Extra
meetings can become somewhat routine if you let them and in June that feeling
is what keeps many brothers from turning out to lodge to witness or participate
in degree conferrals. While this isn’t an issue for me (I rather enjoy being a
part of a brother’s Masonic journey) I have heard of this and seen this be the
case with some of the brothers that I have spoken with or seen at these
fraternal milestones… I saw plenty of heavy eyes during my own degree conferral
(of course it was a one day class that took up much of the day). There are
times however when things are changed up and something a little different is
introduced into the evening.
Last
night I had the pleasure to watch the Shield & Square Degree Team confer a
degree on a new brother. This dedicated group of current and retired law
enforcement brothers really know their stuff and the entire degree was not only
spot on but you could tell that they really put a lot of work into making the
night come alive. It was especially gratifying to witness this degree as the
brother who was at the center of the evening first reached out to me shortly
after I took office. I have literally been a part of the process from beginning
to the times that the DDGM handed him his dues card and I am incredibly proud of that fact. I know he is going to be
(actually he has already proven to be) an excellent and dedicated brother.
If
that wasn’t enough, we also conferred two more degrees last night. While the
late hour and steamy weather (again, no air conditioning in the lodge room)
made the evening seem that much longer, it was a night that seemed to end
before it really got going. Actually, I don’t know if it was the night or if it
was the fact that this was the final meeting before going dark for the next two
months but just as I feel I am finally finding my stride it is time to take a
break.
Even
though there are times when I am constantly running around before heading up
stairs, I am going to really miss those meeting nights at the lodge. Don’t get
me wrong, there is plenty of work that I will be doing but the fellowship is
what this job is really about. Thankfully, there are plenty of Masonic events
that I will be attending and writing about over the summer and the fall looks
to be particularly busy. It is for this reason that I can’t wait for the
weather to cool down.
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