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My Brothers,
I want to start by expressing my gratitude to all of the brethren I have
met throughout my life who have shown me what it really means to be a
Mason. With that said, I have a few questions to ask...The first and most
dear to me is the question of why would a man ever want to be a mason?
I know for me it was to be around like minded men. Men who want to make
a difference in their lives and the lives of the people with whom they
come in contact.
My brethern, I ask myself these questions of which I will never really
know the answer. When I am no longer part of this mortal world but have
been drawn from the darkness of the west into the glorious light of the
east, through the gates of death into the splendor of immortality, how
will I be remembered? When my loved ones are left behind in their sorrow
and my brethern with saddened, subdued hearts and soften affection at
the loss of their beloved brother are gathered for that final farewell,
how do I want to be remembered? When I have passed out of the love of
human hearts to the higher, better love: out of the dim lights of the
lodge on earth to the brighter, glorious Lodge above, why will I be remembered?
When my family and friends are gathered at the graveside each alone
with his or her thoughts, how will they remember me?
After a few years have passed and the tears have dried, the wounds have
healed, how then, will I be remembered?
Then there is the question, when all is said and done, who will remember
me and why?
We can't all be the President of the United States, a famous movie star
or an Astronaunt. But we can still make a difference in the lives of the
people and communities with which we come in contact everyday and whether
we want to be remembered or not isn't left up to us. We will be remembered
the only questions are by whom? for what? and for how long?
I can assure you if we stay inside our Lodges and don't get out into the
commmunities where we can make a difference someone else is out there
writing our "masonic" history and we will be remembered.
What are we going to do to make sure that we as "masons" are
remembered?
Fraternally,
David E Carroll Jr
Plains Lodge #135, F&AM
Zachary, Louisiana
May 28, 2004
