The Old Past Master
by Carl Claudy- 1924
FOR LOVE- OR
MONEY?
I'm
afraid we are not going to have the pleasure of hearing Professor
Filson," said the Yearling Mason to the Old Past Master, sitting
beside him in the ante-room.
"That's
too bad," was the prompt response. "I don't know
him. but I understand he's worth hearing. What's the trouble?"
"Oh, it's
money, of course. Filson always gets a hundred dollars a
lecture, and the lodge can't afford to pay it. And of course Filson
can't afford to lower his price, and there you are."
"Why
doesn't Filson give the Lodge the lecture then for nothing?"
asked the Old Past Master.
"Why,
why should he? That isn't business. The electric light company doesn't
give us light, the printer charges us for printed matter, the furniture
store charges us for carpets; why should Filson present us with his
ware?"
"Seems
to me there is a difference," suggested the Old Past
Master. "Brother Filson, I suppose, comes to the lodge to spend an
evening at times. When he does, he spends as much time here without
paying, sitting on the bench, as if he were standing up talking. The
electric light company could not give us current without spending money
to produce it, the printer must pay his printers, the furniture man
must buy his carpet. But Brother Filson would not have to spend any
money to give his lecture; all he would have to spend would be a small
part of what we have spent on him."
"I
don't think I understand that last- what we have spent on
him?"
"Thousands
of years, millions of thoughts, untold effort, careful planning," was
the prompt response.
"Listen,
my son," went on the Old Past Master; "have you
ever stopped to think just what Masonry is and does? Masonry is the
product of the most unselfish thinking, the most whole-hearted and
selfless effort, the world has ever known. Through it a universal
brotherhood of millions of men has been brought into being, to any one
of which you and I and Brother Filson have the right to turn, sure of
sympathy, understanding and some help in time of need.
"Through
Masonry, a system of philosophy has been evolved, and through
its lodges that philosophy is taught to all brethren of the third
degree, without money and without price. Through it we learn charity,
toleration, courage, fortitude, justice, truth, brother love, relief.
Through it we learn, decency, patriotism, high-thinking, honor, honesty
and helpfulness. Through it, and all of these, we are made
into
better men, better citizens,better husbands, better fathers, better
lovers, better legislators, better followers of our several vocations.
"Masonry
may penetrate only a fraction of an inch beneath the skin of
her followers, but by that fraction of an inch the man who takes even a
little of her blessings to himself is a better man, and so the world is
a better place for the rest of us. In some of us it strikes in deep,
deep. We become soaked through and through with Masonic ideas,
and
strive, in our feeble, human way, to show forth to the world
whatever measure we may accomplish of the perfection for which
Masonry strives. Those of us who take it seriously and who
love it
much also make the world a better place for the rest of us.
"The
lodge provides a spiritual home for brethren who may have no
other. If one has another in his church, the lodge gives him a second
spiritual home to which he may go once in a while and feel even more
strongly, perhaps, than in his church the close touch of his brother's
hand, the sweet smile of a brother's love, the supporting arm of a
brother's strength. To me, my lodge is a rest, a haven, a harbor for a
tired mind. When I come to this lodge, whose destinies I guided so long
ago, and which I have watched grow from a fledgling little body to a
mature organization, I find myself uplifted, strengthened, made whole
again. I may come tired, worn, weary with the day; I leave refreshed,
invigorated, helped with the reviving of old truths, the remaking of
old vows, the renewing of old ties.
"Our ancient brethren had 'cities of refuge,' to which the fleeing
man, criminal or oppressed, might run for safety. Masonry is our modern
city of refuge' to which we, criminal in intent if we are such, or
oppressed with injustice and cruelty, may fly for spiritual comfort and
safety, knowing that within the four walls of a lodge is rest
and
peace and comfort.
"All
this has the lodge in particular and Masonry in general, offered
since the beginning, to all upon whom Masonry lays her gentle hands.
You are the recipient of her bounty, as am I. And so is Brother Filson.
We three- and all within these walls- take generously and without stint
from Masonry's store house of loveliness, of beauty, of rest, and
comfort and love.
"Often
I ask myself 'what have I done for Masonry, which does so much
for me?' Never do I feel that I have done enough. And Brother Filson,
whom I do not know, might well ask himself that, before he thinks of
what he might do for the lodge in terms of dollars, and prices and
business. If, indeed, he has done one-tenth for Masonry and the lodge,
what lodge and Masonry has done for him, he may hesitate. But if he is
like the great, great majority of Masons, content to take much and to
give little, willing to receive all and give nothing, careless of the
structure which millions have raised in the past that he might benefit,
unable to understand that to his hands, too, is committed the torch
that those who come after may see clearly, he has need of open eyes,
and an understanding heart, which alone may show him that for Masonry,
which does so much for men, no man may do enough."
The Old Past
Master ceased and sat silent. From a chair across the ante-room a
brother rose and came slowly forward.
"I
do thank you, my brother," he said, "from the bottom of
my heart. The Lodge will certainly hear that lecture as soon as the
Master wishes it. My name is Filson."
