been largely correct. I've been disappointed when I've seen otherwise, but I am wise enough to know that some slip through the West Gate without our knowledge, and it is rare. When I've seen the damage these men have done to our lodges, our brothers, and even the public perception, I'm dismayed. And when we fail to take action I am just confused.

Just as you have no idea how often you are being filmed by Closed Circuit TV (CCTV), you have no idea how often others are judging the fraternity through your behavior. Please join me tonight in recommitting ourselves to principles of brotherhood, relief and truth that would lead us to showing the world that masonry has made us better men.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I thank you for the opportunity to share these few thoughts, and pray you will enjoy the rest of your visitation.

¹ Robb, Gary C. (1979) "Police Use of CCTV Surveillance: Constitutional Implications and Proposed Regulations" University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, pg. 572
²"Post 9/11, surveillance cameras everywhere" by Allison Linn, MSNBC.com, September 11, 2011
³Remarks of the Deputy Grand Master, Rt. Worshipful Drew C. Sanders, Proceedings of the 142nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in Utah.
⁴"What if anything can be done about the lack of interest in Masonry by non-masons?" Alexander Duff, Proceedings of the Conference of Grand Masters, 1966, Feb. 23-24, 1966 85-103.
⁵"Why Masonry Survives - The Truth," Tooele 2008 Visitation Oration by Allen W. Record, Grand Orator; http://www.utahgrandlodge.org/gl-orations/allen-record/oration-2008-12.html
⁶"The Man in the Glass," Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr., 1934

Wasatch #1, Mt. Moriah #2, Argenta #3, Salt Lake #17, Progress #22 
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
April 7th, 2018

M.W. Gr. Master, Worshipful Brethren, Brethren all, good afternoon.

The title of my oration this afternoon is “Why Ritual Works.” To start, I would like  you to recall when you were memorizing your catechism for any of the degrees, or even  any of the many parts you may have had. When I was memorizing my catechism, I am  embarrassed to say that I found the pre-smartphone version of a driving distraction. This  was back when I-15 was being re-built in 1997, and while driving to class at the University  of Utah, I had several moments when I was trying to figure out what the letters “W W Y T  A” or some other phrase meant, only to look up and suddenly slam on my brakes. Here’s  my first bit of unsolicited advice; whether it is with a catechism, degree part, or with your  phone, don’t be that guy.

So what was I stupidly endangering my life to learn? Despite my highly  questionable method, I was learning the role of our ritual, and why it is one of the most  effective tools we have as Masons in our arsenal. In doing research for this speech, I  found a surprising amount of sources on the subject, ranging from the ​Harvard Business  Review​ to the ​Scientific American. ​ Rituals are more than just what we mumble to  ourselves, and represent a vast array of human behaviors. According to the article “​Why Rituals Work​” dated May 14th 2013 in the ​Scientific American:

“​People engage in rituals with the intention of achieving a wide set of desired outcomes, from reducing their anxiety to boosting their confidence, alleviating their grief to performing well in a competition – or even making it rain.​”

The article goes on to state how ritual is even used to invoke divine protection.  Most of what is mentioned in this article seems to refer to more physical forms of ritual.  That being said, spoken ritual is no less effectual, and does differ in a few ways. For  instance, I am sure that everyone in this room may question whether delivering and performing ritual, especially for the first time, “Reduces Anxiety.” When it comes to the  weather-altering claims, I do know for sure that the weather has never responded to any  Masonic ritual I have performed, and I am positive that those who went to the Portneuf  degree in Idaho last month wished they could have gotten rid of the snowstorm with a  Senior Steward’s lecture. 

So given that they do not necessarily reduce anxiety, change the weather, or even  initially boost confidence all that much, I had to consider: “What are Masonic Rituals for?”  Perhaps many of you give the same rote explanation that I have given to non-Masons in  the past: “The degrees are morality plays, which usually teach some moral or  philosophical lesson.” While certainly true, it is my opinion that this explanation falls well  short of what well performed Masonic ritual can achieve. I would like to propose that we  answer this question by identifying what our Ritual does for us, not only as individual  Masons, but as Lodges and ultimately, a worldwide Brotherhood.

At this point, I would like to digress for a moment, and talk about my method of  rating movies. Please bear with me, as this will make sense in a minute. If we are friends  there, you may have seen on Facebook that I often give movies I see an arbitrary  percentage score. Just a quick warning here, the following sentence will likely be the  most contentious of this oration. As an example of my rating system, I rated “​Cloverfield”  at 40% and “​The Last Jedi” at 95%. Now please recall for a moment a movie that you  rated at 95%. One that “had you” from the beginning to the end, where the movie  ended, and you realized it was suddenly 2 hours later. Where the power of the movie  lay, in large part, was to allow you to immerse yourself in that world, to suspend your  disbelief, and to even cause you to feel something.

So now we come back to Masonic Ritual, and what it is “for.” Now apply the scale  I just mentioned to degrees you have seen, and ritual you have seen or even performed.  I am almost certain that most of you can recall those 95% performances, as well as the  40% ones. Like virtually everything in our lives, our ritual has many purposes. First and  foremost, it provides an instant common bond, regardless of where you are in the world. 

Sure, there are minor variations depending on where you are, but you will always know  that a Mason who has gone through regular Masonic Ritual will know about the columns  Boaz and Jachin, how they relate to King Solomon’s Temple, as well as who Hiram Abiff  was in Masonic Lore. It will not matter if you are meeting a Mason in New Zealand, New  Delhi, or New York, that bond will be there.

More importantly (at least in my opinion), you know every one of us, on some  level, have “felt” the same things. We have all blinked at the light when the hoodwink is  removed, knelt in various awkward positions, and been surprised at aspects of the 3rd  degree. We know what it is like to have to depend on the Senior Deacon to not run us  into the furniture as we circumambulate the room. Each of us will remember what it feels  like to walk around the room half or completely barefooted, and in various states of  undress. Most importantly of all, we start to learn what it is like to “feel” like a  Freemason.

So my parting challenge to each of you today is two part: First, be honest and  frank, and as a Mason, as a Lodge, and most importantly as a society of friends and  Brothers, relentlessly identify and fix your 40%’s. Secondly, and more importantly, make  your and your Lodge’s ritual a dependable 95% experience.

Thank you for your kind attention, and May the Force be with you, always.

Mt. Moriah Lodge #2
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
April 9th, 2018

Worshipful Master, Worshipful Brethren, Brethren all, good evening.

 

I want first to thank W. Bro. Robert for offering me the chance to give this  presentation on what the Grand Orator does. The answer to this question is  rather dull: I Orate and I educate. This may be bad news for all of you, but  when I looked up the definition for “Orate”, I found the following:

“Orate: to ​make a speech, especially pompously or at length.”

Rather than bloviate, pontificate, or just drone on, I prefer to try to tell a  story, because I believe that Freemasonry has some of the best stories. From  the story of the Architect of King Solomon’s temple, to the York Rite’s story of  workmen trying to get paid for finding a weirdly shaped stone, to the Scottish  Rite’s story of a Royal Secret. Further, I believe we are all addicted to these  stories and additionally our stories are not only found in the degrees, but in our  friendships and in our Lodges. Some of our stories are mysteries; for instance,  how can two Brothers on the opposite end of the political spectrum be the best  of friends? I submit to you that it is because we have the best stories, and they  provide a common ground for us to work from. 

Let me digress for a minute or two and tell you one of my favorite  Masonic stories: How I became a Mason back in 1997. Hopefully, you will  remember with fondness your own story while I tell mine. I had moved up to  Salt Lake in 1991 after getting married for the first time. After that did not work  out, I got a roommate around ‘92. Late one summer night, we were driving  eastbound on South Temple. I look to my right, and there was a huge building  with two Sphinxes in front of it. I had to know what that was all about, what  went on in that building. I bought books at Barnes and Noble, like “Duncan’s  Ritual”, and “Richardson’s Monitor.” I would have Googled that, but the Internet  was largely useless or nonexistent back then. Every chance I got, I snuck  around the outside of the Building, hoping to sneak a peek of something  significant. You could say it as a story I wanted desperately to know.

I would like to interrupt my story for a second to ask you to ponder if we  are still as mysterious to the public as we were back then, and if that is a good  or a bad thing? It seems that we have downplayed our stories and our mystery.  I submit it would benefit us to reverse that trend.

Several years later on a late Fall night, I was at the South side of the  building, sneaking about hoping to gain any glimpse inside of what I imagined  could be in there, when I saw the notice by the door that would change things:  “For a free guided tour, call 801-363-2936.” I called the next day, and  scheduled my tour.

After the requisite wait of the then required one year’s time, and getting  married for the second time, I had the then Grand Secretary, R.W. Bro. Dick  Leader, and W. Bro. Dave Lemmons sign my petition. Since then, I have  learned many of our stories, but to my dismay, I have also learned that I will  never hear them all. Why do I say this? It is because we are told in the Master  Mason degree that Freemasonry will never run out. In fact, there is an infinite  supply because each age interprets our symbols and stories for itself, and  frames the symbols and stories of Freemasonry according to its own way of  thinking. The stories that Christopher Diehl knew and told are not the same as  mine. Nor are mine the same as Chandler’s, or Joey’s, or Joe’s.

Does everything in Masonry have a story, or more importantly, a story  with a happy ending? Yes and no. The degrees, to me, always end happily,  because they teach some lesson, when correctly applied, that helps improve  those who listen to it. More importantly, the friendships we have gained  throughout the different organizations are most often the happiest stories. My  good friend and Brother, M.W. John Liley, started his Masonic story on the  porch of a friend’s house when I heard him mention “Templars and Masons.”  Perhaps most meaningful to me, on several times of need, Masons have been  the first ones to arrive first to offer assistance, and when important, life  changing events happen, they are amongst the first I call. 

Masonry has existed formally for 300+ years now, and is often said to  have existed from “Time Immemorial.” I have often wondered if that vagueness  is why we have an aversion to thinking about endings. But every good story  should have a good ending. Please think about which stories will end happily?  Which ones will end badly? Which stories are lingering past their glory days,  hoping for an ending they cannot have? And which stories are still building? I  would argue that we receive certain stories, whether it be in our relationships,  careers (Masonic or otherwise), in our Lodges, or just in our own personal lives;  we are given these stories so we can hopefully make these tales epic, and give  them the best endings possible. The best for our lodges and ourselves.  Sometimes the best endings are happy, sometimes bittersweet, sometimes  even sad. Sometimes an ending is just an end to a chapter, not the whole  story.

So please do me a favor and think of your own collection of stories;  maybe think of the story of your connection to Freemasonry and what you get  out of that connection. Do you have stories that maybe should have ended  already, or a story that you want a different ending for than what you see  coming? Are you ignoring, like I have sometimes done, what the true story is,  hoping that it will somehow change for the better? Finally, and more especially,  what have we done, and what are we doing to make our stories the best they  can be?

Unfortunately, I do not have answers for you on how you should go about  this, since they are your stories, not mine. Perhaps the best advice I can give  you comes from one of my favorite science fiction stories: ​“​We’re all stories, in  the end. Just make it a good one, eh?”

Thank you and good evening.

Uintah #7, Rocky Mountain #11, Gateway #29, Bonneville #31 
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
April 14th, 2018

M.W. Brethren, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren all, good afternoon.

The title of my oration this afternoon is “You Will Wait With Patience.” For  you literalists out there, I’m talking about patience as a virtue, not a person. In  considering the nature of patience, I found the following quotes:

“Patience is a conquering virtue.”   ― ​Geoffrey Chaucer  “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”   ― ​Aristotle   And finally:  “Why is patience so important?"  "Because it makes us pay attention.”   ― ​Paulo Coelho (Brazilian Novelist) 

Allow me to digress for a minute, to tell you a story of one of the most trying  times I can recall that a candidate had to wait. In the early 2000’s, Wasatch  Lodge would do an outdoor Master Mason degree at Worshipful Bro. Jake  Kester’s quarry (Who was a member of the then Tintic Lodge #9). To get to the  quarry, you first drive down to Santaquin, take a left turn, and then head up into  the foothills. The road winds up the side of the mountain for about a half hour,  until at last, one arrives at the quarry. W. Bro. Kester was always great about  leveling things out, and even had a steel shipping container to act as a primitive “Preparation room.” One of these years (2001 I think), I had the honor of being the  Senior Deacon, and when the time came to answer the “knock” at the door of the  preparation room, I went over, swung my staff up, and replied with three, very loud  metallic bangs in reply. I swear to this day that I heard the candidate and Brothers  inside call me some very uncharitable names. In retrospect, I kind of deserved  them. The container door was opened, and air just barely cooler than a Phoenix  August afternoon wafted out. That candidate had a great deal of patience that  day, baking in a steel shipping container on a mountain top, only to be  subsequently deafened by an overzealous Senior Deacon, and then told to wait a  little longer. 

Please think back on when you first got that spark of interest that impelled  you to ask your friend, attend an open house, go to a meetup, or to just make that  initial, and perhaps awkward inquiry into Freemasonry. You may have been like  me, intensely curious about the deep history and Esoteric aspects of  Freemasonry, but also very interested in meeting, and hopefully becoming friends  with like minded men. Please also recall if you felt frustrated me that you had to  wait so long to join. I remember wanting immediate gratification and didn’t  understand patience.

As an aside, it’s my opinion that patience is a two way street. As a fraternity,  we should make a concerted effort to make the public and world at large wait with  patience. If they want to know our mysteries and secrets, they should have to  come to us, not the other way around.

So we are first made to wait, even if we’re lucky enough to have a Mason  who can immediately sign our petition. We need to wait for the Lodge we want to join to hold a business meeting. Then we wait for the investigation committee to  do their interview, and report back to the Lodge. Finally, after the Lodge votes,  we wait for that date and time when we are told show up at the Lodge, kind of  unsure as to what we are exactly doing, but nevertheless excited. After all that  waiting, we are again told to wait.

I am sure that you’ve noticed that the lessons of Freemasonry are not  accidental or random. I am also convinced that the creators of the degrees meant  to teach a lesson in patience for a very important reason. After some reflection, it  seems that the reason we are being taught patience is to signal us that our  involvement in this wonderful endeavor is not, and should not be a sprint. Rather,  it is meant to be a lifelong marathon. Even if we join York Rite, Scottish Rite, the  Shrine, and even the Order of Turtles within the first few years of joining a Blue  lodge, we are continually taught that we must learn patience. Regardless of the  Lodge, or appendant body, there comes a time when we will be made to wait.  Whether it be for possible honors, or being invited to join some invitational body,  or just progressing through an officer line.

Ideally, as we move through Freemasonry and the chairs in our Lodge, in a  perfect world, it should take us anywhere from five to seven years, so that we  have time to not only learn the ritual of upcoming positions, but also something  about leadership. I do however realize that slow progression is not always a  luxury we can take. So how do we balance the needs of a Lodge with the equally  important necessity of allowing a Mason to progress at their own pace, and to  allow them to truly learn to be a Freemason, not only for their degrees, but for a  lifetime of involvement?

For those that are hoping that I have a magical answer that will fit every  occasion on how we can solve this challenge, I am very sorry to disappoint you. I  have found in my travels that what works in Gateway Lodge and Uintah Lodge,  may well fail spectacularly in Rocky Mountain Lodge or Bonneville Lodge. It may  not even work well between individual Masons. What I am going to suggest has  to be discovered by each individual, and ultimately each Lodge. Everyone  certainly recalls a “Certain Point within a Circle”, and the Twenty Four Inch Guage  from the Entered Apprentice degree? I would ask you to look on these as a way  of not only teaching us how to “circumscribe our passions” and “dividing our  time”, but also to learn patience. It’s easy enough to intellectually keep our  passions and conduct “within due bounds,” but when we have to square that with  a limited number of hours in each day, such as one of the 8 hour blocks from the  twenty four inch gauge, patience becomes necessary, even unavoidable (unless  you have a time machine). In our lives, and more especially in Freemasonry, we  should aim to moderate our participation to a sustainable level over the long term.  If our Lodge etc. needs us, then something else will have to wait with patience.

So let each of us determine how many meetings a week can we realistically  attend without damaging personal relationships. How many parts can we do well?  How much, as a Lodge, can we demand of our officers and members? How much  can we test their, and our own patience? And finally, how do we turn our  perceptions of Freemasonry as a sprint to get through “everything”, into a lifetime  marathon of experiences? Perhaps a starting point to this is to realize that even if  one manages to go through every degree, get every honor, and wear every lapel  pin, Freemasonry will always be able to provide more. Have the patience to run the long race, both as an individual and as a Lodge; the rewards are much greater in the long run.

Good Afternoon, and may the Force be with you.

Story #4, Damascus #10, Carbon #16, Ashley #20, Joppa #26
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
May 5th, 2018

M.W. Brethren, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren all, good afternoon.

The title of my oration this afternoon is “The Household of the Faithful.” Many,  if not all of you have heard this phrase in the Charge at Closing: “Do good unto all,  recommend it more especially to the Household of the Faithful.” What do we mean  by this term, and more especially, are all Freemasons automatically members of the  Household of the Faithful? I believe I have an answer, and we will get to that in a  little bit. In searching for the source of this charge, a majority of my Internet searches  returned Galatians chapter 6 verse 10 from the Bible.

Galatia was a Roman province in what is now Anatolia in modern Turkey, and  was thought to have been one of the homes for wide ranging Celtic people at the  time. They were reportedly were originally pretty similar to the Celts in the British  Isles, still having a tribal system that was very similar to what we know as the Scottish  Clan system. However, by Paul’s time, they were beginning to integrate more into  the Hellenistic or Greek civilization. Paul was staying in Macedonia probably around  56 AD, and he was worried that the communities in Galatia were drifting away into  paganism, just as he was trying to differentiate Christianity from Judaism as well. It  may be overly dramatic, but I would like to think that as he sat in the Mediterranean  sun, perhaps enjoying a glass of wine while overlooking the sea from the top of a  rocky cliff, he wrote the following, which is taken from the New International Version  of the Bible:

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially  to those who belong to the family of believers.”

The faithful, or “True Believers,” are defined as either being “loyal, constant,  and steadfast”, or “true to the facts or the original,” so it makes sense that Paul would  ask for loyalty and steadfastness from what he saw as the errant Galatians.

So about this time, you may be likely wondering where I am going with this.  Does Freemasonry have a distinction between the faithful and unfaithful, or the  believers and unbelievers? You have likely seen or heard reference to “Drones in  the hive of Masonry”, and perhaps this is a starting point for relating this scripture to  ourselves as Masons. In thinking about the term “Drones in the hive of  Freemasonry”, I believe that means that our membership in the Household of the  Faithful is not an automatic thing. Please think back to your initiation, passing and  raising. We were all told during our Entered Apprentice degree, that while our  presence was “Earnestly requested,” we were not to damage our careers and  personal relationships because of Freemasonry. Later on, in the Master Mason  degree, we are told about the “benefits and privileges” of belonging to a Lodge, as  well as the “burdens and responsibilities.” At that point, we are Freemasons, but not  necessarily “Members of the Household” 

So given what may seem to be slightly contradictory claims on our time and  resources, what are we truly asking of ourselves? In my opinion, we are asking for  each Mason to find their own “middle ground” for their participation. I would  encourage each Lodge and Mason in this room to do all they can to help each other  do this. I am certainly glad I had friends and brothers who did just that for me. 

Perhaps like many of you, I joined multiple organizations in quick succession. I  was initiated in 1997, joined Scottish Rite in early 1998, and York Rite later that same year. What started out as a great deal of enthusiasm, and a lie to myself, and my wife  at the time of: “It’s only one meeting a month,” morphed into a situation where I started to get overwhelmed, and a little disillusioned. It even got to the point where my friend and Brother M.W. Brother John Liley had to “talk me off the ledge” from demitting from almost everything, or perhaps even going NPD. And all of this within less than three years.

So how do we as Brothers, Lodges, and a Fraternity as a whole replicate what  M.W. Brother John did back then for me? How do we identify who is leaving us,  about to leave us, or even those considering leaving by the South Gate? I submit to  you that truly being members of the Household of the Faithful is how we start. We  start by being true and loyal believers in what our Fraternity can offer, and holding  steadfastly to that. We should act according to that “true friendship” spoken of in the  Entered Apprentice degree, since it is so very easy to revert to the “perpetual  distance” we started at before joining. Perhaps most challenging of all, I would  suggest we find those who think they are members of the Household, but really do  not act according to Freemasonry’s principles. I have seen a few in my time, and  have probably been that guy at times. When we do find them, I would submit that is  the perfect time to employ “Words of good counsel.”

Finally, at a basic and fundamental level, we need to simply get a handle on  which of our brothers are not coming to Lodge anymore, whether it be for degrees or  business meetings, and why they are not attending. Personally, I consider the Tyler’s register to be one of our most underutilized tools in this regard. We can, with a little  effort, find who is starting to drift away, and then take the step of finding out why. Every summer, the officers of my home Lodge get together and call those on the NPD list. We start by inquiring into their welfare, and how they and their family are  doing, etc. Admittedly, this is a bit awkward, because we are at that point cold calling  them, and ultimately acting as debt collectors. Regardless of that however, this approach is what, in my opinion, we should have been doing long before the Brother started going into arrears. Imagine how much more effective these calls would be if we had contacted them after their first, second, and subsequent missed meetings? 

While it is unlikely we will bring every brother back into the fold, it costs us  nothing to try. Even if we do not get these Brothers back, we may be able to guide  them towards demitting rather than being suspended, thus saving the relationship,  should future occasion require. So please think about your own membership in the  Household of the Faithful. If there is any doubt there, let me be the first to extend the  invitation to again become one of Freemasonry’s steadfast true believers. To put it another way, we are a “Society of Friends and Brothers,” who are very much, our  “Brother’s Keeper.”

Good Afternoon, and although I’m a day late, May the Force be with you,  always.

Corinne #5, Golden Spike #6, Unity #18, Harmony #21, Amity #23
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
May 19th, 2018

M.W. Brethren, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren all, good afternoon. 

 

The title of my oration this afternoon is “Determination, not Despair.”  In searching for quotes on determination, I came across the following,  starting with a quote from the Englishman Samuel Johnson:

 

“​If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few  things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed  not by strength, but perseverance.​” 

I thought this quote was particularly apt, g​iven that Samuel Johnson  was the man, who after 9 years of diligent work, published ​ “​A Dictionary of  the English Language” ​ in 1755. Through 9 years of determined work, he  managed to not only start the standardization of the English Language, but  almost single-handedly doomed all future generations to spelling tests, as  well as laying the foundation for the creation of spelling bees.

  

And next, a quote from Most Worshipful Brother Harry S. Truman:

“​A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities, and an  optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.​” 

And finally, for those of you who are members of the Scottish Rite, you  will have likely heard the line:

“​The True Mason is neither intoxicated by success nor depressed by  defeat​.”
(Extra points to those who can identify the degree this is from.)

   

So it is highly likely that everyone in this room realizes that we are  faced with one of our most profound opportunities since the Morgan Affair.  Note that I did not say “challenge,” “problem,” or even “potential disaster.”  For while there may certainly be those who see our current decline in  members, as well as our physical edifices succumbing to the ravages of time  as evidence of any of these descriptors, I would submit that they have, in  some degree or another, given into despair. Let me explain my optimism, or  rather Determination, in hopes that you do not think that I am being  unrealistic. 

When I joined Freemasonry back in 1997, Wasatch Lodge had an  almost palpable air of despair, and meetings seemed to be what several of  us derisively termed “death and dying reports”. Few candidates were being  brought in, and other Masons from that time, such as R.W. Bro. Larry Fielden,  have described a situation where hope was beginning to fade, and some of  the members of Wasatch were even bantering around the idea of turning  our charter in. This is where the determination came in, and we ultimately  did not give in to that despair. We kept the Lodge going trying multiple  ideas, until some worked. The largest change was when the Internet came  along. Probably around 1999 or 2000, I presented the Lodge with the idea  of getting a website (​www.wasatchlodge.org​), and despite any trepidations,  and confusion caused by my technobabble, the Lodge embraced the idea.

 

Granted, just having a website, a Facebook page, an Instagram  account, one or several Meetup groups, or any combination of these is not  the panacea to all of our recruitment troubles. And in that, you are right.  There are no so called “Silver Bullet” which will fix them all. Since that time, I  would propose that most of us, as Masons and Lodges, have learned pretty  well what will get a new candidate in the door. While the particulars can  vary wildly between Corinne and Clearfield, at its base, the process is pretty  much the same. We tend to join where we find friendship and the best  sense of belonging. What we are currently largely failing at, however, is  keeping most of our current members in the organization once we have  them. We are not giving these men, whether it be the youngest Entered  Apprentice who stands in the Northeast corner of the Lodge, or the 3, 5, or 7  year (or more) veteran, the “thing” that they are seeking, and sometimes we  just burn them out. 

So how do we go about starting to fix this situation, which is as every  bit as challenging as what was occurring in the late 90’s when I joined?  Given my previous admonitions about avoiding “silver bullets,” you may be  unsurprised that I have no one-size-fits-all solution. ​I may not even have a  one-size-fits-most solution​. What I’m going to suggest are several things I  have seen work elsewhere, and which you, as Masons and as Lodges, can  hopefully fit for your own use. 

First, we should get a handle on who is drifting away, and who has recently drifted away through the South gate. This tracking should actually  begin once we have accepted a petition. Then, on a regular basis, acting as either an Officer Corps, or as an appointed committee, find out why these  men are drifting away. For Example, my home Lodge, Wasatch Lodge #1,  calls everyone on the NPD list in the late summer. We get together for pizza  and beer, then start cold calling names on the list. We try to start each call  by inquiring into how they and their family, etc. are doing. There is very  often some extremely useful information gained from these calls.

Second, poll your own active members. Through this method, we can  find out fairly easily what is working and what is not in our Lodges. Perhaps  even more useful, we can identify what is burning certain members out in  the early stages, and we can identify personality conflicts that are hurting  the Lodge. Every member in this room has an opinion on this thing called  Freemasonry, what they want out of it, and where it is headed. Do this poll  at least annually.

Finally, and most importantly, make a plan of action based on the  information that you have collected. Hopefully, there are some items that  are considered as “Low Hanging Fruit” (Please pardon my use of  buzzwords). Some of the solutions however, could be more difficult to  implement. I am referring to those solutions which will take difficult  conversations, referred to in the business world as “Crucial Conversations.”  If one or more of our Lodge members are causing problems, we need to ask  them why. The founders and framers of Freemasonry built in mechanisms to  handle these situations, we need only use them.

As I said earlier, by and large we join the Lodges we do, and stay  members because we find friendship and Brotherhood there. For new members, it is very easy to assign each one a Coach, and more importantly,  one or several Mentors. Let each of us determine to strive to be a Brother,  mentor, and more importantly, a friend to as many of our Masonic Brothers  as possible. Even if we do not know a soul in Lodge, remember we all start  with a common bond.

Now I say save “as many as possible” for a very specific reason. The  term “Society of Friends and Brothers” sounds a lot like a family to me,  which if they are anything like mine, can often be dysfunctional. Rather than  despairing that we are dysfunctional, let us determine that this family,  whatever dysfunctions it may have, will not be a broken family. If there are  members of our family causing despair and discord, let us invite them back  into the Household of the Faithful. Let us not despair if the hard  conversations cause us to have short term-difficulties, for we are playing a  very long game. 

We have the tools to fix our membership retention problem, but only if  we do not give into despair. Let us determine to use whatever tools we  have at our disposal. Most importantly, if a particular tool is not working that  well, do not be afraid to try something different different. As my grandfather  often said “Do something, even if it’s wrong,” and “If it was wrong, don’t do it  again.” 

 

Good afternoon Brethren, and may you live long and prosper.

Orient #15, LaSal #30
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
June 16th, 2018

M.W. Brethren, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren all, good afternoon.

The title of my oration this afternoon is “Time Immemorial.” You will all likely  recall that Freemasonry is said to have existed from “Time Immemorial,” or more  simply since before anyone can remember. It is this lack of memory which I believe  causes the Fraternity as a whole to be susceptible to a willful amnesia-like disease,  which I will refer to as “Time Immemorial Disorder”.

In looking for quotes about time, I found a great many about time management,  how fleeting it is, admonitions to “Carpe Diem”, etc. The quote that best reflects  what I am trying to convey comes from Edgar Allen Poe, who said the following: “​It is  by no means an irrational fancy that, in a future existence, we shall look upon  what we think our present existence, as a dream.​”

What I am referring to as “Time Immemorial Disorder” is basically the lack of a  coherent, written down plan for ourselves as Masons, and for our Lodges, and a lack  of institutional memory. It manifests itself in several ways, the most obvious of which  is doing things a certain way, “because this is the way we have always done it,” or  secondly, by allowing knowledge, or “institutional memory” to either be lost, or  compartmentalized; and finally, by repeatedly trying the same thing over and over,  not remembering that it was not that successful in the first place. In other words, I am  describing the pitfall of relying on customs and practices created in “Time  Immemorial.” We may or may not know the reason for what we are doing, and end  up just going through the motions. They were not even necessarily created a long  time ago, we just do not remember why we continue to do them.

A good example of doing things without knowing why was the restaurant  where my home lodge would go to eat before our Past Master’s night, and often  before our regular meetings. A Past Master’s night was simply when Past Masters  would perform all the parts of a Master Mason degree. Beforehand, we would meet  at the now-closed Lamb’s Restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City. It had adequate  food, but was located in an inconvenient spot on Main Street. Free parking was  about as common as unicorns, and even paid parking was sometimes hard to find. It  seemed that we were going to a lot of trouble just to go to a mediocre restaurant,  and the frustration from finding parking seemed like it was more trouble than the  food was worth.

It was not until several years into my Masonic career, when I was talking to a  more-seasoned member of the lodge that I learned the reason for our insistence in  going to Lambs. It turned out that in the earlier part of the century, especially when  the Salt Lake Masonic Temple was originally just a short walk from it (I believe where  the Questar / Dominion Energy building is now), it was known as “The Place Masons  meet to eat.” We were continuing a tradition “from Time Immemorial” without  knowing why.

Sometimes, this disorder manifests as just a trust that “things will work out,”  often said by well meaning, and even well-informed brethren. It is still a disorder in  this case, because not everyone communicates the information that they base their opinions on to each other. For instance, I was the Worshipful Master of Wasatch Lodge #1 back in 2003, and while my predecessor (W. Bro. Scott Andersen) and  successor (M.W. Bro. John Liley) all coincidentally had successful years, we largely implemented the same ideas, and each of us were by and large coasting. What we talked about over cigars and pipes in the parking lot after Lodge was almost never  written down, and I certainly do not recall anything like a long term plan.  

More often than not, a lack of a communicated long-term plan, one that spans  not only the three principal officers, but also the Senior (and possibly Junior) Deacon,  can lead to complacency, and current officers “resting on the laurels” of previous  efforts. Ultimately, the best we can hope for when suffering from Time Immemorial  Disorder is that we may get a program or practice that lasts only a year, maybe two  or three if the Senior or Junior Wardens are paying attention and agree with what is  going on. At worst, we will have ineffective, or even disliked programs, with  members determined to “Just wait this guy out.”

So given that we as Masons and Lodges are susceptible to Time Immemorial  Disorder, what can we do about it? What follows are only suggestions, as what  works in LaSal #30 will probably be different from what works in Corinne #5, or even  Orient #15.

My first suggestion is simple: look at what you and your lodges are doing right  now, and if nobody in the Lodge remembers why, then it is very probably time to find  out the answer to that question. If you do not as a Lodge happen to like what you  find, then you are under no obligation to continue doing it. If you do like what you  find, look for ways to improve it.

My second suggestion is based a little bit in effective goal making: Write this  stuff down, somewhere. As a suggestion, consider that we live in a unique time  where we can create documents that are accessible across vast distances, and can  be secured as well. Platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, etc., allow officers from Price, Green River, Moab, and others wheresoever dispersed, to  all see and work from the same manual or plan, and as new Brothers come into  leadership responsibilities, they can be given ownership of them. Even if the plan is  scribbled down on a napkin over coffee, pass that napkin to your successors, coffee  rings and all. 

Finally, If at some point that plan you have created stops working, or the Lodge  just does not like it anymore, then change it, or make a new one. We are only  beholden to our obligations at the altar, not the ideas of our past brethren, even if we  were the ones who came up with the idea. After all, probably one of my favorite  cautions I have heard about any idea is “They can’t all be golden.”

So let us resolve to turn Time Immemorial into something that works for us.  Instead of an institutional amnesia that hinders us, we should make it part of our  mystique. Nobody knows where or when we formed, and that is part of our mystery,  which when properly leveraged, is attractive to the men we want to join us. The last  thing that should be a mystery is what we are doing, or why we are doing the things  we do. 

Good Afternoon, and may the force be with you, always.

St. George: #33, Cedar City #35
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
September 8th, 2018

M.W. Brethern, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren all, good afternoon. 

The title of my oration this afternoon is “The Most Obdurate Metals.” In  thinking back through the degrees you have received, whether it is just the Entered  Apprentice degree, or thirty three plus of them, you will likely recall that we are told  in the lecture of the first degree, that our ancient Brethren served their masters with  Freedom, Fervency, and Zeal. Also you will likely recall that these noble virtues are  represented by Chalk, Charcoal, and Clay. 

I was researching these symbols in preparation for this oration today, and  found an interesting hypothesis in the Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide (p. 94  for those reading along). In the 18th and early 19th centuries Lodges would  customarily meet in the upper floors of taverns, inns, and similar buildings. Imagine  yourselves as one of those early Brethren, meeting an hour or two before the degree  or meeting was to start. Perhaps fortified with a pint of ale or dram of whiskey, I can  imagine the Tyler and Stewards clearing the room of its furniture, moving everything  to the sides, thus exposing the floorboards underneath. They would then “draw” the  Lodge using pieces of chalk or charcoal, putting down the symbols and objects of  particular interest for the upcoming degree. Hopefully, the appointed Brethren of the  Lodge at that time had a better skill at drawing than I do.    The degree would then proceed, a meeting of friends and Brothers.  Afterwards, it was said to be the responsibility of the youngest Entered Apprentice,  after being invested with the mystic mop and pail, to erase the “secrets” that had  been drawn just hours before. What better lesson can there be than this humble  task, to have helped those Brothers internalize the lessons of Freemasonry?    We are now told that chalk represents Freedom, since the slightest touch of it  leaves a trace. Charcoal represents fervency, since if ignited correctly, it can  produce temperatures that will melt any metal. And finally Clay, or Mother Earth,  represents Zeal. Please bear with me as I apply these symbols to Freemasonry’s  present situation.    Freemasonry is in very real danger of becoming a historical curiosity, reference,  and byword. Here in the United States, we have secured, through the noble sacrifice  of so many, the freedom to practice our Noble Art as we see fit. For a while, after  recovering from the self inflicted wound of the Morgan Affair, we prospered in the  early part of the 20th century. We built, and we seemingly assumed that we would  continue to grow and increase forever. After all, we have existed from Time  Immemorial, and we are taught in the Master Mason degree that Time himself  replenishes us, instead of crushing our beloved Fraternity beneath his iron heel, or  marring its beautiful proportions. This is an entirely laudable and correct mindset to  take, and we should wholeheartedly pursue it with with all our energy, but with a few  adjustments.  Bear with me please as I seem to go off topic for a minute. If you peruse all the  metals and their melting points, we find a wide range of temperatures at which they  will melt. For instance, Mercury melts at -37.9 degrees Fahrenheit (a balmy winter  day in Alaska), while Tungsten melts at 6,192 degrees Fahrenheit. This wide range of  melting points (a difference of about 6,230 degrees Fahrenheit) can well represent  the wide variety of brethren in our fraternity. Some of us just “go with the flow”, and  may well be in the range of Zinc, around 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Others, who are more opinionated, rightly or wrongly, are likely to be termed the “Tungstens”, or most obdurate of metals of our Brotherhood.    So how do we get the bulk of our brethren on the same page, and moving in  the same direction in order to save our beloved Fraternity? In my opinion, this can be  accomplished by combining the suggested application of two of our symbols:  Charcoal and Clay.    We learn in the Entered Apprentice degree that Mother Earth, or Clay, is the  source of all the poisons and antidotes existing in our lives. I would submit that our  current challenge of retaining members is one of the deadly poisons that we must  swiftly deal with. In this dire situation, we are not left without hope because, as  promised in the first degree, there exists an antidote to this poison. This is where I  believe the application of the symbol of Charcoal comes in.  Please refer back to what metal’s melting point you most closely identified  yourself with. Whether you identify with Tungsten, Gold, Silver, Magnesium, or even  Mercury, there is a point at which you will “melt”, and be open to new ideas and  possibilities. A point where you will try new things. Some will jump immediately to  supporting an altered or new way of doing things, while others will take more  convincing. Regardless of your self identification with a particular metal, the best  approach may likely be the contention, or rather emulation, of who can best work,  and best agree.  Regardless of how resistant, or obdurate you, or your Lodge are to change,  there must be a “melting” point at which you will try new things. We are each keenly  aware of what we want, and by natural extension, of what our Lodges as a whole want and need. What works in Cedar City may not work in Saint George, any more  than it will work in Brigham City. What our challenge is is simple: whether it is the  fervency of a new Entered Apprentice, or the barely burning ember of a three or four  time Past master, we need to figure out how to properly ignite, and direct that  fervency. If perhaps, the dying embers have gone out completely, how do we  rekindle them? Perhaps the most difficult question of all, if they have gone out, do  we attempt to rekindle them, or build a new fire from scratch?  Anyone who knows me knows that I am an unrepentant nerd. If there is  anyone who is wondering about what I am talking about in the next bit of this oration,  please come see me afterwards. In the “Return of the King” from the Lord of the  Rings movies or books, we saw Gondor’s mad king resisting calling for help from  Rohan against the evil of Sauron and the amassing forces of Mordor. It took the  courage of a brave Hobbit to climb up a sheer precipice and light the first signal fire,  which ultimately alerted Rohan, and brought the aid of the Host of Rohirrim to the  city, which so direly needed them in order to prevail against those evil forces. The  lesson in this nerdy reference, coupled with the symbols previously mentioned is this:  do not be afraid, no matter your station, to suggest new things, and to try them. Do  not be afraid, whether you are an Entered Apprentice standing in the Northeast  corner of the Lodge, or if you are a leader of your Lodge and the Fraternity, to  consider and try new things, as long as they are within the bounds of our Grand  Lodge code and your bylaws. We are all in this together, and we all want what is  best for our beloved Fraternity. When we properly ignite the fervency in each of us,  and in our Lodges as a whole, we can, and will achieve great things.   

St. Andrew’s #9, Canyon #13, Christopher Diehl #19, Twin Peaks #32
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
September 15th, 2018

M.W. Brethren, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren all, good afternoon.    The title of my oration this afternoon is “The Ruins of the Temple”. Please  imagine that you are a time traveller, and are visiting the area of Jerusalem about  538 BCE. Cyrus, the King of Persia, has just given permission to the Jews that have  been held in captivity for some six decades, to return and rebuild Jerusalem, and  more importantly, the Temple. You see them coming back to the city of their  forefathers, many overcome with emotion as they enter the ruined city. Their leader,  Zerubbabel is promising to everyone that the temple, which was only a heap of  rubble on top of Mount Moriah, would be rebuilt and restored. Zerubbabel heads  towards Mount Moriah, climbing the ruined steps, and finally comes to the platform  where Solomon’s temple once stood. Scattered all around are large cyclopean  blocks of stone, broken columns, and the picked over remnants of Solomon’s  Temple. It must have been discouraging to see; the idol of Hiram’s fondest ambition,  reduced to such a diminished state, with the column of Beauty lying in ruins.  Now let us flash forward more toward the present day. Please recall when you  were a new candidate knocking three times at the door of the preparation room.  Think of the excitement you felt at joining this grand endeavor and great work called  “Freemasonry.” Full of nerves and perhaps a little trepidation, we each knocked  three times on the door of the preparation room, hoping that we had found a home of  friends and Brothers. How long did it take you to start to notice the cracks in the  veneer of that grand vision?    1    Back in 1997 when I joined, my Mother Lodge Wasatch Lodge #1, I was hugely  excited about being a Mason. It wasn’t until after few months after my Master Mason  Degree that I started to notice the cracks in that veneer. It turns out that the Lodge  was in as state that could only be described as despairing, with some even talking  about turning in their charter. Wasatch Lodge was not alone in that situation either.  Most Lodges and appendant organization’s meetings at that time tended to be what  several of us termed “Death and Dying Reports.”    A few years later, Freemasonry experienced the internet boom. We set up  websites, began Meetup groups, had open houses, and for a time, we started to  enjoy the possibility of growing again as a Fraternity. Some Lodges did see growth  for a time. Through the early 2000’s, the Fraternity largely figured out how to recruit  in this new era, which I would argue is a skill set we still possess to this day.    Return now to the era of Zerubbabel and the difficulties he and his subjects  experienced while trying to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. It is said that those  who were rebuilding the city had to keep a trowel in one hand, and a sword in the  other, simply because the Samaritans would constantly attack them, trying their  defenses. With many large gaps in the city walls, and multiple ruined buildings to  hide in, they could easily have come into the city, and attack almost with impunity.  Imagine laying a couple of stones or bricks, then looking about to see if there were  any ruffians about to accost you. This situation got so desperate that Zerubbabel  gathered a group of trusted friends and soldiers together, and journeyed all the way  back to Persia to talk to the new king Darius.    2    According to Masonic legend, they were approached by a sizeable group of  thugs just before they reached the banks of the Euphrates river. They demanded a  toll of gold and silver before they would allow Zerubbabel’s party permission to pass  through their territory. Not one to be trifled with, Zerubbabel attacked, and either  killed or drove them away. After crossing the Euphrates, Zerubbabel and his  compatriots found themselves at the court of King Darius, and made their case.  So while our Lodges started websites, created Meetups, and generally started  enjoying success in recruiting new members. However, a majority, if not all of us  ignored the seed of our potential destruction: the bane of NPD’s. I remember one  prevailing theory at that time was that membership was a lot like a bathtub with a  slow leak at bottom. All we really needed to do was put water in at least as fast as it  was draining out. What we are finding now is there may not even be a stopper there,  and at worst, there are sometimes Brethren actively poking holes in the bottom of the  tub.  Zerubbabel got the help he needed from Darius, and was allowed to return  with the treasures of the Temple, and money to help him out. Darius extended his  protection to Jerusalem, making Zerubbabel and his close compatriots princes of his  realm, and thus the city and Temple were rebuilt. It would have certainly been easier  if they had just stayed in Jerusalem instead of taking the perilous journey to see  Darius, but the consequences of that inaction would have been dire.    A lot of you may have heard what I derisively call “silver-bullet solutions” to our  problems, solutions when taken by themselves. Suggestions like: shorter meetings,  more educationals, more fundraisers, less fundraisers, open houses, etc. While these  3    are all certainly necessary aspects of a successful Lodge, they are not what is going  to save us. The “thing” we sell are experiences. Experiences ranging from our  initiatic process, to leadership experiences, to the experience of deep and abiding  friendships. Where we fail is when these experiences do not match up with the  hopes and expectations of our members, from the newest Entered Apprentice, to the  3 or 4 time Past Master.  So now we need to make our own journey as a Fraternity across the Euphrates,  because the price of inaction on our part can be as high as it could have been for  Zerubbabel. Let us deal with the thugs and ruffians, whether they be metaphorical or  actual, whether they be outside, or inside our Lodges  Now what or who your Lodge’s thugs and ruffians may be can differ from  Lodge to Lodge, and sometimes even from Brother to Brother. But we need to start  by identifying what is causing Brothers to leave through the South and West Gates,  and then to make a plan to deal with those issues and problems. Do we need to  improve our ritual? Do we need to have a difficult conversation with a Brother who is  causing contention? Do we need to perhaps try something frightening but needful,  like what they are pursuing out in Christopher Diehl Lodge? Do not let inaction be  your choice, but control your Lodge’s destiny, along with your own.  Some of these problems can be stressful and perhaps even frightening. The  best advice I can give comes from a science fiction show several of us in this room  enjoy: Doctor Who:  “​Courage isn’t a matter of not being frightened, you know. It’s being afraid  and doing what you have to do anyway.​”  4    So let us each gather our courage, face our problems, and as individual  brethren, Lodges, and a Fraternity as a whole, return to practicing that trinity of  Masonic values: Brotherly Love, Relief (for ourselves), and Truth. Through the  practice of these noble virtues, let us practice true Freemasonry, and build the  Second Temple instead of fighting thugs by the river.    Good Afternoon, and may the force be with you, always. 

Beehive Lodge UD
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
October 3rd, 2018

M.W. Brethern, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren all, good evening.  This oration is titled “The Most Obdurate Metals,” and is a slight alteration of  the one I gave in Saint George a few weeks ago. My apologies if you have heard this  before; just think of it as a good chance for a nap. In thinking back through all of the  degrees you have received, you will likely recall that we are told in the first degree,  that our ancient Brethren served their masters with Freedom, Fervency, and Zeal,  represented by Chalk, Charcoal, and Clay.  In researching these symbols in preparation for this oration, I found an  interesting account in the Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide (p. 94 for those  reading along). In the 18th and early 19th centuries Lodges would customarily meet  in the upper floors of taverns, inns, and similar buildings. Imagine yourselves as one  of those early Brethren, meeting an hour or two before the degree or meeting was to  start. Perhaps fortified with a pint of ale, or even a steak dinner, imagine the Tyler  and Stewards clearing the room of its furniture, moving everything to the sides, thus  exposing the floorboards underneath. They would then “draw” the Lodge using  pieces of chalk or charcoal, putting down the symbols and objects of particular  interest for the upcoming degree.    The degree would then proceed, a meeting of friends and Brothers.  Afterwards, it was said to be the responsibility of the youngest Entered Apprentice,  after he was invested with the mystic mop and pail, to erase the “secrets” that had  been recently drawn. What better lesson can there be than this humble task, to have  helped those Brothers internalize the lessons of Freemasonry?    1     We are now told that chalk represents Freedom, since the slightest touch of it  leaves a trace. Charcoal represents fervency, since if ignited correctly, it can  produce temperatures that will melt any metal. And finally Clay, or Mother Earth,  represents Zeal. Please bear with me as I apply these symbols to Freemasonry’s  present situation.    Freemasonry is in very real danger of becoming a historical curiosity, reference,  and byword. Here in the United States, we have secured, through the noble sacrifice  of so many, the freedom to practice our Noble Art as we see fit. For a while, after  recovering from the self inflicted wound of the Morgan Affair, we prospered in the  early part of the 20th century. We built, and we seemingly assumed that we would  continue to grow and increase forever. After all, we have existed from Time  Immemorial, and we are taught in the Master Mason degree that Time himself  replenishes us, instead of crushing us beneath his iron heel. This is an entirely  laudable and correct mindset to take, and we should wholeheartedly pursue it with  with all our energy, but with a few adjustments.  Please bear with me please as I seem to go off topic for a minute. If you peruse  all the metals and their melting points, we find a wide range of temperatures. For  instance, Mercury melts at -37.9 degrees Fahrenheit, while Tungsten melts at 6,192  degrees Fahrenheit. This wide range of melting points can well represent the wide  variety of brethren in our fraternity. Some of us just “go with the flow”, and may well  be in the range of Zinc’s melting point, around 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Others, who  are more opinionated, rightly or wrongly, are likely to be termed the “Tungstens”, or  most obdurate of metals of our Brotherhood.    2     So how do we get the bulk of our brethren on the same page, and moving in  the same direction in order to save our beloved Fraternity? In my opinion, this can be  accomplished by combining the suggested application of two of our symbols:  Charcoal and Clay.    We learn in the Entered Apprentice degree that Mother Earth, or Clay, is the  source of all the poisons and antidotes existing in our lives. I would submit that our  current challenge of retaining members is one of the deadly poisons that we must  swiftly deal with. In this dire situation, we are not left without hope however, because  as promised in the first degree, there exists an antidote to this poison. This is where I  believe the application of the symbol of Charcoal comes in.  Please refer back to what metal’s melting point you most closely identified  yourself with. Whether you identify with Tungsten, Gold, Silver, Magnesium, or even  Mercury, there is a point at which you will “melt”, and be open to new ideas and  possibilities. A point where you will try new things. Some will jump immediately to  supporting an altered or new way of doing things, while others will take more  convincing. Regardless of your self identification with a particular metal, the best  approach may likely be the contention, or rather emulation, of who can best work,  and best agree.  Following the idea of the different metal’s melting points, the best example of  “best working and agreeing” comes from the idea of an alloy. For instance tin and  copper are relatively soft metals, which have a hard time holding any edge. But  when properly heated and combined, we get Bronze, which is said to have ushered  in a whole age of man.   3     Anyone who knows me knows that I am an unrepentant nerd. If there is  anyone who is wondering about what I am talking about in the next bit of this oration,  please come see me afterwards. In the “Return of the King” from the Lord of the  Rings movies or books, we saw Gondor’s mad king resisting calling for help from  Rohan against the evil of Sauron and the amassing forces of Mordor. It took the  courage of a brave Hobbit to climb up a sheer precipice and light the first signal fire,  which ultimately alerted Rohan, and brought the aid of the Host of Rohirrim to the  city, which so direly needed them in order to prevail against those evil forces. The  lesson in this nerdy reference, coupled with the symbols previously mentioned is this:  do not be afraid, no matter your station, to suggest new things, and to try them. We  are all in this together, and we all want what is best for our beloved Fraternity. When  we properly ignite the fervency in each of us, and alloy the best parts of each of us  together, we can, and will achieve great things.      Good Evening, and may the Force be with you, always. 

Saint Andrew’s Lodge #9 - Burns Night Supper
Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
January 25th, 2019

M.W. Brethren, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Brethren all, good evening.  My oration for this evening is titled “How Freemasonry Saved a Poet.”    Robert Burns, Scotland’s Poet Laureate, Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate  Kilwinning No. 2, Caledonia and Caledonia's bard, had a weakness for the ladies, and  what would be termed at that time as “Libertine tendencies.” But despite all that,  Freemasonry saved him, and gave the future a priceless gift.  Born exactly 260 years ago today, on a Thursday, (January 25th, 1759), Robert  Burns (or Burness as the family was known at that time) was the eldest of seven  children, and had a childhood filled with what has been described as “privation and  severe manual labor” working on his father’s farm. This back breaking labor left him  with a premature stoop and a weakened constitution. His schooling was irregular,  with most of it happening at home. Outside of home-schooling, he also went to an  “adventure school” in 1765. After the “adventure school” closed, Robert went on to  the Dalrymple Parish School for a little while, until his father needed his help again on  the farm in 1773.  It was during the harvest of 1774 that he met Nelly Kilpatrick, who is thought to  have inspired his first serious attempt at poetry. Ultimately, in 1775, he finished his  education with a tutor at Kirkoswald. There he met a second muse, Peggy  Thompson. In an effort to perhaps make himself more attractive and dateable, and  much to his father’s chagrin, Burns attended a country dancing school in 1779.  Robert Burns described his reasoning, and his father’s reaction in the following  words:  1     "​In my seventeenth year, to give my manners a brush, I went to a country  dancing school. My father had an unaccountable antipathy against these  meetings; and my going was, what to this hour I repent, in absolute defiance of  his commands. My father, as I said before, was the sport of strong passions; from  that instance of rebellion he took a kind of dislike to me... ​ "  A year later, he formed the “Tarbolton Bachelor’s Club” with his brother Gilbert  and several friends. It is this very club that would become the prototype for many  Burns Clubs, and was to be the place where he was initiated into Freemasonry. He  was made an Entered Apprentice on Wednesday, the Fourth of July, 1781, at the age  of 22. Perhaps unknown to Burns, he entered Freemasonry in the midst of a  controversy between the Masons of the two lodges.   For some reason (at least no reason I could find), a group of Masons broke off  from St. James Tarbolton Killwinning No. 178 and formed Lodge St. David No. 174 in  1773. They reunited in 1781, just nine days before Burns was initiated. Apparently the  name or numbering of the new lodge was not to everyone’s satisfaction (Lodge St.  David won out), and this allowed the seeds of further dissention to sprout. You may  ask why I’m going into the piques and quarrels of these two, then one, then ultimately  two lodges? It is more than to indicate than when they separated again on June 17th,  1782, Burns went with Lodge St. James. It is also to show that disagreement, as well  as private piques and quarrels amongst the craft is nothing new. One could say, “All  of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.”  2     Three years later, Burns was elected “Depute Master” of the lodge, at the ripe  old age of 25. Oddly, the Worshipful Master” was an honorary title, and it was the  Depute Master who actually ran the lodge. Records show that he was active in the  lodge, apparently acting as secretary on occasion. It was during this time that he  (according to the minutes he and his brother Gilbert signed), changed their name  from “Burness” to “Burns” in the minutes of the Lodge.    Despite his ascending fortunes in the lodge, 1786 was not a good year for  Robert Burns. His current love interest, Mary Campbell, had died of Typhus, he was  denied the love of his future wife Jean Armour (coincidentally the daughter of  another Mason), and was owing child support payments for her unborn child. He had  decided at that point to flee to Jamaica to seek his fortunes there. Had it not been  for his brethren, it can be argued that we might not be singing Auld Lang Syne at  New Years.  It was a Brother Freemason who decided to publish the Kilmarnock edition of  Burns’ poems, and this laudable pursuit was supported by 350 members of St. John’s  Lodge who subscribed to a copy. By October of that year, he was made an honorary  member of Lodge Kilmarnock Killwinning St. John. This spurred a further rise in  Freemasonry as well. At a meeting of Lodge St. Andrew in Edinburgh in 1787, the  Grand Master of Scotland, Francis Douglas, Lord Elcho, toasted Burns, declaring him,  amongst other things, “Caledonia and Caledonia’s bard, Brother Robert Burns.” In  that same year, he was made the Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Killwinning No.  2, and exalted as a companion of the Holy Royal Arch degree.  3     Given his dalliances, illegitimate children, and even what could be reasonably  called an “illicit” relationship with a Master Mason’s daughter (though he and Jean  Armour eventually married in 1788), why did the Freemasons help Burns out of his  financial predicament, thus enabling him to become not only a world renowned poet,  but also, and more importantly, a successful lyricist? I would merely refer you to the  following passage from our own ritual:  “Remember that around this altar, you have promised to befriend and  relieve every brother who shall need your assistance. Remember that you have  promised to remind him, in the most tender manner, of his failings, and to aid in  his reformation, as well as to vindicate his character when wrongfully traduced.”  It would seem that those 18th century Masons considered the character and  failings of Robert Burns, and that while his failings were considerable, they did not  make Burns irredeemable. Perhaps they saw the future, or that Robert Burns had  that divine spark of the Creator’s gift of music within him. Whatever the reason, they  gave themselves, and uncountable generations the priceless gift of Robert Burns.  Good Evening, and may the Force be with you, always.    References:  http://www.robertburns.org.uk/freemason-robertburns.html  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns 

Grand Lodge of Utah 
147th Annual Communication Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason L. Allred, Grand Orator
February 2nd, 2019

M.W. Brethren, Right Worshipfuls, Worshipfuls, Distinguished Delegates, Brethren all,  good morning.  All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.  It was a brisk September night when Sherriff Bruce and several of his  “deputized” friends showed up on Bill’s doorstep. They were there to arrest him for  not paying on a loan he had taken out, and allegedly stealing a shirt and tie from a  local store. He subsequently spent a little while cooling his heels in jail, until his  friend David bailed him out. On his way home, the Sheriff and his friends caught up  with Bill again, since someone had made the accusation that Bill had not paid his bar  tab. So he was re-arrested, and was again staring through bars when he noticed the  guard was not around. His wife Lucinda walked in with the Sheriff, had him set loose,  and for unknown reasons, Bill went off into the night with the Sheriff.  What happened next is a matter of some speculation, but the likeliest series of  events is that the Sheriff and his friends Loton Lawon, Nicholas Chesebro, and  Edward Sawyer rowed their boat out into the middle of the Niagara River in the dead  of night, with Bill sitting at the bow of the boat. After many harsh words about his  lack of moral fiber and low character, and threats about what would happen if he  ever returned, he was unceremoniously pitched into the river. After that, he may  have swum to the Canadian side and fled for his life to Europe, or he might have  been the badly decomposed body that washed up on the shores of Lake Ontario a  month later. So many years before modern forensic science, nobody could say for  sure.  1    What is known is that the disappearance of William Morgan, and the  subsequent perceived slap-on-the-wrist punishment of the four Freemasons in that  boat, led to a whole Anti-Masonic movement, and even the formation of an additional  U.S. political party. Arguably, through the actions of a few individual Masons, the  whole Fraternity suffered. For a while, membership dwindled, Lodges were  shuttered and sold, and some even thought that Freemasonry would entirely die out  in many parts of the United States. Ultimately, we saw about 60% of our membership  leave through the South Gate. We had met the enemy, and it was us. Fortunately,  after a time, Freemasonry began to recover. We became more secretive and private,  and even changed some of our ritual. Any anti-Masonic fervor cooled, and even the  Anti-Masonic party ceased to exist by the late 1830’s. We had weathered the  firestorm that we ourselves sparked.  All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.    After the unpleasant and harrowing times of the Morgan Affair, we started and  continued to generally grow until we peaked in membership in 1959. Along the way,  we increasingly tried our hands at operative Masonry, building buildings ranging from  the opulent to the utilitarian, working to build space for 4 million U.S. Freemasons.  We built grand buildings like the Hollywood Masonic Temple, the gigantic Detroit  Masonic Temple, or our own building here, along with countless smaller, but no less  important rural and suburban lodge buildings. However, in building these physical  structures, we planted one of the potential seeds of our own destruction. At that  point we were growing, and we did not have the foresight to think that our numbers  would do anything other than continue to grow, since we had been consistently  2    growing for decades at that point. Additionally, many building associations did not  create sufficiently large endowment and maintenance funds, maybe thinking that  there would always be more than enough money with a growing membership. We all  know however, that over the decades, membership declined rather than grew,  building maintenance costs mounted, and our dues and per capita rates largely  stagnated. As an example, by the time I joined Freemasonry 21 years ago in 1997, we  seemed entrenched in a fatalistic and perhaps nihilistic waiting game, afraid to raise  dues or per-capita, fearing that would cause more members to demit or drift away.  While the majority of us waited and feared to act, one of our Columns of Beauty was  crumbling beneath the touch of Time. This waiting leaves us in the situation where  we, more often than not, have to worry more about buildings than the business of  being Masons.  All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.  The internet started booming in the late 90’s, and many Lodges looked on it as  the electronic silver bullet savior sent to fix all of our woes. Websites sprang up  everywhere, and it was truly the Virtual Wild West back then. I remember a Friday  night in the Fall of 1998 when a couple of us geeky young Masons proposed setting  up a website for Wasatch Lodge, to be hosted for free at X-Mission. Despite baffling  some of the members with what probably sounded to them like the script of a Star  Trek episode, the Lodge voted, and agreed to allow us to proceed with our plans. So  up went our website, and on an almost daily basis, we updated it. M.W. Brother John  Liley would call on a daily, sometimes hourly basis with some new cool site he had  found, or some idea or redesign. We started getting emails from interested men who  3    wanted to join us. Our very first meeting with interested prospects was in the now  defunct Galaxy Diner on State Street, near Fashion Place Mall. John, Bill Voorhees  and I met two very different men there; one a Sears call center supervisor in his late  30’s, and another younger man (which I can’t remember for the life of me what he did  for a living) in his early 20’s, who was interested in more esoteric aspects of the  fraternity. So while Elvis, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis played in the  background, we more or less started forming the well intentioned, but ultimately  self-damaging mantra that many of us probably still repeat: “We are a charitable  fraternity. It is easy to find our secrets. It is only one meeting a month.” The older  guy did end up joining, but was dropped for non-advancement, later reinstated, then  ultimately went NPD in 2013. The younger guy never got that far. He was convinced  that we were a front for the Templars, and were just biding our time until we could  seek vengeance for our suppression. It is possible that he is still waiting for an email  from me, admitting that he was right, and to invite him into our secret Star Chamber. I  tend to remember him in terms of Umberto Eco’s quote from Foucault’s Pendulum:  “The lunatic is all idée fixe, and whatever he comes across confirms his  lunacy. You can tell him by the liberties he takes with common sense, by his  flashes of inspiration, and by the fact that sooner or later he brings up the  Templars.”    So while the internet boomed, so did many of our Lodges. Many lodges began  hosting meetups and open houses. We advertised ourselves and, with the best  intentions, called ourselves “private” rather than “secret.” ​One prevailing theory at  the time was that membership was a lot like a bathtub with a slow leak at the bottom.  4    All we really needed to do to overcome our NPD problem was to put water in at least  as fast as it was draining out, and in those heady days of the internet boom, that  appeared to work. What we are finding now however is there may not even be a  stopper down there, and at worst, there are sometimes Brethren actively poking  holes in the bottom of the tub.    All of this has happened before, but does all of this have to happen again?  All of the previous stories I have told you contain striking emblems of mortality,  and afford serious reflection to the thinking mind. We frequently use terms like “Time  Immemorial”, and claim that Father Time himself renews the youth and beauty of our  Fraternity. Where we materially err, at least in my opinion, is that while our Ancient  Fraternity is indeed immortal, our buildings by their material nature are not, our  beloved Lodges are not, and, most damagingly, our own membership is not. While  we cannot do anything about death, we can and must do something about men  leaving through the South Gate.    Given this, how can Freemasonry not only continue to survive, but to expand  and thrive to become the “Mighty Empire of Intellect, Reason, Philosophy, and Wise  Mortality” spoken of in the Scottish Rite? The answer, to me, does not lie in one, or  even a myriad of Silver Bullet Programs or initiatives, but in a many pronged set of  actions based in our core concepts of Brotherhood, Relief, and Truth.    We need to see the unvarnished Truth of our situation, seek Relief for  ourselves, and remember that Brotherhood so forcibly recommended in our closing  charge. Many of you will perhaps recognize the following a quote from “Pulp  5    Fiction”, but I think it, along with a final story, shows how we can go about breaking  our self-induced cycle of diminishment.  Ezekiel 25:17 (Altered) - "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the  iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name  of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness.  For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children."    We should all be our Brother’s keeper, for in that brotherhood and friendship,  all tied together with our beautiful, effective, and yes, even mystic, ritual, lies our  connection, and our power. So, if you will indulge me, I will tell a final story.  Anyone who has been to Washington D.C. in August will know that that month  is a horrible time for us desert-dwellers to visit. It is hot, even by our standards, with  the added humidity of the East Coast. It was in exactly those conditions that several  of us (including M.W. Brothers Baker, Liley, Wolfarth, R.W. Bro Fielden, and W. Bro.  Varner and Glines) attended the 2017 Biennial session of the Scottish Rite. On the  last day, after pretty much everything had wrapped up except for the closing grand  gala that night, M.W. John Liley proposed visiting Arlington Cemetery, as he had  promised a Brother of ours that he would look for a tombstone there, and send him a  picture. So we set off, walking down to the Dupont Circle Metro Station, with me  quickly regretting that I had not brought a single pair of short pants. We switched  trains at the Metro Center Station, and riding amist people in military uniforms making  their way to the Pentagon, arrived at the Arlington station. We got directions from a  nice lady at the main center, then after a 5 minute bus ride, we arrived at the section  we needed. Going up the gentle hillside in front of us were hundreds of graves, all in  neat and orderly rows. We walked along, searching for the grave, and, as those of  6    you who have been there will understand, I got the overwhelming sense of gratitude.  Yes, it was stiflingly hot, and the water I had brought was long gone, but those  honored dead had paid a combined price I could not comprehend, one far past my,  or any of our abilities to repay.  After several false starts, we finally found the row we needed, and working our  way in, we found the grave of Raymond F. Lodge, the father of our Lodge Brother  and friend, Kraig Lodge. Raymond was a Navy pilot and instructor, and has been  described to me as a “badass.” Looking down on that tombstone, it struck me that  what the two of us were doing that day was important, perhaps even the most  important thing we can do in this Fraternity; be Brothers. True Brothers. Even more  importantly, be true friends to each other. Yes, we saw the Tomb of the Unknown  Soldier, John F Kennedy’s grave, and many other impressive and stately monuments,  but the reason we were there in the first place was to do something for our friend  and Brother. It was a small thing, but it meant a lot to him.  Albert Pike famously said that “​What we do for ourselves dies with us. ... “What  we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and  the world remains and is immortal.” I would like to take that a step further. As you all  probably know, I am an unrepentant nerd, and the following is based on a speech  given by The Doctor from the BBC’s “Doctor Who.” ​Imagine your life, not as a series  of events all in a line from beginning to end, but as a series of points, laid out all  around you. From your birth, to the moment of your exit through the East Gate. A  vast city of every event and person important to you. Imagine now, the city of  Freemasonry, the “​Mighty Empire of Intellect, Reason, Philosophy, and Wise  7    Mortality”​, upon which the sun never sets. That city depends on you and me. It  depends on our stories, and our friendships, and our Brotherhood. It depends on  adding new, carefully chosen, lifelong members to our City. It especially depends on  knowing that one of those Brethren is considering leaving our grand city, and then  doing our level best to bring him back into the Household of the Faithful.    In conclusion, it has been said that “​Death is light as a feather, and duty is  heavy as a mountain”, but that mountain need not be carried alone. Every true  brother in this room, and in this world has your and my backs. I know this is true,  having seen it in action many times in my travels around the state this year. Despite  the tempest of dark and threatening clouds now covering us, I believe that  Freemasonry has a bright future. I hope that together, we will carry our part of that  mountain, weather this storm, and keep the vast city of Freemasonry as a beacon on  the hill, to all those who shall need our assistance, but more especially, to our brother  Masons. What we do for each other makes us, and by extension, Freemasonry, truly  Immortal.     So Say We All. 

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening. The title of this evenings talk is "Freemasonry is Scary".

Freemasonry is scary for many reasons.

If you have ever typed the word "Freemasonry" into a Google search you are returned with 1,030,000 hits. On the first page alone half of the sites listed are what we could call Anti-Masonic. The others are legitimate, personal or Fringe. When a potential candidate sifts through this information it is not only daunting but also based on some of the ridiculous claims could be a bit frightening. Although I must say I am still looking for my cut of the world money supply.

The one thing you will learn is that you need to go meet a Mason so that you can become one. This can be a challenge because some people have to build up the courage to knock on the door of a local Masonic Temple in hopes of meeting someone. We might find this hard to believe, as we know we are a very social organization but think about the first time you may have made a few distinct knocks on a door. This challenge is further exacerbated when you go to the imposing structure of the Salt Lake Masonic Temple for instance only to find we use the back door.

Once a fellow has gained admission to one of our Temples he suddenly finds himself the most popular guy in the room. Everyone is happy to see him. Everyone greets him with an outstretched hand and a smile. If he has brought his spouse, partner or family everyone is welcomed. Sometimes though we have a tendency to smother the visitor in the room. Little does he know that he may be the only new person that a lodge has seen in months or years and the zealous welcome of the Brethren can sometimes be off-putting on your first time through the door when you were just curious to meet a Mason.

This jubilant fascination with the new guy normally keeps building, as the fellow becomes a candidate and eventually a new Mason in the Lodge.

I can remember what it was like.

Can you in this room hearken back when you were in the North East corner of the Lodge for the first time?

Remember how it felt everybody was happy to see you and then you earned your seat among the Brethren.

Then at the next meeting another new guy up and decides to go join the lodge and sometimes not always you ended up sitting by yourself.

Suddenly all the attention was drawn from you to the next customer in line. How did that make you feel? You knew nobody here you knocked on the door and became a rock-star for a while and worked hard became one of the Fraternity only to sit all alone in a room full of Brotherhood.

I have talked to a few Masons where this has unfortunately happened and that’s a little scary in more ways than one.

Freemasonry will push you out of your comfort zone.

How many people here like to speak in public?

I am here to tell you I ran off stage in my 5th Grade play.

When joining the lodge a Brother is suddenly introduced to new ideas, customs and traditions. He is told to memorize a bunch of letters in a book that are actually words and how fortunate he is that he gets to sit in front of everybody at the next meeting and recite this stuff.

Unfortunately not everybody wants to do this. Sometimes we forget to ask the new guy if it's ok with him. He doesn't know about or what "the code" is and quite frankly may not want to sit and recite in front of the lodge. I was told I had to do this in my own Lodge and truthfully I almost didn't come back to the next meeting. This can be scary stuff to some folks.

How about the first time you had to deliver ritual in open lodge. You studied and studied. Mumbled in your family room and in your car on the way to and from work. Your wife and kids thought you were going nuts talking to yourself. I guess that’s scary too, Dad joins the Freemasons and starts talking to himself. Anyway you cleaned up the best you could and put on your “new” used Tuxedo the first one you ever wore that wasn’t for a Prom or a wedding and then you ran out the door only to forget you cipher. The anxiety builds and the traffic is bad. It’s the first time you’ve worn braces with your trousers and which way does that dang cummerbund supposed to be on anyway? Your plastic shoes have no support and the lodge room is hot even though the air-conditioning is on. The lodge meeting starts and the Worshipful Master asks you a question and then…..Your mind goes blank. Welcome to the fraternity, not scary at all, eh?

What about rebuilding a lodge when half it’s officers don’t sign up again? What about buying land and then building a Lodge Hall when you don’t know where the money is going to come from. Scary maybe? Brave probably..

Some of these things that I have mentioned may have happened to you or maybe we have been guilty of them ourselves. The beauty is that Freemasonry more than a Fraternity is a means of instruction. If we follow its teachings and tenants we can overcome our shortfalls. If we need help we can converse with well-informed Brethren who are always ready to give as well as receive instruction. We can conquer fear by taking advantage of the rich history that we have in our seasoned membership. And we can sooth the discomfort of change by embracing the exuberance of youth.

Our Grand Lodge and her lodges have designed websites with good information for the curious and serious researcher.

The Masonic Family has opened her doors, even the front doors, throughout the state to the public.

We have put on a public face in the Masonic Meet-up Groups breaking bread and building trust with those that might join us.

We have looked internally at our failings and chose to move forward as the time is always now in all things.

Yes we have challenges, misinformation, locked doors, petty squabbles and a few scary things.

However in Freemasonry there are also the answers a “Right” course if you will and this is how we will stay positive, we will grow, we will combat fear and be the Masonic Family we know we all can be.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Illustrious Brother Lancaster, Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry the Feast of Tishri and Why Scottish Rite is important".

According to the Book of Forms and Traditions of the Scottish Rite The origins and significance of the Feast of Tishri make it the most of Scottish Rite festivals. Although originally celebrated as a harvest and gathering festival, no other occasion epitomizes the character and purpose of the Rite more wholly than our historic celebration, held in conjunction with the dedication of King Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 7:8-10). To marshal the meanings of the feast is to summarize the principal ideals and traditions of our Fraternity.

So today at this Feast of Tishri we gather as Scottish Rite Masons with the Masonic Family of Utah remembering and reaffirming who we are. This celebration is done by us so as to re-dedicate ourselves to the purposes, charities and beliefs of what we hold so dear within the Masonic Fraternity. This is why this re-affirmation if you will is considered as one of the obligatory observances of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

Scottish Rite in Utah is important though for a number of reasons.

Some of the first occasions where one may meet other Brethren not from their own lodge is in the Scottish Rite. As I have said in the past a newly made Mason sometimes has no idea of the actual size of the Fraternity that he has just joined. Be it within or without the state. To him the confines of his own lodge may be his perception of the size of our fraternity.

Not until his first Reunion, Stated meeting or event such as the Feast of Tishri does it start to dawn on the new member as to the benefit of belonging to this Rite. His circle of companions increases and indeed the realization of the size of the Fraternity becomes more evident. He is part of something much larger. He is part of Masonic Family of Utah.

Also according to the Book of Forms the Feast teaches the equality and unity of all members where a warm spirit of fraternal fellowship is fostered. Looking around this room you will find this to be true. This occasion may also be the first time for us to introduce our spouses, partners, family and friends to the Masonic Fraternity.

My first Feast of Tishri was an interesting one as I did not know or more correctly listen, as my wife would say that it was in Ogden. So unfortunately due to my own failings I missed it.

The following year my peers and I made the trek to Ogden for this “Feast of Tishri”. Now to newly made Scottish Rite Masons some ten years ago we were not sure what to expect. Was this Feast of Tishri what was being served for dinner or was it in fact an event of the Scottish Rite.

Now in all seriousness though we gained knowledge thereof a few things. Scottish Rite Ceremonies and Festivals are loaded with symbolism that may take a lifetime to learn. And this annual event was just one in many in our journey for more light.

We also found we had more friends and Brothers in Ogden and now we were able to put names with faces the next time our paths crossed at a regular meeting in Salt Lake City.

And most important of all one must always remember to make reservations with our Brother Mel Walker.

If we look to one of the lessons of the 30th Degree paraphrased for obvious reasons. It is said, “We do not believe that the many legends we recite are necessarily truths but that we do speak in a language of symbolism”.

Keeping that in mind, once again in the Book of Forms and Traditions The Feast of Tishri, this Jewish Holiday in remembrance of the dedication of King Solomon’s Temple was adopted into the Scottish Rite and is then celebrated by us as Masons as “we” are the allegorical inheritors of King Solomon’s Legacy.

Freemasonry offers many things to many people. Scottish Rite the philosophical college of Freemasonry offers much more. Beyond that Scottish Rite’s very expanse in Utah fosters new friendships and brotherhood throughout the state.

The Feast of Tishri, this symbolic celebration of re-dedication to our beliefs and to the Rite. This Masonic Feast of Feasts allows us to join together as one Masonic Family.

All of us no matter what creed, color, religion, or political persuasion gather at this table of thanks.

What a wonderful thing that Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite in particular offers us this beautiful outlet we share here tonight.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight’'s talk is “Freemasonry For Sale”.

We have a product to sell and it'’s Freemasonry. Whether we know it or not we the people in this room are a sales force for our Fraternity.

Many of us are walking billboards for the Craft. Now I might note I am not talking of our zealous Brothers who proudly display every pin they have on their lapels. Since 1998 I personally cannot remember leaving my home that I didn’'t put on my Masonic Ring. In fact if for some reason I did forget to put it on I definitely noticed it’s absence.

How many of us are wearing the Masonic Tartan, have a bumper sticker on our car or a baseball cap or a golf shirt emblazoned with a Masonic logo of some sort? I am sure most of us in this room do. Now we could probably make the argument we are proud of our memberships or affiliations and that we are not advertising but that we want to tell the world that we are involved in the Masonic Fraternity.

Well what good is it in being proud if we don’t tell anybody about it.

John J. Robinson in his 1993 book “A Pilgrim’'s Path” said The Mason who feels that he cannot discuss his Masonry with his wife, son, grandson, or neighbor is doing the fraternity a great disservice. The rule that no man is ever asked to be a Mason, but rather must ask to join, absolutely requires that SOMEONE must tell him SOMETHING in order to establish that desire to become a Mason.

I thought about this and then I remembered years ago in my own Lodge when we went from “being proud” to “advertising our product”. One of our Brethren had the idea to not only put the Lodge name and Square and Compass logo on a shirt but to place the web address of the lodge on one of the sleeves. Also just above the adjustment strap on the back of baseball cap.

A simple brilliant marketing idea. The company that he worked for did this Why couldn’t we? So we did it. Freemasonry welcome to the 21^st Century.

From T-shirts we went to business cards with the generic logo and the website address. Then advertisements in the newspaper to posters for open houses and even the Banners of the lodges that hang in the Halls during Grand Lodge Communication. Logos and web addresses everywhere.

We Masons can'’t recruit but we sure as heck can tell people we are here. That’'s what John J. Robinson said. We can tell them what we are all about. They can read our literature and then just then maybe they will ask the question.. “Hey how do I become a Mason?”

As I previously said this was just a simple idea but in my limited travels about the state and in other jurisdictions this “advertising” seems to be a common practice now. Can we in Utah take credit? I don’t know but why not?

Most Masons are not ashamed of admitting to their Masonic membership, but I have noticed in most cases that our better halves are much more comfortable and proud of saying their partner or spouse is a Freemason. In fact some of our best-untapped resources are our families and friends.

After all it’s rather cool to be a Mason or in a Masonic affiliated group wouldn’t you agree?

I would argue that some people just feel cool to say that they know a Mason. This is probably due to all the media coverage we have received in recent years. On a side note in one of my accounts I have a friend and client who introduces me to their new staff, as “this is John Liley he is our rep and He’s a Mason”. As a matter of fact I was in one of my accounts and a lady noticed my Masonic ring and said, “you’re a Mason?” I answered yes and she immediately asked me if I knew Bill Jack and Trisha Westbrook? So not only do our advertisements of pride identify who we are but also “who are friends are” and “what we represent.”

However we should practice caution because not all folks we meet are going to be positive in their responses to our advertisements. Just as some may be eager to talk to us many of us have been berated, abused, and accused because of our memberships.

So be prepared when the question comes from the person who asks “Hey what’s that pin on your lapel?” “What’s that symbol on the back of your car?” “Why do you wear that ring all the time?” Have an answer if you are going to advertise and be prepared if there are objections that need to be overcome. Answer questions so that they are easily understood. Don’t elaborate on every affiliate body we have when the prospective person may just have asked the simple question “What’s a Mason?”

Freemasonry is our product and we must change our previous attitudes on how we market our Fraternity for the future. Benjamin Franklin said, “When you’ve finished changing, you’re finished.” Everyone in this room knows we have a great product. Everyone. No longer can we just be silent proud members of our Fraternity. We are the sales and marketing force for our Masonic Family. Feet on the street. Faces in front people. Good Luck and Good Selling.

Thank for listening and have a good evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Afternoon.

The title of this afternoon's talk is "Freemasonry For Sale Part 2, Customer Retention and Building Evangelists".

Earlier in the year I expressed the concept that each and everyone within the Masonic Family is part of one great "Sales Force" for the Fraternity. This concept still holds true and after some further reflection upon this theory we now need to look at the production aspect of our Fraternity. Because after all you can sell a product but if you cant deliver on the backend it does not matter how good your sales force is.

Upon attending the Rocky Mountain Masonic Conference this summer in Boomtown, Nevada in the midst of discussion the idea thrown around was that "Freemasonry" itself was not broken but the presentation to the membership was lacking. This lack of "presentation" or the production aspect if you will bleeds out to so many of our other difficulties. I would argue at this time "we" don't really have a hard time in bringing in new members but we do have a hard time maintaining them. Our re-subscription rate is in the negative because unfortunately "we" have something to offer but sometimes we don't know how to deliver on the promise first presented to the candidates in the initial sales presentation.

If we promise Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth and a new member is brought into a lodge of bickering and tired redundancy and sub par degree work how do we expect to maintain that member's subscription or dues. How then do we expect to raise that member's subscription rate to cover ever-increasing expenditures if what he bought and what he got were not what he thought?

Now I am speaking in generalities and these items are thankfully not characteristic in these lodges we meet with today however each and every one of us statewide has been just a little bit guilty at some time or another of some of these things I bring up.

The positive from this negative is that "we" are aware of the situation and that "we" are doing something about it. That is the real beauty of being members of a small jurisdiction because change can happen much more rapidly.

This was evident in the ideas, concepts, and all around positive thoughts shared this summer at the Utah Masonic Leadership Academy. We all can work together. You can see the changes as you travel about this jurisdiction. We are lucky that our members want to nurture the sale and follow the order through to completion. Most of us when purchasing and completing a sale in everyday life probably did not make a recommendation of this product to a friend just because their salesman was a great guy or gal. We make the referral because we were taken care of in the whole process from start to finish. The entire transaction was pleasing and we'd probably use these services again or buy the product again and pay more if necessary because the cost was worth it.

Our lodges or "fulfillment centers of Freemasonry" are elevating themselves and delivering on that promise to their new members of….

A top-notch Masonic education.

Professionally delivered ritual.

And a sense of purpose backed by a plan.

These quality experiences enrich the life of the new Mason so that he wants to participate and he wants to include his family in our "Masonic Family". His experience is one that he wants to share, one that he wants to tell everyone he knows and once that conversion is done there my friends is the evangelist for Freemasonry. This is what we need, someone singing the praises of their membership within the Masonic Family. Advertising alone is great but Customer referrals will build our business.

Preston "Marty" Martineau is my friend. Some of the first conversations I ever had about Freemasonry with a Mason when I was a non-Mason were with Marty some twelve years ago. I remember he talked about his Grandfather's membership and his own. I am pretty sure this was the first time I had ever seen a Scottish Rite cap or a Shriner's Fez that I believe belonged to his Grandfather. Now Marty's been a Freemason for twenty years and for a while he didn't hang out with "us" because "we" did not deliver on our product. However that's in the past and now he is Worshipful Master of his lodge and in fact we have Marty to thank for some of the fine work he has done on the Midvale Masonic Lodge Hall. And if anybody knows Marty with some bubble gum and a light bulb he could probably build you a nuclear reactor in time.

Freemasonry is not broke but maybe we were so caught up in our own product over the years and selling it to make the balance sheet look good we forgot to invest in our own membership. Numbers were great, as we know, and brought in revenue, but we have learned the continued income comes from a quality membership experience.

Those members who come back each and every year and renew their subscription or pay their dues do so because they believe Freemasonry is something to invest in. And because of this product loyalty the Fraternity will carry on.

Our seasoned membership such as Bill Baker, Art Austin and Jim Wadley have passed a rich history of tradition along to the newer membership. The newbie's should not discount this effort and the veterans should not discount their zeal.

Together we can deliver the quality product of Freemasonry to the Membership. Together we can deliver the quality experience to the Masonic Family. Together we can cultivate a culture of ownership.

And from now on we will expect excellence in our production and disallow mediocrity in our Fraternity.

Confidence through preparation goes a long way for our customer experience and our potential referrals.

Now get out there and let them know what we have in "Freemasonry" and what we have in this "Fraternity".

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your afternoon.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry and the Generation Gap, Perception is not Reality".

One of the definitions given to us by researchers, historians and to some extent by our detractors is that Freemasonry is a tired old Fraternity populated by relics of a different era. Without accepting a negative from out of this observation it is true that yes our Fraternity does have a large proportion of a seasoned membership.

Does this mean that there is a gap between our members both old and new?

I would argue that there is no generation gap merely a span of years.

Men no matter their age join Freemasonry for varied reasons. The phrase "Your Freemasonry is different from my Freemasonry" is not divisive but the very example of our strength.

This "strength" is the attraction for men to join our Fraternity. Although challenges arise these differences and the fact that we tolerate if not expect these differences, is what makes the fraternity work.

A man's interest in Freemasonry is in its universality, in it's consistency and in it's unique structure.

Often we the younger membership are asked what we want. We have shown that we want the same as the more seasoned membership. We want in some cases to emulate their characteristics. These characteristics and traits they acquired from Freemasonry.

The fraternity, this educational source hands down her "secrets" through the experience and knowledge of well-learned Masons.

The thought that in becoming a Mason you suddenly inherit this great living source of wisdom, knowledge, history and perspective over night is something that unfortunately some of the younger membership never understands.

The term "old guy" or "past master" are descriptions I have tried to remove from my vocabulary. The wealth that is there in the more seasoned membership comes at so little a price we often overlook it as if passing a penny on a city street.

The energy and the vitality in the hearts and minds of young men can be infectious to a tired lodge. That excitement is so often dismissed by those that have been there and done that, that they often quench a fire stoked and ready to blossom before it has a chance to grow.

The conflicts I believe come not because of someone's age be it young or old but in not truly practicing some of the first lessons we are taught in the Entered Apprentice Degree. Subduing our passions is not easy for most men. We are competitive, we are stubborn and no matter who we are sometimes we think we are always right.

This my friends is not just owned by the "old guy" or the "whippersnapper", but by all of us.

It's hard for the Mason that has held this "thing" together for so long to give a little up. And it's hard for the Mason new and full of exuberance not being able to have it "all" now.

Funny, don't you think this sounds as if we all have something in common after all?

The fact that we recognize these conflicts proves to us that Freemasonry is still working and will survive. If we did not have the pull and push the ying and yang if you will we would be representative of what those detractors believe we are.

The beauty is that so many Masons have labored long and kept lodges running. We have that example in the three lodges we visit here today.

Perseverance has paid off and attracted new membership Story and Damascus have been performing degree work and rebuilding their officer lines. They are working together for a common goal. And today for the first time in a long while Tintic Lodge has created new members not by affiliation but by initiation.

The perception of the generation gap is that there is this great void or chasm between what was and what is. Yes for a long time "we" were in the shadows perhaps even a little lost. But what we learned and what we did was that old and new a like found a way to bridge the span, create ways to come together, to modernize yet leave the old patina so that the attraction is still there.

Although many of my friends may be perhaps ten, twenty thirty or more years my senior the reality is that we have a lot in common. A man that was fifty was once thirty and man of eighty was once sixty. "We" have all been there before and "we" are all there for the first time.

Freemasonry binds our membership in a way you cannot explain to the outside world. Sometimes the bond is stronger than that bond which we have with our Fathers, Uncles and Grandfathers. This fact may be unfortunate but in some cases is the saving grace to the younger man without a father figure and to the older man without a relationship with his son.

Freemasonry provides the tie that closes the gap. The Fraternity helps, aides, and assists in so many ways for so many Brethren that the perception is not reality.

The Generation Gap may very well be our strength and not our folly.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry our Future is found in Teamwork".

The Masonic Jurisdiction of Utah has the distinction of being the smallest in the 48 continental states. Where some may be fast to draw a negative assumption about this fact I believe we are stronger and more connected than our larger sister jurisdictions.

Freemasonry grows in Utah because we all work together as a team. This is not done out desperation but out of dedication.

The one common denominator we see as Grand Lodge Officers when we travel this state is that the lodges work together to make things happen.

If they see another lodge struggling they step in help and encourage their Brethren. They help build their membership and provide leadership in their officer lines. They provide experience where there is a void and they celebrate with their seasoned members in the creation of a renewed hope.

In short the Masons of this state want to see this "thing" survive and it is going to take teamwork.

My experience is only of ten years but in that time even I can see these small victories where there once was darkness. Light builds and lodges are no longer a shadow of their past but taking pride in becoming what they were and what they are now.

Progress lodge is growing with great guns right now. I sat with them in lodge the other day and I saw a successful well-oiled machine. They have worked hard these last few years. They provide for their membership a reason to come out and be with their Brethren. Men want to join Progress Lodge because Progress Lodge is doing something.

This enthusiasm is spreading over and they have adopted their Brethren in Kaibab Lodge. Kaibab has a meet-up group following the lead of their big brother. This ensures that Freemasonry will continue to foster and grow in Salt Lake City. There is new blood, new membership and a renewed sense of purpose. Kaibab has started a Farmer's Market. How come nobody thought of that one before? I wished I had thought of that.

Although my assumption is that someone out there tonight has a garden with too many tomatoes.

Acacia Lodge has had her struggles but again the team of her dedicated officers that want to see her succeed have continued despite her growing pains to build and find stability. Their Worshipful Master Allen Record a glutton for punishment in my mind has dutifully served his lodge for almost 2 years to make sure the good work continues.

Talking about teamwork and spreading the enthusiasm, I have it under good authority that a member or two of Acacia traveled to Cache Valley this week to help Harmony Lodge in Logan with degree work.

That is just awesome.

You see although we are all individual members of separate lodges statewide, we are all members of one Fraternity, The Masonic Family of Utah.

You have Masonry in the great dark north.

In Castle Country.

In the Basin.

In Dixie.

In Happy Valley.

And you have Masonry in the Big City.

Separate but all part of one great big team.

We have Coaches and starters. We have Second string and the rookies but we all work together and we all go to great lengths to win. In the end we are all victorious.

Recently many us participated and attended the Utah Masonic Leadership Academy. There was a twist this year where in addition to the lodges the membership of the whole Masonic Family was invited. The Shrine, the Rites, Eastern Star and the like all came. All of us were under one roof to share ideas, thoughts and things that work. No more secrets everything was out in the open so that we all can benefit and all can achieve the same positive results.

This "game-plan" of Freemasonry if you will should breed success. And the success of your Chapter or sister lodge will spill over. Others will pick up the ball and run.

If it didn't work before give it a chance it might just work. As I have said in the past things are different now. No more looking back only moving forward.

When a man joins Freemasonry in Utah most of the time he has no knowledge or scope of the size of fraternity outside of his own lodge. What is important for him to know to know is that he is part of a team. A team sharing victories and defeats learning that there is strength even in small numbers.

Those small numbers will eventually multiply just like they did in the past. These members will rebuild and our future will be secure. Our "teamwork" will be our success.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren Ladies, and Guests Good Afternoon.

The subject of today's talk is "Freemasonry it's about Commitment".

I consider myself a very committed Freemason, as I am sure many of you here in this room do.

Once a wise Past Master and friend told me that, "Freemasonry is a wonderful volunteer organization as long as you are not the only volunteer".

In our travels in Grand Lodge we have had the opportunity to meet many brethren and their families in varied and diverse communities throughout the state. And we are fortunate in that we are not alone in our hard work and Masonic Labors.

Today we meet with three Lodges that I believe embody this "spirit" of commitment.

Corrine Lodge was the "Mother Lodge" or sponsor of Harmony lodge in Logan and Amity Lodge in Brigham City.

The trials and tribulations of the railroad industry have pockmarked the history of this community in general and the waxing and waning of the membership of Corrine Lodge more specifically.

One interesting point was that at one time Corrine was a "Moon Lodge" so that Brethren could more easily attend guided by the light of the full moon traveling by horse, buggy or funny enough by railway car. That took commitment. Think about it traveling from Brigham City by moonlight pumping one of those old railway cars. The spirit and the drive were there. These Masons so loved Freemasonry and wanted it to succeed that they went to any method then available to attend. That "spirit" still survives in the present day membership.

Harmony Lodge has a core of officers that work their tails off initiating men into our gentle craft making Masons out of them only so that when their time at school is finished they are again off into the world. This does not deter the Brethren of Logan. They work hard making Masons because quite simply somebody has to do it and they are the Lodge that will. I bet they could have one heck of a Homecoming Dance by the way.

In a visit to Amity Lodge there you will find a core group of Masons that hold that small and dedicated lodge together. It was a strange turn in my Masonic travels when Past Grand Master Curtis Lancaster played the part of Senior Deacon and introduced me to the Worshipful Master. Amity lodge is small but healthy and manages with the help of these other Northern Lodges to put on a great barbeque each year after the Peach Days Parade and celebration.

Further we should think of all the other Shrine/Masons that took time away from their families and weekend to travel north and join us here today.

This is the spirit of commitment that makes Freemasonry survive in the north part of the state of Utah. Without this "spirit", without this hard work from our seasoned membership there would not be a legacy for younger Masons to inherit nurture and grow.

All too often though I think we the Masons overlook the most committed part of our memberships.

That would be the commitment our spouses and partners.

They are not there to tote the barge and carry the heavy load but they do bear burdens. They support us in our odd hobby where we wear funny hats and spend time away from home. They stand by our sides, attend dinners and sometimes although not seen, if it wasn't for their efforts behind the scenes we would not be able to put on such a successful public face.

In reality if it was not for that "spirit" of commitment Freemasonry in Utah would surely perish.

I have to thank Brothers' J. C. McLaughlin and John Elwell both Past Grand Masters who provided me with some of the historical data I used today. The job of Grand Orator can sometimes be daunting specifically at 2 o'clock in the morning whilst staring a blank computer screen.

However usually at this time is when you find a nice tidbit in a Lodge History provided to you by a friend and Brother that you can write about.

It seems at one time the Corrine Lodge building had a problem with wasps and unfortunately for a candidate he was stung on the forehead during his initiation. He kept quiet and steadfast continuing through his degree no doubt in much discomfort. Apparently he must have mistaken this misfortune as part of the evening's ceremonies.

Talk about commitment.

Usually at this time of year is when we would renew our ties to the fraternity after having taken some time to ourselves over the summer break.

Things though are different now.

Throughout the summer many lodges have continued to work. Many lodges have not gone dark and to their credit have added value to their traditional summer events of picnics, barbeques and steak fry's.

It is an exciting time for the Masonic Family in Utah. Persistence and dedication is paying off. Autumn is upon us; keep up the hard work because after all in Freemasonry it's about commitment.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Afternoon.

In the late 1950's the Members of Ashley Lodge No. 28 acquired the land for this building and in November of 1963 began to meet here with the building being dedicated in 1976.

Years later in 2002 Basin Lodge No. 20 from Roosevelt and Ashley Lodge No. 28 decided there was strength in numbers and merged with permission of the Grand Lodge of Utah.

Today we meet for the re-dedication of this building for the Masonic purposes of that new lodge Ashley No. 20.

The history of Freemasonry in the Basin area started in 1914 when 22 masons petitioned the Grand Lodge of Utah to start a Masonic Lodge. That petition was granted and Duchesne Lodge was instituted in the fall of 1914.

Duchesne Lodge took some time to prove up and petitioned again in 1915 and this time requesting a name change. The request was approved and the charter of Basin Lodge No. 20 was granted in January of 1916 and was constituted later that year in June. Basin Lodge was located in Myton, Utah until 1947 when they moved to Roosevelt.

In 1946 masons again petitioned the Grand Lodge of Utah to form a new lodge in Vernal. This was done with a favorable recommendation of their neighbor Basin Lodge No. 20. Their petition was granted and in January of 1947 Ashley Lodge No. 28 was born.

Freemasons have always played a part in the tradition of laying cornerstones and dedicating public and private buildings since the beginning of our country.

For example Brother Mason and President George Washington as acting Grand Master presided over the cornerstone ceremony of the National Capitol in 1793.

Today we have once again carried on this custom here in Vernal with our Grand Master of Masons in Utah Most Worshipful Brother Dean D. Rein presiding. He is the elected leader of the Freemasons in Utah for the year 2007.

The first qualification of being a Freemason is a belief in a Supreme Being. Freemasons within the sanctity of the lodge setting do not discuss religion or politics and we refer to each other as Brothers.

There are 29 Masonic Lodges in the state of Utah and the term "lodge" represents the group of men that meet there and the building in general.

The Grand Lodge of Utah was formed in 1872 and is the chief administrative, clerical, and governing body of all the Masonic lodges in the state.

The history of our fraternity is old and according to tradition dates back to the operative stonemasons guilds that built the cathedrals and stately edifices of Europe.

Today we meet in lodges like our ancient Brethren however we work not operatively in stone but work speculatively using the emblems and implements of architecture as symbols to teach lessons of morality, virtue and charity.

The ceremony of consecrating this building with corn, wine and oil that you have just witnessed is ancient and holds special meaning to Masons.

Corn in ancient times is not the corn we know today. Corn is used in the generic sense of the word meaning grain and historically most likely to be that of wheat and barley. In Biblical times corn represented plenty.

Wine was a source of refreshment and so many skins of wine were like currency in the Middle East. This sign of wealth this great commodity when consumed in moderation it makes the heart glad.

And oil yet another valuable staple was food, medicine and fuel. The oil pressed from the olive was also used in religious services probably because of its purity.

Today we consecrate this lodge so that the real wealth may be within its membership. That the application of these symbolic offerings of corn, wine and oil represent the real sacrifice of time, effort, and money for the Masons who have built and nurtured this lodge.

These men, these Masons of Ashley Lodge No. 20 are to be congratulated renewed in their new combined strength. The "Lodge" is tried, true and trusty. For nearly 100 years Freemasons have been practicing our gentle craft here in the Basin Area. Today with the re-dedication of this Masonic Temple Freemasonry shall surely survive into its next 100 years and prosper with the square and level work of these proud members.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your day.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry and the Table Lodge Meet, Eat, Drink and Be Merry".

Some would say the Table Lodge or Festive Board is historically and traditionally one of the essential elements of a successful Masonic meeting. I for one would have to agree having attended a few over the years.

If you take the opportunity to do some research online about Table Lodges you will see common themes of singing, jokes, toasts and Masonic fire.

Hundreds of years ago Freemasons met in Taverns and from these meeting places Modern Freemasonry was born.

The four London Lodges that formed the Grand Lodge of England met in the Apple Tree Tavern in 1716.

Probably the first Lodge in the colonies to meet was in the Old Tun Tavern in 1731 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite formed at the site of Shepheards Tavern in 1801 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Some meetings apparently went on for hours. The members would dine, drink and attend to business at hand. One would assume then that the drink assisted in suffering through the reading of minutes, bills and communications.

Seriously though, there was a ritual to when one would eat, when one would sing and when toasts would be given, to whom and how many.

Stewards had the duty of making sure the Members glasses were charged.

Wardens kept a watchful eye to see that none present took none to excess and imposed nominal fines not to penalize but to reinforce the seriousness that you were attending a lodge meeting.

The Table Lodge therefore is the present day link to our history.

No longer do we meet in Taverns but the traditions are now carried over to the Festive Board. A regimental, ritualized dinner to round off the meeting night. We eat, drink and toast because in these simple acts we reinforce the ties that bind us together as Masons. We laugh, talk and sing and build that camaraderie amongst us that is foreign to the outside world.

Eating together is a communal act like ancient man around the fire. Toasting is an act of well wishing to the health of our leaders, each other and the Fraternity in general. And Masonic Fire reminiscent of loading and firing cannon is just plain fun.

Two of the most memorable times I can remember at a festive board are as follows. In 2001 in England I was at a Festive Board where the ceremony of the loving cup was performed. A large silver bowl, chalice type thing with a concoction of spirits was produced and passed to each member in the room. In an old Anglo-Saxon tradition three men would stand. Two men back to back and the third presented the loving cup. The man would take a drink wipe the rim with a towel and pass along the cup. According to tradition this was so that the man would have his back guarded and not be assassinated. These steps were repeated each time the cup was presented. When the cup arrived at the head table it was presented to the Master who would then drain the remainder in the cup. Maybe unbeknownst to him the cup was refilled about half way through the tables. I might add the poor fellow performed admirable even though he was all of five foot five.

The second was at the installation of our Deputy Grand Master Brother Cook as Master of Sentinel Lodge in Stockport England. A Brother at the festive board sang a song called "To his health". The song was probably thirty minutes long and involved complicated clinking of glasses with your neighbor that eventually had the entire room singing in chorus. And there were probably over one hundred Masons in the room.

In every thing that we do the real secrets of Freemasonry are internal. Things that we cannot explain to the profane let alone reveal. I have heard it said by many a Mason wiser than me that more "Freemasonry" is practiced over coffee or around a dinner table than in any Lodge room. And I am sure that tonight all of you would agree.

Here is a quote from Brother Ben Franklin that I have trying to work in all year that didn't seem appropriate till tonight, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy".

Thanks for listening and have a good evening.

Sources: (Link No Longer Valid 01/15/2010)

http://www.stjohn788.org.uk/humour.htm (Link No Longer Valid 01/15/2010)

http://renewal.gl-mi.org/lodge%20festive%20board%20package.pdf

http://www.masonmusic.org/festive.html

http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/toasts.html

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/table_lodge_history_ritual.htm

Valley of Craftsmen copyright 2001 Supreme Council AASR of Freemasonry SJ, USA

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

The title of my talk today is "Freemasonry why is just the Tyler left to guard the door?"

Our ancient rituals, elaborate regalia and impressive titles, leave a mystery about us that makes us one of the darlings of today's pop culture.

The curiosity of the outside world continues to build.

Men want to join Freemasonry. But is it for the right reasons?

Are we sure?

From our ritual we know that the duty of the Tyler is to guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers and to see that none enter our lodges without permission. Yes this is his symbolic and actual duty but why have we left it just to him?

Should we the Brethren be not more diligent?

Each of us as a Mason is charged with the solemn duty to make sure good men enter our Fraternity. In the closing paragraph of the Entered Apprentice Charge it reads, "If, in the circle of your acquaintance, you find a person desirous of being initiated into Masonry, be particularly careful not to recommend him unless you are convinced the he will conform to our rules; that the honor, glory, and reputation of our institution may be firmly established, and the world at large be convinced of it's good effects."

In the Thirtieth Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite it says, "Let us increase in number our companions in arms admitting not even our most intimate of friends unless we are certain of their discretion and fitness."

Our Masonic ritual as you see is laced with instruction.

How then are we sure of the men that knock upon our doors?

How do we make the positive or negative decision about the prospective candidate?

In recent years the Internet and the proliferation of Masonic websites have become one of the many public faces of our Fraternity.

Open houses tied in with movie or book premieres have brought in tens if not hundreds of people into our Temples. No longer do we hide in the shadows. We are more and more the public fraternity that in reality we always were.

The concept of the Masonic Meet-up has grown and spread to many lodges around the state and has lead to many men asking for petitions and joining our Fraternity. Think about it you get to sit down, break bread and talk with a guy that wants to talk to you about Freemasonry.

These extensions of ourselves into the outside world are the golden opportunities for us to know the man before he joins the Fraternity. Better yet it gives the potential candidate the opportunity to know us before he asks for his petition.

So often in the past the curious fellow knocked on the door of his local lodge talked with a Brother and returned six months later in search of a promised signature. An unfortunate thing I know I for one have been guilty of.

Did we really know the man?

Did I really know the man?

Did he really know what he was committing to?

Everything needs to evolve though. If it does not it stagnates, shrinks and eventually ceases to exist.

These "new" methods of attracting and interacting with potential members are refreshing and exciting and hopefully fill that gap on how we get to know that man before he becomes privileged to call himself a Mason.

Just as our ritual instructs and cautions us our policies and procedures provide safeguards. These safeguards are not only traditions but were laid out for us to keep us honest.

The committee of investigation now more than ever is a vital part of the mix.

Whereas in the past the committees have sometimes been accused of being the welcome wagon or the rubber stamp on a man's membership they now need to be more thorough and truly investigative.

The fear of running a fellow off because the questions are too tough needs to be overcome. There is nothing wrong with challenging a man on why he wants to be a Mason and see if he can defend his argument and reasons. I would argue the potential candidate expects the questions to be probing and might be disappointed if we did not delve that deeply.

"We" owe it to "him" to be thorough.

"He" wants to know "he" is part of something special.

"We" all are the "Tyler for our Fraternity.

"We" all are the guardians of our past ever moving forward towards a brighter future. Embracing the ever-changing opportunities with caution and discretion.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your day.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator
2007

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is, "Freemasonry and Memorial Day a Personal Connection"

This weekend marks the Memorial Day Holiday and many of us will be rushing about to leave town and head to the lakes, campgrounds and the like. The weekend to many marks the beginning of summer and since 1971 has been an official Federal Holiday extending into Monday.

After some research online, a little place called Camp Floyd in Fairfield, Utah and a trip I took in 2005. I realized a personal connection with this holiday and Freemasonry in general.

The concept of Memorializing our Honored Dead started after the Civil War in the South and carried into the North. In May of 1868 General John Logan National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order No. 11 which designated May 30th Memorial Day. Soldiers were to decorate tombs and graves of their fallen comrades with flowers in remembrance of these brave souls selfless acts. Since this time the tradition has carried on.

So where does the personal connection come in? In 2004 I had the honor of presiding, as Worshipful Master of Wasatch Lodge and we needed a fun activity. For those of you who know my friend and rather "mad" Brother Mike Moon the opportunity was obvious and thus was born the Camp Floyd Master Mason Degree. In 2005 the degree day was changed to Memorial Day weekend to be in conjunction with the Civil War Re-enactment folk, when we could all converge on Camp Floyd and dress up in period costume. This coming weekend marks the forth year this wonderful event will be held with lunch starting at 2pm and the degree to follow at 4pm. No doubt Brother Moon has been sewing with buffalo needles and chewing leather or performing some other randomly lost art in eager anticipation. We hope to see you there.

So actually until this morning this was the first time I realized Memorial Day went back to the time after the Civil War. It should be noted that the Confederate Veterans did not necessarily follow Memorial Day after the General Order but the South fell in line with the rest of the country after World War I.

The Holiday has evolved into a weekend where all past loved ones are remembered. My wife commented a few days ago how we should head up to the family plots and place flowers on the graves of her Grand Parents and tidy up the place a bit. This reminded me that this weekend as you drive around town here in Utah you would see the American Flag waving and more especially the small American Flags displayed with honor on the graves of those veterans we hold so dear.

How appropriate that we meet here tonight in Clearfield a place which has many members who have served our country and have chosen Gateway Lodge as their place to hang their hat.

In further thought I went back into my mind about my Paternal Grandfather whom I never knew. He passed away about a year before I was born and my only connection to him is the Masonic Fraternity. I believe Past Grand Master Steven Lancaster has a similar story. I think he has his Grandfather's watch fob and I have my Grandfather's ring that I am wearing tonight.

The connection with Memorial Day is this. When I was 5 years old my family moved from Boston to New Jersey. In my memory was a trip back home to see extended family. I remember Mom, Dad and my sisters loading into the van and traveling to a cemetery I had never been to before. I remember planting flowers and I also remember my father telling me this is where his father my Grandfather was buried. This is the only tangible memory I have until 1998 when I received this ring.

If we flash forward to 2005 my wife Audrey and I traveled to Boston to see her sister for Thanksgiving. Armed with only memories and some conversations with my Dad and my Aunt I devised a mission. I was going to find that cemetery and that gravestone. With the help of Google Earth and Yahoo maps and a clue from my Aunt that the tombstone was up by a fence on a hill, we were off for a cemetery near the hospital where I was born. We bundled up in the car and rode off to the nearby town where we found the cemetery. We drove in around a turn and up a hill. I stopped the car saw the fence and said this is the place. Somewhere in my head I remembered I was here before.

Now I must say there is nothing more sobering than on a bright clear cold day than to approach a tombstone with six-inch letters that spells out your own last name. Even more emotional is something I never remembered was that just over my family name was the square and compasses.

So a trip when I was five years old on a Memorial Day Weekend locked deep in my memory and a Fraternity I decided to join some twenty years later had once again converged and brought things in my life full circle.

I am sure and certain that many of you here tonight no matter what affiliation you have to the Masonic Family have these same thoughts, memories and connections. Is it not an awesome thing to be part of this Fraternity? It's an intangible you just cannot explain to the outside world.

Thanks for listening and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend where we hope to see you at Camp Floyd or Lagoon.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator
2007

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry What Do Younger Masons Want?"

One of the most prevalent questions on the minds of the leaders of our Fraternity today is what do younger Masons want?

I decided to ask a group of Brothers within my circle the question "What if Freemasonry were gone?" I figured one of the fastest ways to find out what they want is to pose this question. Now in my queries I wasn't asking about suspensions, NPD's or the termination of a lodge's charter or any of those negative things but what if there was suddenly no more Masonic Fraternity.

Some of the responses are not surprising but they are revealing. Here are a few I picked from my Brethren.

I would feel a lack of direction.

I would feel the loss of my identity.

I would feel like a man without a country.

I would lose a tie with those that are like family to me.

I would feel the loss of my accomplishments.

And one of the most telling if not emphatic was that my niece, nephew, or child would not have a place to go to learn how to read.

Lets look at the responses and try to draw some conclusions.

The first response "I would feel a lack of direction". The prospect of being lost unfortunately is a common occurrence in many of our lives, just ask any of our spouses or partners and it is true that "we" do not have a lock on the "one way" for self improvement. But we do have some answers. For example the theme as set out by our Grand Master this year is "Freemasonry the right course for life's journey." Many men join Freemasonry because at it's core is a blue print on how to map out one's life. The fraternity has done this for me and I am sure if not your initial reason for joining the Fraternity has also aided you in your daily lives.

The second response "I would feel the loss of my identity". How many of you feel that Freemasonry is intertwined in your life? The very way you carry yourself, the manner in how you make decisions and the way you interact with your fellow man are all distinct and identifiable traits. I would argue that you being a member of the Masonic Family enhances all these things? You have a sense of pride in being identified as a Freemason or a member of the Shriners or The Eastern Star. How many of you joined the Fraternity like myself to feel a link with a long passed relative that you may have never known? Think about it.

The third response "I would feel like a man without a country". One of the joys of Freemasonry is that our Fraternity extends beyond the borders of our state and covers the globe. How many of you have traveled and were welcomed because you were a Mason or part of an Affiliate body within the Masonic Family? Were you extended aid or assistance in times of trouble? Where else I ask you do you have that experience in modern society. What other organization offers you the comfort of knowing you will be accepted as Friend and Brother whether it be forty miles or 4000 miles from home? Or if you are Brother Larry Fielden allows you to get through customs in 4 minutes instead of 40.

The forth response "I would lose a tie with those who are like family to me". If each and every one of you looks around this room you will see people here tonight you consider family. The Masonic Family is just that "a family". A family loves, quarrels, cries and laughs. I am sure each of us sees people we have shared these thoughts, feelings and emotions with. And for those of us who at times unfortunately have had no family, within the fraternity we are at home.

The fifth response "I would feel the loss of my accomplishments." Each of us in our respective lodge, chapter or temple has worked hard. The Fraternity and its off shoots is hard work and from these toils we build a sense of pride about ourselves. Whether it's degree work, helping with the youth groups, visiting the sick or infirmed, preparing meals for gatherings all these things provide items we check off on our daily to-do lists of life. These accomplishments are necessary. They help define who we are.

The sixth and final response has to do with the noblest of all our endeavors and that is charity. Although I believe many come to our portals and join our Fraternity not to initially practice charity but for friendships and enlightenment. We teach this concept probably better than most. In a world where so many things are so out of control sometimes is it not just nice to know that in your membership that in some small way you get to make a difference in a person or a child's life.

These are the things younger Masons want?

In this exercise about loss I think we have discovered we all want the same things. Whether we are younger or seasoned members. We want direction, we want identity, we want a greater sense of community, we want family, we want to work and more importantly we want to give back.

So if Freemasonry were gone could we have all these things? I am sure we could. But it just wouldn't be same without our own little stamp on it.

Thanks for listening and have a good evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry Why Men Join and Why Men Leave?"

I want to tell you a story about two Masons. Two men join the lodge because their friend recently becomes a Freemason. They both concentrate hard on their memory work and make it a little competition to see who could finish first. They both receive their Master Mason degree and soon they receive officer appointments in the lodge. Both Brethren excel in their ritual and their Masonic skills but as the years pass by one of the Brothers falls by the wayside. He attends fewer and fewer meetings. He doesn't attend degree work when he agreed to come. He soon finds himself out of the officer line and soon thereafter we don't see him at all. He doesn't answer our calls, and he doesn't respond to our mail.

His Brother progresses and finds himself one day elected to the office of Worshipful Master, where one of his first duties is to sign the paperwork that his Brother has been dropped from the roles for non-payment of dues.

Does this story sound familiar to some of you? It is familiar to me. You see I'm the one who made it to Master. I'm the one who is still here. How did we fail to help my Brother or was he doomed from the very start?

At one time both of us had the fire within us that made us both want to be Freemasons. What was it that made one of us succeed and one of us fall away? Did somebody say something? Did somebody not say something? Were we not diligent at our portals and allow someone into our fold that wasn't ready to be a Mason? Or worse yet should this person never have been admitted into our Fraternity in the first place?

All valid questions wouldn't you agree?

With all the free publicity the Fraternity has received in the last few years many men have knocked on our doors and many men have gained entry. In our rush for membership have we neglected the basics? It is true some have become viable productive members of our Masonic Family and included their own families in our many appendant and affiliate organizations. Still there are those that join and we never see them again.

The other day I was talking with a younger member of my home lodge and asked him what his member number was on his dues card so to compare to my own. The numbers were almost a hundred digits apart. Mine was issued in 1998 and his some years later. I thought about that a long time and wondered if I could remember all the faces that were represented by those one hundred digits. Some of those faces are in this room tonight, but where are all those other guys?

In August 2005 Worshipful Brother Drew Sanders performed a survey of the Brethren that had joined Wasatch Lodge in recent years and found out some very important information. Most men joined the lodge because they had a friend already in the lodge.

That was the very reason I had joined.

A fellow that is 18 joins for a different reason than a man of 25. Just as the man of 40 joins for a different reason than a man of 65.

Men in general join our Fraternity to be part of something, they join because they want to work and be busy and they want to have a sense of pride and feel special in their membership a feeling they just don't receive in the outside world.

For some it's the friendships for some it's the philosophies and for some it the charitable endeavors. What we do know is that the experience of the "elusive male bonding" is different for every man and because of that we the established membership should practice caution. Not every body is here for the same reason that you are.

The night I joined the fraternity it was told to me, "you get out of Freemasonry what you put into it".

Never were truer words spoken. It is often said that in order to appreciate something one must work for it. That is why I think some folks don't make the cut and some do.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that we as a Fraternity beat ourselves up pretty bad when we lose someone. We try justify it with the fact that our system is broken or maybe we could have done something more. Is there any real answer? Are these things simply out of our control?

The other important thing Worshipful Brother Sanders survey pointed out was that at the six to seven year marks some men's interest begin to wane. Maybe their friends move on or they concentrate their efforts in the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine or outside of the Fraternity.

The truth of the matter is that the fraternity is not a static thing and it ebbs and flows like the tide with gains and losses. And the Fraternity still remains. We should be happy with our positive growth and not so hung up on how big we need to be.

Freemasonry has a different experience for everybody and maybe that's why some men join and some men leave.

Thanks for listening and have a good evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry in Perspective a Positive Approach to our Future".

When I joined the Fraternity in 1998 I was excited and had a sense of purpose and knew I wanted to be a Freemason. In conversations with my friends and in books and articles I read it was evident to me that this was the right choice in my life. However soon after I put on the white leatheren apron and sat in lodge stories and tales of the good old days surrounded me. Conversations such as "We are sure glad to have you but man had you been around years ago you would have seen this room filled". "Doesn't happen anymore we are just dying off." I then started reading articles on-line and in periodicals about the death of fraternal societies and more especially the grand Daddy of them all "The Masons". The very society that I just decided to join.

Glad to have you here but we're not going to be around much longer. Pretty positive message huh? Negative damaging comments to the new member whether it was me or anyone else.

Lets now fast forward a few years to today and look at the amount of degree work in our lodges. It's awesome what we see around our state. Lodges may be consolidating but they are stronger and making amazing amounts of progress. I believe Golden Spike is guilty of this. They are initiating numerous candidates. Men are joining our Fraternity and bringing their families into our Masonic circle.

Now lets look at the naysayers in the press. If we are in our death throws why do movies and books capitalize on the square and compass to sell their product? I bet everyone in here has seen a Masonic book or two in the discount rack at Barnes and Noble. And much to the chagrin of our spouses and partners we always leave a bit lighter in the wallet and our library grows some more.

Obviously then Freemasonry is a relevant topic.

So I ask you then if we are dying off why are we so incredibly popular with the outside world?

Here is my observation of "perspective" "specifically" with membership. We (new guys) didn't know any better when we joined and didn't know that we were "declining". So we did what we supposed too and we grew. Men that have been sitting on the sidelines for years were waiting for us to join. Then these men our established membership embraced this enthusiasm and we all worked together to grow even more. As a result all of our side orders and appendant bodies are now growing. The Scottish Rite has seen a positive growth in the last three years. The Shrine last year showed positive growth. On a personal note my wife Audrey and I will be joining the Eastern Star in June.

The long and the short of it is that in the last few years we changed our perspective and stopped letting fear rule our fraternity.

My wife mentioned to me a few weeks ago how strange it was that in our Masonic travels "some" dwell on the decline of our fraternity. See she and I have only known each other since 2004 and all she knows and has seen is growth. And such is the same with much of our newer membership regardless of their age. All they know is growth and all they know is that we as a fraternity in the state of Utah are busy.

However we as the established membership must practice caution and take care in the expressions of negativity in front of our new members. Our old quarrels and past challenges are not their problems. Lets make sure we lead by a positive example. It's important that we give the new guys a chance. It's important that we don't discount ideas because we may have tried them before and failed. Like I said the new guy doesn't know any better. Let them try and maybe they just might succeed. We must check our perspectives. All is not lost. There is much to gain.

Many of you may have seen Ron Howard's 1995 film Apollo 13. The film is a portrayal of that ill-fated moon voyage and the successful and triumphal return of the three astronauts to earth all in one piece. Just before the end of the film in mission control there is a scene in which a NASA official is talking to another of all the odds against the capsule returning to earth safely. The heat shield is probably damaged, the parachute probably won't open and there is typhoon in the pacific near the landing zone. Just too many variables for a successful outcome. The other official agrees that this would be the worst disaster NASA has ever experienced. At that point Ed Harris who portrays Gene Kranz the NASA flight Director turns around and says, "with all due respect Sir I believe this will be our finest hour".

He cinched up his tie, buttoned up his vest and went to work. Just like we do. Everyday should be the finest hour to Utah Freemasonry. Interesting perspective wouldn't you agree? In the face of all that doom and gloom someone stood up and believed in the positive. It can be done. It will be done. We have that here with in Utah Freemasonry. We are growing we are succeeding; don't let anybody tell you different. As Brother Ben Franklin said, "Energy and persistence conquer all things."

Thanks for listening and have a good evening.

Grand Oration,
By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator
February, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master.

Brethren I would like to start today by thanking the Grand Master for this opportunity he has given me to serve as your Grand Orator for your Grand Lodge and Utah Freemasonry in General. This job has not been a chore but rather a pleasure that has been very rewarding. And one of the best I have ever had the honor to hold in the Fraternity.

As a member of the Masonic Family we all have many ideas, thoughts and things we wish we could express publicly. In the office of Grand Orator you finally have this opportunity and the responsibility that is now yours, as a serving member of our Grand Lodge. With this in mind one of the first things I did was send out emails to a group of Masons both young and old in years and experience. In this correspondence questions would be put forth and then the responses garnered which would be woven together with my own ideas in each Oration so that although I may have been the author of the work it was an effort of many. For this I too must thank those Brethren for their ideas, thoughts, triumphs, and frustrations for without them the computer screen may have well remained blank.

I would also like to thank the many brethren that shared the ride in the car with me all over the state this last year. Whether it was twenty minutes to the Temple downtown or many hours to a lodge in a far off rural community those conversations in the car were golden and those friendships and the warm welcomes that we received at the lodges, those really are what Freemasonry is all about.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, Distinguished Guests from Near and Far, Brethren All Good Afternoon.

The title of today's talk is "Freemasonry, Now is the Time".

I am very excited about Utah Freemasonry. In my travels around the state just about every lodge I have visited they are reading new petitions. The Brethren are working hard. There are countless calls and email requests from lodges to their Brethren to help in initiating these new members. Master Masons are joining the York Rite, Scottish Rite and the Shrine. I truly believe that "we" in Utah are throwing off this "implied negativity of the past" and we have decided that we will no longer be defined by our detractors. We are a viable and growing Fraternity. John F. Kennedy said, "Let Us Resolve to be Masters of our History not Victims".

Now for many years we have seen a decline in membership. This is a truth we cannot deny. Unfortunately none of us have an answer for the Grim Reaper but death as taught to us in our ritual is a necessary part of life and is part of the renewal process. Like Spring, which conquers the Winter and brings us to summer and the eventual harvest of the fall Freemasonry is going to grow again. The sauce if you will has to concentrate in the pan before it's true flavors can be experienced. This is true of Freemasonry.

The past complaints of boredom, mediocrity and silly business meetings are becoming fewer and fewer and far between. Our lodges are offering value to our membership and although like the housing market we may not have bottomed out yet we need to remain positive and maintain a belief that we are in for a wondrous rebound. Perception is reality. There is power in thought. NOW NPD's may not yet be a thing of the past but let us work so that they might be. Let us always remember that "Your Freemasonry and My Freemasonry" may always be different and sometimes the same, but we are together "Freemasons". And unfortunately though sometimes, there are those who enter our Portals who find they may not like or want to be part of us anymore to them we bid farewell and good luck.

NOW is a great time though to be a Freemason wouldn't you agree? Just about every other week when you turn on the television there is yet another program with eerie music and a storyline about what "you" are and what "we" do. So, that when you arrive at work the next day, all your co-workers are curious and you are now the resident expert and celebrity of Freemasonry. The reality though is that you now have the opportunity to enlighten the outside world to what and who we really are. Your co-workers, neighbors, friends and family they know you. They know what kind of fellow you are. And your actions and words are now representative of the Fraternity. Be careful; Be diligent, prudent and discreet. We all wanted the outside world to know about us maybe we should be a little bit more careful of what we wish for.

Earlier in the year I had a conversation with a Brother and we discussed the current state of Freemasonry. Quite often it seems he thought that we worry about so many other things within the Fraternity that we overlook the beautiful parts of the teachings of Freemasonry itself. He also pointed out something to me that I had never thought about before but was so obvious. Central to our core legend is the unfinished building of King Solomon's Temple. We as Freemasons are taught through time and degrees to be builders, to complete our own spiritual and moral edifice. So if we completed this work. If Solomon's Temple were finished, if our membership was grand and our Lodge Halls were sparkling and new would everything be just perfect? Would this elusive great "thing" that we are seeking within the Fraternity finally solve all our challenges? Are the mysteries even supposed to be solved? Is the Temple even supposed to be completed? I argue no. There are some practical things that we need to do to get our houses in order but the Masonic challenges, the Masonic Opportunities we need these as men and Masons. We need these things to grow and Freemasonry provides the vehicle. The teachings of the Fraternity offer to us if we are open to it, practical lessons that can translate to our everyday lives.

We have all seen men from all walks of life enter our lodges that were quiet and unassuming. They soon picked up the working tools and learned a lecture or took a part in a degree. Their confidence it grew they became more outgoing they became a full-fledged active member of their lodge. And these are the things that translate from Freemasonry to their personal lives. They have become better fathers, sons, brothers and co-workers. The Mason learns to speak in public, plan and design things in his life. He learns to work with his fellow man, be an upright citizen and give back to the community. More importantly in his character of a mason he displays those gentlemanly graces that are defined by his membership among us. His life is better for it and so are the lives of those he interacts with. The opportunity to learn and to serve, the Fraternity provided that for him. And this the true secret of Freemasonry the personal journey or experience is what we need to propagate and grow in our membership. This is the gift within Freemasonry we can hopefully share with the outside world. Whether you are up in the Great Dark North, out East in the Basin, West of the Great Salt Lake, all along the Wasatch Front or hidden in the mountains maybe you're down in Castle Country or round about Dixie way the ingredients are the same the recipes are just a little different.

Yesterday is today and history is NOW.

If you look around this room you will see new and seasoned members. Between us all, are not gaps of time but an indisolvable chain of Friendship and Brotherly Love. A link if you will to the Past brought to the present to the NOW. Knowledge, stories, experience, hopes, fears and dreams. Both young and old "we" have been and are NOW part of a many centuries old Fraternity. "We" are the caretakers and protectors of the household of the faithful. And while "we" cannot claim credit for Freemasonry's Glorious Past "We" everyone one of us here in this room today are responsible for what Freemasonry will be in the Future. This Fraternity, it's culture is unmatched by any other endeavor in today's society. "We" as "Freemasons" need to embrace the ever-changing opportunities given to us. "We" need to evolve without disregarding our history and traditions so that "we" can insure that our Fraternity will return to the forefront of our modern society.

In the 1966 proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Utah the then Grand Orator NOW Most Worshipful Brother Blaine M. Simons said, "Let us remember "we" can never go back, but rather let us look forward to the future. Let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals and principals of Freemasonry. Let us hold high the Banner, which our Brethren have handed us. Let us keep our Masonry a living force in this state for the things that are worthwhile. Let us remember the courage our Brethren showed in those early days, and may their past encourage us to do those things, which need to be done for the preservation and good of our beloved order. But let us not live in the past; rather let us move forward with renewed vigor."

Brethren Freemasonry was "Great" in the past and I say is still a "Great" institution today. "We" all of us herein assembled know this to be self-evident. NOW is the time this is the place and none other should satisfy us. Let the Masonic Renaissance begin "here" in the Great State of Utah.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your Communication.

Most Worshipful Grand Master I move that this Oration be spread upon the minutes of this Communication.

Public Perception #1
Provo Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Lorenzo E. Tibbitts, Grand Orator
Friday, February 21, 2014

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

At the beginning of the popular CBS Crime Drama, Person of Interest, and in the voice of the character called "Finch," we hear, "They're watching you!" "They" is a government surveillance system, developed to watch out for terrorists which sees everything, and which has grown a mind of its own and uses its creator and a small circle of people recruited to protect regular citizens from harm. Now the idea of a government system that is more benevolently watching over ordinary citizens than the government itself may make good TV, but in some ways it's not too far from the world we live in.

On your way here this evening, you passed through the observation radius of many more video cameras than you noticed. In September 1968, Olean, New York became the first city in the US to install video cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime.¹ In the decade following 9/11 more than 30 million security cameras were purchased and installed.²

But security cameras are not the only - or even the most important - eyes on you. It may be very hard for you to fathom, because you know and are known to hundreds and perhaps even thousands of Masons, but you may be the only Mason that some people may ever meet. The truth of the matter is that many of those we know nothing about The Craft, and many others know only what they have read on the internet, seen on TV, or learned from us.

In his address at the Grand Lodge Communication less than a month ago, our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Drew C. Sanders said, "Brethren, whether you think so or not as a general rule people around you know you are a Freemason… Therefore, each of us is someone's impression of Utah Freemasonry… I strongly urge each of you to uphold the ideals of the fraternity before the world, whether it be in our online presence, driving habits, or in our personal interactions with others."³

At the Conference of Grand Masters in 1966, Worshipful Brother Alexander Duff, Grand Master of Manitoba, said, "The Profane world has no criteria by which to judge Freemasonry other than the fruits produced by the Masonic lives of those who are members of our beloved craft."⁴

In his Oration at the 2008 Visitation in Tooele, MW Bro. Allen W. Record taught, "Ultimately, Masons and Non-Masons alike observe everything we do and say. They look to see if we 'practice what we preach'. Do we practice Brotherly Love, do we work with others on the Level, and do we square our actions toward all mankind. When we do these things, then it's seen that we not only speak, but also live the Truth of what Freemasonry Offers… This, Brethren is our Truth in Action."⁵

What Most Worshipful Brother Sanders calls "the ideals of the fraternity," Most Worshipful Brother Record refers to as "Truth in Action," and Most Worshipful Brother Duff calls the "fruit produced by… Masonic lives," are nothing more or less than the principles we agreed to uphold in our obligations.

I was a stranger who saw The Fraternity in the lives of Masons. As a child and teenager, I was a military brat and as my family traveled the world I got to see Freemasonry up close and personal. I came to see that many of the most professional, most successful and capable officers and NCOs were masons. I saw the rings. And I saw their behavior. They were the very definition of the title "gentleman." From these men I developed a favorable impression of The Craft.

Brethren, sometimes it's our family that is watching. My wife, Lana, did not grow up with a favorable opinion of Freemasonry. She was not that thrilled when I petitioned a lodge. She trusted me but remained worried for several months. All of that changed for her the night that we attended a Scottish Rite Open House at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple and heard Most Worshipful Brother Curtis N. Lancaster speak about the purpose and principles of Masonry. She relaxed and gave me her full - unworried - support from then on.

Later the same year she heard Brother Lancaster speak, Lana attended my lodge BBQ, where she witnessed some outrageous behavior from one of our members. He was boorish and obnoxious. She leaned over and whispered to me, "How do guys like that get into Masonry?" While I had an opportunity to address her question, sometimes those who see our behavior don't look any farther and don't ask any questions or give us an opportunity to respond.

Recently I sat in a meeting in my office with a circle of colleagues that I'd only worked with by phone. One of them noticed my ring and after the meeting and when we reached the hall, she asked me many questions. She told me that her Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were important Masons but her own Father had never joined. She told me she had always wanted to be a member of the Eastern Star.

When I asked her about her husband - whether he had an interest - she told me that her husband had no interest. She said he had been adopted as a young child and his step-father was a mason. She told me a little about his upbringing and without dwelling on the ugly details, let's just say his experiences with this mason were less than exemplary.

Many men in our jurisdiction fill the official position of Grand Representative to another Grand Jurisdiction. Well my brothers, you are the Grand Representative to your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, fellow congregants, and, as I have noted today, complete strangers we encounter.

As you can see, there are many people watching you. But Most Worshipful Brother Sanders also asked us to take a look at ourselves. I believe he did so for two reasons. First, he, like Plato, is well aware that the examined life is the only one worth living. Introspection and self-examination are necessary for personal growth. Second, we may be able to fool others, but we can't fool ourselves. Peter Wimbrow said this so well when he wrote:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please - never mind all the rest
For he's with you, clear to the end
And you've passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass.⁶

When I consider the men I've come to know in this fraternity, I find that the impression I had of the fraternity in my youth has been largely correct. I've been disappointed when I've seen otherwise, but I am wise enough to know that some slip through the West Gate without our knowledge, and it is rare. When I've seen the damage these men have done to our lodges, our brothers, and even the public perception, I'm dismayed. And when we fail to take action I am just confused.

Just as you have no idea how often you are being filmed by Closed Circuit TV (CCTV), you have no idea how often others are judging the fraternity through your behavior. Please join me tonight in recommitting ourselves to principles of brotherhood, relief and truth that would lead us to showing the world that masonry has made us better men.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I thank you for the opportunity to share these few thoughts, and pray you will enjoy the rest of your visitation.

¹ Robb, Gary C. (1979) "Police Use of CCTV Surveillance: Constitutional Implications and Proposed Regulations" University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, pg. 572
²"Post 9/11, surveillance cameras everywhere" by Allison Linn, MSNBC.com, September 11, 2011
³Remarks of the Deputy Grand Master, Rt. Worshipful Drew C. Sanders, Proceedings of the 142nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in Utah.
⁴"What if anything can be done about the lack of interest in Masonry by non-masons?" Alexander Duff, Proceedings of the Conference of Grand Masters, 1966, Feb. 23-24, 1966 85-103.
⁵"Why Masonry Survives - The Truth," Tooele 2008 Visitation Oration by Allen W. Record, Grand Orator; http://www.utahgrandlodge.org/gl-orations/allen-record/oration-2008-12.html
⁶"The Man in the Glass," Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr., 1934

Lodge Finances #1
Bountiful Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Lorenzo E. Tibbitts, Grand Orator
Saturday, February 22, 2014

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Distinguished Guests and Brethren, Good Morning;

Sitting in the office of the CFO, I lamented the loss of one of our key employees - also a friend - after an audit had turned up evidence of fraud that tracked back to him. "How could he be so stupid?" I fumed. "I would never have guessed he was so dishonest." To this, my colleague, a wise and seasoned financial manager replied, "Lon, we failed him. Our controls were insufficient to protect him from himself during a time of personal financial crisis. We need to do better."

Some may see this as cynical, but just as some believe that every man has his price, I believe that every man has his breaking point, and often all that is needed to compromise an otherwise honest man is a personal financial crisis and an opportunity - even if it's only a small opening - to obtain some of what he so dreadfully needs, and that is money to satisfy a demand he cannot hope to fill. This observation is based upon decades of watching some very good men and women make these mistakes and get caught.

Financial controls do not need to be complex to provide the needed protection for both the individual entrusted with the funds and the organization whose property it is. They only need to be transparent, effective controls that are consistently applied and constantly monitored.

Lodge Fiscal Responsibility is a matter of roles. The Secretary and Treasurer intone a portion of their responsibilities for the money of the Lodge in the Entered Apprentice Opening of a Lodge. This small piece of our ritual is both simple and brilliant.

As regards the finances of the Lodge, a Secretary is "…to collect and receive all moneys due to the Lodge, giving his receipt thereof, and to pay them promptly to the Treasurer, taking his receipt for the same."¹

And the Treasurer is "First. To receive and safely keep all moneys and property of every kind which shall be placed in his hands by the Secretary … and to give proper receipts therefore. [and] Second. To disburse or transfer the same, or any part thereof, upon the order of the Master with the consent of the Lodge, duly attested by the Secretary."²

These duties, inscribed in our code prescribe a set of procedures and create roles and responsibilities not only for the Secretary and the Treasurer but also for the Master and for each and every member of the Lodge. These very simple acts create the "Cash Control" Procedure for the lodge. Cash control is a process that is used to verify the complete nature and accurate recording of all cash that is received, as well as any cash disbursements that take place.

These very simple duties also create a Separation of duties - the means by which no one person has sole control over the lifespan of a transaction; and put into place a very effective deterrent to fraud called Two-Person Control which is "The continuous surveillance and control of [money or property] at all times by a minimum of two authorized individuals, each capable of detecting incorrect or unauthorized procedures …"³

So how does all this work?

The Secretary is the point man. He receives all money. He gives receipts appropriately. Dues cards are appropriate receipts. He logs that money in a ledger or receipt book of some kind and then "pay[s] them to the Treasurer, taking his receipt therefore."

The Treasurer is the keeper and disburser of the funds. He gives his proper receipt to the Secretary. This can be an actual receipt or simply an initial in a ledger the Secretary keeps, but one way or another, he agrees on the amount and acknowledges receipt.

While the Master is not involved in the collection or safe-guarding of the funds, the use or disbursement of Lodge funds creates a duty for the Worshipful Master. He is to order their use. This implies that he understands what it is that he is ordering. It also implies that he knows that there are sufficient funds to meet the overall demands of the Lodge for the foreseeable future and this also indicates he has a budget to cover the ordered payment and future expenses.

All of this means that the Master is not simply an observer, but that he sees - through effective reporting by both the Treasurer and the Secretary - the state of the finances of the Lodge every time he orders payment of cash.

But these duties also create a role for the Lodge. Each member of the Lodge has a responsibility to approve payments ordered by the Master by the "usual sign of masons when in Lodge convened." This implies a transparency in the financial affairs of the Lodge that enlightens the members so they can make an informed decision.

Let me illustrate using a very simple, hypothetical situation:

A lodge has an opportunity to purchase two beautifully handcrafted Warden's chairs from another lodge for $5,000, but if they don't decide this month another lodge will be allowed to purchase them. Every member of the lodge would love to replace the plain chairs that currently grace their lodge. But for the Master to order to payment of $5,000 for new Wardens chairs if there is only $3,000 in the Lodge Accounts is futile. If the Master knows this, he wouldn't issue such an order.

But, if there is money but this purchase would make it impossible to pay for utilities or other budgeted, necessary and non-negotiable future expenses ordering payment is reckless. And for the brethren to approve such an expense because the chairs are just beautiful and would add symmetry to the lodge room would be irresponsible. If the reports of the Secretary and Treasurer have made this clear, then the Lodge might regret their inability to pay for the chairs, but at least they'd know it and not regret a financial crisis later.

Can you see how a few short lines, intoned in an opening, and written in our code can create a system of controls, checks and balances that allow us to protect our Masters, Treasurers and Secretaries, and indeed the entire Lodge?

You may wonder why I'm talking about this today. You may believe that everyone already understands and follows these simple rules. But several experiences over the last four years have led me to see that far too often Lodges do not understand these roles and responsibilities. Some may believe that this quaint ritual language, reflected in our code, is out-dated. Some have substituted their own interpretations of these roles and rules. I've recently seen substitute procedures lead to disaster.

We have all heard some of the stories I've been told about money suspected to have gone missing when "so and so" was Master or "someone else" was Secretary.

Brothers, these are wise and sound financial principles and controls. If we could follow these simple instructions there would never be the vacuum of information that could give rise to such - usually - hearsay accusations based upon a feeling or rumor and without evidence. There would also be protection for our Masters, Treasurers and Secretaries from baseless accusations and from opportunity should personal crisis create a desperate demand for money beyond their means that may lead to malfeasance.

Brethren, especially you Masters, Treasurers and Secretaries ensure that these processes are in place, these procedures followed. Ensure your Lodge has a budget and hears regular financials reports that provide transparency. This will protect your officers, your property and your lodge. It does no good to collect every penny owed and to budget within your means if these procedures break down. If this happens, money will be gone, lives will be damaged, a lodge may be lost, and brotherhood will be shattered.

Please, please, please don't let that happen!

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I thank you for the opportunity to share these few thoughts and pray you will enjoy the rest of your visitation.

¹Grand Lodge Code, 3-4-16, Duties of the Secretary.
²Grand Lodge Code, 3-4-15, Duties of the Treasurer.
³The Free Dictionary.

Corinne Masonic Temple Oration
By Worshipful Brother Lorenzo E. Tibbitts, Grand Orator
Saturday, June 21, 2014

It is such an honor and privilege to be here today and to participate in this ancient ceremony. The Grand Master today carried out the role that Worshipful Brother George Washington performed when laying the cornerstone on the US Capitol, and even then, it was a mature ceremony.

We gather today to lay this stone and rededicate this building which has for so long been the home to one of Utah's oldest and historically important lodges. In October of 1872, a mere ten months after three lodges in Salt Lake City - Wasatch, Mt. Moriah and Argenta - met to form the Grand Lodge of Utah, a group of masons living and working in and around Corinne received permission from the Grand Master to operate under dispensation and then on November 25, 1873 Corinne Lodge No. 5 was officially constituted by Grand Master Louis Cohn.

For a little more than 140 years this lodge has provided leadership in the Grand Lodge of Utah and this community with some even serving as Mayor and others as religious and business leaders. That commitment to community, to leadership, and to service continues today. The men of Corinne Lodge continue to think of their brothers, their families and their neighbors before they think of themselves, just like so many of those who came before them, and they do so because they are FREEMASONS.

There are many masons here today, but I'd like to talk to those who have never seen a cornerstone ceremony and more especially those who are not masons. The masons can listen in and critique my comments later.

As Freemasons, we know that we are often depicted in the media and in film with dark lighting and darker themes as powerful men pulling all the strings behind the scenes, but in truth, "Freemasonry is far removed from all that is trivial, selfish and ungodly."¹Our principle tenets are brotherly love, charitable relief and a life-long search for truth and wisdom. We are built upon the lasting foundation of a sincere belief in the Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man and the immortality of the soul.

Freemasonry is not a religion but expects its members to be upright God-fearing men of faith. Our ancient fraternity welcomes those of various creeds and classes but insists that we all stand upon an exact equality, receiving its lessons in humility and with reverence.

On its page, entitled Freemasonry Revealed, The Grand Lodge of North Carolina says that, "It has been reported that when Theodore Roosevelt became a Mason he discovered his gardener was serving as master of the lodge-the presiding officer. No resentment is evidenced by men of high station outside Masonry when men of lower outside station occupy positions of greater Masonic authority. Somehow, Masonic lodges are able to function without snobbery."²

You have just witnessed one of our public rituals and our rituals - public and private - have often been described as being a beautiful system of morals veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. What you witnessed today was rich in symbolic instruction. You saw several of our symbols and during the ceremony six of them were highlighted.

The first is the square. The square is an instrument used by operative masons to square their work. Freemasons are taught ever to square our actions by the square of virtue.³

The plumb is an instrument made use of by Operative Masons, to try perpendiculars.⁴ Freemasons use this tool to remind them to be upright men and to conduct themselves with decency and morality.

The level is used by operative masons to prove horizontals.⁵ For Freemasons it teaches us that no matter what our station or advantages in life may be we are all walking on the same plane which eventually leads to death. In this same spirit an Italian Proverb teaches that, "At the end of the game the King and Pawn go back in the same box."

Freemasons use the working tools of operative masons as emblems or symbols for the teaching of brotherhood, morality and the duty of man. We say over and over that we take good men and make them better and by that we mean that we accept good men into our assemblies and through our beautiful ritual - that system of morality - we teach them what it means to be an upright and moral man, to be a loyal friend and brother, and to be more focused upon their family, neighbors, community and nation than upon themselves. This is perhaps why so many great and famous men have come from the ranks of masonry. With very few exceptions, the best men I know are to be found among my Masonic brothers and I'm blessed by their friendship, brotherhood, example, advice and counsel.

Corn, wine and oil were also presented emblematically and explained. You were told that corn is an emblem or symbol of plenty, wine a symbol of joy and gladness, and oil a symbol of peace.⁶

The men who meet in this building today are great men of various creeds, classes, occupations and ages but their aim is to help each man of Corinne Lodge No. 19 become a better man today than he was yesterday and make a significant contribution to the world around him. They are laying the foundations today for the next 140-years of Masonry here in Corinne and Northern Utah.

¹Senior Steward's Lecture, Utah Monitor, Ninth Edition, 1974, pg. 5
²Freemasonry Revealed, The Grand Lodge of North Carolina | Freemasonry Revealed.
³Duncan's Ritual
⁴ibid
⁵ibid
⁶Cornerstone Ceremony, Utah Grand Lodge

Corinne Lodge No. 5 - Amity Lodge No. 23
Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Gavin K. K. Wardrope, Grand Orator
March 2nd, 2013

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, Right Worshipful Brothers, Worshipful Brothers and Brethren all, Good Evening.

I stand here this morning as the Grand Orator of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Utah, nervous but excited to get the Grand Masters Visitation Schedule up and running. It has been exactly 1 month since the Grand Masters Installation and I am sure he is as eager as the rest of us to get things moving.

When I was asked to take up this appointment the Grand Master said I could have carte blanche to say whatever I want, that I did not have to have him read what I had written and that he would not interfere in any of my ideas. I hope that come next February, after 23 Visitations, he will feel the same way.

Now what to talk about. I could find something on the Internet, cut and paste, and have an instant Oration. That sounds good in theory but even though I can cut and paste with the best of them it is not the way I want to be remembered.

I therefore decided that if I did not find an Oration interesting no one else would. So, I have decided that for each Lodge, as far as I am able, I will try to find something of interest, whether it be historical or perhaps relevant to that Lodge today.

I must say, Brethren, this is the first time I have been to Corinne in daylight and what a lovely part of the State, far enough away from the Salt Lake Valley to ignore it, but close enough to Idaho to invest in lottery tickets, what a selling point.

But why would a Masonic Lodge be here in the first place.

Well, it transpires that the railroad had something to do with that and of course some dedicated Brethren. The town of Corinne was settled in 1869 being ideally placed to transport goods north to Montana along the Montana Trail and south to Salt Lake City. It was known as a Gentile City, the reasons why I am certainly not going to discuss. The future of the 'Burg on the Bear' seemed assured when the Golden Spike was driven at Promontory in May 1869. However, it was not to be and just 7 days after the celebration at Promontory the first shovel of dirt was turned in Ogden that would decide Corinne's fate. This was the start of the railroad line from Ogden to Franklin ID.

Corinne's fate was sealed and from what had been a bustling and wild town of over 1000 residents in its heyday, 15 Saloons, 16 liquor stores with an allegedly gun-fighting Marshal to keep order in this "Dodge City" of Utah.

It became a virtual ghost town overnight and religion notwithstanding the town struggled.

Where does Masonry fit in? We have to thank a certain EP Johnson for that. Br Johnson came to Corinne by way of Elkhorn Lodge #77 in Elkhorn WI being raised there in 1857. He was named the first Master of the Lodge UD in 1873; he conferred 59 degrees in his term the most by any Master in this Jurisdiction. On the Charter of the Lodge he is named as the first Master holding the Office for 1 year and conferring 35 Degrees. He became Grand Master in November 1876. He died in January 1898 and buried by the Brethren of Corinne Lodge here in the town Cemetery. He also served as Mayor of the town in 1875.

Another founding Member of the Lodge Alexander Toponce, who deserves an Oration all to himself, also served as Mayor from 1887 - 1889 and another Member John W Guthrie was Mayor from 1878-1887 and 1889-1895. The fate of the town being in the hands of 3 Masons for some 20 years. How times have changed, yes that was when Masons were actively involved and shaped their Community.

The Lodge itself was Chartered on November 25, 1873 by Grand Master Lois Cohn and his Principal Officers having travelled from Salt Lake for the event. What a sight must have greeted them in this once wild town and its lone Masonic Hall.

The officers installed that day had a short term of service, only 1 month, when on December 17, 1873 the Annual Election was held.

Corinne Lodge has always had a checkered history, mirroring that of the town's, from having no one to greet the Grand Master and his Officers in 1877 as a result of its Wild West mentality and bloody mindlessness. But through all of this the Lodge has survived. There have been times when the Membership has been as low as 13 but according to documentation the periods of its highest Membership reflected the times the Lodge gave most. Perhaps we can all learn something from that. It has always struggled with Members which is understandable, but at the present thanks to its current Worshipful Master and Members the Lodge is rising once more.

I came up here to take part in a Master Mason Degree about a month ago and it was obvious the deep feeling the Members have for this Lodge. If you have not had a chance have a look around and see the history from the pictures on the walls downstairs to the original Bible displayed right here in this Lodge room. I thought that the building appeared to be further into disrepair than my previous visit. I wondered then about some of the murmurings from various Brethren that I have heard saying that if the Lodge is non-sustainable then close it down or merge with another Lodge.

However, is this fair to this Lodge, they are still an active working Lodge, they are trying to have repairs done, but apart from money it also takes manpower.

The history of the Lodge in this area and its importance to the Town are worth preserving. This is not just Corinne's history, but our history.

Would it not be wonderful for all of Utah Freemasonry if we could have a Masonic Day of Service where we could come together as one Masonic Family and provide some TLC to our historic buildings, 1 building a year, just think of the possibilities and the satisfaction and the sense of pride?

Picture the scenario, food and friendship what more can you ask for. Why should the past be discarded, is it fair. The Brethren of Corinne Lodge should not have to ask for help, we as a Fraternity should realize that every last one of us has a stake in the survival of this building and Freemasonry in the City of Corinne.

The current Members of our Lodges are the backbone of the craft and subsequently all aspects of Freemasonry. These are the Brethren who are the Masters, Wardens, Secretaries etc. and they are the ones we should look after. We must figuratively use the Mason's trowel and spread the cement of Brotherly love.

Let us utilize the talents and skills of our members, we have men from all walks of life who I am sure are awaiting the call to share these abilities whether it be cooking, painting, fixing a door or an electrical problem.

Finally, Brethren, remember the Grand Masters comments on the day of his Installation regarding ohana or family. Corinne Lodge has lived that ideal by giving the required recommendation to 3 Lodges in the area, namely, Weber Lodge #6 in December 1873 and of course Harmony Lodge #21 in 1915 and Amity Lodge #23 in 1920. That tradition continues to this date as several Members of this lodge are dual Members of the other lodges.

To the Brethren of Amity I have not forgotten you but I apologize that due to time constraints I have not been able to include your historical sketch.

May Harmony and Amity forever continue here in Northern Utah?

Enjoy the rest of your Visitation.

Fraternally,
Gavin KK Wardrope PM
Grand Orator

Canyon Lodge No.13
Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Gavin K. K. Wardrope, Grand Orator
March 5th, 2013

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, Right Worshipful Brothers, Worshipful Brothers and Brethren all, Good Evening.

I would be thankful to talk to you for the next few minutes over a matter that I feel has a great relevance to society in this day and age and what we, as Freemasons, can do to try and rectify.

I remember as a young child growing up in the East End of Glasgow not knowing then if my family was rich or poor all I know was that there were clothes on my back, food on the table and love in my heart.

Of course people say they were the good old days, no cell phones, computers or in our family's case no car. I remember my father saying the same about his family so it's just a matter of a new generation same old story.

I don't believe so. I must have been about 6 years of age and I think it was my grandparents who were visiting.

In Scotland, even to this day, if you visit anyone the first question is 'Can I get you a cup of tea?' and 'Would you like a wee cake to go with that?'

Of course there were always cream cakes, sponge cakes and raisin cakes, or as I still call it, fly cemetery cake. I remember my mother taking me aside and saying that I must not speak to anyone unless I am spoken to, that I will not get a cake until all the adults had selected theirs, that I will not be allowed to leave the table until I had been given permission and use a knife and fork and not your fingers. You know what I got to eat; now you will understand why I call it fly cemetery cake.

Can you correlate that to today's youth, I don't think so. How many times have you seen a young person holding a door open for a female, giving up their seat for a woman or heavens help us apologize for an indiscretion. As someone who deals with children up to 18 years old every day I can assure you sometimes I worry about the future. How can we expect respect from them if in most cases they do not respect themselves?

Over my Headmasters, or Principals, desk at school I remember a sign and it has lived with me for over 40 years, MANNERS MAKETH MAN.

A really easy to remember 3 worded statement easily explained.

It is a very commonly held saying in every culture found all over the world. Manners form the basis for every person's name and status in society.

Manners play a very important role and play a major part of a person's outlook. We have all I am sure seen people display extremely bad manners and conversely people display extremely good manners. Where do you think you are in this conversation?

It is of my opinion that if properly followed manners help a person to gain the respect and trust in his society. Manners are the critical steps in the ladder to success which guarantees an individual to reach a higher position in life. It also brings a sense of gratitude and well-being to an individual and gives them a chance to express themselves.

Do we not, as Freemasons, show respect to the officers of the Lodge, an elder statesman of the Lodge or a visitor to the Lodge. It should be expected that the lessons we learn in the Lodge should be taken outside and to our homes and place of work and consequently passed down to our children.

When I was Master I tried to come down from the East and thank a Brother who had made the effort to come and visit, or to a Candidate who afforded me the privilege of joining my Lodge.

When we are first initiated the first lesson we learn at the Altar is that you are told that you must always before speaking give the Due Guard and sign and not to speak until the Worshipful Master asks you to. Why? Respect of course.

The lessons we learn in this Lodge Room do not stay here when we are finished, the lessons we are all taught are life changing lessons and should be applied to our life outside this room.

Often when meeting a potential Candidate or a work colleague are you not asked what Freemasons are, and what do you do that is so special?

I am sure we would have them lining up in droves if we told them that once a month we have a Business Meeting that is so unbelievably exciting it makes you want to come back month after month.

Of course not, we tell them that Freemasonry has taught us the lessons of Brotherhood, Charity and self-improvement to name but three. These lessons being taught inside this room are continued outside.

However, a lot of times these lessons are forgotten or ignored. How many times have you seen something written, or someone act in a manner unbecoming of a Freemason? You don't have to cast your mind back too far to know what I am talking about.

It is time for the majority to stand up to the minority and say 'Enough.' The actions of the minority if left unchecked will destroy us as an Institution. If you don't believe me, think of something you may have read or heard recently by a Mason and now think of the headline on the News or in a Newspaper if it got out that that is what we all actually believe. Do you wish to be part of that? I hope not.

Before an Initiate is allowed to see or enter a Lodge room we tell him that Freemasonry is far removed from all that is trivial, selfish and ungodly, it is a beautiful system of morals veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.

Then when he is presented with a Lambskin Apron he is told, let its pure and spotless surface be to you an ever present reminder of a purity of life, a rectitude of conduct a never ending argument for higher thoughts for nobler deeds for greater achievement.

There is nothing more distressing than to see someone act in a manner which is disrespectful to the craft in general. Especially when the brother who has caused the problem is unwilling to apologize or see the errors and the distress that he has caused.

If you are in the wrong accept it graciously and do apologize. Do not criticize others work or ideas in public.

Being courteous to others will earn you respect and courtesy in return and shows that you have had a good upbringing. Manners help recognize an individual as a person of class turning one respect. Thus the term or phrase MANNERS MAKETH MAN is apt in every sense.

Brethren, always remember may the record of your life and actions be as pure and spotless as that fair emblem which was placed in your hands that night you were admitted into this Fraternity.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I thank you for allowing me to say these few words tonight and Brethren, enjoy the rest of your Visitation.

Fraternally,
Gavin KK Wardrope PM
Grand Orator

Story Lodge No.7
Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Gavin K. K. Wardrope, Grand Orator
March 7th, 2013

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, Right Worshipful Brothers, Worshipful Brothers and Brethren all, Good Evening.

It is always a pleasure to come and visit the Brethren of Story Lodge and to hear and take part in their success stories.

Tonight I want to spend a few minutes talking about what we expect from the Craft but more especially what the Craft expects from us.

I am tonight going to use my own thoughts from Scotland, where I was Initiated, because that's where my education in Freemasonry comes from and I hope that after you have heard them it may give you a chance to pause and think how you could apply them to yourself.

We all joined Masonry for a reason, there is a wonderful start, but can you remember yours. I can, I had been mixing with other Masons at work and my father was one. I saw it as something to be inspired by, not to hide from. My home town was and to a certain extent still is divided by religious bigotry and I thought that Masonry was a place to shelter from it. To this day I have not yet heard politics or religion discussed in a Lodge room and I hope I never will, there is no place for it here, ever.

When I was summoned in front of a Board of Past Masters for my Investigation I was nervous, I didn't know if I would be suitable to join and all the way through the process I always felt that the Lodge was going to make sure that I was suitable for them not the other way around.

I remember being told I had passed the Investigation and that I was to appear at 7pm on such a date to be Initiated a Mason.

I duly appeared and was conducted through the Ceremony but I can assure you there were 2 things that remain to me this day. The first one being the Cable Tow was held by someone at all times until I had taken my Obligation and secondly on having the hood wink removed there was a sword just an inch or so from my throat. The reasons were of course explained to me but even though I can honestly say I could not remember anything of my Degree the impressions of the cable tow and the sword have been ever-present since that evening.

Sometimes I just feel that our Initiations could be more memorable.

Remember Brethren we have joined a Society hundreds of years old, the Ritual is much the same as it was 300 years ago. There is something special, embrace it and support it.

When a new Candidate is Initiated the Lodge has to embrace him, if we don't we will lose him it is as simple as that.

I know there is a lot of talk regarding Lodge Mentoring and this is a step in the right direction. But it must not be left to one or two people it is the responsibility of every Member to Mentor.

I remember saying to a new Candidate when introducing him to his Coach that everyone was his Coach that it was to everyone's advantage to look after him. The Coach, a PM, was not impressed but he got over it. We have to change stand still and we will stagnate.

Of course, conversely the Candidate owes a debt to the Lodge. It is only fair that if the Lodge gives its time to a Candidate he must also recognize that he must give something in return.

I find it distressing on occasion to find a newly raised Master Mason be expected to go straight into a Chair and within 3 years become the Master of the Lodge. This should not happen, I think of how the experience of being a Master of a Lodge is diminished by a lack of experience, wait and you will be rewarded; the journey, I can assure you, is much more memorable.

Equally, is it right to put into the hands of a newly raised Master Mason petitions for Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine and Eastern Star.

We should never dilute Freemasonry. All good things come to he who waits.

I have had the pleasure to spend time down here with the good Brethren of this Lodge and I am fully aware of the difficulties that have taken place. Does that mean the Lodge should be cast aside? Yes, I am disappointed that more Members of the Lodge do not support but let us not just blame the Brethren, let us look upon our own actions in not making ourselves available to assist. I can remember one night a couple of weeks ago where there was a Master Mason Degree conducted with only 7 of us present and only 5 of us actively involved in the Degree.

Put yourself in the position of the Candidate, was it his fault, of course not, we let him down, not the Brethren of Story but all of us who were asked, we all let him down.

I must say that the Degree was excellent thanks to the dedication and skill of the Brethren involved, although it was more memorable than I first envisaged and that was to be sworn at, thanks to differences in language, by a Candidate when repeating his Obligation was a first for me.

Let's be honest how many of us take time to learn the history of their Lodge. For instance who knows who Capt. William R Story is? Captain Story had served through the Civil War in the Union Army, where he won the rank of Captain. At the close of that struggle, like many another foot-free young man, who had been shaken loose from his former moorings by that terrific upheaval, when the armies disbanded he came west. He was a saddler by trade, and upon coming to Salt Lake City he again entered the government service at Camp Douglas, where he continued to have his home after he was appointed Deputy U.S. Marshal. When Captain Story came to Utah, Ira M. Swartz was a clerk in the Quartermaster's Department at Camp Douglas. These two young men had much in common, and as local conditions were such as tended sharply to accentuate the division between the majority and the small minority - the Mormons and the Gentiles - and as congenial companions were not numerous at best, the acquaintance of these two men soon turned into a lasting friendship.

May 1, 1870, Swartz saw William R. Story off for Grantsville, Utah, in company with a Deputy Sheriff from Nevada. On Monday, May 2nd, the bullet of a desperado ended the life of Captain Story.

At the time of his death, Captain Story was Secretary of Wasatch Lodge No. 8. The Worshipful Master of the Lodge at that time was Brother O.F. Strickland, two years later the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Utah. This is also the time that Utah Lodge U.D. was organized, and Strickland was a resident of Provo, being one of three Territorial Judges presiding over the court there. Ira M. Swartz was clerk of this court. Undoubtedly the change of the Lodge name had been discussed by these two men, both of whom knew Captain Story so intimately and valued his friendship so highly. The Grand Master, hardly less than the Worshipful Master, would be glad to join in honoring the name and the memory of a former associate and very dear friend.

The name of this Lodge should take on a new significance for its members when they are reminded that it stands as a fitting memorial to a worthy character, an honorable man, and a loyal Mason. This is something to be proud of, not to discard. We should as often as is humanly possible remember this hero.

Never forget Brethren that this was the first Lodge Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Utah.

Embrace that history remember the Past Masters and Members who have travelled the road before you and the sacrifices they made. We must make every decision based on who made the journey before us. To be a Member of this Lodge is an honor not to be taken lightly.

Remember you knocked on the door to enter, the Lodge allowed you to enter you must ensure that you leave the Lodge stronger than when you found it.

Being a Mason is not just for 1 night per month for a couple of hours, it is a lifelong commitment that you have made not only to yourself but to this lodge in particular.

Never allow your Lodge to wither the importance of this Lodge in Utah Masonry is too important not to succeed and it is becoming of all of us here to recognize that.

Enjoy the rest of your Visitation

Fraternally,
Gavin KK Wardrope PM
Grand Orator

Public Perception #1
Provo Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Lorenzo E. Tibbitts, Grand Orator
Friday, February 21, 2014

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

At the beginning of the popular CBS Crime Drama, Person of Interest, and in the voice of the character called "Finch," we hear, "They're watching you!" "They" is a government surveillance system, developed to watch out for terrorists which sees everything, and which has grown a mind of its own and uses its creator and a small circle of people recruited to protect regular citizens from harm. Now the idea of a government system that is more benevolently watching over ordinary citizens than the government itself may make good TV, but in some ways it's not too far from the world we live in.

On your way here this evening, you passed through the observation radius of many more video cameras than you noticed. In September 1968, Olean, New York became the first city in the US to install video cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime.¹ In the decade following 9/11 more than 30 million security cameras were purchased and installed.²

But security cameras are not the only - or even the most important - eyes on you. It may be very hard for you to fathom, because you know and are known to hundreds and perhaps even thousands of Masons, but you may be the only Mason that some people may ever meet. The truth of the matter is that many of those we know nothing about The Craft, and many others know only what they have read on the internet, seen on TV, or learned from us.

In his address at the Grand Lodge Communication less than a month ago, our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Drew C. Sanders said, "Brethren, whether you think so or not as a general rule people around you know you are a Freemason… Therefore, each of us is someone's impression of Utah Freemasonry… I strongly urge each of you to uphold the ideals of the fraternity before the world, whether it be in our online presence, driving habits, or in our personal interactions with others."³

At the Conference of Grand Masters in 1966, Worshipful Brother Alexander Duff, Grand Master of Manitoba, said, "The Profane world has no criteria by which to judge Freemasonry other than the fruits produced by the Masonic lives of those who are members of our beloved craft."⁴

In his Oration at the 2008 Visitation in Tooele, MW Bro. Allen W. Record taught, "Ultimately, Masons and Non-Masons alike observe everything we do and say. They look to see if we 'practice what we preach'. Do we practice Brotherly Love, do we work with others on the Level, and do we square our actions toward all mankind. When we do these things, then it's seen that we not only speak, but also live the Truth of what Freemasonry Offers… This, Brethren is our Truth in Action."⁵

What Most Worshipful Brother Sanders calls "the ideals of the fraternity," Most Worshipful Brother Record refers to as "Truth in Action," and Most Worshipful Brother Duff calls the "fruit produced by… Masonic lives," are nothing more or less than the principles we agreed to uphold in our obligations.

I was a stranger who saw The Fraternity in the lives of Masons. As a child and teenager, I was a military brat and as my family traveled the world I got to see Freemasonry up close and personal. I came to see that many of the most professional, most successful and capable officers and NCOs were masons. I saw the rings. And I saw their behavior. They were the very definition of the title "gentleman." From these men I developed a favorable impression of The Craft.

Brethren, sometimes it's our family that is watching. My wife, Lana, did not grow up with a favorable opinion of Freemasonry. She was not that thrilled when I petitioned a lodge. She trusted me but remained worried for several months. All of that changed for her the night that we attended a Scottish Rite Open House at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple and heard Most Worshipful Brother Curtis N. Lancaster speak about the purpose and principles of Masonry. She relaxed and gave me her full - unworried - support from then on.

Later the same year she heard Brother Lancaster speak, Lana attended my lodge BBQ, where she witnessed some outrageous behavior from one of our members. He was boorish and obnoxious. She leaned over and whispered to me, "How do guys like that get into Masonry?" While I had an opportunity to address her question, sometimes those who see our behavior don't look any farther and don't ask any questions or give us an opportunity to respond.

Recently I sat in a meeting in my office with a circle of colleagues that I'd only worked with by phone. One of them noticed my ring and after the meeting and when we reached the hall, she asked me many questions. She told me that her Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were important Masons but her own Father had never joined. She told me she had always wanted to be a member of the Eastern Star.

When I asked her about her husband - whether he had an interest - she told me that her husband had no interest. She said he had been adopted as a young child and his step-father was a mason. She told me a little about his upbringing and without dwelling on the ugly details, let's just say his experiences with this mason were less than exemplary.

Many men in our jurisdiction fill the official position of Grand Representative to another Grand Jurisdiction. Well my brothers, you are the Grand Representative to your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, fellow congregants, and, as I have noted today, complete strangers we encounter.

As you can see, there are many people watching you. But Most Worshipful Brother Sanders also asked us to take a look at ourselves. I believe he did so for two reasons. First, he, like Plato, is well aware that the examined life is the only one worth living. Introspection and self-examination are necessary for personal growth. Second, we may be able to fool others, but we can't fool ourselves. Peter Wimbrow said this so well when he wrote:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please - never mind all the rest
For he's with you, clear to the end
And you've passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass.⁶

When I consider the men I've come to know in this fraternity, I find that the impression I had of the fraternity in my youth has been largely correct. I've been disappointed when I've seen otherwise, but I am wise enough to know that some slip through the West Gate without our knowledge, and it is rare. When I've seen the damage these men have done to our lodges, our brothers, and even the public perception, I'm dismayed. And when we fail to take action I am just confused.

Just as you have no idea how often you are being filmed by Closed Circuit TV (CCTV), you have no idea how often others are judging the fraternity through your behavior. Please join me tonight in recommitting ourselves to principles of brotherhood, relief and truth that would lead us to showing the world that masonry has made us better men.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I thank you for the opportunity to share these few thoughts, and pray you will enjoy the rest of your visitation.

¹ Robb, Gary C. (1979) "Police Use of CCTV Surveillance: Constitutional Implications and Proposed Regulations" University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, pg. 572
²"Post 9/11, surveillance cameras everywhere" by Allison Linn, MSNBC.com, September 11, 2011
³Remarks of the Deputy Grand Master, Rt. Worshipful Drew C. Sanders, Proceedings of the 142nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in Utah.
⁴"What if anything can be done about the lack of interest in Masonry by non-masons?" Alexander Duff, Proceedings of the Conference of Grand Masters, 1966, Feb. 23-24, 1966 85-103.
⁵"Why Masonry Survives - The Truth," Tooele 2008 Visitation Oration by Allen W. Record, Grand Orator; http://www.utahgrandlodge.org/gl-orations/allen-record/oration-2008-12.html
⁶"The Man in the Glass," Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr., 1934

Grand Lodge Oration
By Worshipful Brother Jason Varner, Grand Orator
February, 2012

Good morning, Brethren! It is an honor to stand before you and be able to take a few minutes of your time and share with you a few of my thoughts. As I know many of you are hungry and are anxious to go to lunch, I shall keep my remarks brief.

As I look around the auditorium today, I am inspired by the great leaders that this jurisdiction is blessed with. Whether this is your first Grand Lodge Communication or your fiftieth they are all unique and special and afford you time to take a moment and look around to see friends and Brothers with which you have built or are in the process of building lifelong friendships. While we often take this for granted, please consider this; without the benevolent and binding influence of Freemasonry most of you would have remained at a perpetual distance much less become friends and brothers.

Is it not strange that while conspiracy theorists along with those who oppose our objectives write volumes speculating as what the "real" secrets of our Fraternity are. Those of us in this room are the embodiment of one of the greatest secret that Freemasonry has to offer, which is to work together in harmony. As Masons, we understand that it is an exercise in futility to focus on the myriad of things that make us different and unique from one another, our genius lies in being able to find common ground upon which to maintain and build a foundation for future generations to build upon.

Within our ranks, we have men from all walks of life who bring into our Fraternity a wide variety of skills and talents. Men, who among their purposes in being here is to move forward the great work of Utah Freemasonry. Honorable men, who have learned to look beyond their differences of opinion and unite in harmony to work for the greater good. Men of great vision, who see beyond the moment and know what we as a Fraternity can be and refuse to allow the phrase, "Good enough" to pass their lips. Great men, who rather than wait for an opportunity to present itself; seize the moment and make the most of it!

While this may seem repetitive to some of you, take a moment and consider the sacrifices of time, effort, and money that you have expended laboring on the mountains and in the quarries of our Craft. And for what? Titles that mean nothing outside of these doors? A promise of some ethereal secret to wealth and fame? Of course not my brethren; you of all people know that none of this is to be had within the boundaries of our beloved Fraternity. You are great, honorable, visionary men because you honor our heritage and traditions by laboring tirelessly to ensure that there is a future for Freemasonry in Utah and the rest of the world.

Ask yourself these questions, "What kind of a leader am I?" "What unique skills do I bring to my Lodge?" "Am I fulfilling my Masonic potential?" Think about that for a moment.>

Oftentimes, in Masonic speeches and writings authors and orators bandy about names like: Elias Ashmole, George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Winston Churchill and praise their great leadership skills and contributions to the world. Some have even wondered out loud, why we don't have men and leaders of that caliber today. Obviously, anyone who asks this question has never visited any one of our beloved lodges within this Grand Jurisdiction. From Logan to St. George and everywhere in between we are blessed with the benefit of leaders, who even though they may not know it, are some of the best Masonic ritualists and leaders in the world. You may not be known to the world Brethren but you are most certainly known and respected in this Jurisdiction and the communities wherein you reside.

You, my Brethren; should not waste your time comparing yourself to others. Instead, it is time that you realize your true selves and fully embrace your role as great leaders. Many of our forebears whom we admire and mention with such reverential awe, were men with whom you share more than you may think. While we are reminded of their great strengths and successes, it is important that we remember they were but men. Men who suffer from the same weaknesses and imperfections that we posses. However, we have an advantage that they did not. We have the privilege of building upon the foundation that they laid for us combined with the benefit of hindsight, enabling us to avoid their errors. This combined with our unique skills and abilities creates a powerful formula for success!

While we are all grateful for what they did for us, we cannot afford to expect this great work to move forward solely on the achievements of the past. We do not have the luxury of coasting or worse yet, standing idly by expecting others to do the work. This is the time and this is the place for us to take up our tools, square our shoulders and fulfill our destiny

You have within each of you the ability and above that, the obligation to see to it that your Masonic working tools never gather dust or become encrusted with rust. Each of you have been endowed by the Supreme Architect with a unique blend of talents and skills which you were charged during your Master Mason degree to use to protect and serve that for which we stand.

Freemasonry, is after all a moral and progressive science and it isn't merely for the sake of allegory that our beloved ritual is grounded in the idea of the worker and his labors.

That destiny can only be realized by working in harmony and with that singularity of purpose which is meant to distinguish us from the rest of the world. This principle is reiterated to us twice by the Senior Warden in all of our tyled meetings.

Though we are comprised of many different types of leaders, through the diligent application of our Masonic principles we can overcome any obstacle together! It is no coincidence that body of our Institution, like the human body is comprised of different parts which separately cannot survive, yet collectively can only be stopped by self imposed limitations. Just as it requires the harmony of the entire body to run a marathon or slam dunk a basketball, it also takes all of us to bring our destiny as Utah Freemasons to fruition.

Yet we must be honest with ourselves and accept that we all have varying styles of leadership. Some of you are idea men, capable of thinking up innovative new programs to aid in increasing membership or solving our financial challenges. Your specialty lies in "thinking outside the box" and for that you are to me commended and encouraged. However, many of us, myself included; find our strength in finding a need and learning what needs to be done in order to fill it.

If this is the camp that you find yourself in, never underestimate the power of your contribution to our great work. For often times, the most seemingly insignificant efforts have the most far reaching effects. This fact is enhanced by the fact that those who perform such deeds are often men who on the surface appear to be insignificant.

Consider the life of one, Cliff Gardiner. While the majority, if not all of you, may not recognize the name; he was nevertheless a man who played a significant role in changing the world forever. The effects of his efforts reach out into every aspect of our lives and yet the average person has no clue who he was. Yet being largely unknown during his life time and since is in no way indicative of the value of his contribution to the world.

As this story begins it is important to remember that Cliff was working as a box folder on an assembly line; to most he was just an average "working class Joe". Not exactly a world changer but.....he knew someone with vision.

Cliff's brother-in-law was a man whose name is familiar to many Utahans, Philo T. Farnsworth. Philo had this innovative idea for a device that would ultimately be a monumental leap forward in communication. Cliff listened to his engineer brother-in-law explain the scientific principles that would be required to transform his dream into a reality. Now Cliff didn't have a mind for science but nevertheless he caught the vision and knew he wanted to be a part of it. Even if he didn't understand the scientific theories involved, he realized that one thing Philo would need for his research was glass cathode ray tubes; a lot of them. This posed a severe problem, as they were very expensive and only available from a handful of mail order supply houses. Most people would have used this as an excuse to give up but not Philo and Cliff.

Armed only with a high school education, little money, no knowledge of glassblowing and a lot of boldness; Cliff cast his lot in with his brother-in-law and agreed to be the chief glass blower. Over the next few months, Cliff devoted himself to learning and mastering the fundamentals of his new profession.

Working day and night he helped to move Philo's research along through perseverance and hard work. After many false starts on September 7, 1927 Philo and Cliff finally achieved success when they transmitted an image from one room to another.

Together they developed and built the first electronic television camera tube and changed the world forever by ushering in the age of televised information. Incidentally, as a Mason I find it interesting that the image they used was a straight line that they alternated between vertical and horizontal. In essence they were proving their work plumb and level. Within our Lodges and the Fraternity as a whole we have our fair share of Philo T. Farnsworth's; or men with great ideas but let's be honest, most of us; have more in common with Cliff Gardiner. We are men whose greatest virtue lies in perseverance and devotion to building up the Lodges we belong to. Without the efforts of our Cliff Gardner's' we would be at a standstill. If you don't believe me ask any of our great leaders and they will be first to tell you they couldn't do what they do for us by themselves; it is a team effort.

For example, you may not how to start a meet-up group but you do know how to talk and be friendly. You may not have any idea how to organize a Lodge cookout but I'm pretty sure you are capable of calling and inviting Brothers to attend or work a spatula. The point is to make yourself useful by expanding your horizons and discovering what you are fully capable of.

One of the great things about our Fraternity is that it continually gives us as individuals the opportunity to step outside our personal boundaries and achieve our full potential as the Grand Architect's craftsmen. We are continually given the chance to rise to the occasion and learn on the fly, as it were.

I thank the Supreme Architect of the Universe every single day for this wonderful privilege of serving you and our Grand Lodge. To lose ourselves in the service of something greater than we, as individuals are, is indeed a great honor. I am inspired by all that I see accomplished by you, year in and year out in the name of Brotherly Love.

But your importance to our beloved Craft is not determined by brilliance near as much as your hard work, performed with likeminded individuals. Your Lodges and your Grand Lodge need your skills and talents to prosper and grow. Even if you feel you're nothing more than the "average Hyram", you are an important laborer in this great work. Without you, we are nothing. It is important to remember that history is made by the labors of those who seek to serve, NOT those who seek to drape themselves in glory.

And if you doubt that, I suggest that the next time you settle into your armchair to lose yourself in your favorite television program, that you remember how Cliff Gardiner made it possible. And more importantly, the next time you are called upon to do something that you feel is above your abilities, recall the example of Cliff Gardiner. You know the "average Joe" box folder who armed with only a high school diploma, little money, no knowledge of glassblowing but a lot of boldness; who rose to the occasion and changed the world!

Even your most seemingly insignificant efforts have far reaching consequences for good or evil. Therefore, we must choose our actions wisely for the benefit of those who will most assuredly follow in our footsteps.

Never forget that you and those around you this morning are the future of Freemasonry in the state of Utah. Continue to persevere. Continue to serve. And above all else as you leave here this afternoon follow the example of Cliff Gardiner and push the great work of Utah Freemasonry forward into the future!

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and the story of Cliff and Philo with you. Also many thanks for the support you have given me while I served as your Grand Orator over the last twelve months.

As no man knows the allotment of his days and I may never get the chance to speak with you and to you in a setting such as this again, I would be truly remiss if I didn't thank you for all that you do for this fraternity and me in particular. I have said it many times before Freemasonry has not only changed my life but it also saved it. However brethren that is a story for another day.

I hope you enjoy your lunch and the remainder of the communication.

Till we are all together again may god bless you as he has blessed me.

Fraternally Submitted

Brother Jason C Varner,
Grand Orator

Public Perception #1
Provo Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Lorenzo E. Tibbitts, Grand Orator
Friday, February 21, 2014

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

At the beginning of the popular CBS Crime Drama, Person of Interest, and in the voice of the character called "Finch," we hear, "They're watching you!" "They" is a government surveillance system, developed to watch out for terrorists which sees everything, and which has grown a mind of its own and uses its creator and a small circle of people recruited to protect regular citizens from harm. Now the idea of a government system that is more benevolently watching over ordinary citizens than the government itself may make good TV, but in some ways it's not too far from the world we live in.

On your way here this evening, you passed through the observation radius of many more video cameras than you noticed. In September 1968, Olean, New York became the first city in the US to install video cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime.¹ In the decade following 9/11 more than 30 million security cameras were purchased and installed.²

But security cameras are not the only - or even the most important - eyes on you. It may be very hard for you to fathom, because you know and are known to hundreds and perhaps even thousands of Masons, but you may be the only Mason that some people may ever meet. The truth of the matter is that many of those we know nothing about The Craft, and many others know only what they have read on the internet, seen on TV, or learned from us.

In his address at the Grand Lodge Communication less than a month ago, our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Drew C. Sanders said, "Brethren, whether you think so or not as a general rule people around you know you are a Freemason… Therefore, each of us is someone's impression of Utah Freemasonry… I strongly urge each of you to uphold the ideals of the fraternity before the world, whether it be in our online presence, driving habits, or in our personal interactions with others."³

At the Conference of Grand Masters in 1966, Worshipful Brother Alexander Duff, Grand Master of Manitoba, said, "The Profane world has no criteria by which to judge Freemasonry other than the fruits produced by the Masonic lives of those who are members of our beloved craft."⁴

In his Oration at the 2008 Visitation in Tooele, MW Bro. Allen W. Record taught, "Ultimately, Masons and Non-Masons alike observe everything we do and say. They look to see if we 'practice what we preach'. Do we practice Brotherly Love, do we work with others on the Level, and do we square our actions toward all mankind. When we do these things, then it's seen that we not only speak, but also live the Truth of what Freemasonry Offers… This, Brethren is our Truth in Action."⁵

What Most Worshipful Brother Sanders calls "the ideals of the fraternity," Most Worshipful Brother Record refers to as "Truth in Action," and Most Worshipful Brother Duff calls the "fruit produced by… Masonic lives," are nothing more or less than the principles we agreed to uphold in our obligations.

I was a stranger who saw The Fraternity in the lives of Masons. As a child and teenager, I was a military brat and as my family traveled the world I got to see Freemasonry up close and personal. I came to see that many of the most professional, most successful and capable officers and NCOs were masons. I saw the rings. And I saw their behavior. They were the very definition of the title "gentleman." From these men I developed a favorable impression of The Craft.

Brethren, sometimes it's our family that is watching. My wife, Lana, did not grow up with a favorable opinion of Freemasonry. She was not that thrilled when I petitioned a lodge. She trusted me but remained worried for several months. All of that changed for her the night that we attended a Scottish Rite Open House at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple and heard Most Worshipful Brother Curtis N. Lancaster speak about the purpose and principles of Masonry. She relaxed and gave me her full - unworried - support from then on.

Later the same year she heard Brother Lancaster speak, Lana attended my lodge BBQ, where she witnessed some outrageous behavior from one of our members. He was boorish and obnoxious. She leaned over and whispered to me, "How do guys like that get into Masonry?" While I had an opportunity to address her question, sometimes those who see our behavior don't look any farther and don't ask any questions or give us an opportunity to respond.

Recently I sat in a meeting in my office with a circle of colleagues that I'd only worked with by phone. One of them noticed my ring and after the meeting and when we reached the hall, she asked me many questions. She told me that her Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were important Masons but her own Father had never joined. She told me she had always wanted to be a member of the Eastern Star.

When I asked her about her husband - whether he had an interest - she told me that her husband had no interest. She said he had been adopted as a young child and his step-father was a mason. She told me a little about his upbringing and without dwelling on the ugly details, let's just say his experiences with this mason were less than exemplary.

Many men in our jurisdiction fill the official position of Grand Representative to another Grand Jurisdiction. Well my brothers, you are the Grand Representative to your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, fellow congregants, and, as I have noted today, complete strangers we encounter.

As you can see, there are many people watching you. But Most Worshipful Brother Sanders also asked us to take a look at ourselves. I believe he did so for two reasons. First, he, like Plato, is well aware that the examined life is the only one worth living. Introspection and self-examination are necessary for personal growth. Second, we may be able to fool others, but we can't fool ourselves. Peter Wimbrow said this so well when he wrote:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please - never mind all the rest
For he's with you, clear to the end
And you've passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass.⁶

When I consider the men I've come to know in this fraternity, I find that the impression I had of the fraternity in my youth has been largely correct. I've been disappointed when I've seen otherwise, but I am wise enough to know that some slip through the West Gate without our knowledge, and it is rare. When I've seen the damage these men have done to our lodges, our brothers, and even the public perception, I'm dismayed. And when we fail to take action I am just confused.

Just as you have no idea how often you are being filmed by Closed Circuit TV (CCTV), you have no idea how often others are judging the fraternity through your behavior. Please join me tonight in recommitting ourselves to principles of brotherhood, relief and truth that would lead us to showing the world that masonry has made us better men.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I thank you for the opportunity to share these few thoughts, and pray you will enjoy the rest of your visitation.

¹ Robb, Gary C. (1979) "Police Use of CCTV Surveillance: Constitutional Implications and Proposed Regulations" University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, pg. 572
²"Post 9/11, surveillance cameras everywhere" by Allison Linn, MSNBC.com, September 11, 2011
³Remarks of the Deputy Grand Master, Rt. Worshipful Drew C. Sanders, Proceedings of the 142nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in Utah.
⁴"What if anything can be done about the lack of interest in Masonry by non-masons?" Alexander Duff, Proceedings of the Conference of Grand Masters, 1966, Feb. 23-24, 1966 85-103.
⁵"Why Masonry Survives - The Truth," Tooele 2008 Visitation Oration by Allen W. Record, Grand Orator; http://www.utahgrandlodge.org/gl-orations/allen-record/oration-2008-12.html
⁶"The Man in the Glass," Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr., 1934

Public Perception #1
Provo Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Lorenzo E. Tibbitts, Grand Orator
Friday, February 21, 2014

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

At the beginning of the popular CBS Crime Drama, Person of Interest, and in the voice of the character called "Finch," we hear, "They're watching you!" "They" is a government surveillance system, developed to watch out for terrorists which sees everything, and which has grown a mind of its own and uses its creator and a small circle of people recruited to protect regular citizens from harm. Now the idea of a government system that is more benevolently watching over ordinary citizens than the government itself may make good TV, but in some ways it's not too far from the world we live in.

On your way here this evening, you passed through the observation radius of many more video cameras than you noticed. In September 1968, Olean, New York became the first city in the US to install video cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime.¹ In the decade following 9/11 more than 30 million security cameras were purchased and installed.²

But security cameras are not the only - or even the most important - eyes on you. It may be very hard for you to fathom, because you know and are known to hundreds and perhaps even thousands of Masons, but you may be the only Mason that some people may ever meet. The truth of the matter is that many of those we know nothing about The Craft, and many others know only what they have read on the internet, seen on TV, or learned from us.

In his address at the Grand Lodge Communication less than a month ago, our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Drew C. Sanders said, "Brethren, whether you think so or not as a general rule people around you know you are a Freemason… Therefore, each of us is someone's impression of Utah Freemasonry… I strongly urge each of you to uphold the ideals of the fraternity before the world, whether it be in our online presence, driving habits, or in our personal interactions with others."³

At the Conference of Grand Masters in 1966, Worshipful Brother Alexander Duff, Grand Master of Manitoba, said, "The Profane world has no criteria by which to judge Freemasonry other than the fruits produced by the Masonic lives of those who are members of our beloved craft."⁴

In his Oration at the 2008 Visitation in Tooele, MW Bro. Allen W. Record taught, "Ultimately, Masons and Non-Masons alike observe everything we do and say. They look to see if we 'practice what we preach'. Do we practice Brotherly Love, do we work with others on the Level, and do we square our actions toward all mankind. When we do these things, then it's seen that we not only speak, but also live the Truth of what Freemasonry Offers… This, Brethren is our Truth in Action."⁵

What Most Worshipful Brother Sanders calls "the ideals of the fraternity," Most Worshipful Brother Record refers to as "Truth in Action," and Most Worshipful Brother Duff calls the "fruit produced by… Masonic lives," are nothing more or less than the principles we agreed to uphold in our obligations.

I was a stranger who saw The Fraternity in the lives of Masons. As a child and teenager, I was a military brat and as my family traveled the world I got to see Freemasonry up close and personal. I came to see that many of the most professional, most successful and capable officers and NCOs were masons. I saw the rings. And I saw their behavior. They were the very definition of the title "gentleman." From these men I developed a favorable impression of The Craft.

Brethren, sometimes it's our family that is watching. My wife, Lana, did not grow up with a favorable opinion of Freemasonry. She was not that thrilled when I petitioned a lodge. She trusted me but remained worried for several months. All of that changed for her the night that we attended a Scottish Rite Open House at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple and heard Most Worshipful Brother Curtis N. Lancaster speak about the purpose and principles of Masonry. She relaxed and gave me her full - unworried - support from then on.

Later the same year she heard Brother Lancaster speak, Lana attended my lodge BBQ, where she witnessed some outrageous behavior from one of our members. He was boorish and obnoxious. She leaned over and whispered to me, "How do guys like that get into Masonry?" While I had an opportunity to address her question, sometimes those who see our behavior don't look any farther and don't ask any questions or give us an opportunity to respond.

Recently I sat in a meeting in my office with a circle of colleagues that I'd only worked with by phone. One of them noticed my ring and after the meeting and when we reached the hall, she asked me many questions. She told me that her Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were important Masons but her own Father had never joined. She told me she had always wanted to be a member of the Eastern Star.

When I asked her about her husband - whether he had an interest - she told me that her husband had no interest. She said he had been adopted as a young child and his step-father was a mason. She told me a little about his upbringing and without dwelling on the ugly details, let's just say his experiences with this mason were less than exemplary.

Many men in our jurisdiction fill the official position of Grand Representative to another Grand Jurisdiction. Well my brothers, you are the Grand Representative to your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, fellow congregants, and, as I have noted today, complete strangers we encounter.

As you can see, there are many people watching you. But Most Worshipful Brother Sanders also asked us to take a look at ourselves. I believe he did so for two reasons. First, he, like Plato, is well aware that the examined life is the only one worth living. Introspection and self-examination are necessary for personal growth. Second, we may be able to fool others, but we can't fool ourselves. Peter Wimbrow said this so well when he wrote:

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please - never mind all the rest
For he's with you, clear to the end
And you've passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass.⁶

When I consider the men I've come to know in this fraternity, I find that the impression I had of the fraternity in my youth has been largely correct. I've been disappointed when I've seen otherwise, but I am wise enough to know that some slip through the West Gate without our knowledge, and it is rare. When I've seen the damage these men have done to our lodges, our brothers, and even the public perception, I'm dismayed. And when we fail to take action I am just confused.

Just as you have no idea how often you are being filmed by Closed Circuit TV (CCTV), you have no idea how often others are judging the fraternity through your behavior. Please join me tonight in recommitting ourselves to principles of brotherhood, relief and truth that would lead us to showing the world that masonry has made us better men.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I thank you for the opportunity to share these few thoughts, and pray you will enjoy the rest of your visitation.

¹ Robb, Gary C. (1979) "Police Use of CCTV Surveillance: Constitutional Implications and Proposed Regulations" University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, pg. 572
²"Post 9/11, surveillance cameras everywhere" by Allison Linn, MSNBC.com, September 11, 2011
³Remarks of the Deputy Grand Master, Rt. Worshipful Drew C. Sanders, Proceedings of the 142nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in Utah.
⁴"What if anything can be done about the lack of interest in Masonry by non-masons?" Alexander Duff, Proceedings of the Conference of Grand Masters, 1966, Feb. 23-24, 1966 85-103.
⁵"Why Masonry Survives - The Truth," Tooele 2008 Visitation Oration by Allen W. Record, Grand Orator; http://www.utahgrandlodge.org/gl-orations/allen-record/oration-2008-12.html
⁶"The Man in the Glass," Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr., 1934

Homecoming of Grand Master Glen Cook
Acacia Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
January, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Worshipful Masters, Officers, Brothers and Ladies, it is my pleasure to be with you this evening at our Most Worshipful Grand Masters Homecoming visitation. As a Member of Acacia Lodge, our Grand Masters Mother Lodge, I am especially pleased to be able to speak to you for a few minutes this evening. Tonight my Oration is titled "People will Come".

I would like to start this evening a little differently. I would like to quote from one of my favorite movies. Though the quote has nothing to do with Freemasonry on the surface, I believe that it fits freemasonry very easily, and could have easily been written about our crafts history and future.

In the movie Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella is almost ready to throw in the towel and sell his farm when Terrance Mann, played by James Earl Jones says the following:

"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh… people will come Ray. People will most definitely come".

As you can see, this quote can easily have Masonry substituted for Baseball, and this is what we'll discuss for a few minutes this evening.

Dissecting this quote and applying Masonry, is quite simple. They will turn up on our doorsteps as innocent as children, longing not for the past, but for something more. Of course we don't mind if you look around. We are always pleased to show off our temples and meeting halls. Once they choose to join us, they will pass over their initiation fee, because its money they have in hopes that it will bring the peace they lack. Upon joining the Lodge, they will find they have seats along the sidelines and they will watch the ritual and it will be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. As the years pass, they will have memories so thick, they'll have to brush them away. America has rolled by, been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But Freemasonry has marked the time. This Craft, this fraternity is part of our past. It reminds us of all that was once good, is good today, and will be good in the future. People will most definitely come.

To be ready for the future, and ready for these people, we need to look at our past and learn from it. Learn from our mistakes and also the good decisions. In each of our Lodges, we have our past to guide us. We know what has worked in the past, and what has not. Our history guides us through the maze of the future, sometimes promoting change, sometimes staying the course. One area that we always seem to have a lot of discussion is that of money. Each Lodge needs to decide on their own what they will charge their members. This is always tricky, and something that each Lodge has to decide on their own as each Lodge requires something different to provide their members with the goods Freemasonry offers. That said, I would like to offer a little history. In 1752, General George Washington paid £23 when he joined his Lodge. When you adjust for time, that would equal £2,899 in todays money, which converts to $5,016. The really interesting thing about this amount is not that it cost what is equivalent to $5000, but that the amount paid was only for the Entered Apprentice Degree, not full membership. Now I am not advocating that we charge $15,000 for the degrees of Masonry, but referring back to the quote, “They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack.” Our challenge is to determine the value of what we have to offer is, so when they come to our doors, it will be money they have, maybe even if they have to save a bit to get it.

Throughout history, Freemasonry has drawn men to it, some for reasons they themselves can not fathom, many men know that they are missing something in their lives, and they can find it here with us. In the history of our country, we have seen growth unprecedented growth in the fraternity during times of great hardship. I think we can all agree that if we are not currently in those times, they seem to be close at hand. I'm sure that we can all agree that history tends to repeat itself, so since hard times in the past has lead to increased membership, we can assume that the current time is prime for an influx of membership.

Our job is to be ready for when these people come to our doors. The Lodges here tonight have already shown that they are ready. Wasatch Lodge, started on their renewal process some ten years ago. And today, Wasatch Lodge is not only the largest lodge in the jurisdiction, they are also one of the most active lodges. St. Andrews Lodge is still a lodge in it's infancy. But it offers something that is a little different from other lodges in the Jurisdiction, regular festive boards, and of course it's Celtic heritage. Tintic Lodge is also a Lodge in its infancy, but this is due to it's re-birth. This lodge was just one vote away from turning in it's charter, but people came… with an influx of members from other Lodges, specifically, Wasatch, St. Andrews, and Acacia, Tintic has been able to not only preserve it's rich history, but also position itself to be ready for the future. Acacia Lodge began its renewal process a few years back, and today continues that process. Acacia has a great mix of young and old ready to take the next step into the future.

Each of these lodges offer something a little different; however, they all offer the same thing, true brotherhood, a place to find peace, a sanctuary away from the world, and all looking toward the future. These Lodges have shown that they are ready ready for the future; yet each Lodge ensures that their history is preserved.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Your Utah Lodges are here ready and proud to receive you. Your Lodges all have rich histories, and they are ready for the future. They are ready for those men that will come to their doors, and are ready to provide men well into the future with those experiences that have inspired you. Welcome Home Sir.

Midvale Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
February, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Worshipful Masters, Brothers, Ladies and friends, it is my pleasure to be with you this evening and to take this opportunity to speak for just a few minutes. Tonight the title of my oration is "What one Mason can Do".

Today, we truly live in uncertain times. In just the last few years we have seen our country enter into a war, we have seen our banking system begin to collapse upon itself, we have seen the stock market tumble at a rate not seen since 1929, and for many of us, we have seen out retirement accounts begin to almost disappear. Our Nation seems to be more divided now than at any other time in our history.

In listening to the statements I just made, one might be lead to believe that we as a People or we as a Nation are spiraling out of control and that all hope may be lost. This is hardly the case; rather it's quite the opposite.

In our history, we have had these same events, almost exactly these same events happen time and time again. Each time in history these events have unfolded, there has always been the sense of impending doom, and in some cases the very continued existence of our Nation was called into question, but each time, we have emerged stronger than we ever were before. Though the circumstances may have been different, and the resolutions different, we still managed to get through the difficult times.

As I've watched the recent events of our nation unfold, I have found myself looking at our history as a nation. Looking at what caused the troubles to begin, and looking at what charged the recovery of our Nation. Interestingly enough, I've found that history does indeed repeat itself time and time again. I also found that the last time our Nation faced times such as these, a Mason helped guide us through those troubled waters. This same man became a Mason exactly Ninety-Seven years ago today.

On October 11, 1911, Holland Lodge No. 8, in New York City initiated Brother Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Now we're not going to discuss the politics or policies of President Roosevelt, but rather, we'll discuss how Brother Roosevelt led our Nation through a difficult period. I think you'll find that his example provides lessons for each of us.

When Brother Roosevelt took office in 1933 he was faced with the task of leading a Nation that was in the midst of the Great Depression. The great stock market crash had occurred just three and a half years earlier and the Nation was facing many of the same issues we are facing today. One of the first things he decided to do is to promote calm to the nation. He did this through his famous fireside chats. Some of the topics of these chats included; the banking crisis, National Recovery, Unemployment, the Recession, Economic Progress, and Sacrifice. In reading or listening to some of these chats, the parallels to today are uncanny. It's also clear when you hear these speeches that he promoted one theme over and over again. This theme he first brought forth during his first inaugural speech, and I quote

"This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." – FDR 1933

He wanted to assure the American people that through hard work and perseverance, we would be rewarded with prosperity. The road would not be easy, but if we are too afraid to try, we will never be able to move forward. Now he did not have a crystal ball that showed which road to travel, in fact many of the policies and programs he put forth failed. What he did though was keep trying, he himself did not fear. And with his encouragement, and with the hard work of the citizens of this Nation, we did move forward.

Brother Roosevelt saw our Nation through a very difficult period. Professionally he was rewarded by being elected President four times, though he didn't live through his fourth Presidency. He was also rewarded by the Fraternity. In fact he was the first ever Honorary Grand Master of DeMolay.

So how does this apply to us today? I'm sure that none of us in this room tonight aspire to be President of the United States. However, I am sure that each one of us here tonight wants to be the best we can be. Each Man here wants to be the best possible Mason he can be.

Taking the lead from Brother Roosevelt and many others that have come before, each of us has the ability to promote calm when in rough seas. Each of us has the ability to foster change if we so choose and each of us has it in us to influence those around us by living and promoting the virtues taught to us by the craft.

When faced with obstacles, don't fear them. When faced with uncertain times, don't fear them. When faced with change, don't fear it. Approach each situation without fear, and we will be able to assure advance, not retreat.

We are the leaders of our Fraternity; we can not fear what may be. It is our job to move the Craft forward. This is only accomplished one Mason at a time, one decision at a time, and one act of kindness at a time.

So what can One Mason Do? So long as he learns from others, learns from the craft, and does not fear, he can do whatever he chooses to do.

Thank you for your attention this evening. Please enjoy the rest of the visitation.

Provo Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
March, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Worshipful Masters, Brothers, Ladies and Friends, it is my pleasure to be with you this evening and to deliver this Oration. Tonight my oration is titled Perception.

In my work, I have been called upon on several occasions to work with managers on several levels to help them with their interactions with others and specifically their subordinates. One of the main things I stress is this; Perception IS Reality. This is true regardless of what the individual "knows" reality to be, their truth is not necessarily the perception of others, and therefore their truth is not reality. This is a very difficult thing for many to grasp because it forces the acceptance of an "alternate reality" if you will, and once realized, it requires a look in the mirror.

All of us in this room tonight know what Masonry is. We know it to be the oldest and greatest fraternity on the face of the earth. We know that we try to attract good men, and endeavor to make them better, and we know that we do good works for our fellow Masons, and the communities in which we live and meet. Even though we each know these things to be true, is that really the perception of those in the community and the general public? I know we would all like to say yes, but what we know to be true, may not be what reality, based on the publics perception of us.

Let's examine a few examples of this, and explore some possible things we as Masons can do to either change peoples perception of Freemasonry, or at the very least give them a perception of Freemasonry.

Many of us have had someone we've never met before make a comment about a ring we may be wearing, a necklace we have on, or a decal we have on the back of our car. I have personally experienced this on several occasions. What I found to be disturbing is that when I have answered their query by telling them that I'm a Mason, and that the square and compasses they see are a symbol of Freemasonry, the follow up question by some are "who are the masons?", or "what is Freemasonry?". My first thought is, how can you not know who the Masons are, how can you not know about this great organization that does so much for the community? Rather than actually say that to them, I usually ask them if they are familiar with the Shriners, or the Shrine Hospitals for Children. This usually provides a positive response to which I tie the Shrine back to Freemasonry. From there depending on the situation, the conversation turns to more information about Masonry, or just simply saying nothing more. Regardless of how long the conversation, at the end of it there is always one of four results; a perception is changed, made, solidified, or enhanced. This occurs based upon the information provided, the words used, and even body language.

A common perception of the craft is that we are just a bunch of old guys. Now depending on the particular Lodge, this perception may indeed be true; however, we know we are much more than that. Our Lodges, here in Utah and throughout the world are getting younger and younger by the year. This perception is easily changed by simply being out in the community and showing the public the faces of our membership.

Of course the most widespread perception of Masonry is that we are a secret society. We all know this is not true, but this is where a look in the mirror is warranted. Why are we viewed as a secret society? What have 'WE' done to promote that perception? I'm pleased to say that in this Grand Lodge, and many others throughout the Country and world have looked in that mirror. We as a jurisdiction are opening the doors of every one of our temples and inviting the public to come in and see the buildings for themselves. We do this not to recruit members, or even to dispel rumors, but to help the general public change, solidify, or enhance their perception of us, or to gain an initial perception.

In the third degree we are charged that it ought to be our constant care to preserve unsullied the reputation of our institution. By opening our doors to the public, we are doing just that.

Another piece to perception understands that it goes both ways. Our perception of others & the public at large is our reality, even though it may not be theirs. We may have a perception that the public may not be interested what we have to say or do. This again requires a look in the mirror and questions need to be asked. Do they have an interest in us? Do we want them to be interested in what we say and do, or do we secretly like the "aire of mystery" about us? Hopefully, we as a Fraternity will continue to assume that they are interested and we continue to offer opportunities to provide positive perceptions about ourselves.

In the media and in Hollywood as of late, Freemasonry has come to the forefront of people's consciousness. Many of the perceptions about the craft that have been formed by these movies and books are quite fanciful, and some are down right negative. Some now believe that the Masons are hiding some secret treasure. That perception is very true on both sides, just not the same treasure. While some have been lead to believe that there is gold and jewels being hidden by us, we know that the Treasure we have is that of our Fraternity. The Treasure of true friendship and brotherhood, which makes us all rich. The negative perceptions that have been formed are enhanced by the Anti-Masonic groups. Rumors of plots to overthrow governments, plans of salvation, and the secret meanings of our rituals are just a few things they put out. To this we need to ask only a couple questions. Do we want to change their perception? Most importantly, can we change their perception? Of course we would like to change their perception, but realistically, we can't, or at least not right away.

What we can do, is this. Always be mindful of our actions and words. Show the world through our actions that we are who and what we say we are. Give everyone we encounter a positive perception of us as people and as Masons. Some day, one of those people might discuss Masonry with another, and they will look back at our words and actions to decide what they will say about the Fraternity.

At this point, it is my perception that the Grand Master would like to go upstairs and start the meeting, so with that, thanks for your attention, please enjoy the rest of your evening.

St. George Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
April, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Worshipful Masters, Brethren, and friends, it is my pleasure to be here today and deliver this oration. The title of todays oration is "Our Cardinal Virtues".

In the lecture of the Entered Apprentice Degree, we are taught about the perfect points of our entrance, which are represented by the four Cardinal Virtues, Temperance, Prudence, Fortitude, and Justice. Of course the names of these virtues are all we are taught at that time. We are then told that the explanations are monitorial, and that we are expected to make ourselves throughly familiar with them at our earliest convenience. I thought that today, we would spend a few minutes discussing these four cardinal virtues, explore their origins, and see how they apply to us as individuals and to our Lodges in general.

The four cardinal virtues are not unique to Freemasonry, rather they were first considered a cardinal or vital part of the Hellenistic period of ancient Greece. This period was from 323 BC until the advent of the Christianity in the 3rd Century. They were adopted by Christianity in all it's forms and also by several other religions throughout the world. In fact, what we know as the four cardinal virtues can be found in part, in the five precepts taught by Buddha. The term "cardinal" comes from the Latin cardo or hinge; the cardinal virtues are so called because they are hinges upon which the door of the moral life swings.

Temperance as defined by our Monitor is that due restraint upon our affections and passions which renders the body tame and governable, and frees the mind from allurements of vice. The lesson that temperance teaches us is that of knowing limits and that of moderation. To the individual the easy lesson that can be taken is that of limiting or moderating our intake of alcohol. But the lesson applies to us in many different areas of our lives, including tempering our passions, our thoughts, and all of our actions. The Lodge, as any organization can also apply the lesson in temperance by operating within it's own boundaries or by laws, and for us, we could easily apply the lesson to the investigation and initiation of new members.

Prudence according to our Monitor teaches us to regulate our lives and actions agreeably to the dictates of reason. A more conventional definition of prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in all practical matters. This virtue though very simple on the surface, may actually be one of the more difficult to master. It's easy to say for instance, that prudence dictates that you not put yourself in a situation that could cause harm to yourself, your family, your reputation, or the integrity of any organization to which you may belong. The difficult part about this, is that sometimes, we may not know until it's too late that we have found, or rather put ourselves in such a situation, thus making it prudent to consider all situations, actions, or words spoken before hand. We've all found ourselves at one time or another saying something like, "I wish I hadn't", or "hindsight is 20/20". This realization give us the insight to know for the future what the prudent course of action is. For our Lodges, prudence is of the utmost importance. We must be prudent in our elections, our balloting on new members, our finances, absolutely everything, because if we are not, the results may be not only undesired, but irreversible.

Fortitude is defined as that noble and steadfast purpose of mind whereby we are enabled to undergo any pain, peril, or danger, when prudently deemed expedient. Put more simply, fortitude is courage. Courage to undergo pain, or hardship. However, as it applies to us, it would be more of a moral fortitude, or moral courage. Courage to act rightly in the face of opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement. This lesson is taught to us in the Masonic Degrees, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, as well in the degrees of the Eastern Star. What is interesting about fortitude, or courage, is that it doesn't stand alone. It always stands with the other virtues, and always stands on the side of right. If we have the courage to act rightly, we will always be seen through whatever trial or opposition meets us. Imagine if you will the greatest example of both physical and moral fortitude, the formation of our great nation. Those original patriots, many of which were themselves Freemasons, displayed extraordinary courage to provide us with the freedoms we now enjoy. Throughout our history as a nation, we have been provided many examples of this virtue and it's one that we should always strive to achieve.

The fourth cardinal virtue is Justice. As defined, it is that standard or boundary of right which enables us to render to every man his just due without distinction. Justice teaches us not to take that which is not rightly ours, or give to those what is rightly theirs. An example of this could be as simple as credit for work or ideas. We all know of a person or event where someone, or some group has taken credit for the accomplishment of others. This is denying justice, and should be our charge to ensure that we all live in such a way that we never allow this to happen, if within our power to prevent.

In examining the four cardinal virtues, we find that they themselves are intertwined with one another. They cross boundaries and support each other. It's difficult to be prudent, without employing temperance. To ensure that justice is served, it at times requires great fortitude, and it is always prudent to ensure that justice is served.

Another definition of the cardinal virtues are the pivotal virtues. This definition I find to be very direct and to the point. If we look at each decision we make or action we take as a pivot point, then we can see the varied paths that each decision, or deviation from the virtues can take us. Sometimes it may be unclear where each path may lead, and that is when a true examination of the pivot, the hinge, the virtues are needed to help, like a map to guide us to the right path.

At the end of the day, living by the cardinal virtues will bring to each of us honor, and a reputation that is untarnished. Alternatively, failing to heed the teachings of the cardinal virtues can lead to a life of sadness, one where we are left trying to rebuild that which we once had.

For our Lodges, as long as we govern ourselves by using the Cardinal Virtues as a guide, then we will continue to stand the test of time. We will, through our actions ensure that the detractors of freemasonry are overshadowed by the truth of freemasonry.

Thank you for your attention, please enjoy the rest of your afternoon.

Price Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
May, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Worshipful Masters, and brethren, good afternoon. It is my pleasure to address you today. The title of my oration this afternoon is "Lodge – More than a Meeting.

I joined Masonry eleven years ago, and for the entire eleven years I've been a Mason, there has been talk about overall declining membership, less activity in some Lodges, boring meetings, and the list goes on and on. There has also been during this same time, several ideas that have come forward through email posts, or workshops put on by the Grand Lodge, or out by the water cooler on how we can fix things.

This afternoon, I would like to offer, yet another idea. This is an opinion from one Mason, it's not meant to be a directive, or even a solution, but rather an idea formed from participating in several Lodges, making observations, and of course coming up with some personal conclusions.

Today, for many Masonic Lodges, both within and without the jurisdiction, the definition of Lodge has become the meeting once per month when a few guys get together to pay bills, read minutes, eat a couple of donuts and then go home.

The on line Merriam-Webster Dictionary & Thesaurus, gives as it's third example of a lodge as: the meeting place of an organization. And uses the following sentence to illustrate it. The Masons meet at the lodge every Thursday evening.

How do we define our Lodges? Is the the building we meet in? Is it the actual group of men? Is it our Friends and Brothers that we enjoy to spend time with? Is it where ever we as friends and brothers meet? Is it only when we get together at the stated Lodge meeting? Or is it a part of us and everything we do? For many of us, the definition is a little bit of each of these. So the question begs itself, what do we want our Lodges to be?

We want our Lodges to be vibrant, we want our membership to be engaged and active, we want to be relevant, and a place our membership wants to be. In today's world of television, Internet, video games and the sort, there is a lot competing with what we have to offer. So we need to be able to offer a reason for members to not only join, but to stay involved. We need to ensure that Masonry, and the Lodge is more than just a meeting once a month.

So how do we do this? How do we compete with the outside world, and still promote what Masonry is all about? I think back to the adage, if you can't beat them, join them. Now I am not suggesting that we set aside our ritual, our customs, or anything that would diminish what Masonry or the Lodge is about. The thought is that we give our members another reason to be involved, another reason to come out.

Imagine if you will a Sunday morning, a football game is getting ready to start, or the Nascar race is getting started. Instead of sitting down in the easy chair to watch TV, you come down to the Masonic Lodge and watch the game or race with three, five, or ten of your brothers. You get the best of both worlds, you get to watch the game, and you also get to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood.

Now carry that a bit further, imagine all the other things that can be done as a Lodge outside of the meeting. Sunday barbeque's at the temple, a Masonic softball league, a Lodge bowling league, Playstation night at the temple, going to a Movie premier as a Lodge. The list can go on and on. The key to all of this is that it is done as a Lodge and more importantly, that it be consistent, and that all members be welcome to join the activities.

One of the Lodges that I am affiliated with operates under a fairly simple phylosophy, and that is, Masonry is what happens out side of the Lodge. Now this statement may not be completely accurate, as much of what we do, much of what we learn is taught within the walls of our Lodge; however, it is that time spent together outside of Lodge that really builds the bonds between the brothers. Prior to the Lodge meeting, many of the brothers go to dinner together, and after Lodge, and the refreshments, many retire to a local coffee shop, pub, or resurant, and enjoy each others company into the wee hours of the morning.

I'm not suggesting that all Lodges stay out until two in the morning, but this example illustrates that Masonry for this Lodge really is more than a meeting. A side note to this is that the regular meetings are very well attended.

In closing, I would like to leave you with this thought and this question. What do you enjoy most about Masonry? What do you enjoy most about Lodge? What do you enjoy to do outside of Lodge? Chances are that the things you enjoy the most are probably enjoyed by many others, so if some of these outside activities can be done as a group of masons, then by default, Masonry becomes more than a meeting.

Thank you very much for your attention, please enjoy the rest of your day.

Vernal Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
June, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren all, this afternoon my oration is entitled "It's not all about Numbers".

In the Entered Apprentice charge, it says in part; "The greatest and best men in all ages have been encourager's and promoters of the art, and have never deemed it derogatory to their dignity to level themselves with the Fraternity, to extend it's privileges, or to patronize it's assemblies". Who are these greatest and best of men? Are they actors, Generals, Supreme Court Justices, Presidents and other heads of State? Yes, but more importantly, they are all of the Masons throughout the world today, they are all those that came before us, and they are those who will come after us.

Over the past several years there has been a lot of talk and for that matter a lot of worry about our Fraternity and the loss of members over the years. There have been several initiatives in Grand Lodges around the United States & around the world to, for lack of a better word, recruit new members. A couple of the ideas that have come from these initiatives have Included all the way in a day classes and reduced proficiency requirements.

It's interesting when you look at the membership numbers provided by the MSA, that the trend of declining membership has still continued at least through 2006. Even with these initiatives, the Lodges & Grand Lodges have continued to decline in membership. What appears to have been the result of these initiatives was that the rate of growth was slowed by the influx of new members, which helped to off set the high death rate our fraternity has been experiencing.

My thoughts today are not to debate or stir up controversy concerning these programs that Lodges & Grand Lodges, including our own have participated in, but rather to pose a question.

It is clear that these programs have provided help in slowing the declining membership, and we now have many newer Masons because of it. They are just as active as the Masons who joined through the traditional means, and really are no different, they are Masons & Brothers. Now that the rapid decline in membership seems to have leveled out, the question for us now is: Is it all about the numbers?

My thought is no, or at least not in the traditional since that one would think. Numbers or members are more of a byproduct, if you will. They are a byproduct of what our Lodges do, and what they are. They are a byproduct of who we are, the reputation we have in the community, and what we offer to the Men of today.

Today, our Grand Lodge has the distinction of being the smallest Grand Lodge in the United Stated, rivaled only by Hawaii. To some, within and without our jurisdiction, this may seem to be a sign of a struggling Grand Lodge & state of Masonry. I don't think this is really the case, rather I think it's really one of our strengths and provides us some great opportunities.

Within our jurisdiction we have some very large lodges, and some very small lodges. There is nothing that says that a Lodge needs to be large in order to be strong. In fact, some of our strongest Lodges number among our smallest. Some Lodges outside our jurisdiction actually limit their membership as a means to ensure that only those who want to be a part of it, and want to participate are members of the Lodge. Those Lodges have decided that quality is more important than quantity, and in doing so, many have no problem in getting new members when an opening occurs.

The opportunity we have before us now, is to take the strength of our Lodges, especially our smaller Lodges and use it to show our communities, more especially the men in our communities who we are, what we do, and what we can offer.

We all know that we can offer community service, and that is a great way to get our face in the public eye. But what can we really offer to the individual man? That answer is endless. We offer knowledge, friendship, a sense of belonging, a place to gain our bearings, a source of support, and even a place of refuge.

In looking at the historical membership trends, one can find that our fraternity has seen it greatest growth when the country and the world was either in, or just come through a time of great trial. Our country is there today. The economy seems to be getting worse by the day, we are at war on a couple of fronts, we possibly another front on the horizon.

In times like this, men need a place that helps bring balance and a sense of direction back into their lives. Men have a need for the great tenants of Freemasonry, and we as Mason's have an obligation to practice and teach these tenants not only in Lodge, but all the time. When we are at work, at the grocery store, or even when we are rear ended by someone at a red light. The way we conduct ourselves and the standards that we hold ourselves to is what attracts men to us, especially in times such as these.

This is where the real strength of the smaller lodges really come into play. We all know that making a connection, and forming a bond is easier in smaller groups. When a man comes to the doors of a small lodge such as Ashley Lodge, it is relatively easy for that man to form a connection with not only a few members of the Lodge, but the Lodge as a whole. It provides for that man a place of belonging, and true friendship. Though this can and does happen in the larger lodges, it's more difficult to form that intimate bond. Instead, there can tend to be smaller groups within the Lodge, kind of a Lodge within the Lodge.

I know that I can speak for all the officers in the Grand Lodge when I say that the Ashley Lodge visitation is always one that we look forward to. For some, it even the favorite visitation of the year. Why is that? It's because this Lodge, though small in number, is truly of the strong Lodges within our jurisdiction. True Masonry is practiced here, and it is felt by all. It's so much more than just the great food, and the relaxed atmosphere, though that doesn't hurt. But it's the open way in which the members of Ashley receive their visitors, it's the feeling of Brotherly Love this is so real, that is tangible, as though it can be touched. This is the quality of Masonry that is so important, it is this quality that the community needs to see, because it is this quality that will draw men to the doors of the Lodge.

So, I ask… is it really about the numbers? No. it's the quality, not the quantity. It's about being ready to answer the door when the greatest and best of men come to us seeking those things that they lack in their lives.

Ogden Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
July, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Worshipful Masters, Brethren and Ladies, it is my pleasure to speak to you this evening. The title of tonight's oration is "The True Value of Freemasonry".

There has been a great deal of talk over the last few years within our Jurisdiction, both in the individual Lodges and within the bodies of our Masonic family about value. Generally these discussions have been formed around dues, degree fees, per capita and the sort. In these discussions, there is usually talk about membership, and how adjusting the fees we charge will either positively, or negatively impact our overall membership.

Tonight, we won't discuss dues, or money on any level, for true value has no price, rather it's priceless and quite personal. We've all heard that Freemasonry is a brotherhood, a fraternity, and what it teaches is a beautiful system of morals veiled in allegory, illustrated by symbols. Our lessons include topics such as brotherly love, relief and truth, we teach the importance of charity. Tonight, I submit that Masonry is much, much more. The true value in fact can not be universally expressed; rather it can only be expressed as it relates to the individual.

That said, I would like to share what the true value of Masonry is for me, and how the actions of one brother taught me that value.

Not so long ago, in fact just two years and a couple of days, my family went through a very rough time when my middle boy was diagnosed with Leukemia. I remember when the doctor said the word; all I could think was that I was going to lose my son. I went so weak; to this day I can remember the pale sinking feeling I had in my chest. My wife and I couldn't believe it, we couldn't comprehend what was happening, all we knew was that our son had Cancer, and in our minds it meant that we would lose him.

After a short while, we began to regain our composure and were able to think a little more clearly. We were then able to make all the calls that needed to be made. For myself, I made only a couple calls. The first to my mother, and the second call was to a Mason sitting in this room tonight.

At the time I made this call, I was in Salt Lake at Primary Children's Hospital, and this particular Brother was actually on I-15 driving through Layton, on his way up here to Ogden for the Grand Lodge visitation that was scheduled that evening. The call was short, I told him the diagnosis, I told him that I couldn't make the visitation, he told me not to worry about the visitation, my place was with my family, and he would let everyone know. I hung up the phone feeling a little better that I didn't have to worry about making the meeting and then went back to my son's room.

After a short time, I went back out; I think I was on my way out to have a cigarette, when the elevator doors opened. From the elevator came this Brother, his wife, and another Brother was with them. The emotions were raw, we hugged, we sat together, we cried together, and we prayed together. They offered their support and love when my family needed it most. After a bit, they had to leave to come up to the visitation, then it dawned on me that they were halfway between Salt Lake and Ogden when I called, and they turned around and came back to Salt Lake to offer comfort to a Brother and his family. Later that night the Grand Master and his wife came to the hospital, and over the course of the next several days, we received over ninety visitors from the Masonic Family. Masons, Eastern Star, DeMolay, Job's Daughters, they were all represented; they all came to offer their love and support.

A day or so later this same Brother came back to the hospital and just sat with me while my son was in surgery. Very few words were spoken, but they didn't need to be. This incredible show of love and affection was at times almost overwhelming, but what it showed us is what this great fraternity, what this great family is really all about.

At the time this all happened, I had already gone through the chairs of my Lodge, was a Past Master being recycled for a second round. With all I had learned in Masonry to that point, I can honestly say that it wasn't until this event happened that I really learned the True Value of Freemasonry. I learned that night what Brotherly Love, Relief, and Charity truly meant. These lessons were taught to me that first night not by words, but by the actions of a true friend and Brother, and who I believe to be one of the Greatest Masons I've ever had the pleasure to know.

So what is the True Value of Masonry? It is whatever we say it is. It is that thing inside of us that we are unwilling to part with, and yet unable to completely define. It's our experiences, our brotherhood, our shared experiences with our Ladies and families as we participate in the several other organizations within our Masonic Family. Ultimately, it is honor and the privilege to be a Mason.

My Boss, who grew up in a Masonic family, but never joined himself always asks what I get out of being a Mason, and why I spend so much of my time in Masonic activity. When I related to him my experience after my son was diagnosed he summed it all up by simply saying "Those Masons you belong to, their a hell of a bunch of good guys". I couldn't agree more!

Thank you for listening, please enjoy the rest of your evening.

Cornerstone Ceremony
First United Methodist Church - Ogden, UT
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
August, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Ladies and Gentlemen. On behalf of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Grand Lodge of Utah, and all the Masons of Utah, we thank you for the opportunity to be apart of your celebration today.

Today, we symbolically lay the cornerstone. The cornerstone has for ages been deemed as important as a keystone in an arch. The laying of a cornerstone is cause for celebration, as it signifies a new beginning, as well as a solid foundation. For hundreds of years, Freemasons have been proud to lay the cornerstone at schools, government buildings and houses of worship. Today, we are honored to carry on this long tradition.

The events of today have been in the making for nearly 140 years. First United Methodist Church of Ogden began it's ministry on June 28, 1870. On that day, Reverend G.M. Pierce conducted church service in the passenger terminal of the old Union and Southern Pacific Railroad. The congregation moved around quite a bit for the first few years, meeting at the Ogden Theater, Cordon's Hall, and Leavitt's hall before being able to settle into their own building in 1876.

In April of 1929, the congregation was on the move again to their new building on 26th & Jefferson. While housed at this building the church experienced a lot of growth, to the point that additional parcels of land had to be purchased and additional buildings built to meet the needs of the more than four hundred families of this congregation.

The Congregation of today, seeing the need for a new building, set forth and made the dream, the vision of today come true. It didn't happen overnight. Many years of planning and the hard work and dedication of the members made this all possible. In true form the congregation took up the acronym SLAPBOP – F. "Sound System, Landscaping, Appliances, Pews, Moving the Bell, Moving the Organ, and Playground". The "F" is for the organ Façade. Look around today, much of what they set out to do, from fundraising to moving the historic bell has been accomplished. Some work still remains, but it's clear that through the dedication of the members, all the dreams will be realized.

Today, we lay the cornerstone of this beautiful building. Historically, the cornerstone was the first stone laid above ground on the foundation. It was from this stone that the structure was built upon. Because of this, it was of the up most importance that the cornerstone be Square, Level, and Plumb. If it was off in the slightest degree, the overall structure would be compromised.

The Cornerstone ceremony that we conducted today has many symbolic meanings. As Masons we are taught before entering upon any great or important undertaking, first to invoke the blessing of Deity. We pray for guidance and wisdom to draw our designs on the trestle board. We pray that our hands, and the hands of the workmen be strong, and that the structure itself is strong.

The Most Worshipful Grand Master being the overseer of the work instructs the craft and inspects the work using the symbolic tools of Masonry. He directs the use of the Plumb to try the perpendicular of the stone, to ensure that it is upright and true. Then the stone is tried with the Square to ensure that is suitable for use. Finally the stone is tried with the Level. In doing this he ensures that the stone is as the design directs and that it is ready for the builders use.

The stone, and by virtue the building is consecrated using Corn, Wine, and Oil. The corn as in ancient times represents plenty; the wine represents refreshment, and the Oil of joy. Deposits are made into the stone, and it is ready for the builders to set it into place by use of the trowel, which will spread the cement uniting its several parts into one common mass.

We congratulate the members of First United Methodist. Your cornerstone has been found to be Plumb, Level, and Square, and it is right for use. May the blessings of God be upon you as you enjoy this beautiful new house of worship for many years to come.

2008 Utah Masonic Leadership Academy Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
January, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Worshipful Masters, Brethren all, Good Morning. It is a pleasure to be here this morning to talk for just a bit about why we are all here today.

I think we've all been in a situation where we have heard, or probably said ourselves something like "In a Hundred years, who's going to Care"? Well Brethren, the answer to that question is why we are here today. Each and every one of us has either personally known, or known of someone that was born and lived in the 19th Century, and into the 20th Century. Some even had the opportunity to know people who were born in the 19th Century and lived into the 21st Century. Most of us here today will never see the 22nd Century, but it is for those Masons, the Masons of the 22nd Century and those for centuries beyond that we are here for today.

When you think about the responsibility we have to the Masons hundreds of years from now, it's almost incomprehensible. To think that a decision we make today, or next week, or next year could impact those that won't even be born until we've been gone for hundreds of years really shows that in a hundred years, someone will care. Someone will open the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, someone will open the minutes and read about what we have done, and they will care. Will they be proud? Will they be appreciative of the decisions and actions we take, or will they wish we had gone another direction? We can't know the answer to these, but what we can do, is ensure that what we do now is what we feel, or know to best for our Lodges.

Imagine back in time if you will, those first brothers that petitioned other Grand Lodges, such as Kansas, Montana, Missouri and Nevada for their Charters to open Masonic Lodges here in Utah. The Officers and Members of Wasatch, Mt. Moriah, and Argenta that made the decision to form the Grand Lodge of Utah. The decisions and actions of those men affect us today. Did they know they were creating Lodges and a Grand Lodge that would be truly Young and Vibrant in the 21st Century? We have to assume that if nothing else they had a hope and a belief that what they were doing would carry well into the future.

Some of the decisions they made over a Hundred years ago have little influence on us, while still others affect us a great deal. Take for example when the Grand Lodge was formed, we were chartered as "Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons", but at the turn of the 20th Century we changed to "Free and Accepted Masons". The only real impact that decision has on us today is almost nothing more than a bit of Utah Masonic Trivia.

Those same Masonic Leaders made the decision to construct this beautiful Masonic Temple. I don't think I've met a person whose stepped foot in this building that hasn't been awe struck at the magnificence and beauty of this Jewel of ours. I like most of you, have a sense of Pride in this Building.

These two beautiful things, Masonry in Utah, and the symbol of Masonry in Utah we enjoy because of the decisions made over a Hundred years ago. However, today we are left with finding ways to keep the Grand Lodge solvent, and finding ways to restore this building because of decisions that were not made at the same time. This isn't to say that what the leaders at that time decided was right or wrong, it just goes to show how decisions made back then truly do affect us today.

Imagine if you will what the financial condition of the Grand Lodge would be today, if an endowment fund was set up at the time the Grand Lodge was chartered? Chances are, we would not be facing per capita increases like we are today. But, now there is an endowment fund, it isn't in place to help us today, but it will be there to help those that come after us.

Today our Lodges are faced with many of the same issues that they faced a hundred years ago. Memberships, fulfilling the promise of Freemasonry, Dues, are just a few. How are we going to address these issues? How are we going to ensure that this wonderful fraternity is still here and that our Lodges are still viable not only to our members, but to the community a hundred years from now?

The answer to these questions is why we are here. Today we have a great opportunity as leaders of this fraternity to learn from each other, to gather new ideas, and to share our ideas. The beautiful thing about this is that there are so many ideas, all we need to have is an open mind to new ideas, and the possibilities are endless. Then it is up to us to put those ideas into action and see what happens.

Throughout the day, think about some of the challenges your Lodges are facing. You may be surprised how many other Lodges are either facing the same challenges, or have already met the challenge head on. Some Lodges are struggling with membership, if your lodge is struggling with this, take the opportunity to talk to members of other lodges that have met that challenge and are on an upward swing. If your Lodge is considering a Dues increase, like many are, then take this opportunity to talk to those that have recently taken an increase. The knowledge that can be gained is absolutely priceless.

Brethren, the events of today are for you, take advantage of what is being offered, but more than that, don't hesitate to offer your ideas. This leadership conference, and the different break out sessions are not a series of lectures, they are moderated forums to discuss the direction and future of our Lodges and our Grand Lodge. Remember, we are not here to change Freemasonry in Utah, but we are here to guide it into the future, and if it evolves to meet the needs of our brothers, then that's ok.

Finally Brethren, Have fun today. Someone once said that if it's not fun, it's not worth doing. We are all here because we know Masonry is worth it, so have fun at it. Please enjoy your experience here today, and as you leave here, and take back to your Lodges the ideas you gathered here today, remember that there will soon be a Mason born who will be here in the 22nd Century and they will care.

Thank you for listening, please enjoy your day.

2008 Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Wise Master, Brothers, Ladies, and Friends. On behalf of the officers and brothers of the James Lowe Chapter of Rose Croix, I bid you welcome and thank you for your attendance this evening. This evening it is my pleasure to address each of you and briefly explain our Ceremony.

This past Sunday, the BC comic strip had Wiley sitting under a tree carving into a tablet of stone the following poem:

Today's the Day the Sun will Rise,
As it did the Year Before.
To Cast it's Rays on Frozen Skies,
And to Renew the world once More.
It should come as no Surprise,
Amidst Man in All his Strife.
This would be the day we Share,
To Celebrate the Gift of Life.

Upon reading this poem, I though to myself how appropriate it was for this evening. Our Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal, the Mystic Banquet you have just observed, and the Extinguishing and relighting of the lights is in the simplest of terms, our celebration of the gift of life.

Quoting now from the Forms and Traditions of the Scottish Rite, "The Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal, including the Mystic Banquet, is not a religious observance. It is neither the Feast of the Passover nor a Sacrament of Holy Communion, although it commemorates the spirit of both days."

Our Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal as its presented today is separated into four distinct parts. They are as follows; Remembrance of Recently Deceased Brethren, The Mystic Banquet, The Tenebrae, or Extinguishing of the Lights, and Fiat Lux, or Relighting the Lights.

The Remembrance of Recently Deceased is for the Knights of Rose Croix to remember those that have passed to that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. It is here that we each in our own way celebrate their lives and the contribution their life gave to this world.

The Mystic Banquet is not itself a religious ceremony, however to our Jewish Brothers, it signifies the Feast of the Passover, commemorating Jehovah's passing over the Israelites houses while passing through the houses of the Egyptians to destroy the firstborn of each household. To our Christian Brothers, it signifies the Last Supper Jesus had with his Disciples after which followed his crucifixion and resurrection.

In the Tenebrae, or Extinguishing of the Lights, we witness each light, one by one, fade into the darkness. As the darkness gathers in the world hope fades, and fear assumes its place. Fear of no Salvation and no rekindling of life, fear of Death.

Then Fiat Lux, one light appears, followed by another, then another. Light pushes back the darkness. Faith and Hope returns and life is again rekindled.

Again quoting C. Fred Kleinknecht 33o from his Book. "Tenebrae asserts in candle, wax, and flame the simple truth that Faith, Hope and Charity will never die. Darkness must yield to light, Tyranny will fall to freedom. Order and truth will ever conquer chaos and error."

As Scottish Rite Masons, and Knights of the Rose Croix, we are obligated on this special day, to break bread with other Knights of the Rose Croix in memory of those that have come before. If not possible to do so in person, then to do so at least in spirit.

Tonight we share this special day with each other, and in spirit with thousands of Scottish Rite Masons through out the world. We thank each of you for sharing this time with us in our celebration of life. Please enjoy the rest of this evening's ceremony.

Brigham City Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Officers, Brethren and Ladies. My oration this evening is entitled "A Season of Change".

It seemed fitting with yesterday being the first day of spring that I spend some time talking about the new Season and the Changes it brings. Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. As we walk outside our homes and offices, we notice the temperature is getting a bit warmer, we see the tulips beginning to break through the winters ground, and we all begin to feel maybe just a little bit better. We begin to feel a little more invigorated and even a little more excited about what is just around the bend.

Of course for many of us, what is just around the bend is a lot of hard work. We look at our yards and consider the work that needs to be done to make them ready for summer. We consider the changes we could make to our yards to improve their look, or increase the resell value. When we consider these things, most of us have a sense of excitement of what the final result will be. The hard work to get there is not even a factor, rather just something we need to do.

The hard work begins, but we feel good about the work we are doing. Some of the results are seen immediately, while still others take a little time and nurturing. We decide if we want to lay sod, or seed for our new lawns. Do we want to see the change it brings immediately, or let the change happen gradually? These decisions we make, the changes occur, and as spring changes to summer, we are then able to reap the rewards of our hard work. We also find that some of what we did may not have worked out just the way we had hoped, so we continue to work on those areas to make them just right.

So what does spring have to do with Freemasonry? The answer is simple. Our great Fraternity is itself entering into its own spring. Just look around the room and you can see it. The face of our Fraternity is getting younger and younger every day. Our Tulips are all the new members that are coming through our doors. Our work to help them grow begins when they first approach our doors with the seed of interest. We look at the promise of these new Men and Masons with the same enthusiasm as we do when we consider the promise of our yards. What will they grow to be within the Fraternity? How do we give them what they are seeking? How do we keep them interested and active? That is the hard work before us.

It is doing this hard work that brings us as Masons together, for to us, the work is not necessarily hard, rather it's enjoyable. The work begins with how well we perform the ritual for our new members, but does not end there. The ritual is just the first step, just the planting of the seed. From there, it becomes our duty to nurture that new member. Each Lodge does this in a different way and that is the real beauty.

Many Lodges today have become a little more progressive in order to keep the interest and activity of their Members. I can recall when a large part of every Lodge meeting was the reading of minutes and communications by the Secretary. Today, many of our Lodges have changed how those pieces of business are handled. Some Lodges post all communications for members to read at their leisure, others pass out the minutes then accept or correct them as printed. These small changes didn't change the Fraternity, but it did make the meetings a little easier for the newer members.

It wasn't that many years ago when a new member could only attend a Lodge meeting after he had taken his Master Mason degree… but today, we not only hold business meetings on the EA degree, but we also receive the Grand Master into our Lodges on the EA degree. Twenty Five years ago, this would have been unheard of and the mention of it would have and I'm sure did ruffle some feathers. Those leaders that came before planted these seeds, helped our Fraternity grow, and today we are reaping the reward of what they sewed.

Each of the Lodges here tonight, each of the Lodges within the Jurisdiction and the Grand Lodge itself is working hard to cultivate our craft. In doing this work, we see the fruits of our labor and the changes it brings. Tonight we are all witness to a change in our Jurisdiction. This visitation with all these Lodges assembled in one place is a change. To some, it may seem like laying down sod to see an immediate difference, to others; it may be seen like spreading seed, to see how it grows. In either case it's only a change in form, not in foundation. The true change that is upon us tonight is not the visitation itself; rather, it's the opportunity for each and every one of us to meet new brothers, to renew friendships, to share ideas with one another and in doings so, we are able to carry what we have learned to our own Lodges and continue our work. So in reality, the form of this visitation is not really a change, as it is more an opportunity for each of us.

Our Fraternity has many bright days ahead of it. Change is inevitable, but it is also critical that we remember and keep our past alive. To keep the traditions of our Lodges going and to preserve our ancient Landmarks ought to be our constant concern. We are in the unique position, that the attention we receive today is due in large part to our history, so change for us might come a little slower and with a little more caution, as it should. So long as we change for the betterment of the Fraternity, and we don't stray from what Freemasonry is about… Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, then the seeds we sew today will grow and take our wonderful Fraternity well into the next spring.

Thank you for listening, please enjoy the rest of your evening.

Tooele Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Officers, and Brethren all. The title of this mornings oration is "Why Masonry Survives - The Truth".

A brief look at history shows us that there have been several different Fraternal Organizations over the years. To name just a few, the Moose, The Elks, The Eagles, The Odd Fellows, and of course the Freemasons. These organizations are, in most recent memory the most well known.

All of these organizations have something in common; the most obvious is social side of the groups. In fact, the Moose, Elks and Eagles are little more than a social club. Not to say there is anything wrong with that, as social clubs have their place in society. Unfortunately for these organizations, the passage of time has not been kind, and the number of members, along with lodges and chapters have fallen dramatically.

The Odd Fellows, a great organization itself, has defined itself as an organization whose primary purpose is community support and charity. They have been experiencing an increase in the average age of members and a subsequent decline in membership for years, much like we have.

We obviously have some similarities with these other groups, but we are seeing one thing that the other groups in large part are not. Interest in our Fraternity. There are many reasons why interest in Freemasonry is growing. Of course Hollywood has helped with depictions of the Fraternity in the movies. Though most of what they depict is not exactly correct, much of it has a kernel of truth. It is that truth that peaks the interest in young men to seek us out.

Albert Pike said, "It is most true, that Truth is a Divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue. To be true, and to seek to find and learn the Truth, are the great objects of every good Mason."

So what truths do we offer that are helping to create new Masons? In short, everything we do and everything we offer is Truth. Our truth begins when the curious prospect first knocks on our door with questions, and we take the time to answer them honestly; when we take the time to dispel rumors and misleadings found in the media, and when we show a genuine interest in the new prospect.

Our Truth continues as the new candidate learns that he can rely on the fidelity of his conductor as he takes his first steps in the Lodge; as he receives his Apron, and learns the important significance of it; as he is faced with a demand from the Worshipful Master, and when he sees the look of satisfaction of all the Brothers on the side lines as they watch him progress through the degree.

Ultimately, Masons and Non-Masons alike observe everything we do and say. They look to see if we "practice what we preach". Do we practice Brotherly Love, do we work with others on the Level, and do we square our actions toward all mankind. When we do these things, then it's seen that we not only speak, but also live the Truth of what Freemasonry Offers.

The Truth here in the Northern part of the state is that these three Lodges are not only keeping Masonry alive, but they are, through their joint actions, showing the Masonic Community and the community at large the Truth of what Freemasonry is.

In the most recent Trestle board from Amity Lodge, it is mentioned how their last degree took place with the help and assistance from both Corinne Lodge & Harmony Lodge. It was also mentioned how the work could not be done without their assistance. This, Brethren is our Truth in Action.

These Lodges don't just say that they care, they don't just say that they will help out if and when needed. They show it through their actions. They are demonstrating the Truth of Brotherly Love, the Truth of Charity, and the Truth of all our Masonic tenants through their actions and interactions with each other.

So why does Masonry survive? Why is Masonry becoming more popular among the younger generation? The answer is simple. We as Masons are committed to our great Fraternity, we as Masons believe what we say, and we as Masons want to share the Truth of our Great Masonic Fraternity with the Community.

Our Motto, or Goal, is to Make Good Men Better. These are more than just words. These words are Truth. And this Truth will see our Great Fraternity into the Future.

Thank you for Listening, Please enjoy the rest of the visitation.

Bountiful Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Brethren, Ladies and Friends, the title of tonight's oration is "Our History – A Window to our Future".

Within 20 minutes of my appointment as Grand Orator, RWB Loyd Davis approached me and asked that my oration include the History of Bonneville Lodge No. 31, as the Lodge is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary.

In reviewing the History of the Lodge, I found that it was more than just a list of Names and Dates, though they are important. But it was also a great illustration of how we as Masons work together and move forward, while always ensuring we hold onto the values of the past.

Establishing Freemasonry in Bountiful was first discussed by a small number of Masons in January of 1956. Just one month later, the first meeting of the Bountiful Masonic Club took place. At the meeting on August 1st, 1956 the club discussed the formation of a Masonic Lodge in Bountiful. The name Bonneville was agreed upon in February 1957, and on May 22, 1957 Bonneville Lodge U.D. was instituted. The Lodge was Chartered & Officers installed on February 12, 1958 in Salt Lake City.

Bonneville Lodge wasted no time getting started. At their first meeting, held in March of 1958, they discussed and formed a committee to acquire land and to build a Masonic Temple. That land was purchased in 1963 and the Bountiful Masonic Temple was completed in 1972. During the construction, furniture from Damascus Lodge No. 10 in Mt. Pleasant was offered and put to use.

In January of 1983, discussions were held to consider selling a 50% interest in the building to Uintah Lodge No. 7 and in September of that year, the sale was completed, making this building the permanent home of both Lodges.

Let's not forget the important history of Uintah Lodge, whose original home was in Park City. The members of Uintah Lodge are obviously proud of their history, and to this day, hold picnics & Lodge meetings in Park City to honor the memory of where they began. It is this history that must be kept alive.

From our History, we now move to our Future. Today, our Fraternity is receiving more attention and interest than ever before. More and more within our Lodges, we are bringing in new, younger members that are full of energy and ideas. The result is that we are seeing the average age of membership drop exponentially.

There are many reasons why these young men are joining our Fraternity, but make no mistake that our History, real or imagined, is a large part of what brings them to our doors. It is our history that plants the seed of interest, it is our history that feeds the desire to move forward, and it is our history that shows us the path to walk. Our history can show us, like looking into a crystal ball, what will happen next.

It is important that we don't let our history perish. If we shut the window to the view of the path not yet taken, much will be lost. We should talk about our history whenever we get the opportunity. We should share our old stories with our new members, and by doing so, our history will not only be passed along and preserved, but the lessons of our past will help the leaders of our great Fraternity make better and informed decisions for our future.

With so many new members joining, there is naturally a concern that change may be on the horizon. Change may indeed be on the horizon; however, if we share openly the history of our Lodges, Grand Lodges, and Ancient Landmarks, then change for the sake of change will not occur. Rather, our future leaders will be more inclined to preserve our ancient landmarks, our history, and our traditions… Remembering these are the very things that peaked the interest of so many Brethren, and caused them to knock on our doors in the first place.

We've all heard the old adage that history repeats itself. This is usually brought up when discussing things that have gone wrong; however, this is also true when things go right. When we learn from the lessons of the past, a "positive history" can and will repeat it-self. Our history, our Fraternity, our Lodges, are fresh and exciting to our new members. We the current membership can be proud of this history that is the inspiration to us all. And most importantly, by learning the path our predecessors took, their past can give us a glimpse of what is around the corner.

What the history of these Lodges shows us, is how important it is for "us" to work together with "our" eye on the future. It cements in "us" the very reasons "we" all became Freemasons. These Lodges set the course for Freemasonry in Bountiful, from the formation of the Bountiful Masonic Club that met at "Phillips Hall", to the relocation of a Lodge from Park City, to the joint ownership of this building. These decisions were made with the future in mind. These decisions were not made lightly, but were made based upon the desire to see "Freemasonry" in "Bountiful" and in "Utah in general" succeed and be a valuable part of the community for many years into the future.

Congratulations to the Members of Bonneville Lodge No. 31 on their 50th Anniversary, and "we" look forward to 50 more years with the combined effort and joint dedication of their Brethren of Uintah Lodge No.7.

Thank you for listening, please enjoy the rest of your evening.

2009 Grand Lodge Oration
By Worshipful Brother Allen W. Record, Grand Orator
2009

Most Worshipful Grand Master,

Brethren, before I begin I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the Most Worshipful Grand Master for the honor and privilege to serve as Grand Orator this past year. This position has been the most challenging, and also the most rewarding job I've held within the Grand Lodge. I would like to thank all the brothers that were more than happy to share their ideas and their brotherhood with me. Most importantly however, I would like to thank the Lodges for their generous hospitality, inviting me to participate in their Lodges and allowing me to assist with their degrees, fill chairs, and provide educational features.

When accepting this appointment, my instructions were simple, I could speak on any subject of my choosing, keeping them informative, entertaining, and of course short. Inspiration came directly from observing the activities of our Lodges, and witnessing true brotherhood. It came for seeing how so many of our Lodges were preserving and honoring the history of their past, yet taking active steps to move their Lodges and Masonry Forward.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Grand Lodge Officers and Members, and Distinguished Guests, The title of my oration today is "Moving Masonry Forward".

For the last several years, while serving in the Grand Lodge, I have had the opportunity to see some amazing things within this jurisdiction. I have seen things that show me that Masonry in Utah is Strong and growing Stronger. Our Lodges are moving into the future and ensuring that Masonry will be here for many years to come. There are detractors out there that have predicted that our great fraternity would someday soon disappear into history. I can confidently say that they are wrong. Our Fraternity in Utah is gaining momentum, and Brethren, we have turned the corner.

Within the last several years, many of our Lodges have begun a journey to revitalize themselves. The officers and members of these Lodges have developed long term plans to increase not only their membership, but also to give their members a real reason to come out and be active Freemasons. They are providing value to their membership. Lodges are holding regular Meet Up Groups to introduce and familiarize non Masons with the Craft. There are informal "coffee's" being held throughout the jurisdiction where non members and their families are welcome, and current members are encouraged to attend for informal Lodges of instruction. Through these tools, they are not only introducing Freemasonry in a casual setting, but for the membership, these venues provide another opportunity to strengthen the ties of brotherhood. There are also Open Houses being held throughout the State, thus allowing even more people the opportunity to know who we are.

One of the real benefits of these new ideas has been growth and activity in our Lodges. Many of these new, enthusiastic Masons have affiliated with other Lodges in our Jurisdiction. Some have even taken up the responsibility of being officers and leaders in these Lodges. The foresight of the Masons in these Lodges, and their desire to move the Masonry into the future has had far reaching results, they have, in many ways, become the shot in the arm that some Lodges in Utah needed to help them with their own rebirth.

I'd like to present you with an excellent example; Tintic Lodge in Eureka. Tintic is a Lodge that simply though age and geography was just a meeting away from turning in its charter. In fact the Lodge voted to do just that. However, a few members from the Salt Lake and Provo area affiliated with Tintic Lodge. These new members made a conscious decision to give Tintic just one more chance. They made some changes, some of which included changing to a quarterly format for the meetings, having dinners prior to each meeting, and while doing this ensuring that they retained their history by staying in Eureka. They continue with their local charity, specifically awarding scholarships each year to students from Eureka area schools. One might think that Tintic is just on life support by members from outside Lodges, but this isn't the case. This past year, Tintic Lodge began doing their own degree work again. Imagine, not one degree had been performed in Eureka in over 10 years, but this year, that all changed, they initiated three and Raised two new Master Masons. They are ensuring that Tintic Lodge will be a viable part of the community for many years to come.

Just a quick glance around this room illustrates just how well positioned we are for our journey into the future. There are with us here today, Brothers from every Lodge in the State, there are Brothers from several other states, and Brothers from the other side of the Globe. Each of us here today is here because of the Love we have for this Fraternity, and our desire to see it flourish. Just by being here, it shows that we here in Utah have the dedication, the desire, and the ability to continue the work that began here in Utah over a hundred and forty years ago, even before this Grand Lodge was formed.

We are in a new climate of responsibility. What we do here today will ensure that Freemasonry in Utah will be viable for many years to come. What is accomplished at this communication will have an impact on those who come after us, just as the work done by those that came before us has impact on us here today. This responsibility that falls on our shoulders is great. We collectively and individually need to ensure that we not only move forward, but also to respect our History. Today and from now on we Honor the work of those Masons that came before us, and who provided to us this Great gift of Freemasonry in Utah. In doing this, we all commit ourselves to the idea; the truth; that Masonry is worth our hard work and our efforts.

There is no one way to do this; rather, we need to operate on several fronts. We need to work both within and without the Masonic family. We have heard that there are so many other things that occupy a man's time. We need to decide what we are going to do to so that the world at large knows that what we have to offer is more valuable than those outside distractions, that what we offer is more valuable than the television, the Internet, or Sports. How we do this is the question. The answer lies within each individual Mason. We are the building blocks of our Lodges, and collectively we gain strength for the betterment of it. We form our Lodges culture and build for our future.

The strengths and needs of one Lodge is not necessarily the same for all. The key is for each Lodge to decide itself what they need to do. We know they need to do something. It may be that some of our Lodges are or become more esoteric, some may become more civic minded, some may become extreme ritualists, and it may be that some of our Lodges have already taken the steps to ensure their individual futures. By moving our mindset forward, our fraternity becomes more valuable, and the result will be passionate Masons, Passionate Masons who in turn will attract new Masons.

We've all had an experience where we have been approached by someone outside the fraternity and asked about the ring, necklace, or lapel pin we wear, or even the symbols on our cars. All too often, when we tell them that we are Masons, they don't know what that means. Many have never even heard of the Masons. We need to become even more visible, thus educating the community as to who we are. We need to promote what we do, whether it be our charity through the Masonic Foundation of Utah, or the work done by the Scottish Rite Learning Centers, the York Rite Charities, the Shrine Hospital, or the individual work our Lodges do in the community. By actively promoting who and what we are, we, by default will carry ourselves, our philanthropies, and the fraternity into the future. We don't need to beat our chests, but just through our actions, our visibility, the question of "What does that symbol mean?" will turn into "Hey, you're a Mason, I think what you guys do is great. How do I become a Mason?"

We have an awesome responsibility and opportunity before us. To move Masonry forward we must demystify who and what we are to the public in general while still keeping our mystery. We must provide our membership a value for their time and money, without changing who and what we are. We must hold onto and honor our past without living in the past. We move forward because the past is just that, the past; It is behind us. We move forward because as we come to the crest of a new hill or challenge, there is something for us to fix, to mend or to build. We don't hold back, we embrace the stories of the more seasoned men in this room, and use them as a compass, to guide us into the future, the future that is the history of those who will come after us. This is a great task before us, but it's a task that we can, we are, and we will meet head on as we all work together. Brethren, I look forward to continue working with you in the quarries where we will move our great and honorable fraternity forward into the future.

Thank you for your attention, and enjoy the rest of your communication.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, I move that this oration be accepted and spread upon the minutes of this communication.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening. The title of this evenings talk is "Freemasonry is Scary".

Freemasonry is scary for many reasons.

If you have ever typed the word "Freemasonry" into a Google search you are returned with 1,030,000 hits. On the first page alone half of the sites listed are what we could call Anti-Masonic. The others are legitimate, personal or Fringe. When a potential candidate sifts through this information it is not only daunting but also based on some of the ridiculous claims could be a bit frightening. Although I must say I am still looking for my cut of the world money supply.

The one thing you will learn is that you need to go meet a Mason so that you can become one. This can be a challenge because some people have to build up the courage to knock on the door of a local Masonic Temple in hopes of meeting someone. We might find this hard to believe, as we know we are a very social organization but think about the first time you may have made a few distinct knocks on a door. This challenge is further exacerbated when you go to the imposing structure of the Salt Lake Masonic Temple for instance only to find we use the back door.

Once a fellow has gained admission to one of our Temples he suddenly finds himself the most popular guy in the room. Everyone is happy to see him. Everyone greets him with an outstretched hand and a smile. If he has brought his spouse, partner or family everyone is welcomed. Sometimes though we have a tendency to smother the visitor in the room. Little does he know that he may be the only new person that a lodge has seen in months or years and the zealous welcome of the Brethren can sometimes be off-putting on your first time through the door when you were just curious to meet a Mason.

This jubilant fascination with the new guy normally keeps building, as the fellow becomes a candidate and eventually a new Mason in the Lodge.

I can remember what it was like.

Can you in this room hearken back when you were in the North East corner of the Lodge for the first time?

Remember how it felt everybody was happy to see you and then you earned your seat among the Brethren.

Then at the next meeting another new guy up and decides to go join the lodge and sometimes not always you ended up sitting by yourself.

Suddenly all the attention was drawn from you to the next customer in line. How did that make you feel? You knew nobody here you knocked on the door and became a rock-star for a while and worked hard became one of the Fraternity only to sit all alone in a room full of Brotherhood.

I have talked to a few Masons where this has unfortunately happened and that’s a little scary in more ways than one.

Freemasonry will push you out of your comfort zone.

How many people here like to speak in public?

I am here to tell you I ran off stage in my 5th Grade play.

When joining the lodge a Brother is suddenly introduced to new ideas, customs and traditions. He is told to memorize a bunch of letters in a book that are actually words and how fortunate he is that he gets to sit in front of everybody at the next meeting and recite this stuff.

Unfortunately not everybody wants to do this. Sometimes we forget to ask the new guy if it's ok with him. He doesn't know about or what "the code" is and quite frankly may not want to sit and recite in front of the lodge. I was told I had to do this in my own Lodge and truthfully I almost didn't come back to the next meeting. This can be scary stuff to some folks.

How about the first time you had to deliver ritual in open lodge. You studied and studied. Mumbled in your family room and in your car on the way to and from work. Your wife and kids thought you were going nuts talking to yourself. I guess that’s scary too, Dad joins the Freemasons and starts talking to himself. Anyway you cleaned up the best you could and put on your “new” used Tuxedo the first one you ever wore that wasn’t for a Prom or a wedding and then you ran out the door only to forget you cipher. The anxiety builds and the traffic is bad. It’s the first time you’ve worn braces with your trousers and which way does that dang cummerbund supposed to be on anyway? Your plastic shoes have no support and the lodge room is hot even though the air-conditioning is on. The lodge meeting starts and the Worshipful Master asks you a question and then…..Your mind goes blank. Welcome to the fraternity, not scary at all, eh?

What about rebuilding a lodge when half it’s officers don’t sign up again? What about buying land and then building a Lodge Hall when you don’t know where the money is going to come from. Scary maybe? Brave probably..

Some of these things that I have mentioned may have happened to you or maybe we have been guilty of them ourselves. The beauty is that Freemasonry more than a Fraternity is a means of instruction. If we follow its teachings and tenants we can overcome our shortfalls. If we need help we can converse with well-informed Brethren who are always ready to give as well as receive instruction. We can conquer fear by taking advantage of the rich history that we have in our seasoned membership. And we can sooth the discomfort of change by embracing the exuberance of youth.

Our Grand Lodge and her lodges have designed websites with good information for the curious and serious researcher.

The Masonic Family has opened her doors, even the front doors, throughout the state to the public.

We have put on a public face in the Masonic Meet-up Groups breaking bread and building trust with those that might join us.

We have looked internally at our failings and chose to move forward as the time is always now in all things.

Yes we have challenges, misinformation, locked doors, petty squabbles and a few scary things.

However in Freemasonry there are also the answers a “Right” course if you will and this is how we will stay positive, we will grow, we will combat fear and be the Masonic Family we know we all can be.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Illustrious Brother Lancaster, Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry the Feast of Tishri and Why Scottish Rite is important".

According to the Book of Forms and Traditions of the Scottish Rite The origins and significance of the Feast of Tishri make it the most of Scottish Rite festivals. Although originally celebrated as a harvest and gathering festival, no other occasion epitomizes the character and purpose of the Rite more wholly than our historic celebration, held in conjunction with the dedication of King Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 7:8-10). To marshal the meanings of the feast is to summarize the principal ideals and traditions of our Fraternity.

So today at this Feast of Tishri we gather as Scottish Rite Masons with the Masonic Family of Utah remembering and reaffirming who we are. This celebration is done by us so as to re-dedicate ourselves to the purposes, charities and beliefs of what we hold so dear within the Masonic Fraternity. This is why this re-affirmation if you will is considered as one of the obligatory observances of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

Scottish Rite in Utah is important though for a number of reasons.

Some of the first occasions where one may meet other Brethren not from their own lodge is in the Scottish Rite. As I have said in the past a newly made Mason sometimes has no idea of the actual size of the Fraternity that he has just joined. Be it within or without the state. To him the confines of his own lodge may be his perception of the size of our fraternity.

Not until his first Reunion, Stated meeting or event such as the Feast of Tishri does it start to dawn on the new member as to the benefit of belonging to this Rite. His circle of companions increases and indeed the realization of the size of the Fraternity becomes more evident. He is part of something much larger. He is part of Masonic Family of Utah.

Also according to the Book of Forms the Feast teaches the equality and unity of all members where a warm spirit of fraternal fellowship is fostered. Looking around this room you will find this to be true. This occasion may also be the first time for us to introduce our spouses, partners, family and friends to the Masonic Fraternity.

My first Feast of Tishri was an interesting one as I did not know or more correctly listen, as my wife would say that it was in Ogden. So unfortunately due to my own failings I missed it.

The following year my peers and I made the trek to Ogden for this “Feast of Tishri”. Now to newly made Scottish Rite Masons some ten years ago we were not sure what to expect. Was this Feast of Tishri what was being served for dinner or was it in fact an event of the Scottish Rite.

Now in all seriousness though we gained knowledge thereof a few things. Scottish Rite Ceremonies and Festivals are loaded with symbolism that may take a lifetime to learn. And this annual event was just one in many in our journey for more light.

We also found we had more friends and Brothers in Ogden and now we were able to put names with faces the next time our paths crossed at a regular meeting in Salt Lake City.

And most important of all one must always remember to make reservations with our Brother Mel Walker.

If we look to one of the lessons of the 30th Degree paraphrased for obvious reasons. It is said, “We do not believe that the many legends we recite are necessarily truths but that we do speak in a language of symbolism”.

Keeping that in mind, once again in the Book of Forms and Traditions The Feast of Tishri, this Jewish Holiday in remembrance of the dedication of King Solomon’s Temple was adopted into the Scottish Rite and is then celebrated by us as Masons as “we” are the allegorical inheritors of King Solomon’s Legacy.

Freemasonry offers many things to many people. Scottish Rite the philosophical college of Freemasonry offers much more. Beyond that Scottish Rite’s very expanse in Utah fosters new friendships and brotherhood throughout the state.

The Feast of Tishri, this symbolic celebration of re-dedication to our beliefs and to the Rite. This Masonic Feast of Feasts allows us to join together as one Masonic Family.

All of us no matter what creed, color, religion, or political persuasion gather at this table of thanks.

What a wonderful thing that Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite in particular offers us this beautiful outlet we share here tonight.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight’'s talk is “Freemasonry For Sale”.

We have a product to sell and it'’s Freemasonry. Whether we know it or not we the people in this room are a sales force for our Fraternity.

Many of us are walking billboards for the Craft. Now I might note I am not talking of our zealous Brothers who proudly display every pin they have on their lapels. Since 1998 I personally cannot remember leaving my home that I didn’'t put on my Masonic Ring. In fact if for some reason I did forget to put it on I definitely noticed it’s absence.

How many of us are wearing the Masonic Tartan, have a bumper sticker on our car or a baseball cap or a golf shirt emblazoned with a Masonic logo of some sort? I am sure most of us in this room do. Now we could probably make the argument we are proud of our memberships or affiliations and that we are not advertising but that we want to tell the world that we are involved in the Masonic Fraternity.

Well what good is it in being proud if we don’t tell anybody about it.

John J. Robinson in his 1993 book “A Pilgrim’'s Path” said The Mason who feels that he cannot discuss his Masonry with his wife, son, grandson, or neighbor is doing the fraternity a great disservice. The rule that no man is ever asked to be a Mason, but rather must ask to join, absolutely requires that SOMEONE must tell him SOMETHING in order to establish that desire to become a Mason.

I thought about this and then I remembered years ago in my own Lodge when we went from “being proud” to “advertising our product”. One of our Brethren had the idea to not only put the Lodge name and Square and Compass logo on a shirt but to place the web address of the lodge on one of the sleeves. Also just above the adjustment strap on the back of baseball cap.

A simple brilliant marketing idea. The company that he worked for did this Why couldn’t we? So we did it. Freemasonry welcome to the 21^st Century.

From T-shirts we went to business cards with the generic logo and the website address. Then advertisements in the newspaper to posters for open houses and even the Banners of the lodges that hang in the Halls during Grand Lodge Communication. Logos and web addresses everywhere.

We Masons can'’t recruit but we sure as heck can tell people we are here. That’'s what John J. Robinson said. We can tell them what we are all about. They can read our literature and then just then maybe they will ask the question.. “Hey how do I become a Mason?”

As I previously said this was just a simple idea but in my limited travels about the state and in other jurisdictions this “advertising” seems to be a common practice now. Can we in Utah take credit? I don’t know but why not?

Most Masons are not ashamed of admitting to their Masonic membership, but I have noticed in most cases that our better halves are much more comfortable and proud of saying their partner or spouse is a Freemason. In fact some of our best-untapped resources are our families and friends.

After all it’s rather cool to be a Mason or in a Masonic affiliated group wouldn’t you agree?

I would argue that some people just feel cool to say that they know a Mason. This is probably due to all the media coverage we have received in recent years. On a side note in one of my accounts I have a friend and client who introduces me to their new staff, as “this is John Liley he is our rep and He’s a Mason”. As a matter of fact I was in one of my accounts and a lady noticed my Masonic ring and said, “you’re a Mason?” I answered yes and she immediately asked me if I knew Bill Jack and Trisha Westbrook? So not only do our advertisements of pride identify who we are but also “who are friends are” and “what we represent.”

However we should practice caution because not all folks we meet are going to be positive in their responses to our advertisements. Just as some may be eager to talk to us many of us have been berated, abused, and accused because of our memberships.

So be prepared when the question comes from the person who asks “Hey what’s that pin on your lapel?” “What’s that symbol on the back of your car?” “Why do you wear that ring all the time?” Have an answer if you are going to advertise and be prepared if there are objections that need to be overcome. Answer questions so that they are easily understood. Don’t elaborate on every affiliate body we have when the prospective person may just have asked the simple question “What’s a Mason?”

Freemasonry is our product and we must change our previous attitudes on how we market our Fraternity for the future. Benjamin Franklin said, “When you’ve finished changing, you’re finished.” Everyone in this room knows we have a great product. Everyone. No longer can we just be silent proud members of our Fraternity. We are the sales and marketing force for our Masonic Family. Feet on the street. Faces in front people. Good Luck and Good Selling.

Thank for listening and have a good evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Afternoon.

The title of this afternoon's talk is "Freemasonry For Sale Part 2, Customer Retention and Building Evangelists".

Earlier in the year I expressed the concept that each and everyone within the Masonic Family is part of one great "Sales Force" for the Fraternity. This concept still holds true and after some further reflection upon this theory we now need to look at the production aspect of our Fraternity. Because after all you can sell a product but if you cant deliver on the backend it does not matter how good your sales force is.

Upon attending the Rocky Mountain Masonic Conference this summer in Boomtown, Nevada in the midst of discussion the idea thrown around was that "Freemasonry" itself was not broken but the presentation to the membership was lacking. This lack of "presentation" or the production aspect if you will bleeds out to so many of our other difficulties. I would argue at this time "we" don't really have a hard time in bringing in new members but we do have a hard time maintaining them. Our re-subscription rate is in the negative because unfortunately "we" have something to offer but sometimes we don't know how to deliver on the promise first presented to the candidates in the initial sales presentation.

If we promise Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth and a new member is brought into a lodge of bickering and tired redundancy and sub par degree work how do we expect to maintain that member's subscription or dues. How then do we expect to raise that member's subscription rate to cover ever-increasing expenditures if what he bought and what he got were not what he thought?

Now I am speaking in generalities and these items are thankfully not characteristic in these lodges we meet with today however each and every one of us statewide has been just a little bit guilty at some time or another of some of these things I bring up.

The positive from this negative is that "we" are aware of the situation and that "we" are doing something about it. That is the real beauty of being members of a small jurisdiction because change can happen much more rapidly.

This was evident in the ideas, concepts, and all around positive thoughts shared this summer at the Utah Masonic Leadership Academy. We all can work together. You can see the changes as you travel about this jurisdiction. We are lucky that our members want to nurture the sale and follow the order through to completion. Most of us when purchasing and completing a sale in everyday life probably did not make a recommendation of this product to a friend just because their salesman was a great guy or gal. We make the referral because we were taken care of in the whole process from start to finish. The entire transaction was pleasing and we'd probably use these services again or buy the product again and pay more if necessary because the cost was worth it.

Our lodges or "fulfillment centers of Freemasonry" are elevating themselves and delivering on that promise to their new members of….

A top-notch Masonic education.

Professionally delivered ritual.

And a sense of purpose backed by a plan.

These quality experiences enrich the life of the new Mason so that he wants to participate and he wants to include his family in our "Masonic Family". His experience is one that he wants to share, one that he wants to tell everyone he knows and once that conversion is done there my friends is the evangelist for Freemasonry. This is what we need, someone singing the praises of their membership within the Masonic Family. Advertising alone is great but Customer referrals will build our business.

Preston "Marty" Martineau is my friend. Some of the first conversations I ever had about Freemasonry with a Mason when I was a non-Mason were with Marty some twelve years ago. I remember he talked about his Grandfather's membership and his own. I am pretty sure this was the first time I had ever seen a Scottish Rite cap or a Shriner's Fez that I believe belonged to his Grandfather. Now Marty's been a Freemason for twenty years and for a while he didn't hang out with "us" because "we" did not deliver on our product. However that's in the past and now he is Worshipful Master of his lodge and in fact we have Marty to thank for some of the fine work he has done on the Midvale Masonic Lodge Hall. And if anybody knows Marty with some bubble gum and a light bulb he could probably build you a nuclear reactor in time.

Freemasonry is not broke but maybe we were so caught up in our own product over the years and selling it to make the balance sheet look good we forgot to invest in our own membership. Numbers were great, as we know, and brought in revenue, but we have learned the continued income comes from a quality membership experience.

Those members who come back each and every year and renew their subscription or pay their dues do so because they believe Freemasonry is something to invest in. And because of this product loyalty the Fraternity will carry on.

Our seasoned membership such as Bill Baker, Art Austin and Jim Wadley have passed a rich history of tradition along to the newer membership. The newbie's should not discount this effort and the veterans should not discount their zeal.

Together we can deliver the quality product of Freemasonry to the Membership. Together we can deliver the quality experience to the Masonic Family. Together we can cultivate a culture of ownership.

And from now on we will expect excellence in our production and disallow mediocrity in our Fraternity.

Confidence through preparation goes a long way for our customer experience and our potential referrals.

Now get out there and let them know what we have in "Freemasonry" and what we have in this "Fraternity".

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your afternoon.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry and the Generation Gap, Perception is not Reality".

One of the definitions given to us by researchers, historians and to some extent by our detractors is that Freemasonry is a tired old Fraternity populated by relics of a different era. Without accepting a negative from out of this observation it is true that yes our Fraternity does have a large proportion of a seasoned membership.

Does this mean that there is a gap between our members both old and new?

I would argue that there is no generation gap merely a span of years.

Men no matter their age join Freemasonry for varied reasons. The phrase "Your Freemasonry is different from my Freemasonry" is not divisive but the very example of our strength.

This "strength" is the attraction for men to join our Fraternity. Although challenges arise these differences and the fact that we tolerate if not expect these differences, is what makes the fraternity work.

A man's interest in Freemasonry is in its universality, in it's consistency and in it's unique structure.

Often we the younger membership are asked what we want. We have shown that we want the same as the more seasoned membership. We want in some cases to emulate their characteristics. These characteristics and traits they acquired from Freemasonry.

The fraternity, this educational source hands down her "secrets" through the experience and knowledge of well-learned Masons.

The thought that in becoming a Mason you suddenly inherit this great living source of wisdom, knowledge, history and perspective over night is something that unfortunately some of the younger membership never understands.

The term "old guy" or "past master" are descriptions I have tried to remove from my vocabulary. The wealth that is there in the more seasoned membership comes at so little a price we often overlook it as if passing a penny on a city street.

The energy and the vitality in the hearts and minds of young men can be infectious to a tired lodge. That excitement is so often dismissed by those that have been there and done that, that they often quench a fire stoked and ready to blossom before it has a chance to grow.

The conflicts I believe come not because of someone's age be it young or old but in not truly practicing some of the first lessons we are taught in the Entered Apprentice Degree. Subduing our passions is not easy for most men. We are competitive, we are stubborn and no matter who we are sometimes we think we are always right.

This my friends is not just owned by the "old guy" or the "whippersnapper", but by all of us.

It's hard for the Mason that has held this "thing" together for so long to give a little up. And it's hard for the Mason new and full of exuberance not being able to have it "all" now.

Funny, don't you think this sounds as if we all have something in common after all?

The fact that we recognize these conflicts proves to us that Freemasonry is still working and will survive. If we did not have the pull and push the ying and yang if you will we would be representative of what those detractors believe we are.

The beauty is that so many Masons have labored long and kept lodges running. We have that example in the three lodges we visit here today.

Perseverance has paid off and attracted new membership Story and Damascus have been performing degree work and rebuilding their officer lines. They are working together for a common goal. And today for the first time in a long while Tintic Lodge has created new members not by affiliation but by initiation.

The perception of the generation gap is that there is this great void or chasm between what was and what is. Yes for a long time "we" were in the shadows perhaps even a little lost. But what we learned and what we did was that old and new a like found a way to bridge the span, create ways to come together, to modernize yet leave the old patina so that the attraction is still there.

Although many of my friends may be perhaps ten, twenty thirty or more years my senior the reality is that we have a lot in common. A man that was fifty was once thirty and man of eighty was once sixty. "We" have all been there before and "we" are all there for the first time.

Freemasonry binds our membership in a way you cannot explain to the outside world. Sometimes the bond is stronger than that bond which we have with our Fathers, Uncles and Grandfathers. This fact may be unfortunate but in some cases is the saving grace to the younger man without a father figure and to the older man without a relationship with his son.

Freemasonry provides the tie that closes the gap. The Fraternity helps, aides, and assists in so many ways for so many Brethren that the perception is not reality.

The Generation Gap may very well be our strength and not our folly.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry our Future is found in Teamwork".

The Masonic Jurisdiction of Utah has the distinction of being the smallest in the 48 continental states. Where some may be fast to draw a negative assumption about this fact I believe we are stronger and more connected than our larger sister jurisdictions.

Freemasonry grows in Utah because we all work together as a team. This is not done out desperation but out of dedication.

The one common denominator we see as Grand Lodge Officers when we travel this state is that the lodges work together to make things happen.

If they see another lodge struggling they step in help and encourage their Brethren. They help build their membership and provide leadership in their officer lines. They provide experience where there is a void and they celebrate with their seasoned members in the creation of a renewed hope.

In short the Masons of this state want to see this "thing" survive and it is going to take teamwork.

My experience is only of ten years but in that time even I can see these small victories where there once was darkness. Light builds and lodges are no longer a shadow of their past but taking pride in becoming what they were and what they are now.

Progress lodge is growing with great guns right now. I sat with them in lodge the other day and I saw a successful well-oiled machine. They have worked hard these last few years. They provide for their membership a reason to come out and be with their Brethren. Men want to join Progress Lodge because Progress Lodge is doing something.

This enthusiasm is spreading over and they have adopted their Brethren in Kaibab Lodge. Kaibab has a meet-up group following the lead of their big brother. This ensures that Freemasonry will continue to foster and grow in Salt Lake City. There is new blood, new membership and a renewed sense of purpose. Kaibab has started a Farmer's Market. How come nobody thought of that one before? I wished I had thought of that.

Although my assumption is that someone out there tonight has a garden with too many tomatoes.

Acacia Lodge has had her struggles but again the team of her dedicated officers that want to see her succeed have continued despite her growing pains to build and find stability. Their Worshipful Master Allen Record a glutton for punishment in my mind has dutifully served his lodge for almost 2 years to make sure the good work continues.

Talking about teamwork and spreading the enthusiasm, I have it under good authority that a member or two of Acacia traveled to Cache Valley this week to help Harmony Lodge in Logan with degree work.

That is just awesome.

You see although we are all individual members of separate lodges statewide, we are all members of one Fraternity, The Masonic Family of Utah.

You have Masonry in the great dark north.

In Castle Country.

In the Basin.

In Dixie.

In Happy Valley.

And you have Masonry in the Big City.

Separate but all part of one great big team.

We have Coaches and starters. We have Second string and the rookies but we all work together and we all go to great lengths to win. In the end we are all victorious.

Recently many us participated and attended the Utah Masonic Leadership Academy. There was a twist this year where in addition to the lodges the membership of the whole Masonic Family was invited. The Shrine, the Rites, Eastern Star and the like all came. All of us were under one roof to share ideas, thoughts and things that work. No more secrets everything was out in the open so that we all can benefit and all can achieve the same positive results.

This "game-plan" of Freemasonry if you will should breed success. And the success of your Chapter or sister lodge will spill over. Others will pick up the ball and run.

If it didn't work before give it a chance it might just work. As I have said in the past things are different now. No more looking back only moving forward.

When a man joins Freemasonry in Utah most of the time he has no knowledge or scope of the size of fraternity outside of his own lodge. What is important for him to know to know is that he is part of a team. A team sharing victories and defeats learning that there is strength even in small numbers.

Those small numbers will eventually multiply just like they did in the past. These members will rebuild and our future will be secure. Our "teamwork" will be our success.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren Ladies, and Guests Good Afternoon.

The subject of today's talk is "Freemasonry it's about Commitment".

I consider myself a very committed Freemason, as I am sure many of you here in this room do.

Once a wise Past Master and friend told me that, "Freemasonry is a wonderful volunteer organization as long as you are not the only volunteer".

In our travels in Grand Lodge we have had the opportunity to meet many brethren and their families in varied and diverse communities throughout the state. And we are fortunate in that we are not alone in our hard work and Masonic Labors.

Today we meet with three Lodges that I believe embody this "spirit" of commitment.

Corrine Lodge was the "Mother Lodge" or sponsor of Harmony lodge in Logan and Amity Lodge in Brigham City.

The trials and tribulations of the railroad industry have pockmarked the history of this community in general and the waxing and waning of the membership of Corrine Lodge more specifically.

One interesting point was that at one time Corrine was a "Moon Lodge" so that Brethren could more easily attend guided by the light of the full moon traveling by horse, buggy or funny enough by railway car. That took commitment. Think about it traveling from Brigham City by moonlight pumping one of those old railway cars. The spirit and the drive were there. These Masons so loved Freemasonry and wanted it to succeed that they went to any method then available to attend. That "spirit" still survives in the present day membership.

Harmony Lodge has a core of officers that work their tails off initiating men into our gentle craft making Masons out of them only so that when their time at school is finished they are again off into the world. This does not deter the Brethren of Logan. They work hard making Masons because quite simply somebody has to do it and they are the Lodge that will. I bet they could have one heck of a Homecoming Dance by the way.

In a visit to Amity Lodge there you will find a core group of Masons that hold that small and dedicated lodge together. It was a strange turn in my Masonic travels when Past Grand Master Curtis Lancaster played the part of Senior Deacon and introduced me to the Worshipful Master. Amity lodge is small but healthy and manages with the help of these other Northern Lodges to put on a great barbeque each year after the Peach Days Parade and celebration.

Further we should think of all the other Shrine/Masons that took time away from their families and weekend to travel north and join us here today.

This is the spirit of commitment that makes Freemasonry survive in the north part of the state of Utah. Without this "spirit", without this hard work from our seasoned membership there would not be a legacy for younger Masons to inherit nurture and grow.

All too often though I think we the Masons overlook the most committed part of our memberships.

That would be the commitment our spouses and partners.

They are not there to tote the barge and carry the heavy load but they do bear burdens. They support us in our odd hobby where we wear funny hats and spend time away from home. They stand by our sides, attend dinners and sometimes although not seen, if it wasn't for their efforts behind the scenes we would not be able to put on such a successful public face.

In reality if it was not for that "spirit" of commitment Freemasonry in Utah would surely perish.

I have to thank Brothers' J. C. McLaughlin and John Elwell both Past Grand Masters who provided me with some of the historical data I used today. The job of Grand Orator can sometimes be daunting specifically at 2 o'clock in the morning whilst staring a blank computer screen.

However usually at this time is when you find a nice tidbit in a Lodge History provided to you by a friend and Brother that you can write about.

It seems at one time the Corrine Lodge building had a problem with wasps and unfortunately for a candidate he was stung on the forehead during his initiation. He kept quiet and steadfast continuing through his degree no doubt in much discomfort. Apparently he must have mistaken this misfortune as part of the evening's ceremonies.

Talk about commitment.

Usually at this time of year is when we would renew our ties to the fraternity after having taken some time to ourselves over the summer break.

Things though are different now.

Throughout the summer many lodges have continued to work. Many lodges have not gone dark and to their credit have added value to their traditional summer events of picnics, barbeques and steak fry's.

It is an exciting time for the Masonic Family in Utah. Persistence and dedication is paying off. Autumn is upon us; keep up the hard work because after all in Freemasonry it's about commitment.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Afternoon.

In the late 1950's the Members of Ashley Lodge No. 28 acquired the land for this building and in November of 1963 began to meet here with the building being dedicated in 1976.

Years later in 2002 Basin Lodge No. 20 from Roosevelt and Ashley Lodge No. 28 decided there was strength in numbers and merged with permission of the Grand Lodge of Utah.

Today we meet for the re-dedication of this building for the Masonic purposes of that new lodge Ashley No. 20.

The history of Freemasonry in the Basin area started in 1914 when 22 masons petitioned the Grand Lodge of Utah to start a Masonic Lodge. That petition was granted and Duchesne Lodge was instituted in the fall of 1914.

Duchesne Lodge took some time to prove up and petitioned again in 1915 and this time requesting a name change. The request was approved and the charter of Basin Lodge No. 20 was granted in January of 1916 and was constituted later that year in June. Basin Lodge was located in Myton, Utah until 1947 when they moved to Roosevelt.

In 1946 masons again petitioned the Grand Lodge of Utah to form a new lodge in Vernal. This was done with a favorable recommendation of their neighbor Basin Lodge No. 20. Their petition was granted and in January of 1947 Ashley Lodge No. 28 was born.

Freemasons have always played a part in the tradition of laying cornerstones and dedicating public and private buildings since the beginning of our country.

For example Brother Mason and President George Washington as acting Grand Master presided over the cornerstone ceremony of the National Capitol in 1793.

Today we have once again carried on this custom here in Vernal with our Grand Master of Masons in Utah Most Worshipful Brother Dean D. Rein presiding. He is the elected leader of the Freemasons in Utah for the year 2007.

The first qualification of being a Freemason is a belief in a Supreme Being. Freemasons within the sanctity of the lodge setting do not discuss religion or politics and we refer to each other as Brothers.

There are 29 Masonic Lodges in the state of Utah and the term "lodge" represents the group of men that meet there and the building in general.

The Grand Lodge of Utah was formed in 1872 and is the chief administrative, clerical, and governing body of all the Masonic lodges in the state.

The history of our fraternity is old and according to tradition dates back to the operative stonemasons guilds that built the cathedrals and stately edifices of Europe.

Today we meet in lodges like our ancient Brethren however we work not operatively in stone but work speculatively using the emblems and implements of architecture as symbols to teach lessons of morality, virtue and charity.

The ceremony of consecrating this building with corn, wine and oil that you have just witnessed is ancient and holds special meaning to Masons.

Corn in ancient times is not the corn we know today. Corn is used in the generic sense of the word meaning grain and historically most likely to be that of wheat and barley. In Biblical times corn represented plenty.

Wine was a source of refreshment and so many skins of wine were like currency in the Middle East. This sign of wealth this great commodity when consumed in moderation it makes the heart glad.

And oil yet another valuable staple was food, medicine and fuel. The oil pressed from the olive was also used in religious services probably because of its purity.

Today we consecrate this lodge so that the real wealth may be within its membership. That the application of these symbolic offerings of corn, wine and oil represent the real sacrifice of time, effort, and money for the Masons who have built and nurtured this lodge.

These men, these Masons of Ashley Lodge No. 20 are to be congratulated renewed in their new combined strength. The "Lodge" is tried, true and trusty. For nearly 100 years Freemasons have been practicing our gentle craft here in the Basin Area. Today with the re-dedication of this Masonic Temple Freemasonry shall surely survive into its next 100 years and prosper with the square and level work of these proud members.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your day.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry and the Table Lodge Meet, Eat, Drink and Be Merry".

Some would say the Table Lodge or Festive Board is historically and traditionally one of the essential elements of a successful Masonic meeting. I for one would have to agree having attended a few over the years.

If you take the opportunity to do some research online about Table Lodges you will see common themes of singing, jokes, toasts and Masonic fire.

Hundreds of years ago Freemasons met in Taverns and from these meeting places Modern Freemasonry was born.

The four London Lodges that formed the Grand Lodge of England met in the Apple Tree Tavern in 1716.

Probably the first Lodge in the colonies to meet was in the Old Tun Tavern in 1731 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite formed at the site of Shepheards Tavern in 1801 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Some meetings apparently went on for hours. The members would dine, drink and attend to business at hand. One would assume then that the drink assisted in suffering through the reading of minutes, bills and communications.

Seriously though, there was a ritual to when one would eat, when one would sing and when toasts would be given, to whom and how many.

Stewards had the duty of making sure the Members glasses were charged.

Wardens kept a watchful eye to see that none present took none to excess and imposed nominal fines not to penalize but to reinforce the seriousness that you were attending a lodge meeting.

The Table Lodge therefore is the present day link to our history.

No longer do we meet in Taverns but the traditions are now carried over to the Festive Board. A regimental, ritualized dinner to round off the meeting night. We eat, drink and toast because in these simple acts we reinforce the ties that bind us together as Masons. We laugh, talk and sing and build that camaraderie amongst us that is foreign to the outside world.

Eating together is a communal act like ancient man around the fire. Toasting is an act of well wishing to the health of our leaders, each other and the Fraternity in general. And Masonic Fire reminiscent of loading and firing cannon is just plain fun.

Two of the most memorable times I can remember at a festive board are as follows. In 2001 in England I was at a Festive Board where the ceremony of the loving cup was performed. A large silver bowl, chalice type thing with a concoction of spirits was produced and passed to each member in the room. In an old Anglo-Saxon tradition three men would stand. Two men back to back and the third presented the loving cup. The man would take a drink wipe the rim with a towel and pass along the cup. According to tradition this was so that the man would have his back guarded and not be assassinated. These steps were repeated each time the cup was presented. When the cup arrived at the head table it was presented to the Master who would then drain the remainder in the cup. Maybe unbeknownst to him the cup was refilled about half way through the tables. I might add the poor fellow performed admirable even though he was all of five foot five.

The second was at the installation of our Deputy Grand Master Brother Cook as Master of Sentinel Lodge in Stockport England. A Brother at the festive board sang a song called "To his health". The song was probably thirty minutes long and involved complicated clinking of glasses with your neighbor that eventually had the entire room singing in chorus. And there were probably over one hundred Masons in the room.

In every thing that we do the real secrets of Freemasonry are internal. Things that we cannot explain to the profane let alone reveal. I have heard it said by many a Mason wiser than me that more "Freemasonry" is practiced over coffee or around a dinner table than in any Lodge room. And I am sure that tonight all of you would agree.

Here is a quote from Brother Ben Franklin that I have trying to work in all year that didn't seem appropriate till tonight, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy".

Thanks for listening and have a good evening.

Sources: (Link No Longer Valid 01/15/2010)

http://www.stjohn788.org.uk/humour.htm (Link No Longer Valid 01/15/2010)

http://renewal.gl-mi.org/lodge%20festive%20board%20package.pdf

http://www.masonmusic.org/festive.html

http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/toasts.html

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/table_lodge_history_ritual.htm

Valley of Craftsmen copyright 2001 Supreme Council AASR of Freemasonry SJ, USA

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

The title of my talk today is "Freemasonry why is just the Tyler left to guard the door?"

Our ancient rituals, elaborate regalia and impressive titles, leave a mystery about us that makes us one of the darlings of today's pop culture.

The curiosity of the outside world continues to build.

Men want to join Freemasonry. But is it for the right reasons?

Are we sure?

From our ritual we know that the duty of the Tyler is to guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers and to see that none enter our lodges without permission. Yes this is his symbolic and actual duty but why have we left it just to him?

Should we the Brethren be not more diligent?

Each of us as a Mason is charged with the solemn duty to make sure good men enter our Fraternity. In the closing paragraph of the Entered Apprentice Charge it reads, "If, in the circle of your acquaintance, you find a person desirous of being initiated into Masonry, be particularly careful not to recommend him unless you are convinced the he will conform to our rules; that the honor, glory, and reputation of our institution may be firmly established, and the world at large be convinced of it's good effects."

In the Thirtieth Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite it says, "Let us increase in number our companions in arms admitting not even our most intimate of friends unless we are certain of their discretion and fitness."

Our Masonic ritual as you see is laced with instruction.

How then are we sure of the men that knock upon our doors?

How do we make the positive or negative decision about the prospective candidate?

In recent years the Internet and the proliferation of Masonic websites have become one of the many public faces of our Fraternity.

Open houses tied in with movie or book premieres have brought in tens if not hundreds of people into our Temples. No longer do we hide in the shadows. We are more and more the public fraternity that in reality we always were.

The concept of the Masonic Meet-up has grown and spread to many lodges around the state and has lead to many men asking for petitions and joining our Fraternity. Think about it you get to sit down, break bread and talk with a guy that wants to talk to you about Freemasonry.

These extensions of ourselves into the outside world are the golden opportunities for us to know the man before he joins the Fraternity. Better yet it gives the potential candidate the opportunity to know us before he asks for his petition.

So often in the past the curious fellow knocked on the door of his local lodge talked with a Brother and returned six months later in search of a promised signature. An unfortunate thing I know I for one have been guilty of.

Did we really know the man?

Did I really know the man?

Did he really know what he was committing to?

Everything needs to evolve though. If it does not it stagnates, shrinks and eventually ceases to exist.

These "new" methods of attracting and interacting with potential members are refreshing and exciting and hopefully fill that gap on how we get to know that man before he becomes privileged to call himself a Mason.

Just as our ritual instructs and cautions us our policies and procedures provide safeguards. These safeguards are not only traditions but were laid out for us to keep us honest.

The committee of investigation now more than ever is a vital part of the mix.

Whereas in the past the committees have sometimes been accused of being the welcome wagon or the rubber stamp on a man's membership they now need to be more thorough and truly investigative.

The fear of running a fellow off because the questions are too tough needs to be overcome. There is nothing wrong with challenging a man on why he wants to be a Mason and see if he can defend his argument and reasons. I would argue the potential candidate expects the questions to be probing and might be disappointed if we did not delve that deeply.

"We" owe it to "him" to be thorough.

"He" wants to know "he" is part of something special.

"We" all are the "Tyler for our Fraternity.

"We" all are the guardians of our past ever moving forward towards a brighter future. Embracing the ever-changing opportunities with caution and discretion.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your day.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator
2007

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is, "Freemasonry and Memorial Day a Personal Connection"

This weekend marks the Memorial Day Holiday and many of us will be rushing about to leave town and head to the lakes, campgrounds and the like. The weekend to many marks the beginning of summer and since 1971 has been an official Federal Holiday extending into Monday.

After some research online, a little place called Camp Floyd in Fairfield, Utah and a trip I took in 2005. I realized a personal connection with this holiday and Freemasonry in general.

The concept of Memorializing our Honored Dead started after the Civil War in the South and carried into the North. In May of 1868 General John Logan National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order No. 11 which designated May 30th Memorial Day. Soldiers were to decorate tombs and graves of their fallen comrades with flowers in remembrance of these brave souls selfless acts. Since this time the tradition has carried on.

So where does the personal connection come in? In 2004 I had the honor of presiding, as Worshipful Master of Wasatch Lodge and we needed a fun activity. For those of you who know my friend and rather "mad" Brother Mike Moon the opportunity was obvious and thus was born the Camp Floyd Master Mason Degree. In 2005 the degree day was changed to Memorial Day weekend to be in conjunction with the Civil War Re-enactment folk, when we could all converge on Camp Floyd and dress up in period costume. This coming weekend marks the forth year this wonderful event will be held with lunch starting at 2pm and the degree to follow at 4pm. No doubt Brother Moon has been sewing with buffalo needles and chewing leather or performing some other randomly lost art in eager anticipation. We hope to see you there.

So actually until this morning this was the first time I realized Memorial Day went back to the time after the Civil War. It should be noted that the Confederate Veterans did not necessarily follow Memorial Day after the General Order but the South fell in line with the rest of the country after World War I.

The Holiday has evolved into a weekend where all past loved ones are remembered. My wife commented a few days ago how we should head up to the family plots and place flowers on the graves of her Grand Parents and tidy up the place a bit. This reminded me that this weekend as you drive around town here in Utah you would see the American Flag waving and more especially the small American Flags displayed with honor on the graves of those veterans we hold so dear.

How appropriate that we meet here tonight in Clearfield a place which has many members who have served our country and have chosen Gateway Lodge as their place to hang their hat.

In further thought I went back into my mind about my Paternal Grandfather whom I never knew. He passed away about a year before I was born and my only connection to him is the Masonic Fraternity. I believe Past Grand Master Steven Lancaster has a similar story. I think he has his Grandfather's watch fob and I have my Grandfather's ring that I am wearing tonight.

The connection with Memorial Day is this. When I was 5 years old my family moved from Boston to New Jersey. In my memory was a trip back home to see extended family. I remember Mom, Dad and my sisters loading into the van and traveling to a cemetery I had never been to before. I remember planting flowers and I also remember my father telling me this is where his father my Grandfather was buried. This is the only tangible memory I have until 1998 when I received this ring.

If we flash forward to 2005 my wife Audrey and I traveled to Boston to see her sister for Thanksgiving. Armed with only memories and some conversations with my Dad and my Aunt I devised a mission. I was going to find that cemetery and that gravestone. With the help of Google Earth and Yahoo maps and a clue from my Aunt that the tombstone was up by a fence on a hill, we were off for a cemetery near the hospital where I was born. We bundled up in the car and rode off to the nearby town where we found the cemetery. We drove in around a turn and up a hill. I stopped the car saw the fence and said this is the place. Somewhere in my head I remembered I was here before.

Now I must say there is nothing more sobering than on a bright clear cold day than to approach a tombstone with six-inch letters that spells out your own last name. Even more emotional is something I never remembered was that just over my family name was the square and compasses.

So a trip when I was five years old on a Memorial Day Weekend locked deep in my memory and a Fraternity I decided to join some twenty years later had once again converged and brought things in my life full circle.

I am sure and certain that many of you here tonight no matter what affiliation you have to the Masonic Family have these same thoughts, memories and connections. Is it not an awesome thing to be part of this Fraternity? It's an intangible you just cannot explain to the outside world.

Thanks for listening and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend where we hope to see you at Camp Floyd or Lagoon.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator
2007

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry What Do Younger Masons Want?"

One of the most prevalent questions on the minds of the leaders of our Fraternity today is what do younger Masons want?

I decided to ask a group of Brothers within my circle the question "What if Freemasonry were gone?" I figured one of the fastest ways to find out what they want is to pose this question. Now in my queries I wasn't asking about suspensions, NPD's or the termination of a lodge's charter or any of those negative things but what if there was suddenly no more Masonic Fraternity.

Some of the responses are not surprising but they are revealing. Here are a few I picked from my Brethren.

I would feel a lack of direction.

I would feel the loss of my identity.

I would feel like a man without a country.

I would lose a tie with those that are like family to me.

I would feel the loss of my accomplishments.

And one of the most telling if not emphatic was that my niece, nephew, or child would not have a place to go to learn how to read.

Lets look at the responses and try to draw some conclusions.

The first response "I would feel a lack of direction". The prospect of being lost unfortunately is a common occurrence in many of our lives, just ask any of our spouses or partners and it is true that "we" do not have a lock on the "one way" for self improvement. But we do have some answers. For example the theme as set out by our Grand Master this year is "Freemasonry the right course for life's journey." Many men join Freemasonry because at it's core is a blue print on how to map out one's life. The fraternity has done this for me and I am sure if not your initial reason for joining the Fraternity has also aided you in your daily lives.

The second response "I would feel the loss of my identity". How many of you feel that Freemasonry is intertwined in your life? The very way you carry yourself, the manner in how you make decisions and the way you interact with your fellow man are all distinct and identifiable traits. I would argue that you being a member of the Masonic Family enhances all these things? You have a sense of pride in being identified as a Freemason or a member of the Shriners or The Eastern Star. How many of you joined the Fraternity like myself to feel a link with a long passed relative that you may have never known? Think about it.

The third response "I would feel like a man without a country". One of the joys of Freemasonry is that our Fraternity extends beyond the borders of our state and covers the globe. How many of you have traveled and were welcomed because you were a Mason or part of an Affiliate body within the Masonic Family? Were you extended aid or assistance in times of trouble? Where else I ask you do you have that experience in modern society. What other organization offers you the comfort of knowing you will be accepted as Friend and Brother whether it be forty miles or 4000 miles from home? Or if you are Brother Larry Fielden allows you to get through customs in 4 minutes instead of 40.

The forth response "I would lose a tie with those who are like family to me". If each and every one of you looks around this room you will see people here tonight you consider family. The Masonic Family is just that "a family". A family loves, quarrels, cries and laughs. I am sure each of us sees people we have shared these thoughts, feelings and emotions with. And for those of us who at times unfortunately have had no family, within the fraternity we are at home.

The fifth response "I would feel the loss of my accomplishments." Each of us in our respective lodge, chapter or temple has worked hard. The Fraternity and its off shoots is hard work and from these toils we build a sense of pride about ourselves. Whether it's degree work, helping with the youth groups, visiting the sick or infirmed, preparing meals for gatherings all these things provide items we check off on our daily to-do lists of life. These accomplishments are necessary. They help define who we are.

The sixth and final response has to do with the noblest of all our endeavors and that is charity. Although I believe many come to our portals and join our Fraternity not to initially practice charity but for friendships and enlightenment. We teach this concept probably better than most. In a world where so many things are so out of control sometimes is it not just nice to know that in your membership that in some small way you get to make a difference in a person or a child's life.

These are the things younger Masons want?

In this exercise about loss I think we have discovered we all want the same things. Whether we are younger or seasoned members. We want direction, we want identity, we want a greater sense of community, we want family, we want to work and more importantly we want to give back.

So if Freemasonry were gone could we have all these things? I am sure we could. But it just wouldn't be same without our own little stamp on it.

Thanks for listening and have a good evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry Why Men Join and Why Men Leave?"

I want to tell you a story about two Masons. Two men join the lodge because their friend recently becomes a Freemason. They both concentrate hard on their memory work and make it a little competition to see who could finish first. They both receive their Master Mason degree and soon they receive officer appointments in the lodge. Both Brethren excel in their ritual and their Masonic skills but as the years pass by one of the Brothers falls by the wayside. He attends fewer and fewer meetings. He doesn't attend degree work when he agreed to come. He soon finds himself out of the officer line and soon thereafter we don't see him at all. He doesn't answer our calls, and he doesn't respond to our mail.

His Brother progresses and finds himself one day elected to the office of Worshipful Master, where one of his first duties is to sign the paperwork that his Brother has been dropped from the roles for non-payment of dues.

Does this story sound familiar to some of you? It is familiar to me. You see I'm the one who made it to Master. I'm the one who is still here. How did we fail to help my Brother or was he doomed from the very start?

At one time both of us had the fire within us that made us both want to be Freemasons. What was it that made one of us succeed and one of us fall away? Did somebody say something? Did somebody not say something? Were we not diligent at our portals and allow someone into our fold that wasn't ready to be a Mason? Or worse yet should this person never have been admitted into our Fraternity in the first place?

All valid questions wouldn't you agree?

With all the free publicity the Fraternity has received in the last few years many men have knocked on our doors and many men have gained entry. In our rush for membership have we neglected the basics? It is true some have become viable productive members of our Masonic Family and included their own families in our many appendant and affiliate organizations. Still there are those that join and we never see them again.

The other day I was talking with a younger member of my home lodge and asked him what his member number was on his dues card so to compare to my own. The numbers were almost a hundred digits apart. Mine was issued in 1998 and his some years later. I thought about that a long time and wondered if I could remember all the faces that were represented by those one hundred digits. Some of those faces are in this room tonight, but where are all those other guys?

In August 2005 Worshipful Brother Drew Sanders performed a survey of the Brethren that had joined Wasatch Lodge in recent years and found out some very important information. Most men joined the lodge because they had a friend already in the lodge.

That was the very reason I had joined.

A fellow that is 18 joins for a different reason than a man of 25. Just as the man of 40 joins for a different reason than a man of 65.

Men in general join our Fraternity to be part of something, they join because they want to work and be busy and they want to have a sense of pride and feel special in their membership a feeling they just don't receive in the outside world.

For some it's the friendships for some it's the philosophies and for some it the charitable endeavors. What we do know is that the experience of the "elusive male bonding" is different for every man and because of that we the established membership should practice caution. Not every body is here for the same reason that you are.

The night I joined the fraternity it was told to me, "you get out of Freemasonry what you put into it".

Never were truer words spoken. It is often said that in order to appreciate something one must work for it. That is why I think some folks don't make the cut and some do.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that we as a Fraternity beat ourselves up pretty bad when we lose someone. We try justify it with the fact that our system is broken or maybe we could have done something more. Is there any real answer? Are these things simply out of our control?

The other important thing Worshipful Brother Sanders survey pointed out was that at the six to seven year marks some men's interest begin to wane. Maybe their friends move on or they concentrate their efforts in the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine or outside of the Fraternity.

The truth of the matter is that the fraternity is not a static thing and it ebbs and flows like the tide with gains and losses. And the Fraternity still remains. We should be happy with our positive growth and not so hung up on how big we need to be.

Freemasonry has a different experience for everybody and maybe that's why some men join and some men leave.

Thanks for listening and have a good evening.

By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening.

The title of tonight's talk is "Freemasonry in Perspective a Positive Approach to our Future".

When I joined the Fraternity in 1998 I was excited and had a sense of purpose and knew I wanted to be a Freemason. In conversations with my friends and in books and articles I read it was evident to me that this was the right choice in my life. However soon after I put on the white leatheren apron and sat in lodge stories and tales of the good old days surrounded me. Conversations such as "We are sure glad to have you but man had you been around years ago you would have seen this room filled". "Doesn't happen anymore we are just dying off." I then started reading articles on-line and in periodicals about the death of fraternal societies and more especially the grand Daddy of them all "The Masons". The very society that I just decided to join.

Glad to have you here but we're not going to be around much longer. Pretty positive message huh? Negative damaging comments to the new member whether it was me or anyone else.

Lets now fast forward a few years to today and look at the amount of degree work in our lodges. It's awesome what we see around our state. Lodges may be consolidating but they are stronger and making amazing amounts of progress. I believe Golden Spike is guilty of this. They are initiating numerous candidates. Men are joining our Fraternity and bringing their families into our Masonic circle.

Now lets look at the naysayers in the press. If we are in our death throws why do movies and books capitalize on the square and compass to sell their product? I bet everyone in here has seen a Masonic book or two in the discount rack at Barnes and Noble. And much to the chagrin of our spouses and partners we always leave a bit lighter in the wallet and our library grows some more.

Obviously then Freemasonry is a relevant topic.

So I ask you then if we are dying off why are we so incredibly popular with the outside world?

Here is my observation of "perspective" "specifically" with membership. We (new guys) didn't know any better when we joined and didn't know that we were "declining". So we did what we supposed too and we grew. Men that have been sitting on the sidelines for years were waiting for us to join. Then these men our established membership embraced this enthusiasm and we all worked together to grow even more. As a result all of our side orders and appendant bodies are now growing. The Scottish Rite has seen a positive growth in the last three years. The Shrine last year showed positive growth. On a personal note my wife Audrey and I will be joining the Eastern Star in June.

The long and the short of it is that in the last few years we changed our perspective and stopped letting fear rule our fraternity.

My wife mentioned to me a few weeks ago how strange it was that in our Masonic travels "some" dwell on the decline of our fraternity. See she and I have only known each other since 2004 and all she knows and has seen is growth. And such is the same with much of our newer membership regardless of their age. All they know is growth and all they know is that we as a fraternity in the state of Utah are busy.

However we as the established membership must practice caution and take care in the expressions of negativity in front of our new members. Our old quarrels and past challenges are not their problems. Lets make sure we lead by a positive example. It's important that we give the new guys a chance. It's important that we don't discount ideas because we may have tried them before and failed. Like I said the new guy doesn't know any better. Let them try and maybe they just might succeed. We must check our perspectives. All is not lost. There is much to gain.

Many of you may have seen Ron Howard's 1995 film Apollo 13. The film is a portrayal of that ill-fated moon voyage and the successful and triumphal return of the three astronauts to earth all in one piece. Just before the end of the film in mission control there is a scene in which a NASA official is talking to another of all the odds against the capsule returning to earth safely. The heat shield is probably damaged, the parachute probably won't open and there is typhoon in the pacific near the landing zone. Just too many variables for a successful outcome. The other official agrees that this would be the worst disaster NASA has ever experienced. At that point Ed Harris who portrays Gene Kranz the NASA flight Director turns around and says, "with all due respect Sir I believe this will be our finest hour".

He cinched up his tie, buttoned up his vest and went to work. Just like we do. Everyday should be the finest hour to Utah Freemasonry. Interesting perspective wouldn't you agree? In the face of all that doom and gloom someone stood up and believed in the positive. It can be done. It will be done. We have that here with in Utah Freemasonry. We are growing we are succeeding; don't let anybody tell you different. As Brother Ben Franklin said, "Energy and persistence conquer all things."

Thanks for listening and have a good evening.

Grand Oration,
By Worshipful Brother John C. Liley Jr., Grand Orator
February, 2008

Most Worshipful Grand Master.

Brethren I would like to start today by thanking the Grand Master for this opportunity he has given me to serve as your Grand Orator for your Grand Lodge and Utah Freemasonry in General. This job has not been a chore but rather a pleasure that has been very rewarding. And one of the best I have ever had the honor to hold in the Fraternity.

As a member of the Masonic Family we all have many ideas, thoughts and things we wish we could express publicly. In the office of Grand Orator you finally have this opportunity and the responsibility that is now yours, as a serving member of our Grand Lodge. With this in mind one of the first things I did was send out emails to a group of Masons both young and old in years and experience. In this correspondence questions would be put forth and then the responses garnered which would be woven together with my own ideas in each Oration so that although I may have been the author of the work it was an effort of many. For this I too must thank those Brethren for their ideas, thoughts, triumphs, and frustrations for without them the computer screen may have well remained blank.

I would also like to thank the many brethren that shared the ride in the car with me all over the state this last year. Whether it was twenty minutes to the Temple downtown or many hours to a lodge in a far off rural community those conversations in the car were golden and those friendships and the warm welcomes that we received at the lodges, those really are what Freemasonry is all about.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, Distinguished Guests from Near and Far, Brethren All Good Afternoon.

The title of today's talk is "Freemasonry, Now is the Time".

I am very excited about Utah Freemasonry. In my travels around the state just about every lodge I have visited they are reading new petitions. The Brethren are working hard. There are countless calls and email requests from lodges to their Brethren to help in initiating these new members. Master Masons are joining the York Rite, Scottish Rite and the Shrine. I truly believe that "we" in Utah are throwing off this "implied negativity of the past" and we have decided that we will no longer be defined by our detractors. We are a viable and growing Fraternity. John F. Kennedy said, "Let Us Resolve to be Masters of our History not Victims".

Now for many years we have seen a decline in membership. This is a truth we cannot deny. Unfortunately none of us have an answer for the Grim Reaper but death as taught to us in our ritual is a necessary part of life and is part of the renewal process. Like Spring, which conquers the Winter and brings us to summer and the eventual harvest of the fall Freemasonry is going to grow again. The sauce if you will has to concentrate in the pan before it's true flavors can be experienced. This is true of Freemasonry.

The past complaints of boredom, mediocrity and silly business meetings are becoming fewer and fewer and far between. Our lodges are offering value to our membership and although like the housing market we may not have bottomed out yet we need to remain positive and maintain a belief that we are in for a wondrous rebound. Perception is reality. There is power in thought. NOW NPD's may not yet be a thing of the past but let us work so that they might be. Let us always remember that "Your Freemasonry and My Freemasonry" may always be different and sometimes the same, but we are together "Freemasons". And unfortunately though sometimes, there are those who enter our Portals who find they may not like or want to be part of us anymore to them we bid farewell and good luck.

NOW is a great time though to be a Freemason wouldn't you agree? Just about every other week when you turn on the television there is yet another program with eerie music and a storyline about what "you" are and what "we" do. So, that when you arrive at work the next day, all your co-workers are curious and you are now the resident expert and celebrity of Freemasonry. The reality though is that you now have the opportunity to enlighten the outside world to what and who we really are. Your co-workers, neighbors, friends and family they know you. They know what kind of fellow you are. And your actions and words are now representative of the Fraternity. Be careful; Be diligent, prudent and discreet. We all wanted the outside world to know about us maybe we should be a little bit more careful of what we wish for.

Earlier in the year I had a conversation with a Brother and we discussed the current state of Freemasonry. Quite often it seems he thought that we worry about so many other things within the Fraternity that we overlook the beautiful parts of the teachings of Freemasonry itself. He also pointed out something to me that I had never thought about before but was so obvious. Central to our core legend is the unfinished building of King Solomon's Temple. We as Freemasons are taught through time and degrees to be builders, to complete our own spiritual and moral edifice. So if we completed this work. If Solomon's Temple were finished, if our membership was grand and our Lodge Halls were sparkling and new would everything be just perfect? Would this elusive great "thing" that we are seeking within the Fraternity finally solve all our challenges? Are the mysteries even supposed to be solved? Is the Temple even supposed to be completed? I argue no. There are some practical things that we need to do to get our houses in order but the Masonic challenges, the Masonic Opportunities we need these as men and Masons. We need these things to grow and Freemasonry provides the vehicle. The teachings of the Fraternity offer to us if we are open to it, practical lessons that can translate to our everyday lives.

We have all seen men from all walks of life enter our lodges that were quiet and unassuming. They soon picked up the working tools and learned a lecture or took a part in a degree. Their confidence it grew they became more outgoing they became a full-fledged active member of their lodge. And these are the things that translate from Freemasonry to their personal lives. They have become better fathers, sons, brothers and co-workers. The Mason learns to speak in public, plan and design things in his life. He learns to work with his fellow man, be an upright citizen and give back to the community. More importantly in his character of a mason he displays those gentlemanly graces that are defined by his membership among us. His life is better for it and so are the lives of those he interacts with. The opportunity to learn and to serve, the Fraternity provided that for him. And this the true secret of Freemasonry the personal journey or experience is what we need to propagate and grow in our membership. This is the gift within Freemasonry we can hopefully share with the outside world. Whether you are up in the Great Dark North, out East in the Basin, West of the Great Salt Lake, all along the Wasatch Front or hidden in the mountains maybe you're down in Castle Country or round about Dixie way the ingredients are the same the recipes are just a little different.

Yesterday is today and history is NOW.

If you look around this room you will see new and seasoned members. Between us all, are not gaps of time but an indisolvable chain of Friendship and Brotherly Love. A link if you will to the Past brought to the present to the NOW. Knowledge, stories, experience, hopes, fears and dreams. Both young and old "we" have been and are NOW part of a many centuries old Fraternity. "We" are the caretakers and protectors of the household of the faithful. And while "we" cannot claim credit for Freemasonry's Glorious Past "We" everyone one of us here in this room today are responsible for what Freemasonry will be in the Future. This Fraternity, it's culture is unmatched by any other endeavor in today's society. "We" as "Freemasons" need to embrace the ever-changing opportunities given to us. "We" need to evolve without disregarding our history and traditions so that "we" can insure that our Fraternity will return to the forefront of our modern society.

In the 1966 proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Utah the then Grand Orator NOW Most Worshipful Brother Blaine M. Simons said, "Let us remember "we" can never go back, but rather let us look forward to the future. Let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals and principals of Freemasonry. Let us hold high the Banner, which our Brethren have handed us. Let us keep our Masonry a living force in this state for the things that are worthwhile. Let us remember the courage our Brethren showed in those early days, and may their past encourage us to do those things, which need to be done for the preservation and good of our beloved order. But let us not live in the past; rather let us move forward with renewed vigor."

Brethren Freemasonry was "Great" in the past and I say is still a "Great" institution today. "We" all of us herein assembled know this to be self-evident. NOW is the time this is the place and none other should satisfy us. Let the Masonic Renaissance begin "here" in the Great State of Utah.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your Communication.

Most Worshipful Grand Master I move that this Oration be spread upon the minutes of this Communication.

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
February 24th, 2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master; Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening. The title of this oration is...

CEMENTING OUR FOUNDATIONS

There's an old saying that many Roman orators used before making a speech. "There is a time when nothing must be said and a time when something must be said - but never a time when everything must be said." Therefore, tonight I promise not to pack 'everything' into my speech. Instead, I will limit my remarks to three key points of Blue Lodge Masonry. I would like to share with you my thoughts on the three great tenants of our institution; those truly commendable virtues: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. These tenants are the cement that secures our Masonic Fraternity to its foundation.

Brotherly love, Relief and Truth are the embodiment of our Fraternity. They are what has explained Masonry in the past, what defines Masonry today and what will distinguish Masonry in the future. They define who we are, what we stand for and why we are here.

In William Preston's 1772 edition of 'Illustrations of Masonry', Brother Preston writes about brotherly love. He states, "Masonry is founded upon harmony, and subsists by regularity and proportion. The delicate pleasures of friendship harmonize our minds, and exclude rancour, malice or ill-nature. We cultivate brotherly love, and reconcile ourselves to the practice of every amiable virtue. By improving the mind in the principles of morality, we enlarge our understandings, and more effectually answer the great ends of our existence."

His writing continues on the subject of relief; "Though our eyes and ears are ever impressed with, and open to the distresses of the deserving poor, yet our charity ought not to be misapplied, nor our bounty dispensed with profuse liberality on those who probably make use of masonry as a cloke to cover their impostures."

He went on to say; "We are always ready cheerfully to contribute, in proportion to our circumstances, to alleviate the sufferings of our fellow creatures. But those who are burdened with numerous offspring, and through age, sickness, infirmity, or some unforeseen accident in life, are reduced to poverty and want; particularly claim our attention, and seldom fail to experience the happy effects of our fraternal associations. We consider their situation as more easy to be conceived than expressed, and are induced liberally to extend our charity in their behalf."

Brother Preston's comments are as true today as they were two-hundred-thirty-four years ago.

In the mid 1800's Amos Bronson Alcott, a U. S. philosopher, writer, reformer and father to writer Louisa May Alcott wrote about truth. He said, "Truth is inclusive of all the virtues, is older than sects or schools and, like charity, more ancient than mankind. In 1854 the Swiss philosopher and critic Henri Frederic Amiel wrote in his "Journal Intime" the words: "truth is the secret of eloquence and of virtue, the basis of moral authority; it is the highest summit of art and life."

Today - in the present - we live in a world of uncertainty that is composed of evil, hate and intolerance. We live in a world that is full of negative influences and propaganda. We live in a world that is morally indifferent and lacks the ability to rise above the darkness of ignorance and vice. Today, Brotherly love, friendship and peace are needed more than ever before. We must pledge to ourselves to continue to strive for tolerance, equality and justice among our craft, among our families, among our friends and among our communities. To keep us level on that constant plane of equilibrium we must not falter.

Today - in the present - we live in a world whose values are self centered, where self indulgence and selfishness are in the driver's seat and charity and relief are in the back seat. When we relieve the suffering and the distressed, soothe the unhappy hearts of the needy or do good to our fellow man; we receive back ten fold in joy and happiness and in the satisfaction of giving. I believe in the old saying, "What goes around; comes around."

Years ago a wealthy English family was entertaining friends at their home. As the children swam in a pond, one ventured into the deep water and began to drown. A gardener who heard the screams jumped into the water and saved the child. The youngster's name was Winston Churchill. Deeply grateful to the gardener, the parents asked how they could ever repay him. He hesitated, but then said, "I wish my son could go to college someday to be a doctor."

"He will," said Churchill's parents. "We will pay his way."

Years later when Sir Winston was Prime Minister and a Mason, he became ill with pneumonia. The best physician the king could find was called to the bedside of the ailing leader. His name was Sir Alexander Fleming, the developer of penicillin and the son of that gardener who long ago saved his life. Brother Churchill later said, "Rarely has a man owed his life twice to the same person."

Today - in the present - we live in a world that distorts the truth and manipulates the facts for political purposes or personal agendas. It is said that truth is the foundation of every virtue. To live a virtuous life one must first build on a foundation of truth. Virtue is defined as: moral excellence, goodness or righteousness.

President and Brother Gerald R. Ford, in taking the oath of office, August 9, 1974 remarks, "I believe that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our Government but civilization itself. That bond, though strained, is unbroken at home and abroad."

Now, I ask the questions: Will the cement of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth be as strong in the future as they are today? Will they distinguish us - our Masonic family as a just, moral, and charitable organization? Will society look upon us as a group that not only stands for the principles of its institution but lives by it's principles as well? I believe it will because of three things - first, the cement is made of principles that are irrefutable; second, the cement consists of principles that are infallible and third, the cement is bonded to a strong, true and level foundation.

In order to maintain our precepts of brotherly love, relief and truth we must all individually and as a group take an equal part in securing these tenants by being tolerant of all persons.

Remember Brethren, when you part company from the sacred confines of this fraternal assembly to mix again with the world with all of its intolerance, confusion and uncertainty; do not forget the obligations you have taken. Be of one mind and follow you hearts. Remember the principles you were taught of friendship and relief; tolerance and guidance amongst all. Extend these practices to all peoples wherever dispersed. Do well unto all and live in peace.

In operative masonry cement is used to join stone to foundation and stone to stone to form the base and walls of a building. In speculative masonry cement is used to join our Masonic Family together for that spiritual building.

Up until now, I have talked about the cement of Freemasonry now its time to mention the foundation of Freemasonry. A foundation is only as strong as the material that constitutes its make up. So what is the material that constitutes our Masonic foundation? What is it made of? Well our Masonic foundation, the foundation that is the support for all our doing is made up of…YOU. Everyone in this room, everyone in this building, everyone who is member of the Masonic family is part of the foundation of Freemasonry. It is YOU that provide the strength and support to our institution; it is YOU who will insure the future of our Fraternity for years to come and it is YOU who will reap the benefits of living and sharing a life that is paramount in a world such as ours.

A Freemason and a soap maker went for a walk together. The soap maker said, "What good is Freemasonry? Look at all the hate, misery and trouble in the world? It is still there, even after years - hundreds of years - of the Fraternity teaching about brotherly, relief and truth. And it is still there after all of your Masonic teachings about faith, hope and charity. If Masonry is good and true, how can this be?"

Brother Jim said nothing. They continued walking until he noticed a child playing in the gutter. The Mason said, "Look at that child. You say that soap makes people clean, but see all of the dirt on that youngster. What good is soap? With all the soap in the world, over all these years, the child is still filthy. I wonder how effective soap is, after all!"

The soap maker snapped in protest. "But Brother Jim, soap cannot do any good unless it is used!"

"Exactly," replied Brother Jim, "Exactly!"

In order to be effective as a group we must use what we have efficiently, precisely and with optimum focus. We must take Masonry outside of our hearts, outside the doors of the Lodge room, outside the walls of the Temple and spread the cement of our Fraternity to the entire world.

It's all up to us, and as our Most Worshipful Grand Master says, "Let's start spreading some of that cement!"

Thank you and enjoy the rest of the evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 24th, February 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
February 25th, 2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening.

In the last 24 hours - on average - you ate over three pounds of food, including this delicious meal. You drank nearly three quarts of water. You inhaled 438 cubic feet of air. You lost nearly a pound of waste. You spoke 25,000 words and moved 750 different muscles. You breathed more than 20,000 times. Your heart beat more than 100,000 beats. You exercised 7 million brain cells. Your blood traveled 168 million miles. With all that work you did, I hope you will have enough energy to bear with me as I discuss…

Mason Time

Or as I like to say; "honest honey, it's only one night a month!" Seriously, if we think about it, "Mason time" can be defined as the duration of time we spend at Masonic functions and charity events, or the frequency of attendance at the many Masonic organizations we belong to, in Masonic education, or in our full time responsibility of just being Masons

"Mason time" is directly proportional to how important we feel the Fraternity is to us, how interested we are in what makes up the Fraternity, and what we expect to gain or learn from the time we spend in the Fraternity.

Now, if we divide "Mason time" by the responsibilities we have outside the fraternity - which is the time we must spend daily, with our family, with our work and with our faith as well as all other important activities in our lives; we get a good idea of how compressed time is, how busy life is today and how important it is to balance our time. This gives rise to three points I would like to cover tonight. They are the significance in utilizing "Mason time" more efficiently, applying "Mason time" more effectively and most important of all, cherishing every moment we have in all that we do.

"Mason time" can be utilized more efficiently by implementing three distinct functions. First, establish a thorough plan and direction in whatever you do. Second, take action through organization in everything you do. And third, seize control of the moment in every situation. By carrying out these procedures; inefficiency is negated, slow and imprecise ritual is invalidated and long, drawn out or just plain boring meetings are eliminated.

The subject of long boring meetings reminds me of the story about the Preacher and the Parishioner. "The preacher was going on and on and on one Sunday when he saw one of his best parishioners get up and walk out of the church before the sermon had finished. The preacher was very annoyed, and the next time he met with the parishioner he asked him why he had walked out during his sermon.

"'I went to get a haircut.' The parishioner replied.
"'Well, in heaven's name,' protested the preacher, 'why didn't you get a haircut before you came to church?'"
'"Because, Reverend,' said the parishioner, 'when I came to church, I didn't need a haircut.'"

Establish a plan and direction. Keep meeting times short, precise and to the point. This will keep our members in the lodge chair and out of the barber chair. Masonic Functions can either be a festive occasion full of interesting interactions with one another or they can lull us all to sleep from boredom or shear exhaustion. Find ways to make your meetings more attractive to all, new and old members alike. Listen to what the members have to say.

What do our young members in the Fraternity feel are the most important reasons for joining this ancient and honorable Fraternity? Is it the camaraderie, friendship and brotherly love one experiences in this three-hundred year old Fraternity? Is it the search for the light of truth and knowledge? Or maybe, it is the spiritual tie through giving and aiding our fellowman?

I think it is a combination of all three of these important ideals. It is all about finding a sense of purpose and a belonging to a group of like individuals and it surely isn't the business meetings. We talk about new business - we talk about old business - we need to get away from the monkey business!

Organization saves everyone time. There is nothing worse than having to wait for something that you know could have been delivered in due time only if prior organization had taken place. The collective time, that is everyone's time adds to the importance of organization.

Young people today, in order to survive the pressures of society, family and work that have been placed upon them; must be able to multitask, multifunction and multiply their precious asset - time. We must not infringe on that asset.

Seize control of the tasks at hand. Leadership buys you freedom to handle the situation in a positive manner, control the duration of tasks and reap the benefits of efficiency.

"Mason time" can be applied more effectively through clear and precise communication. Communication is defined as the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions or information by speech or writing, etc.

Communicate through clear, simple and precise terms; communicate by direction, stay on the subject at hand; and communicate with those whom you are having the dialog with, focus on them.

George Eliot in 1879 said it best, and it would do us all some good to take this to heart. He said, "Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact."

Good communication requires attentive listening. I don't recall who said this but it is a good example, "A man was asked what his wife's favorite flower was and he responded - that's easy, it's Pillsbury!"

Attentive listening provides insight into what the other person has to say. Someone once said, "Good listeners generally make more sales than good talkers." This is true because the good listeners understand what the other person's needs and desires are; good talkers don't.

Again, time has become so very important in today's animated society with all of the other duties and responsibilities life requires of us that it affects our lives and our ability to be a member of the Masonic Family.

Time has become an asset that cannot and must not be wasted. The writer Paul J. Meyer wrote, "Most time is wasted, not in hours, but in minutes. A bucket with a small hole in the bottom gets just as empty as a bucket that is deliberately kicked over."

In the past our brethren met as a group to fulfill the need to belong, for socialization as well as brotherly love and friendship. Today our brethren meet for the same reasons but time has become a luxury to all of us. It is the minutes in the day that count, not the hours.

Cherishing every moment we have in all that we do is most often hard if not impossible. It seems like our priorities have changed in this world today and we don't make the time to stop and smell the roses or gaze at the birds flying effortlessly in the clear blue sky or watch the golden glow of the sun as it sinks into the horizon. Use all of your senses and take the time to reflect and enjoy the beauty of God's work today.

I would like to quote Scott Stratten a motivational speaker; who describes investing in time this way, "Imagine…there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening deletes what you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Use all of it, of course.

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance, it allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you, each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposit, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits.

Invest it so you get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today. Take responsibility for your own happiness now. Enjoy life, now."

We must balance our "Mason time" with our family time, with our work time and what we want to achieve in life. We often take for granted the things that are most important to us. We do not often thank our loved ones, our ladies and our families for the sacrifices they make that allow us to spend our "Mason time" away from them. Take the time to say thank you.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, " The man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had."

The clock of life is ticking and no one can predict where the hands of time will stop for them. Love life, now!

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 25th, February 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
March 3rd, 2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening. I quote George Carlin, "Scientists announced today that they have discovered a cure for apathy. However, they claim no one has shown the slightest interest in it." I hope I will hold your interest in this oration which is titled...

Apathy, Complacency and Other Dirty Words

How often do you hear the phrases - "I don't care, so what?" "What does it have to do with me, why should I care?" or, "big deal, someone else will do It." and last but not least, "I don't give a ****." I suppose more often than not in everyday life. The real question is how often do you hear yourself saying those words?

Webster's Dictionary defines apathy as a lack of feeling or emotion, a lack of interest or concern. The dictionary defines complacency as self satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. For the purpose of this oration, dirty words are defined as words whose terms relate to apathy and complacency.

Tonight I would like to talk about these two states of being; apathy and complacency and how they affect our lives and our Fraternity.

Apathy and complacency creep into our lives like a silent subtle haze; like a cold dense fog that materializes in the atmosphere at night, covering everything in a damp motionless blanket of indifference. From this haze a residue of decay forms, it is the decomposition of action. We can find it everywhere; in our nation, in our community and in our Fraternity. "Apathy destroys the power of action and complacency destroys the action to empower." They menace our freedoms, undermine our liberties and threaten our very existence. When we practice indifference or become complacent other dirty words materialize as obscure droplets on the surface of humanity. These dirty words are impurities that are caused by the direct association with apathy and complacency, here to name just three; they are mediocrity, ignorance and intolerance. They tarnish the light of freedom; dim the flame of justice, and shroud the face of decency.

Mediocrity is the submission to inferior abilities or values. When we settle for mediocrity, we consent to inferior quality, we succeed to lower our expectations in all things, and we choose to be barely adequate. Eric Hoffer wrote in the New York Times Magazine, April 25th 1971, "The real Antichrist is he who turns the wine of an original idea into the water of mediocrity."

Ignorance is the lack of knowledge. When we settle for ignorance, we choose un-enlightenment, we consent to misinformation, we submit to the rule and control by others. Ignorance and apathy go hand in hand. This quote by Richard Pratt simply describes the meanings of the two words, "A university professor set an examination question in which he asked what is the difference between ignorance and apathy" "The professor had to give an A+ to a student who answered: I don't know and I don't care."

Intolerance is the unwillingness to share social, political and personal rights as well as freedoms. When we settle on intolerance, we choose a closed mind, we consent to the inability to endure, and we secede to bigotry. President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote in his address to the National Education Association on June 30th 1938, "If the fires of freedom and civil liberties burn low in other lands, they must be made brighter in our own. If in other lands the press and books and literature of all kinds are censored, we must redouble our efforts here to keep them free. If in other lands the eternal truths of the past are threatened by intolerance we must provide a safe place for their perpetuation."

We as a nation must carry the light of freedom by speaking out against injustice, inequality and mediocrity.

History is full of examples of the out comes from apathetic societies and complacent individuals. Albert Einstein wrote, "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

We as a community must keep the flame of justice burning by speaking out against bigotry, ignorance and hate.

Robert F. Kennedy wrote, "Laws can embody standards; governments can enforce laws - but the final task is not a task for government. It is a task for each and every one of us. Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted - when we tolerate what we know to be wrong - when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened - when we fail to speak up and speak out - we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice."

You may ask what these words have to do with Freemasonry and the Fraternity. Well, our existence as a fraternal organization depends on involvement, it depends on contribution, and it depends on doing.

We as a Fraternity must keep the face of decency glowing by controlling our actions towards one another through tolerance, equality and justice for all.

The attitudes we develop early in life toward self and selfishness, involvement and indifference, tolerance and intolerance, display themselves in ways that our conscious minds don't often see; therefore, "we must be ever vigilant about the consequences of reacting and speaking before the act of thinking".

We must change our attitudes toward how we involve ourselves in the Fraternity. We don't like change, but change is good for all who seek the truth; "it rattles the chains of complacency and breaks the bonds of apathy".

When we involve ourselves with the business of Freemasonry, with the ritual of Freemasonry and with the charity of Freemasonry we are reassured of the closeness of friendship - the satisfaction of caring - the joy of giving. We can choose to stand at a distance - outside - peering into the doorway of self illumination that leads to knowledge or we can walk through and enter the light of positive thinking.

The author of this quote is unknown but it could be attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, though it's unverified, "Great nations rise and fall. The people go from bondage to spiritual truth, to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back again to bondage."

I think our nation may be in that stage of complacency leading to apathy. We must not digress further from apathy to dependence. How can we overcome the silent haze of apathy and complacency? Do we have a choice? Yes, we do have a choice, it is called involvement - it is called contribution - it is called doing.

We can choose to follow one of two paths in life. One path leads to action; and is filled with reason that leads to the light of knowledge. The other path leads to inaction and is filled with doubt and uncertainty that leads to darkness and despair. You make the choice on which path you want to travel.

Show an interest in all that is important, become involved in the ideals and values that make a positive difference and take action in what concerns you in your life. And don't ever, let yourself get caught saying the phrase: "I don't know and I don't care".

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 03 March 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening. When Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone visited President Reagan during his administration, he asked for the auto import restriction to be rescinded, saying "We've had a rougher time of it: consider Hiroshima." The Gipper asked, "What has that got to do with it?" "Well, we've never destroyed one of your cities," replied Nakasone. Quickly Reagan cut in: "What about Detroit?" Well, I hope I don't destroy your attention when I talk about...

The Acts of Patriotism

After the brutal, evil and senseless acts that were perpetrated against humanity on September 11th 2001 we have observed an upsurge of patriotism in this country, a closeness of purpose, a bond of togetherness that we haven't felt for quite sometime. Almost five years later we are continuing to fight terrorism on its door step in Afghanistan and Iraq; this upsurge of patriotism seems to be waning. Not from the devoted members of our Armed Forces who know the true meaning of patriotism but from citizens of this country who don't understand the importance of defending the acts of patriotism.

These acts of patriotism are defined as love of ones country, support of one's country and defense of one's country just three simple words; love, support and defend. By committing these acts we signify our desire to be free. Free from tyranny - free from bondage - free from despotism.

It seems like many citizens have forgotten what personal sacrifices are required in order to be free and in order to stay free. They have forgotten what kind of sacrifices it takes - to allow them their freedom of speech - to allow them their freedom of assembly - to allow them their freedom of the press.

We as Masons - as a Fraternity - as a Masonic Family know the importance of patriotism. We are one of the most patriotic groups in the country, our ritual implies it, our actions display it and our members demonstrate it. Past history reveals it; present actions prove it and the future will portray it.

The love of ones country is more than giving thanks to our forefathers who sacrificed during the infancy of our Nation. It requires more than thanking those who have continued the sacrifices for freedom today. It demands more than waving the flag on the forth of July. It involves the constant obligation of all citizens to love one another and this country unconditionally with all of its imperfections - with all of its challenges - with all of its burdens.

The American Revolution martyr, Captain Nathan Hale describes the essence of true patriotism when he faced death with the famous words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

Then Representative, President Gerald R. Ford, in his address to the state conference of the Order of DeMolay, in Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 7th 1968 said, "America now is stumbling through darkness of hatred and divisiveness. Our values, our principles, and our determination to succeed as a free and democratic people will give us a torch to light the way. And we will survive and become the stronger - not only because of patriotism that stands for love of country, but a patriotism that stands for love of people."

Theodore Roosevelt in his letter to S. Stanwood Menken, chairman, of the committee on Congress of Constructive Patriotism on January 26, 1917 wrote, "Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood-the virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty- first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life."

The support of ones country is more than agreeing with the political norm or following the current trends or jumping on the band wagon of popular opinion. It requires speaking out against injustice, immorality and inequality. It demands the participation in the policies and laws of government through a thorough knowledge of issues, agendas and candidates in the exercise of our vote. It involves action at all levels in our communities - in our faith - in our schools - in our homes. It is the true understanding of from whence we came.

Brother and General Omar N. Bradley defined patriotism this way, "A nation's strength is not found in its treasury statements. It lies instead in the national character of its people in their willingness to sacrifice leisure, comfort and share of their talents for the welfare of the nation of which they are apart. Patriotism is putting not less, but more personal responsibility into the affairs of your community and your nation."

The defense of ones country is more than supporting those who defend our freedom. It requires personal sacrifices by all of its citizens for the common good. It involves a thorough understanding of that delicate equilibrium of security and freedom. It demands the ultimate commitment that one can give. I reference Todd Beamer accompanied by Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett Jr. and Jeremy Glick, all true American heroes; when on United Airlines flight 93 out of Newark, New Jersey that fateful day of September 11th made the decision to charge the hijackers and prevent more loss of life from the hands of evil. The GTE operator heard Mark ask someone, "Are you ready?" then she heard him say, "Okay, Let's roll."

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, "For the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." This illustrates true patriotism and a willingness to sacrifice for the common good.

I recall at one of Twin Peaks Lodge # 32's business meeting, I had a discussion with Brother and Major David P. Bradney, United States Marine Corps, Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station Salt Lake City regarding recruiting in today's climate with today's culture. Major Bradney expressed the need to educate the public on the fact that a career in the Armed Forces is not only an honorable and noble profession but is instrumental to the very survival of our country.

I would like to quote Major Bradney from a speech he made to an audience of parents of future Marines, kids about to ship to recruit training, and some educators. He wrote, "This is a pivotal time in our nation's history. We are fighting a war against radical Islamic fanaticism. A fanaticism that is determined to eliminate or conquer our freedoms and way of life." "This war is unlike any war fought in our nation's history. Our enemy is using the strategy of terror never before seen to force governments and societies to capitulate to their demands and they are unrelenting. There is no amount of diplomacy, negotiation, or acquiescing that will stop this enemy from continuing to terrorize our nation. Only through our demise or theirs will this terror stop."

Major Bradney went on to say, "Unlike at anytime in the past 30 years, service today in the defense of this nation is more demanding and the probability of entering into conflict has greatly increased. We are after all at war. And, though it is understandable that there is a larger percentage of our nation's populace that remains reluctant to take up arms, this nation will be defended. Those that think otherwise are foolhardy and are ignorant of the zeal and determination in which our enemy carries out their mission of our demise."

David continued: "That commitment to our nation's defense is indeed noble and selfless and is to be respected and honored. Because our military is comprised only of volunteers, your defenders are highly motivated, extremely dedicated to the mission at hand, more physically fit, better educated, and better trained. They take up the cause of freedom understanding the possible consequences good and bad."

Major Bradney stressed the importance of our history. He said, "It is important to recall that 229 years ago a radical experiment in human freedom eventually manifested itself in the creation of the United States of America. These unprecedented freedoms and form of government created a society that spawned the most giving and powerful nation this planet has ever seen. If you are a student of American history you know that these freedoms were not easily obtained. Many great patriots risked much and lost much to include their lives for this nation's birth. If we value these freedoms and our way of life, which I think we do, then we must at times be willing to defend them as they have been in the past with more zeal and determination than any enemy that is attempting to orchestrate our fall. If we do less, we risk unfathomable loss."

Major Bradney, I thank you for your service to our Country!

Through heroism, gallantry and courage, "Our Military is the sword that is wielded by the hand of freedom. It is the instrument that defends all of our rights as a free people. And from time to time upon the face of the earth this sword must be drawn from its sheath, it must be executed with precision; it must be defaced by the blood of enemies who wish to defeat freedom, equality and justice."

Adlai Stevenson in his speech to the American Legion Convention in New York City on August 27th 1952 said, "We talk a great deal about patriotism. What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility which will enable America to remain master of her power - to walk with it in serenity and wisdom, with self-respect and the respect of all mankind; a patriotism that puts country ahead of self; a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. The dedication of a lifetime - these are words that are easy to utter, but this is a mighty assignment. For it is often easier to fight for principles than to live up to them."

The American's Creed:
"I believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign nation of many sovereign states; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortune." "I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies."

The Congress of the United States on April 6, 1918, officially adopted "The American's Creed" by William Tyler Page, as a definition to express the beliefs of our nation and the statement can be construed as an official definition of patriotism. From April 6th 1918 to March 31st 2006 the American's Creed has remained true and I have no doubt it will in the future as well.

"The destruction of a country comes not from the outside by attacks of terrorism, or from bombs, nor from blood. The destruction comes from within by its citizens- from indifference - from ignorance - from the lack of patriotism."

I simply ask you to remember those three words; love, support and defend; and of course - let's Roll!

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 31 March 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
April 1st, 2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening. A man walking down the street passes a house and notices a child trying to reach the doorbell. No matter how much the little guy stretches, he can't make it. The man calls out, "Say there, let me get that for you," and he bounds onto the porch and rings the bell. "Thanks, mister," says the kid. "Now let's run!" Well, I hope you won't feel like running away when I talk about...

Our Foundation of Youth

"Our" fountain of youth, as you might have guessed is made up of young ladies who are members of the many Bethels in the Order of Job's Daughters and the young men who are members in the various Chapters of the Order of DeMolay, all who are sponsored by our Fraternity. They may be members of our immediate families, they might be our nieces and nephews, and they could be our grandchildren all of which combine to form part of this great organization called our Masonic Family. "Our fountain of youth" can also be construed as "our foundation of youth" because they are the building blocks for the future of this Fraternity. These young people are the builders of today, the leaders of tomorrow and the key to the success of this Nation.

Because the subject of this oration is about our youth I would like to start with a quote. Art Linkletter said, "Kids say the darnedest things!" and this quote can be exemplified here:

The math teacher saw that little Johnny wasn't paying attention in class. She called on him and said, "Johnny! What are 4, 2, 28 and 44?" Little Johnny quickly replied, "NBC, CBS, HBO, and the Cartoon Network!"

They do at times seem to be in their own little world.

Finding one of her students making horrid faces at others on the playground, Mrs. Smith stopped to gently reprove the child. Smiling sweetly, the teacher said, "Bobby, when I was a child, I was told that if I made ugly faces, it would freeze and I would stay like that." Bobby looked up and replied, "Well, Mrs. Smith, you can't say you weren't warned."

Why do kids say the darnedest things? Being youthful in thought is why, the inhibitions of youth - the honesty of youth - the imagination of youth provide the keys. Inhibition, honesty and imagination are three elements that unlock the abilities for children to think, to learn and to grow.

Someone once said, "Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said." They also said, "Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners."

It seems like the older we get the more distance there is between youthfulness and maturity. Maybe that's why the "mature" mind is often closed to free thinking, closed to the open exchange of differing opinions and closed to new ideas - we become comfortable with the status quo.

It was Friedrich Nietzsche who said, "We must remain as close to the flowers, the grass, and the butterflies as the child is who is not yet so much taller than they are. We adults, on the other hand, have outgrown them and have to lower ourselves to stoop down to them. It seems to me that the grass hates us when we confess our love for It.-whoever would partake of all good things must understand how to be small at times."

How do we begin to understand? Do we need to become more childlike in ways that open our minds to the youthful characteristics of inhibition, honesty and imagination?

Maybe we divest our minds and consciences off all the vices and superfluities of life?

And possibly, as all have done who have gone this way before, we divest ourselves of all those worldly distinctions and equipments that are not in keeping with the humble, reverent and childlike attitude it is now our duty to assume?

If we do this, maybe we can; as Nietzsche stated, "partake of all good things".

Four-hundred years before Christ, Socrates said, "Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parent, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers." This is neither an old problem nor a new problem. Recently it was Red Buttons who said, "Never raise your hands to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected." Will these attitudes ever change? Will these values ever differ?

Someone once said, "Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years."

These attitudes will and have changed because of the diligent, caring and steadfast labor that is instilled by the Moms and Dads - the guardians of the two organizations I mentioned above. It is the Job's Daughters and the DeMolay Orders that contribute in building our foundation of youth. They teach, nurture and protect our young.

Our foundation of youth is built by teaching our young people the values of living a moral and upright life. They learn the skills in which to lead successful, happy and productive careers. They build confidence through public speaking, memorization and ritual work. Leadership principles and personal responsibility is instilled; and respect for all people and cultures are stressed.

Our foundation of youth is erected by nurturing our youth through love, tolerance and the strong bonds of lasting friendships. Through helping others, charity and community service the joy of giving is experienced.

Our foundation of youth is constructed by providing a safe and secure atmosphere to learn and grow as young adults. By fulfilling the duty of protecting our youth against the pressures of today's world and the negative influences in today's society our future is well secured.

When they are in our company, we must all be responsible at all times for the welfare, safety and protection of our youth. We must insure that the "All seeing eye" of the Fraternity is watching over all who are placed in our care.

"In order to help our youth organizations construct a solid foundation; we as individuals, as members of this Fraternity, and as part of the Masonic Family must become involved by submerging ourselves into the well from which the water of "our" fountain of youth flows. By becoming involved we calm the rough water of adolescent growth - we blend the troubled water of change with the tranquil water of certainty - we clarify the murky water of insecurity with the pure water of confidence. There are stones of ignorance, indifference and intolerance that are causing ripples within the pool of Fraternity; they threaten the survival, growth and longevity of our Institution. We must teach, nurture and protect."

All of us have a stake in the actions, values and character of our youth today. Our Society desperately needs it - our communities cry out for it - our fraternity demands it.

Kids may say the darnedest things but they also speak volumes on their need for positive influences in their lives.

And remember, "Whoever would partake of all good things must understand how to be small at times."

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 01 April 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

Taking Latitude With Attitude

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening. Did you know that if you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat-up one cup of coffee. I hope you won't need the caffeine to stay awake while I flex my vocal cords during this oration titled... TAKING LATITUDE WITH ATTITUDE "Our perception of people, of places, of things at any moment in time is based on the attitude we have chosen for that instant in time." Perception is based on attitude. Positive and negative, optimism and pessimism, love and hate, good and bad are opposite words and emotions that influence us in all relationships - in all circumstances - in all situations. One of college football's most successful coaches, Lou Holtz said, "Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." How we treat others in our personal relationships, in our professional relationships and in our fraternal relationships is all based on our taking latitude with attitude. We all have the ability to develop positive attitudes that bring out the best in ourselves as well as in others. With that ability we can display all of the attributes that are becoming to the character that is so inherent in this Fraternity. Using that ability we learn how better it is to share with one another - to give to one another - to be civil to one another. It's just a matter of positive thought, if you think you can; then you will. "The Man Who Thinks He Can" is a poem written by the American poet Walter D. Wintle and it goes like this:

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are out classed, you are;
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

The strength of a person's character is directly related to an attitude that is developed through past behavior, created through instilled values and influenced by positive or negative thinking. Albert Einstein said, "Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character." Motivation is the key to improving our character, our temperament and our attitude. The manner, disposition and feeling we have toward all things is our attitude. How we portray that attitude is what is important. Someone once said, "Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results." Charles R. Swindoll an evangelical Christian pastor and educator wrote, "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ...a church ...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past ...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ...we are in charge of our attitudes." He also went on to say, "Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me." When we are in charge of our attitudes we have control over our emotions. We have control over outside influences. We keep our passions within due bounds. Someone once said, "The key to happiness is not fixing your problems but changing your attitude towards your problems." We seek happiness by choice and find happiness through attitude. There is an old Scottish proverb that goes like this: "Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead." Groucho Marx said, "I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." Optimism also plays an important roll in the health and happiness that one seeks. James Branch Cabell wrote, "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true." If you think you can; then you will. Being optimistic and maintaining a positive attitude reduces blood pressure, shrinks the purple pulsating forehead vein and removes the scarlet glow from our faces. Being optimistic and maintaining a positive attitude erases many of the regrets that we might have regarding the juvenile and animated gestures that our arms and fingers display. Being optimistic and maintaining a positive attitude lowers the number of apologies one might make from the vocal display and verbal tirade of reacting before thinking. At one point during a ball game, the little league coach said to one of his young players, "Do you understand what cooperation is? What team work is? What positive attitude is?" The little boy nodded in the affirmative. "Do you understand that what matters is not whether we win or lose but how we play the game as a team?" The little boy nodded yes. "So," the coach continued, "when a strike is called at home plate, or you're called out at first base, you don't argue or curse or attack the umpire, you are optimistic and keep a positive attitude. Do you understand all that?" Again the little boy nodded. "Good," said the coach. "Now go over there and explain it to your mother!" When we are in charge of our attitudes we have the choice to either maintain a positive outlook or we can maintain a negative outlook. A negative outlook creates an attitude that infects all who are in contact - all who have to communicate - all who relate to the infectious carrier. We must inoculate ourselves against this virus called negative attitude. Can bad or negative attitude be changed or at least modified? Take for example a young man named John who received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of this bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by constantly saying polite words, playing soft music, and anything he could think of to set a good example but nothing worked. Finally, John got fed up and he yelled at the parrot. And, the bird yelled back. John shook the parrot, and the bird got angrier and ruder. Eventually, in a moment of desperation, John put the bird in the refrigerator freezer. For a few minutes, John heard the bird squawk and kick and scream... then suddenly there was silence - not a peep for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the bird, John quickly pulled open the freezer door. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arm and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I am truly sorry, and I will do everything to correct my poor behavior." John was astonished at the bird's change of attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the chicken did?" Maybe it takes some gentle persuasion or graphic examples or repetitive suggestion to force a change for the better? Bad attitude is something the must always remain in check or at the least kept in the freezer of ones thoughts. Keep this in mind when treating others with a "certain" attitude, "Life isn't like a box of chocolates…it's more like a jar of jalapeno's. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow!" It's all in how you look at things, as the character Ziggy in the comic strip by Tom Wilson says, "You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses." Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 08 April 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

Mason Time

"Preserving Our Traditions" Frank C. Baker, W. Grand Orator Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening. There are four stages of life. First, you believe in Santa Claus. Second, you don't believe in Santa Claus. Third, you are Santa Claus. And forth, you look like Santa Claus. And with all of this snowy weather we have had, I hope you don't start fantasizing about Christmas when I talk about... PRESERVING OUR TRADITIONS In order to preserve our traditions we must first understand what tradition is. The dictionary describes tradition as, "an inherited, established or customary pattern of thought, action or behavior or the handing down of information, beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example." When I first think of tradition, certain religious holidays and anniversaries come to mind. Often we find tradition in a time of year, a great event or a special occasion. One Sunday late in Lent, a Sunday school teacher decided to ask her class what they had remembered about Easter. The first little fellow suggested that Easter was when all the family comes to the house and they eat a big turkey and watch football. The teacher suggested that perhaps he was thinking of Thanksgiving, not Easter, so she let a pretty young girl answer. She said Easter was the day when as you come down the stairs in the morning you see all the beautiful presents under the tree. At this point, the teacher was really feeling discouraged. But after explaining that the girl was probably thinking about Christmas, she called on a lad with his hand tentatively raised in the air. Her spirits immediately perk up as the boy says that Easter is the time when Jesus was crucified and buried. She felt she had finally gotten through to at least one child until he added, "And then he comes out of the grave and if he sees his shadow we have six more weeks of winter." The traditions that I am talking about are neither presents under the tree or watching afternoon football on the TV nor six more weeks of winter. They are the traditions of the Fraternity. They are about Ritual, Rites and Regalia - they are about Temples, Community and Country - they are about Faith, Charity and Civility. I would like to simply define fraternal tradition as, "Emotions and experiences of the past that provide meaning and purpose in the present and secure our existence for the future." The U.S. historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. wrote in "The Challenge of Change," New York Times Magazine July 27, 1986, "Science and Technology revolutionize our lives, but memory, tradition and myth frame our response. Expelled from individual consciousness by the rush of change, history finds its revenge by stamping the collective unconscious with habits, values, expectations, dreams. The dialectic between past and future will continue to form our lives." Preserving our traditions is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. It entails a stewardship of insuring our Ritual, our Rites and our Regalia survive as they have for almost 300 years. The very essence of what we hold sacred in Masonry lies in our symbols, customs and pageantry. For example: The Officer's stations within the Lodge room are based on the traditions contained in our Lectures and Ritual and are illustrated in Masonic publications. The Worshipful Master's seat is placed on the third step in the East from whence all light flows. The Senior and Junior Warden's seats are on the second step in the West and South side of the Lodge respectively. At the conclusion of our meetings, we all meet upon the level and part upon the square. The other Lodge officers who interact directly with the Worshipful Master preside in the East on the left and right side of the Worshipful Master. They represent a position of service not a position of observance to the Worshipful Master. Just as the Junior Deacon and the Stewards represent in the West and South. The North side of the Lodge is deemed a place of darkness and therefore Officers of the Lodge do not sit there. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Whenever a mind is simple and receives an old wisdom, old things pass away - means, teachers, texts, temples fall: it lives now, and absorbs past and future into present hour. All things are made sacred by relation to it - one as much as another." Preserving our traditions is a responsibility that should not be taken for granted. It entails a stewardship of insuring that our Temples, our communities and our Country survive as they have for almost 300 years. The very heart of what we hold true in Masonry lies in the freedom, equality and justice of the code, constitutions and regulations of our fraternity and of our government. It demands a stewardship that requires the steadfast and diligent means of maintaining, protecting and insuring our property and Temples, our communities and Country. By keeping up to date with current affairs - keeping up to date with the necessary everyday concerns - keeping up to date with political issues we preserve our way of life. Tradition is what our country was founded on, is what our community is based on is and what our Fraternity survives on. In 1909, British author Gilbert Keith Chesterton wrote in "The Ethics of England", "Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes - our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking around." Preserving our traditions is a responsibility that should not be taken in jest. It entails a stewardship of insuring our Faith, our Charity and our Civility survive as they have for almost 300 years. The very soul of what we cherish in Masonry lies in our belief of a Great Architect of the Universe who in his infinite wisdom presides over all. We worship faithfully through a virtuous and steadfast commitment of the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man and the immortality of the soul. A charity that surpasses all social, political and racial boundaries on a level plane of equality for all people is the spirit of the Fraternity. We take care of others and don't take others for granted, we pay our own way. One morning a priest walked into a barber shop in Washington, D.C. After he had his haircut, he asked how much it would be. The barber said, "No charge, in keeping with tradition, I consider it a service to the Lord." The next morning, the barber came to work and there were 12 prayer books and a thank you note from the priest in front of the door. Later that day, a police officer came in and had his hair cut. He then asked how much it was. The barber said, "No charge, it's just a tradition I have, I consider it a service to the community." The next morning, he came to work and there were a dozen donuts and a thank you note from the police officer. Shortly thereafter, a U. S. Senator came in and had his haircut. When he was done he asked how much it was. The barber said, "No charge, I consider it a service to my country." The next morning, the barber came to work and there were 12 Senators standing in front of the door. We don't take others for granted, we pay our own way. Francis Bacon said, "Since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs." One tradition that is paramount within the Fraternity is the social bonding of polite, courteous interactions of just good etiquette, common sense and good customs. Masons and good manners equal good men and good customs that should never be separated. The other day a woman got on a UTA bus holding a baby. The UTA bus driver said to the women: "That's the ugliest baby I've ever seen." Shocked and in a huff, the woman slammed her fare into the fare box and took an aisle seat near the rear of the bus. The man seated next to her sensed that she was agitated and asked her what was wrong. "The bus driver insulted me," she fumed. The man sympathized with her and said "Why, he's a public servant, he should keep the company's long standing tradition of polite, courteous and professional manners. He shouldn't say things to insult the passengers." "You're right," she said. "I think I'll go back up there and give him a piece of my mind." "That's a good idea," the man said. "Here, let me hold your monkey." Ignorance is no excuse for bad manners just as two wrongs don't make a right. We preserve the traditions of the Fraternity by the acts of doing - we preserve the traditions of the Fraternity by the acts of stewardship - we preserve the traditions of Fraternity by the acts of kindness. Our actions - our stewardship - our kindness are the preservative that keeps the Fraternity from rotting into the forgotten depths of antiquity. Remembering the traditions of the past preserves the fraternity for a future generation of craftsmen. In 1790, Edmund Burke wrote in "Reflections on the Revolution in France", "People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors." Change affects tradition and that affects the future. As I have said in a past oration, "We don't like change, but change is good for all who seek the truth; it rattles the chains of complacency and breaks the bonds of apathy". To elaborate, if we change for reasons that are not justified or that are not for the common good or for selfish and shallow acts we have lost what the past has so graciously given us - a sense of belonging - a sense of purpose - a sense of understanding. The preservation of our Ritual, Rites and Regalia; our Temples, Community and Country; our Faith, Charity and Civility; will be no more and we will be no more and Masons and good manners will be no more. I ask you to remember this quote by Will Rogers, "So live that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip." Oh, and don't go holding anyone's Monkey! Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 21 April 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

Mason Time

"The Rough Ashlers of Mediocrity" Frank C. Baker, W. Grand Orator Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening. Garth Peterson, a former janitor at Princeton University, once shared this information with Omni magazine: 'Most of the professors appreciated it when you washed off the blackboard but not Dr. [Albert] Einstein. Every morning he'd burst into tears. Way I see it, I had a job to do and I was bound and determined to do it right. He wasn't the only perfectionist in the university business.' Well, I hope I don't cause anyone to burst into tears when I talk about: THE ROUGH ASHLARS OF MEDIOCRITY When we are satisfied with ordinary performance - when we are happy with moderate quality - when a so-so attitude is acceptable; we become the unintentional instruments of second best, second class and second place. As a Fraternity of upright men and Masons and a Fraternity that stands for family values, moral living and charitable giving; we singularly as individuals and together as a Masonic family cannot accept second hand nor afford to be second rate. Let us compare mediocrity to rough ashlars in a quarry, a quarry of perfection. They are stones in their present state that are of no great value or exceptional quality. They cannot be used to erect the moral and Masonic edifices of life - or to construct the great spiritual Temples of ones faith - or to build the generous structures of charity. If these stones are left in their present state, unattended and unrefined they will clutter and impede this quarry of perfection. The architect who designed Chicago's first skyscraper; Daniel H. Burnham said, "Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty." Yes, "Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty". Isn't this what part of our Fraternity is about? It proves that a noble, logical diagram - a system of values and brotherhood, of relief and truth; what we call Masonry has not and will not die. By utilizing the God given working tools of life we can eliminate the uselessness of the mundane. We must chisel off the rough edges of mediocrity; hone the ordinary into the extraordinary and polish the dull and tarnished surfaces of imperfection into a blinding and glimmering brilliance of perfection. Let us chisel, hone and polish. Andrew Carnegie said, "The average person puts only twenty-five percent of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than fifty percent of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote one-hundred percent." Can we afford to be just average and settle for twenty-five percent of energy and ability in what we do? Or do we satisfy ourselves with fifty percent of what we are capable of achieving? Let us use the tools of Masonry to chisel the rough edges of mediocrity, clear the clutter in the quarry and devote ourselves one-hundred percent to the elements of our Family, our Community and our Fraternity. The useless and burdensome weight of the rough ashlars of mediocrity can be found in all aspects of life and in all institutions, government and private alike. For example, did you know that the recent hurricanes and gasoline issues in our country are proof of the existence of a new chemical element? A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named *Governmentium*. Governmentium (Gv) has one neutron, twenty-five assistant neutrons, eighty-eight deputy neutrons, and one-hundred-ninety-eight assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of three-hundred-twelve. These three-hundred-twelve particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take over four days to complete. Governmentium does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since its reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration! This hypothetical quantity is referred to as Critical Morass. When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium- an element which radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons. Let us set a goal, starting with ourselves as a Fraternity to hone with steadfast diligence any ordinary attitudes, mundane actions or mediocre abilities that are present and shape them into positive attitudes, extraordinary actions and exceptional abilities. This goal can be achieved by accounting for our own actions through self-motivation, self-discipline and responsibility to ones-self. Jonathan Swift wrote, "Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed." If you expect to polish the dull and tarnished surfaces of imperfection into the glimmering brilliance of perfection you must have the strength to overcome disappointment, the wheel-power to stay the course, the fortitude to endure and the patience to prevail. To illustrate this point, I would like to tell a little story. You know that potatoes have eyes. Well, Mr. and Mrs. Potato had eyes for each other, and finally they got married, and had a little sweet potato who they called Yam. Of course, they wanted nothing but the best for Yam. When it was time, they told her about the facts of life. They warned her about going out and getting half-baked, so she wouldn't get accidentally mashed and get a bad name for herself like Hot Potato and end up with a bunch of tater tots. Yam said not to worry; no spud would get her into the sack and make a rotten potato out of her! But on the other hand, she wouldn't stay home and become a couch potato, either. And she would get plenty of exercise so as not to be skinny like her shoestring cousins. When she went off to Europe, Mr. and Mrs. Potato told Yam to watch out for the hard boiled Irish potatoes; and the greasy guys from France called French fries. And when she went out west, they told her to watch out for the Indians so she wouldn't get scalloped. Yam said she would stay on the straight and narrow. She wouldn't associate with those high-flying Yukon Golds, or the ones from the other side of the tracks who advertise their trade on all the trucks saying Frito Lay. Mr. and Mrs. Potato sent Yam to Idaho P.U. (Potato University) so that when she graduated she'd really be in the chips. But, in spite of all they did for her, despite all the talk about perfection and quality, one day Yam came home and announced she was going to marry Tom Brokaw. Tom Brokaw! Mr. and Mrs. Potato were very upset! They told Yam she couldn't possibly marry Tom Brokaw. She asked why? Because, they said...he's just a common-tater. Second best, second class and second place are for those who do not want to achieve their potential and they shall never be disappointed because first rate, first class and first place require great expectations. And remember, stay away from those morons, peons and isodopes because along with other heavy metals, they can be dangerous to your health. Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 09 June 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

Mason Time

"What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate" Frank C. Baker, W. Grand Orator Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good afternoon. Bob Hope once accepted an invitation to address a convention of the American Bar Association. He began his talk by saying, "My being here results from a slight misunderstanding. I thought I was to talk to the American Bra Association." I hope we don't have a misunderstanding when I talk about: WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE When we communicate with others we do so in many different ways and through many different mediums such as speech and writing, body language and gestures, facial expression and eye movement all the while utilizing our senses and emotions. We have never been able to communicate our thoughts and desires by remaining silent, closing our eyes and using any telepathic powers that are present to get our point across. We cannot read the minds of others - or anticipate what actions should be taken - or predict what the outcome of a problem is. It just doesn't work. In order to communicate effectively one must get the words out. It was the author Thomas Mann who said, "Speech is civilization itself. The word, even the most contradictious word, preserves contact - it is silence which isolates." Besides not getting the words out, what constitutes a communication breakdown? Is it the lack of concern or care for the other party? Maybe it is improper knowledge or preparation about the subject at hand? Or could it be the inability to listen or understand what is being said in the conversation? In 1849, in a week on the Concord and Merrimack rivers, Henry David Thoreau wrote: "It takes two to speak the truth,-one to speak, and another to hear." When we have a communication breakdown we fail to get our point across, we fail to hear the other side of the issues and we fail to learn the truth. Clear, precise and open communication is extremely important especially in our Fraternity where there are factors such as age, time and family restraints. These factors should cause us to rely on the ability to be flexible in ones position and opinion while keeping ego and emotion at bay. Take this actual radio communication for example. It was released by the Chief of Naval Operations, on October 10th 1995: Hail: Please divert your course fifteen degrees to the North to avoid a collision. Reply: Recommend you divert YOUR course fifteen degrees to the South to avoid a collision. Hail: This is the Captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course. Reply: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course. Hail: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENTERPRISE; WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW! Reply: This is a lighthouse…your call. Good conversation like good manners should always be conducted with the utmost consideration for both parties. We should be expected to speak clearly, listen intently and comment without bias. The old saying, "Don't believe everything you hear and only half of what you read" has a lot of validity in today's society. The American novelist Gore Vidal said: "Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either." When we have a communication breakdown we fail to interpret what is printed, we fail to understand what is written and we fail to gain the knowledge that was intended. Our Masonic ritual has not changed for hundreds of years because it has been effectively communicated down through time by a printed catechism that adheres to the original manuscript and the steadfast concern for preserving the ancient word and principles of the Fraternity. Communication through the printed word, from books and newspapers and manuscripts are only effective if they are efficiently proof read and corrected. Anything that is written down can be lost in translation, misunderstood through typographical errors or misinterpreted by transposed letters. For example, a new monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand. He notices however, that they are copying from copies, not from the original manuscripts. So, the new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this, pointing out that if there were an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the subsequent copies. The head monk says, "We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point my son." So, he goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original. Hours go by and nobody sees him. So, one of the monks goes downstairs to look for him. After hearing sobbing coming from the back of the cellar, he finds the old monk leaning over the original book crying. He asks the old monk what is wrong, and in a choked voice came the reply, "The word is celebrate." When we have a communication breakdown we fail to converse in a civil and polite manner, we fail to keep our passions within due bounds and we fail to respect the thoughts, actions and feelings of others. Communicating with others must be a civil process. If we can't be civil or say anything nice or be respectful, maybe it's better to not say anything at all. Take this couple for instance: The couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, jackasses and pigs, the wife asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?" Yep, the husband replied, "in-laws." The fight is now officially on again!! Someone once said, "The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." When we have a communication breakdown we fail to relate to the other person, we fail to put ourselves in their shoes and we fail to show an interest in the conversation. Here is a test in understanding fully and interpreting clearly what is said: There is a mute who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper, and the toothbrush purchase is completed. Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself? Think about it for a moment…he opens his mouth and says, "I would like to buy a pair of sunglasses." If you got this wrong . . . don't admit it! The ability to listen closely, see through and make sense out of a comment that isn't quite clear makes all the difference in understanding what the intentions of the communicator is. For example, you have to love the great Yankee catcher and manager Yogi Berra, his communication skills and dubious advice is…well, enough said, here are a few of his quotes: "I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." He also said, "It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much." "If you ask me anything I don't know, I'm not going to answer." "I don't mind being surprised, so long as I know about it beforehand." "You should always go to other people's funerals, otherwise, they won't come to yours." Simply put, good communication is the ability to share ideas, thoughts and knowledge with others through a precise, clear and civil tongue. And remember, when driving by a barnyard full of animals; keep your eyes on the road and your opinions about relatives and in-laws to yourselves! Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 10 June 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

Mason Time

"Freedom and Fraternity" Frank C. Baker, W. Grand Orator Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening: On this day - two-hundred-thirty years ago - September 8th 1776, the Continental Congress authorized the name "United States" and I hope we will all be united when I talk about: FREEDOM AND FRATERNITY I was going to start out by cracking a joke or quote a funny aphorism or maybe even tell a hilarious story until I realized that it is only three days before the fifth anniversary of that terrible event - 911; then all of the fun and the smiles and the jokes seemed meaningless, out of place and just inappropriate. I was jolted back by the violent reality that our cherished liberty, personal freedoms and way of life was attacked and threatened on that clear, innocent, and bright sunny September morning in 2001. Fifty-six years ago, on September 11th 1950; America was worried about the "Dick Tracy" Television show when it sparked a public uproar concerning violence - hardly seems important today. So I would like to focus on Freemasonry and how we as a Fraternity and as a Masonic Family united in purpose and belief contribute to the freedoms that are enjoyed by all in this Country. Believe it or not, the month of September is very important to all Americans, especially the day of September 17th; it has a more profound influence on our lives than the fourth of July. "WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." The Constitution - our Constitution - together with its first ten amendments known as "The Bill of Rights" was signed on September 17, 1787. Twelve of the thirty-nine original signers were Masons and the oldest delegate was eighty-one year old brother Benjamin Franklin. Within the Masonic Family the beliefs and actions of our many organizations and social orders and youth groups set the standard. We display our philosophy - our attitudes - our way of life and the importance these ideals play in what our Country, our Communities and our Families so desperately desire and so urgently need today - direction. In narrowing down "Our" contribution to Freedom, I find the "Free" in Freemasonry symbolically represents freedom; freedom of choice pure and simple. There are three basic freedoms that come to mind: Freedom of intellect through thought and speech, freedom of religion through individual beliefs and worship and freedom of expression through creativity and hard work all of which cannot exist without individual responsibility and personal sacrifice. We demonstrate this responsibility in the commitments we make, in the obligations we pledge and in the oaths we take. We sacrifice personally by standing up, believing in and committing to a moral and just path. Our obligation of giving and sharing with all people demonstrates our willingness to sacrifice to help others. Many citizens have voluntarily given the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. When asked what is the essence of our America? Marilyn Vos Savant said, the essence of our America is "Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom "to" and freedom "from"." The very essence of our Fraternity is "finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance" or equilibrium - that point within the circle - so perpetual in the truths set forth by our Forefathers. By balancing on that level plane between tolerance and intolerance, justice and injustice, honor and dishonor we follow a path from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge and from bondage to Freedom. In 1909 in Heidelberg Germany, Otto Caspari, in his book "Freemasonry - Its Meaning and Significance"; wrote: "Why do we call ourselves Freemasons? Because as free men we are engaged in the construction of the temple of spiritual freedom. We wish to show by our deeds, that we are free men, not only amongst ourselves, but also in the family, in the State, and in Society. To us Freemasons the use of our freedom seems so much a matter of course that we hardly give it a thought, and only too often forget that one of the most important and difficult problems presents itself in that little word "free", and in the intellectual freedom to which we Freemasons lay special claim." "We" contribute to the voice of freedom by believing in the freedom of intellect through thought and speech all the while maintaining civility among our craft, courtesy among our neighbors and tolerance toward to all people. Along with many other important quotations, this sentence is inscribed on the Cox Corridor II, a House of Representatives corridor on the first floor of the United States Capitol: "Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech." This quote was written by Benjamin Franklin on July 9th 1722. Adlai Stevenson wrote: "The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum". As Masons we meet upon the square and by that action we treat each other with dignity and respect, freely offering our opinions and respectively agreeing to disagree when an impasse is evident and a solution is not forthcoming. Mark Twain in 1897 wrote; "It is by the goodness of God that in our Country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them." And it was writer P. J. O'Rourke who said, "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." Yes, we all have the duty and responsibility to answer for our personal actions. "We" contribute to the spirit of freedom by believing in freedom of religion for all people. By exercising tolerance for the beliefs of others and their free exercise of that belief we insure our own religious freedom. By believing in the separation of religious institutions and government entities we prevent predominance in any one belief from controlling the individual freedoms of the many. James Madison exemplified this belief when he said, "Religion, or the duty which we owe our Creator, and the manner of discharging it can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force and violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience." The free exercise of religion according to ones conscience as well as forgiving our enemies has been a part of our religious heritage from the early beginning of this Country. Take this Minister's question as an example: Toward the end of the Sunday service, the Minister asked, "How many of you have forgiven your enemies?" 80% of the congregation held up their hands. The Minister then repeated his question. All responded this time, except one small elderly lady sitting in the last pew. "Mrs. Jones? Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?" "I don't have any enemies," she replied, smiling sweetly. "Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?" "Ninety-eight," she replied. "Oh, Mrs. Jones, would you please come down in front and tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years and not have an enemy in the world?" The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said: "I outlived the witches." Sometimes ones actions do not involve turning the other cheek but rather having the fortitude to outlive your enemies. "We" contribute to the light of freedom by believing in the freedom of expression through creativity, good old Yankee ingenuity and just plain hard work. A Country of immigrants forming a Country united in a common belief - Freedom, one nation under God, indivisible. A Fraternity of Men forming a Fraternity of Masons united in a common belief - Freedom, one Fraternity under God, indivisible. Henry C. Clausen, Sovereign Grand Commander from 1969 - 1985, of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction, wrote, "Under God and Freedom, immigrants became Americans, and built for themselves and mankind such a heritage as the world had never before seen." For those of you, who are Scottish Rite Masons, you have come to understand the importance of what was portrayed in one section of the thirty-second degree that the feeble, the submissive and the cowardly bring forth slavery and a degrading bondage through the surrender of thinking for oneself. The enemies of human freedom and the ruin of republics are caused by pretentious demagogues who replace the true leaders through complacency of the people. We must be ever vigilant to incite men to be self-reliant and independent in order to maintain this Light, Liberty and freedom of religion that we all enjoy. We as Masons - as a Fraternity - as a Masonic Family have built for ourselves and offer to mankind a fraternal heritage of freedom and tolerance visible for the entire world to see. Once viewed and understood will no doubt be admired and accepted for the truth that it is. A few lyrics by Kris Kristofferson: "FREEDOM'S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHIN' LEFT TO LOSE NOTHIN', AIN'T WORTH NOTHING BUT IT'S FREE" If we have nothing left to loose then we have lost our freedom to be free. What is your freedom worth to you? When you reflect upon the anniversary of the evil actions of others the next few days, remember "Our" contribution and "Our" choices; freedom of intellect, freedom of religion and freedom of expression. These freedoms are taken for granted by so many individuals in this Country who have forgotten that what it takes to stay free is the personal responsibility and individual sacrifice that we all must make. I leave you with one parting thought by P. J. O'Rourke: "America wasn't founded so that we could all be better. America was founded so we could all be anything we damned well pleased." Thank God we still have a choice! Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 08 Sep 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful, Right Worshipful and Worshipful Brothers, Ladies and Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Good Evening;

Mason Time

"Southern Comfort" Frank C. Baker, W. Grand Orator Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening: There are three kinds of people; those who can count and those who can't. I hope you can count on me to deliver an entertaining oration when I talk about: SOUTHERN COMFORT What do the words Southern Comfort mean to you? Does it portray the feeling of that laid back attitude and slow sophisticated drawl that is common in the South? Could they possibly refer to that sweet intoxicating liquor you mix with your favorite beverage and imbibe while toasting in jovial libation? Or does the meaning of the words Southern Comfort define attitudes and customs in today's society? Or maybe the term "Southern Comfort" relates to just good old fashioned down home hospitality? For the purpose of this oration "Southern Comfort" refers to three words; etiquette - decorum - propriety; good old fashioned class pure and simple. In the following excerpts from an abstract on Southern Culture and Tradition, Arizona School of Professional Psychology, L. M. Henline wrote, "Southerners were well known to be true gentlemen and still to this day are referred to as gentlemen. Manners are very important and go hand-in-hand with respect." "Children as well as adults answer yes mam/sir and no mam/sir to their elders. They are taught not to interrupt a conversation. They are taught to be perfect little adults." "Other notable aspects of southern heritage are ghost tales passed down from generation to generation." "In conclusion, the south was built with pride and much of that pride still remains, as do many of the traditions and culture. This affects many aspects of a southerner's life in many ways." Today, southern customs have come to represent a civilized society that implies an attitude of civility, culture and manners based on the practices and attitudes of the southern gentleman within the United States. Caring for others, respect for others and giving to others as always; in an unconditional, hospitable and civilized manner is "Southern Comfort". If you refer to The Random House College Dictionary you will find this definition: Under Etiquette: Conventional requirements as to social behavior. Etiquette, Decorum, Propriety imply observance of the formal requirements governing behavior in polite society. Etiquette refers to conventional forms and usages: the rules of etiquette. Decorum suggests dignity and a sense of what is becoming or appropriate for a person of good breeding: a fine sense of decorum. Propriety (usually plural) implies established conventions of morals and good taste: to observe the proprieties. We can apply these three words to all of our daily interactions with one another to create a greater sense of respect, belonging and camaraderie among the Craft and within the Masonic Family. I find that there is a real need to establish more "Southern Comfort" within our close knit family of Fraternal Brotherhood, of Men and Masons, of families and friends, of neighbors and communities. The desire to be more civil to one and all can and should be carried outside the doors of the Lodge room and into the personal exchanges of our daily lives. When we apply the conventional rules of etiquette to our daily routine and portray a positive social behavior in and out of our Lodge rooms, in and out of our Temples and in and out of our respective lives we develop the life long attitude of caring for and helping others. We give others the respect they deserve and in turn we receive respect. Do you remember how good you felt when you helped someone unconditionally, on the spur of the moment? The saying: "A good turn deserves another" is always in order even if you find it hard to make the first move and reach out toward a stranger. Take poor old Brother John as a good example; as told in this story by an unknown author: A loud pounding on the door awakens Brother John and his wife at 3 o'clock in the morning. Brother John gets up and goes to the door where he finds a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, and asking for a push. "Not a chance," says Brother John, "It is three o'clock in the morning!" He slams the door and returns to bed. "Who was that?" asked his wife. "Just some drunken guy asking for a push," he answers. "Did you help him?" she asks. "No, I did not, it is three in the morning and it is pouring rain outside!" "Well, you have a short memory," says his wife. "Can't you remember about three months ago when our car broke down and those two gentlemen helped us? I think you should go out and help him; and you should be ashamed of yourself being a Mason and all!" The man moans ok, gets dressed, and goes out into the pouring rain. He calls out into the darkness, "Hello mister, are you still there?" "Yes," comes back the answer. "Do you still need a push?" Brother John calls out. From the dark came the reply; "Yes, please!" "Where are you?" asks Brother John. The drunken man replies, "Over here on the swing!" When we apply the conventional rules of decorum to our daily routine we portray positive mannerisms and establish respect, civility and dignity with character that multiplies and divides as in cells of an organism exponentially growing with time creating what the two words, "Southern Comfort" really stand for - class. In the Lodge room; all assembled herein are to conduct themselves with due order and decorum. What about outside of the Lodge room? Do we not have a responsibility to conduct ourselves with the same decorum, fervor and zeal at all times not only when it is convenient or appropriate for us to do so? When we decide to conduct ourselves with the utmost of decorum; we have what is called class, pure and simple. An unknown author penned these words about class and I would like to share the words with you: CLASS Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident, and it can handle whatever comes along. Class has a sense of humor. It knows that a good laugh is the best lubricant for oiling the machinery of human relations. Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from past mistakes. Class knows that good manners are sacrifices and minor inconveniences. Class bespeaks an aristocracy unrelated to ancestors or money. Some extremely wealthy people have no class at all, while others who are struggling to make ends meet are loaded with it. Class is real. You can't fake it. Class is comfortable in its own skin. It never puts on airs. Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down. Class is already up and need not attempt to look better by making others look worse. Class can "walk with kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch." Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class because he is comfortable with himself. If you have class, you got it made. If you don't have class, no matter what else you have, it won't make up for it. When we apply the conventional rules of propriety to our daily routine we establish the proprieties of good taste. This is demonstrated by the moral and common sense actions we display within the Fraternity. It is necessary to do more in the education, instruction and support for the moral, cultural and ethical duties we owe our creator and society for all of our members. Conforming to the established standards of proper behavior and keeping our passions within due bounds prevent our actions from becoming, as in this Louisiana ghost story, blown out of proportion. Apparently, this happened some time ago near a little town in Louisiana, and while it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it is real so they say. This guy was on the side of the road hitch hiking on a very dark night in the middle of a heavy thunder storm. The night passed slowly and not one single car traveled by. The storm was so strong with blinding rain; he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly he saw a car slowly looming, ghostlike, out of the gloom. It slowly crept toward him and stopped. Reflexively, the guy jumped into the back seat of the car and closed the door, then realized that there was nobody behind the wheel. The car slowly started moving again. The guy was terrified, too scared to think of jumping out and running. The guy saw that the car was slowly approaching a sharp curve. The guy started to pray, begging for his life; he was sure the ghost car would go off the road and he would plunge to his death, when just before the curve, a hand appeared thru the window and turned the steering wheel, guiding the car safely around the bend. Paralyzed with terror, the guy watched the hand reappear every time they reached a curve. Finally, the guy gathered his wits and leaped from the car and ran to the nearest town. Wet and in shock, he went into a bar and voice quavering, ordered two shots of whiskey, and told everybody about his horrible, supernatural experience. A silence enveloped everybody when they realized the guy was apparently sane and not drunk. About half an hour later two men walked into the same bar, soaked from the rain. One says to the other, "Look Boudreaux, dat's the idiot that rode in our car when we was pushin' it in da rain." The selfishness of ones actions, the failure to ask for permission or assistance and taking advantage of a vulnerable situation can lead to quite an embarrassing outcome and demonstrates a lack of established proprieties. Southern gentlemen have set the example when it comes to the importance of culture, manners and respect. In the daily interactions with one another - In the establishment of respect and character toward one another - in that Petri dish of life; etiquette, decorum and propriety no matter how small the effort will generate, multiply and evolve into the steadfast character, positive attitude and genuine civility that is "class" and is represented by the two words "Southern Comfort". Oh, by the way, someone said, "Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have." Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 16 Sep 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
October 20th, 2006

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening: An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline." He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no, Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"

I hope I don't get shot down when I talk about:

Winning - The Real "National Treasure"

I was scanning the news on the web the other day when this story caught my eye: The Headline read: Gorbachev: 'Americans Have a Severe Disease'. Curious, I read on: '15 Years After Being Deposed From Power, Former Leader Discusses Russia, U. S.' The interview took place this summer in Saint Petersburg, Russia on July 12th 2006 during a meeting between world leaders and the President of the United States and as the relationship between the United States and Russia became strained by the criticizing of a democracy reversal in Russia. The interview was conducted by ABC news senior national correspondent Claire Shipman.

Here are some excerpts: "We have made some mistakes," he [Mikhail Gorbachev] said, referring to recent attacks on Russia's democracy. "So what? Please don't put even more obstacles in our way. Do you really think you are smarter than we are?" Ms. Shipman reports the former general secretary of the Soviet Union Communist Party accused Americans of arrogance and trying to impose their way of life on other nations. "Americans have a severe disease - worse than AIDS. It's called the winner's complex," he [Gorbachev] said. "You want an American style-democracy here. That will not work."

These comments made me stop, think and reflect for a minute about winning and why the desire is so strong in this Country. Then it occurred to me: if we didn't have the winner's complex, we would still be under British rule. If we didn't have the winner's complex, almost half of our land would be France or Mexico's. If we didn't have the winner's complex, all of Europe would be speaking German. And, if we didn't have the winner's complex we wouldn't have landed on the moon! I ask; what is wrong with spreading a democracy that has given its people the freedom to dream, the freedom to create and the freedom to invent? All people in all countries of the world benefit from an American style-democracy whether they embrace it or not. It is not a perfect form of government. It has its flaws as all things created by mortal men have; but it allows for the human intellect to question, to enlighten and to grow without the fear of retribution. Some disease, lets hope it's contagious! This desire to win is strong because our freedom, our "American style" and the knowledge that our way of life could be taken away from us at any time - if we are not strong - if we are not persistent - if we are not winners. Winning is the real "national treasure".

In the article, Ms. Shipman reported that, "Now, 15 years after a coup removed him from power and the Soviet Union dissolved, he [Gorbachev] has stern words for the United States, whose relationship with Russia has soured lately." Ms. Shipman reported, "Gorbachev, however, is wry about the current president, George W. Bush. "He is very determined," Gorbachev said. "You can't say he does not have character." "Gorbachev also often has stern words for the Russian government, but frequently advises President Vladimir Putin, who is under fire for his authoritarian tactics." "I told him I did not understand why he had canceled state elections. There is no glasnost," Gorbachev said, referring to the Soviet push toward a more open society in the 1980s. "No elections here like there used to be in '89 and '90." Gorbachev states in his last comment in the interview; "I want my grandchildren to live in a democratic country - in a peaceful world," he said. But it's hard to imagine because there are so many answers we still need to find."

Well, if you want democracy for your grandchildren then you must fight for it, you must be persistent, you must infect yourself with the winner's complex; you must face the consequences at home then and only then the answers you are looking for will find you.

On the lighter side of the winner's complex: A basketball coach was talking to some friends about a dream he had recently. "I was walking down the street," he said, "when this silver and black Rolls Royce pulled up to the curb beside me. Inside, was a beautiful young woman - blonde, five-foot-ten, maybe 24 or 25 years old. She ordered me to get in. So I did. The chauffeur took us to a fantastic restaurant and club where we ate and drank and danced, and she paid the bill. Then she asked me if I wanted to go home with her. And I said yes. And we did."

"Then what happened?" a listener urged with excitement.

"The best part of all!" the coach drooled. "She said, she would be only a moment and went into the other room. When she returned there were two men with her, and she introduced them to me as her two younger brothers, and both of them were over 7 feet tall!"

You may have all of the talent in the world but without fortitude, determination and persistence, winning cannot be accomplished. Even two seven-footers can't equal a five-foot-ten-inch blonde with determination. In the end you still have to go home and face the consequences of something far worse than losing - the lack of freedom - the lack of liberty - the lack of democracy. I would like to share with you an experience I had several years back while on vacation. I call this - "The Freedom of a Beach Bum". I think this descriptive story offers a different perspective on winning. It deals with persistence and about one who is infected with the winner's complex. It expresses a kind of freedom we wish we all had at certain times in our lives.

I awoke to the sounds and smells of the ocean - the playful shrills of gulls jousting with each other - bacon cooking and coffee brewing. It was going to be another fabulous day at the beach!

I slipped on my well worn flip flops, made my usual stroll across the street then along the public access and onto the unforgiving sand of that easy bake oven called a beach; people were already sprawled out and basting like so many brightly color crabs who failed to meet the outgoing tide.

I claimed my spot, stretched out my towel, laid out my belongings, removed any nonessential coverings and began the ritual: sun screen - sun block - sun shades. Just as I was settling in for a pleasant do nothing morning out of the corner of my eye, I spied him - traveling from the north - a true beach bum sauntering along the beach at waters edge with a stride that made you believe he didn't have a care in the world. He was wet from head to toe, unkempt with hair in multi shades from blonde to brown that would make dread locks look good - just a free ride for the sand fleas and beach flies in a non stop one way ticket on a sea ferry to hell.

After observing for sometime this sea urchin from the nether region, I became drowsy, closed my eyes and began to drift into a pleasant dream like state. Just as I began to dose off I was wakened by a strong odor of wet musky sea water, dirty canvas and rotting rubber. As I began to open my eyes I noticed the sun wasn't there, it couldn't be clouds because it was clear, then it dawned on me, I was in the shadow of someone or something. Yes - it was him - he was peering down at me - all hairy with bushy eyebrows, big brown eyes and a facial expression that seemed to ask can you help me? He had what appeared to be a rotten well used lime green tennis ball poised between his teeth. It was the beach bum - a real winner! Before I could say anything he dropped the ball in the sand, let out a load obnoxious bark and turned to run expecting me to throw his prize possession. I didn't want to touch it let alone throw it! Reluctantly I did under the watchful eyes of many of the sun bakers - soon to become victims. Yes, it was slimy and smelly - even the rough ocean surf couldn't cleanse and purify the horrid object. Beach Bum followed the raggedy faded ball into the water with the efficiency and energy of a purebred retriever when claiming water foul for his owner while on a hunt. Beach Bum was a talented swimmer he knew just when to bob and duck the waves so they wouldn't cover him completely. He could have easily won the swim leg portion of an iron man competition.

I continued to succumb to his advances and cave to his antics. I couldn't believe the persistence and determination that he portrayed as well as the freedom to impose on complete strangers his rule. It was like, this was his beach and as subjects we were required to do as he expected, he had won outright. This game of his went on for a while, and then for some reason he stopped tormenting me and moved further down the beach to his next intended victim and ready to win again. It was nice to see him go but I also felt a loss. Beach Bum had instilled in me a sense of freedom and excitement to an otherwise lazy uneventful day - the winner's complex. The same scenario occurred and the outcome was the same for the many others caught in his web of persistence. This went on most of the morning. Beach Bum seemed satisfied with tormenting his captured prey with his most prized possession.

The sun had moved further to the west and I could barely see him now - he was too far south down the beach to get a good glimpse at him. What was supposed to be a few hours at the beach had turned into an all day session on the subject of what it takes to win. It was time for me to head home; the end of another fabulous day at the beach. After all you can only take so much fresh air, summer sun, and old tennis balls. I gathered up my belongings and back tracked from the unforgiving sand to the public access and onto the street. Just as I was about to cross to the other side out of the corner of my eye, I spied him - it was Beach Bum - heading north along the road with the same sauntering walk as he had when he entered my life and with his prized possession clenched between his teeth. He had what appeared to be a smile that stretched from ear to ear. As I smiled back at him, I noticed he had a gleam in his eye that you knew right away what it meant; I won! At that moment, I realized this sea urchin from the nether region was headed home to rest up for another fun filled day of winning and tormenting his prey on his beach.

If the real "national treasure" is a severe disease, then we all should enjoy being sick. I surely don't want to get inoculated with the alternative - losing. No one has ever received a poor bill of health from too much justice and democracy. No one has ever taken ill from too much liberty and freedom. And no one has ever died from too much persistence and determination.

Without the winner's complex a democratic and peaceful world would be just a cherished thought for grandchildren to wonder about. And without the winner's complex we would not have the freedom to enjoy something as simple as lying on the beach and throwing tennis balls.

Oh, and when enjoying the freedom of the beach, watch out for those "Beach Bums" they smell. Even so, they are all winners in my book!

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening. Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator - © 20 Oct 2006

By Worshipful Brother Frank C. Baker, Grand Orator
January 27th, 2007

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, Distinguished Guests, Grand Lodge Officers, Brethren all:

Before I begin my address, I would like to thank Most Worshipful Grand Master, James D. Woodward for appointing me to the office of Grand Orator. This year has been a very fulfilling, enlightening and rewarding experience, thus enabling me to have the opportunity to freely express my thoughts in twelve orations. Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't thank my dear wife Carole who has so graciously and patiently acted as my sounding board throughout this journey.

I have tried to keep each oration interesting and fun as well as portray an important meaning that is related to our way of life. From the moral tenants that are the very essence of our Fraternity - in the civil values that are the roots of all great societies - to the personal beliefs that make us who we are; I hope I didn't bore anyone. If I did, my apologies are in order.

The Grand Lodge visitations began at my home Lodge and ended at the Grand Master's first affiliate Lodge in Utah. For me, they began with the uncertainty of inexperience and ended with the confidence that comes from experience. They began with "Cementing Our Foundations" and ended with "Winning, The Real National Treasure".

In the lecture of the Entered Apprentice degree we are reminded about the great teaching of a point within a circle and by this symbolization we are taught that the point is the individual brother and the circle is the boundary line of his conduct. Now taking this concept one dimension further; think of yourself as a point within a sphere. This brings me to the theme of my address; "The pursuit of excellence through unity". As we circumscribe our desires and keep our passions within due bounds we must also strive to reach out in all directions from the centers of our own comfort zones, from the shackles of selfishness, from the confines of our protective shells and move outwardly toward our fellow brothers, filling our spheres with the moral character, positive attitudes and civil actions that are so essentially necessary in our lodges, in our homes and in our communities. We are truly a point within a sphere.

The sphere, as a symbol adds dimension and perspective relative to our own sense of space and place in life. When we interact and communicate with one another the boundary lines of our conduct will most likely conjoin. Our personalities, our passions, our prejudices and our beliefs will mingle. If we fill our spheres with all of the great teachings of masonry; the conjoining of the spheres will most likely contain within them similar values; we become unified in thought - in action - in purpose. Now we can achieve excellence through unity; peace and harmony will prevail. Our spheres are constantly being bombarded from all directions and from all angles by all kinds of outside influence. Some of these influences are negative and detrimental to us and the Fraternity. In turn, we can defend against these negative influences by pursuing excellence through unity.

In the 1772 edition of Illustrations of Masonry, William Preston wrote; "I would not, however, have it inferred from this remark, that those masons who labour under the disadvantages of a confined education, or whose sphere of life requires a more intense application to business or study, should be discouraged in their endeavours to gain a knowledge of masonry: I only mean, that it is not absolutely necessary to be acquainted with the more intricate parts of the science, to qualify an individual to enjoy the benefits of the society, and to partake its privileges."

He went on to say, "Some are more dexterous and artificial than others, some more expert, some more eminent, some more useful; yet all, in their different spheres, may prove advantageous to the community; and our necessities as well as our consciences bind us to love one another. It is certain that the industrious tradesman proves himself a very useful member of society, and worthy of every honor the craft can confer; yet still it must be allowed, that those who, by accepting offices, exercise authority, should be properly qualified to discharge it with honor to themselves, and credit to their different stations. - All men are not blessed with the same powers, all men have not the same advantages: All men therefore are not equally qualified to govern. - Masonry is founded upon too noble, too generous principles, to admit of disquietude and variance among its professors; neither arrogance and presumption appear on the one hand, nor diffidence and inability on the other. True friendship is cultivated among different ranks of men, and that endearing happiness promoted, which constitutes the essence of civil society."

In our time - today, the world is full of negative influences such as hate and intolerance, ignorance and immorality, corruption and injustice. We have listened to the ramblings of a tyrant from the Middle East. We have seen prejudice and bigotry raise its ugly head and witnessed the destruction of property and personal freedom by crafty dictators. We have viewed with horror the taking of innocent human life by evil men. The skirt of Liberty has become frayed by the fangs of the terrorist yet still; she remains strong and holds the torch of freedom secure for all who seek the light of truth. In our time - today, it is more important than ever that we stay united in our moral principles and steadfast in the upright beliefs of this fraternity - together in unity as one common beacon of light. Excellence through unity starts with a personal commitment to improve ourselves, to do better, to search for knowledge thus protecting ourselves from negative influences by filling our spheres with the light of truth. The outcome is a unified consensus of the many on how we obtain that commitment through peacefully working together as men and masons. We are taught that each of us is a ray of the divine light and as such we can come together as one great beacon that will illuminate even the darkest corners of the globe with the light of truth. What makes us different from all others is the resolve we have to seek the truth and defend the rights of others to obtain the truth. In our time - today, more than ever Masonry must not and cannot dilute its principles through ignorance and mediocrity or by the inaction of apathy and complacency nor by the absence of excellence through unity.

When we are not civil to one another we strike a blow against the foundation of Masonry - When we do not care about one another we erode the cement that bonds our Fraternity together - When we stop seeking excellence and settle for mediocrity we will cause our Masonic edifice to crumble into the ruins of antiquity.

Within the past year each of us as individuals - as a Fraternity of Masons - as a Masonic Family have experienced pain and sorrow, love and joy, frustration and disappointment - all of the human emotions in this journey called life. We have become stronger, we have become closer and we have become unified because we have the same resolve. We maintain the same passions. We have common goals and similar beliefs. We remain focused and faced in the same direction. We pursue excellence through unity.

It has been one year since we have formally met as a Grand Lodge and now we have come full circle on this rollercoaster of ups and downs, of highs and lows, of trials and tribulations. Ask yourself: have I kept my passions within due bounds? Have I betrayed my character through prejudice and ignorance? Have I mislead my interests through selfishness and greed? This perpetual ride through the confines of life's challenges only seem to enhance the pursuit for excellence and cultivate this desire we have to belong, to relate, to be unified, to be upright men and Masons!

Now, take a moment and look to your left…now, look to your right. Who do you see? What do you see? Is there a smile on the face of the brother next to you? Is there a smile on your face? Of course there is; we have a common bond, we share togetherness and a sense of purpose that has withstood the test of time and not experienced by many groups of men. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Excellence is achieved through unity; our spheres are filled with the passions of moral men, a purpose to do good and dogma in the light of truth; brotherly love will prevail. Simply put; "Civility is to the gentlemen as the trowel is to the Mason and we are one in the same."

Now, go forth and cultivate the pursuit of excellence through unity. Spread the cement of brotherly love and friendship in your Lodges and enjoy the fulfillment and happiness that giving and sharing brings. To each and every one of you, I bid you peace.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day! Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator

Bountiful Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Loyd E. Davis, Grand Orator
February 25th, 2005

MW Grand Master Ridge, MW Past Grand Masters, Right Worshipful Grand Wardens, Worshipful Grand Lodge Officers, Worshipful Masters, Wardens, Brethren, and Ladies;

I am pleased to present to you my inaugural oration. Let me give you a little background on the wording of my title. As a young Scottish Rite Mason, I was encouraged to purchase the book "Clauson's Commentary on Morals and Dogma." Clauson was Illustrious Henry G. Clausen, 33°, Soverign Grand Commander. He reviewed, interpreted and commented on the seminal work entitled "Morals and Dogma" by Albert Pike, a highly respected Masonic writer. That gave me the idea for the title of this oration. I want to comment on why we have unity and how we keep it.

This year, MW Grand Master Ridge's theme is: "Together in Unity, The Family of Freemasonry." As I reflected on the implications of this theme, I was reminded of the scripture we use in the Entered Apprentice degree which is Psalm 133 - "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" You can see that the term unity is one of the guiding principles of Masonry. My Webster's II New College Dictionary defines unity, in part, as: the quality or state of accord or agreement : Concord, the combination or arrangement of parts into a whole : Unification, and singleness or constancy of purpose : Continuity.

Concord. Masons begin with a high degree of concord. Our Entered Apprentice lecture states that Masons are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. There are at least six things you know about a Mason before you know his name. The first thing you know about a Mason before you know his name is that he believes in God. Masonry does not admit atheists because no obligation taken by an atheist would be considered binding upon him. The second thing you know about a Mason before you know his name is that a Mason offers himself to the service of God. Because of this, you know that a Mason believes in striving to live a moral life, the third thing you know about a Mason. A Mason's faith in God teaches him to believe in the immortality of the soul which belief is proudly stated in our Graveside farewell to a departed Brother. This is the fourth thing you know about a Mason. A mason desires to be of service to mankind because charity is a foundation principle of Masonry. He learns in the Entered Apprentice degree that charity extends beyond the grave, throughout the boundless realms of eternity. This is the fifth thing you know about a Mason. Masons pledge to assist and protect one another. One of the first lessons taught in the Entered Apprentice degree is the requirement to assist one another. Protection of one another is specifically taught in the Master Mason degree. This is the sixth thing you know about a Mason. This is a big deal. Other civic organizations exist with charitable objectives, Kiwanis and Rotary come to mind, but they require only that you be civic minded to become a member. They do not emphasize living a moral life, supporting and protecting one another, belief in the immortality of the soul. Thus, Masonry is more than a fraternal group of men. Masons are indeed linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection.

Unification. The Family of Freemasonry is a good example of this unification principle. Based on the principles of Masonry, Job's Daughters and DeMolay teach the love of God, respect for adults, charity outside of the group. They also teach life skills of leadership and public speaking that are not as readily available elsewhere. This is particularly noticeable at large masonic functions where senior DeMolay and Job's Daughters address the assemblage with grace, poise, and intellect. These are skills not taught in the public schools. The Order of the Eastern Star joins together husband and wife that they might share in the quest for a moral life, a charitable life. The Scottish and York Rites exist to extend a Mason's quest for additional moral teachings as well as satisfy his desire to be of service to his fellow men. The Shrine is dedicated to the rehabilitation of children, a goal with which all Masons agree. Shrine appendant bodies like the Daughters of the Nile and the Ladies Oriental Shrine once again involves a Mason's wife in living a moral life, a charitable life. Taken together, the Masonic Family is dedicated to the assistance and protection of one another. They present a united front to the community dedicated to the service of mankind.

Continuity. The Masonic Family as a whole has charity as their singleness of purpose. Let's start with what is probably the most widely recognized Masonic charity, the Shrine Children's Hospitals for burned and crippled children. The wife of this year's Imperial Potentate has crafted a pin which has as its central feature a "smilely face." In her travels, she has seen how kids behave and react at non-Shrine children's hospitals; they cry often and cling to their parents seeming not to understand what will happen to them. But at Shrine Children's Hospitals, the children all smile, and have confidence that their treatment will give them a better life. The Scottish Rite Children's Learning Centers are dedicated to helping autistic children. If you have not visited a Learning Center or seen a presentation from one of the Learning Center professionals, which often includes a visit from one of the children being helped, you are missing a joyous occasion. To see the transformation of a child who hardly talked and was greatly withdrawn from the world, to one with boundless energy, excitement, and enthusiasm, ready to talk to everyone, will bring a tear to your eye. The York Rite Eye Foundation has been leading research in eye diseases for many years. The foundation is dedicated to providing assistance to those who face loss of sight due to the need for surgical treatment without regard to race, color, creed, age, sex, or national origin provided that they are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources, and to provide funds for research in curing diseases of the eye. Last year, the Grand Lodge of Utah joined the efforts of many other Grand Lodges in sponsoring a program known as the "Masonic Model Student Assistance Program." This program gathers together school teachers, principals, and administrators to teach them how to recognize "at risk" children, children at risk for drug abuse, delinquency, juvenile crime. It discusses and teaches how to enlist the aid of support agencies to help these children before it is too late. This charitable work by all the Masonic Family organizations links them together from a common purpose and contributes to the unity among them.

Perhaps the one thing that contributes to unity more than any other is Enthusiasm. You know, each morning when we awaken we have the opportunity to choose our attitude for the day. We can choose to be happy, we can choose to be sad. Those who choose to be happy attack the day with gusto, are optimistic, are leaders. Enthusiastic Masons, workers, volunteers have a very positive effect of those around them. Organizations with enthusiasm try harder, accomplish more, seek results rather than processes. Organizations with enthusiasm have more members to share the load because people like to associate with enthusiastic people. They call it fun! People like to do things that are fun. So when you show up for a meeting, practice, degree, banquet, or picnic and radiate enthusiasm, people notice. They are affected by your enthusiasm and often pick it up and radiate it to others. All of a sudden you have an entire group of enthusiastic, can-do people ready to go out and conquer and have fun while doing it. Even a job as mundane as seal coating the parking lot is remembered fondly afterward. I know, just ask the eight of us involved in that effort here at the Bountiful Masonic Center a couple of years ago.

So there you have the secret to unity; the Enthusiastic You. People judge you by your actions, not your words. The actions of an Enthusiastic You will match your words and you as well as those around you will dwell together in unity.

I thank you for your kind attention.

Clearfield Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Loyd E. Davis, Grand Orator
February 26th, 2005

MW Grand Master Ridge, MW Past Grand Masters, Right Worshipful Grand Wardens, Worshipful Grand Lodge Officers, Worshipful Masters, Wardens, Brethren, and Ladies;

My talk this evening is entitled Masonic Customer Service. At the 131st or 132nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Utah, a visiting Grand Master addressed our Grand Lodge from the perspective of a small businessman. He noted that if his small business was to survive, he had to concentrate on customer service and make it the best he possibly could make it. He stated that we as Masons didn't realize that our customers were men who were not Masons, and we sure weren't giving them good customer service. This commentary from a visiting Grand Master has stuck in my mind since that day. Tonight I would like to discuss Masonic Customer Service in Utah and suggest ways we might improve it. To do this, you must agree to accept the premise that our Masonic customers are men who are not Masons. I will assume that you will accept that premise for the length of my talk.

In my opinion, Masonic customer service can be broken down into two parts; recruitment and retention. Let's talk about recruitment first. Over the past several years we have heard a litany of woes about the decline of membership in Masonic as well as other Fraternal organizations. Many good and interesting methods have been advanced to attack the problem such as open houses, friendship dinners, web sites, one day classes, and a host of others. But I believe that we are missing one of the best ways to begin the recruitment process. Each of you sitting here tonight is a Masonic Recruiter. How is that so you ask? First, each one of us should be talking to our friends, our co-workers, and our relatives about the fun we are having as Masons. My brethren, we must talk about our Masonic activities at work, at the gym, wherever we encounter men of good character. My experience tells me that some of these men will inquire about what Masonry is about. You need to have a short list of the benefits of Masonry you have experienced and how they have influenced and improved your life. You need to tell them about the many facets of Masonry, the Rites, the Shrine, Job's Daughters, DeMolay. You ladies should be telling your friends and their children about the great things taught in the Masonic organizations. Tell them how nice the Masonic people are, how cordial and pleasant they are, how they make you feel welcome, how you enjoy spending time with them, especially because of the wide range of backgrounds and interests you encounter. Encourage them to consider having their children petition a Job's Daughters Bethel or DeMolay Chapter so that they might expose them to God-centered life skills. Our Masonic Youth organizations teach love of God, responsibility for one's actions, respect for parents and adults, give them confidence to speak in public, teach them leadership skills. If you want a good demonstration of these teachings, just watch a Bethel that serves at Masonic banquets. Pay particular attention to the youngest Jobies. At the end of a year, you will notice a vast improvement in their social interaction skills, their self confidence. It will greatly impress you. This approach to recruitment using the Brethren and their Ladies is like a military pincer movement. The men approach the men from one side, the Ladies come in from the other side through the wives and the children. We are told that many families are looking for good and wholesome things for their family and we have it for them in spades. Something for everyone. And we have room for those who don't have a lot of time as well as those who want to be overachievers. So - - - if you take one thing away with you from this evening, let it be that you are a star recruiter for Masonry and you are doing your part to improve Masonic Customer Service.

Now let's talk about the retention piece. It is one thing to get a man through the degrees and get him proficient. It is another thing to get him to become a fully functioning member of our Lodge. We know about coaching, we know about mentoring, at least intellectually. The coaching piece is actually rather easy compared to the mentoring piece. Coaching generally consists of teaching the new Mason what he needs to know to be proficient. That is rather cut and dried in terms of what is required. What we do not do so well is nurture and support him as he begins to understand what we do and how we do it. He has a lot of questions and many times we have few answers. What a wonderful dilemma; here we have a chance for the young Mason and his mentor to learn more together. We have to make this interaction an exchange of knowledge that leads to a greater feeling of brotherhood and a deepening friendship. The young Mason and his Mentor need to feel like a pair on a Masonic quest for "more light." We have discussed the many qualifications needed for good mentoring at our Regional Masonic Workshops, but more than anything else, it requires an investment of time over a long period; a couple of years at least. Tonight I want to suggest that our Ladies are also an important part of this process. This is more than a man to man effort if we are to do it right. This needs to be a family-to-family effort. We Masons all acknowledge how important our wives are to our enjoyment of Masonry, why would we not involve them in this mentoring process as well. Of course, we need for our lodges to plan and conduct more family activities, more community involvement that requires the whole family to make it work. That sets the stage for more chances to involve the families in our activities and lets the families feel like they are a part of the Masonic experience. As the families interact more often and get to know one another better, they will discover common interests that will lead to additional sharing experiences and expand the possibility for joy in their life. If you want examples of what this experience has been like for many in the Masonic Family, just ask the ladies of the Order of the Eastern Star, Ladies of the Nile, Ladies of the Oriental Shrine, and other Masonic ladies organizations how valuable their participation in these oraganizations has been to their personal happiness. I don't know about you, my Brethren, but when my wife's happy, I'm happy. We need to make the Masonic experience for our young Masons such that their wives are happy. That means that this mentoring piece of customer service is a family effort and we need to do it with vigor and cheer.

So what should we expect if we adopt this view of Masonic Customer Service? First, we would notice that the lodge is suddenly energized and eagerly seeks new Masons rather than waiting for them to "knock on the door." Secondly, we would notice that new young Masons "catch the fever" and tell their friends about their positive experience. The next thing you know, petitions start arriving at your door and you have degree work to do. Because of the renewed interest in things masonic and because of the many questions that come from the younger Brethren, more socializing occurs before and after lodge meetings, everyone begins to enjoy their Masonic associations more and become more actively involved. Success breeds success, Brethren.

I would suggest to you that several Utah lodges have found the secret of Masonic Customer Service. Wasatch No. 1 comes to mind, along with Damascus No. 10, Story No. 4, Mt. Moriah No. 2 and Acacia No. 17. These lodges are enjoying explosive growth. They are holding day long degree meetings and the Brethren are showing up willingly to maintain the momentum. It is up to the rest of the lodges to follow their example. Perhaps my suggestion of Masonic Customer Service is a construct that more lodges can adopt. If so, I predict a bright future ahead. Just remember, Masonic Customer Service starts with you, and you, and you, and you. It takes each one of us to make it happen.

I thank you for your kind attention.

Magna Grand Visitation Oration
By Worshipful Brother Loyd E. Davis, Grand Orator
March 4th, 2005

MW Grand Master Ridge, MW Past Grand Masters, Right Worshipful Grand Wardens, Worshipful Grand Lodge Officers, Worshipful Masters, Wardens, Brethren, and Ladies;

My talk this evening is entitled "The Importance of 'Me' in Masonry." I don't know about you, but when my folks were raising me one of the things that sticks in my head was the stricture to be humble. Don't draw attention to yourself, don't talk out of turn, don't interrup the teacher; respect adults, the list goes on and on. In school the don'ts continued: don't disrupt the class, don't talk out of turn, don't chew gum, etc. If you survived all these rules and strictures, you were probably pretty subdued when you struck out on your own. Over time, most of us learned how to balance humbleness with assertiveness, so that we could succeed at our chosen careers without being labeled an upstart or be seen as too aggressive or success driven. Much of this occurred because we learned that we must take personal responsibility for our actions and that success requires a lot of personal effort to learn the job, learn the "ropes," become a subject matter expert. We learn organizational dynamics and learn how to thread our way through "office politics." Hence when we are initiated into Masonry, we bring this knowledge with us.

Let's examine how Masonry might look to a newly initiated Entered Apprentice. He sees a lodge of eleven or twelve officers, Brethren on the sidelines who appear to be knowledgeable Masons. They all welcome him with great cordiality and explain to him the prodecures and path he must follow to become what we call "proficient" before we can proceed to the Fellowcraft degree. His task is clear; learn the ritual, learn the meaning of the symbols, become "proficient." This pattern is repeated after the Fellowcraft degree and again after he is raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. If the lodge's mentoring program is a good one, his mentor has been with him every step of the way and will continue to integrate him into the lodge's "way of life." Our new Mason will learn about the committees who assist the officers in running the lodge, its fund raising activities, its charitable activities. Our approach is to show our new Mason all the things we have to offer and hope he will become interested enough to pick one of them and become actively involved in its success. Each Worshipful Master begins his year in the East with goals to move his lodge forward to greater success and enjoyment. He hopes that he will be able to inspire his Brethren to strive for his goals, thereby improving their lodge success and their enjoyment of being with the Brethren.

Now let's consider how the Grand Lodge organization must appear to the young Mason of four or five years. Here we have an officer complement of nineteen Masons, half again as large as the lodge officer corps. If he attends a Grand Visitation he hears about programs that the Grand Lodge is sponsoring to help his lodge do a better job and be more successful. He hears about our Blue Lodge charity, the Masonic Model Student Assistance program. The first time he sees a Grand Lodge visitation he is impressed by the pomp and ceremony. But he doesn't get a good idea of how he fits in to the picture. It appears that "other people" are responsible for what happens at Grand Lodge, for the success of their programs. Often times when he asks his lodge Brethren about Grand Lodge, few of them can answer his questions of what Grand Lodge is and what Grand Lodge does, and the purpose of Grand Lodge. Consequently he ends up with a vague notion of Grand Lodge and puts it in the "to be determined later" pile.

Let me suggest, however, that nowhere in this aculturation process do we talk about the importance of "Me" in accomplishing all these things. Lodge officers, committee members; each are a "Me" helping to assure these accomplishments. We don't, however, spend a lot of time inculcating the need for each Brother to be the "Me" that helps to get things done. We are always looking for good ideas about how to do things, ideas for new things to be done, personal experience that can be brought to bear in solving a particular problem such as membership or financing for example. We need to foster a culture in which each Brother understands that he is essential to the success of his lodge, that we are depending on him to shoulder his share of the load. He can't rely on everyone else to get the job done, it requires his personal involvement. We need to make his constributions so visible and rewarding to him that he will continue to offer his efforts on behalf of the lodge. We have ways to recognize those "Me's" in addition to their personal psychic rewards. In my lodge we gave the Hiram award to a "Me" who suggested that we have a picnic as a fund raising event and volunteered to head it up. He asked for volunteers to help him with the logistics of the event and his Brethren stepped forth and gave him the help he needed. Everyone had a great time, the lodge made nearly a thousand dollars on the event, and our "Me" has continued to head up this annual event for the past five years. He understands that our lodge's success requires a "Me" like him to get the ball rolling. When it comes to Grand Lodge, here too it requires a "Me" to make all of the Grand Lodge programs happen. We need "Me's" from our lodges to help with our committees, our programs. In the final analysis, it requires a "Me" for anything to happen.

So how do we change our culture to highlight the importance of "Me" in Masonry. First, we get back to basics. We start talking about and emphasizing how important it is for each Brother to take personal responsibility for the success of his lodge, for the success of our Grand Lodge. We take every opportunity to praise each "Me" for his accomplishments. We make them stand up in lodge, even have the Senior Deacon escort them West of the alter for public praise. Every man appreciates being acknowledged for his efforts, even the quiet and unassuming ones. We stress the additional enjoyment and psychic rewards to be gained by increased participation by each "Me." We do everything possible to inculcate the concept of the individual, the "Me," as the cornerstone of succes.

How do we start, you ask? My advice to you is: try it! Most likely you will be surprised and pleased with the results.

I thank you for your kind attention.